U.S. patent application number 16/225836 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-25 for screen protector installation machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is ZAGG Intellectual Property Holding, Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Manuel Carreon, Jordan Melville, Dan Oakeson, John Ruess, Cecily Sabin, Kyle Sorensen.
Application Number | 20200198223 16/225836 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 71099111 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-25 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200198223 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sorensen; Kyle ; et
al. |
June 25, 2020 |
Screen Protector Installation Machine
Abstract
A screen protector installation machine uses a screen protector
laminate to apply a screen protector to a cell phone. The laminate
comprise a web that carries the screen protector and a backing
layer. The laminate is carried by a lid coupled to a base and
closable over the base. An impression in the base receives the cell
phone. A first slider is carried by the lid and comprises a spool
rotatable with respect to the lid. A tab of the backing layer is
coupled to the spool. As the slider slides over the cell phone, the
spool rotates to wind the backing layer around the spool to expose
the screen protector. The lid properly positions and orients the
screen protector over the mobile device. The lid is automatically
lowered onto the base, and the screen protector is automatically
lowered onto the mobile device, by movement of the first slider
after the backing layer is removed.
Inventors: |
Sorensen; Kyle;
(Springville, UT) ; Ruess; John; (Midvale, UT)
; Oakeson; Dan; (West Jordan, UT) ; Sabin;
Cecily; (Draper, UT) ; Carreon; Manuel; (Lehi,
UT) ; Melville; Jordan; (Sandy, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ZAGG Intellectual Property Holding, Co., Inc. |
Midvale |
UT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
71099111 |
Appl. No.: |
16/225836 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B 2457/208 20130101;
B29C 2063/0008 20130101; B29C 63/0047 20130101; B29C 63/0095
20130101; B32B 37/0053 20130101; B32B 7/12 20130101; B29L 2031/3437
20130101; B29C 63/02 20130101; B29C 63/0004 20130101; B29C 63/0056
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B29C 63/02 20060101
B29C063/02; B29C 63/00 20060101 B29C063/00; B32B 37/00 20060101
B32B037/00 |
Claims
1. A screen protector installation machine configured to install a
screen protector on a mobile device, the machine comprising: a base
comprising an impression configured to receive and secure the
mobile device; a lid coupled to the base and closable over the
base; the lid having an open position, a closed position over the
base, and an intermediate position over and spaced-apart from the
base; an opening in the lid, the lid configured to carry a screen
protector laminate across the opening and over the impression when
the lid is in the closed position, the lid configured to receive
and secure a web of the laminate carrying a screen protector and a
backing with a tab; a pair of rails carried by the base on opposite
sides of the impression and having a leading end and a trailing
end, the trailing end declining towards the base; a pair of tracks
carried by the lid on opposite sides of the opening; a first slider
carried by the lid and slidable along the pair of tracks, and
comprising a first handle and a spool, the spool having a slot
configured to receive the tab of the screen protector laminate, the
first slider sliding from an initial position to a subsequent
position at the trailing end of the pair of rails; the spool being
rotatable as the first slider slides configured to wind the backing
of the laminate around the spool and remove the backing from the
screen protector as the first slider slides from the initial
position to the subsequent position; a pair of wheels coupled to
the first slider and riding on the pair of rails of the base when
the lid is in the intermediate position, the pair of wheels
declining on the trailing end of the pair of rails to allow the lid
to move from the intermediate position to the closed position; and
a second slider carried by the lid and slidable back and forth
along the pair of tracks, and comprising a second handle and a
roller, the roller configured to abut to the web of the laminate
and press the screen protector against the mobile device as the
second slider slides back and forth while the lid is in the closed
position.
2. The machine of claim 1, further comprising: the pair of wheels
abut to the pair of rails in the intermediate position to resist
the lid from moving to the closed position and configured to
maintain the screen protector off of the mobile device until the
backing layer has been removed.
3. The machine of claim 1 further in combination with the screen
protector laminate, wherein: the laminate is disposed across the
opening of the lid, and between the spool of the first slider and
the opening; the web of the laminate is secured to the lid; and the
tab of the backing layer of the laminate is received in a slot of
the spool of the first slider.
4. The combination of claim 3, further comprising: the slot being
narrower than an enlarged head of the tab, the enlarged head being
on a narrower neck, the head having a narrower leading end and a
wider trailing end with a wider edge adjacent the narrower
neck.
5. The combination of claim 3, further comprising: stumps
positioned on an inner surface of the lid at a perimeter of the
opening and matching and mating with corresponding holes in the web
of the screen protector laminate.
6. The machine of claim 1, further comprising: a hinge coupling the
lid to the base, the lid pivoting about the hinge between the open
position, the intermediate position and the closed position.
7. The machine of claim 1, further comprising: a rack and pinion
type interface between the first slider and the lid, and comprising
a pair of racks carried by the lid on opposite sides of the
opening, and a pair of pinions coupled to the spool of the first
slider and engaging the pair of racks to rotate the spool as the
first slider slides in the pair of tracks.
8. A screen protector installation machine in combination with a
screen protector laminate configured to apply a screen protector to
a mobile device, the laminate comprising the screen protector
carried by a web and a backing layer on the screen protector
opposite the web, the machine comprising: a base comprising an
impression configured to receive and secure the mobile device; a
lid coupled to the base and closable over the base; a first slider
carried by the lid and comprising a spool rotatable with respect to
the lid; the laminate being carried by the lid and positioned
between the lid and the spool, and with the spool between the
laminate and the impression, during use; the web being coupled to
the lid and the backing layer coupled to the spool; and the spool
rotating to wind the backing layer around the spool as the first
slider slides with respect to the lid to expose the screen
protector.
9. The combination of claim 8, further comprising: a slot in the
spool receiving a tab of the backing layer of the laminate
therein.
10. The combination of claim 9, further comprising: an enlarged
head of the tab on a narrower neck, the head having a narrower
leading end and a wider trailing end with a wider edge adjacent the
narrower neck; and the wider edge of the enlarged head being wider
than the slot of the spool.
11. The combination of claim 8, further comprising: an opening in
the lid and positionable over the impression and configured to be
positioned over the mobile device in the impression; and the
laminate being positioned across the opening and between the
opening and the spool.
12. The combination of claim 11, further comprising: the web
coupled to the lid at one end of a perimeter of the opening and at
an opposite end of the perimeter of the opening.
13. The combination of claim 12, further comprising: a pair of
opposite side slots defined between the web and opposite lateral
sides of the opening; and the first slider having a first handle
coupled to the spool through the pair of opposite side slots.
14. The combination of claim 8, further comprising: the lid having
an open position, a closed position over the base, and an
intermediate position over and spaced-apart from the base; a pair
of rails carried by the base on opposite sides of the impression
and having a leading end and a trailing end, the trailing end
declining towards the base; and a pair of wheels coupled to the
first slider and riding on the pair of rails of the base when the
lid is in the intermediate position, the pair of wheels declining
on the trailing end of the pair of rails to allow the lid to move
from the intermediate position to the closed position.
15. The combination of claim 14, further comprising: the pair of
wheels abutting to the pair of rails in the intermediate position
to resist the lid from moving to the closed position and configured
to maintain the screen protector off of the mobile device until the
backing layer has been removed.
16. The combination of claim 8, further comprising: a rack and
pinion type interface between the first slider and the lid, and
coupled to the spool to cause the spool to rotate as the first
slider slides.
17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the rack and pinion type
interface further comprises: a pair of tracks carried by the lid;
and a pair of pinions coupled to the spool of the first slider and
engaging the pair of racks to rotate the spool as the first slider
slides with respect to the lid, the spool configured to rotate and
wind the backing layer of the laminate around the spool and remove
the backing layer from the laminate as the first slider slides.
18. The combination of claim 8, further comprising: a pair of
tracks carried by the lid; and the first slider slidable along the
pair of tracks.
19. The combination of claim 18, further comprising: a second
slider carried by the lid and slidable back and forth along the
pair of tracks, and comprising a second handle and a roller, the
roller configured to abut to the web of the laminate and press the
screen protector against the mobile device as the second slider
slides back and forth while the lid is in the closed position.
20. A screen protector installation machine configured to install a
screen protector on a mobile device, the machine comprising: a base
comprising interchangeable blanks selectively secured to the base,
each blank comprising an impression configured to receive and
secure the mobile device; a lid coupled to the base and closable
over the base; a hinge coupling the lid to the base, the lid
pivoting about the hinge between an open position away from the
base and a closed position over the base and an intermediate
position over and spaced-apart from the base at an acute angle; an
opening in the lid; the lid configured to carry a screen protector
laminate across the opening and over the impression when the lid is
in the closed position, the lid configured to receive and secure a
web of the laminate carrying a screen protector and a backing, the
backing having a tab with an enlarged head on a narrower neck, the
head having a narrower leading end and a wider trailing end with a
wider edge adjacent the narrower neck; a pair of rails carried by
the base on opposite sides of the impression and having a leading
end near the hinge and a trailing end further from the hinge, the
trailing end having a taper declining towards the base; a pair of
tracks carried by the lid on opposite sides of the opening; a pair
of racks carried by the lid on opposite sides of the opening; a
first slider carried by the lid and slidable back and forth along
the pair of tracks, and comprising a first handle above the opening
and a spool below the first handle, the spool having a slot
configured to receive the head of the tab and having a width less
than the trailing end of the head with the head compressing to pass
through the slot and expanding when withdrawn from the slot with
the wider edge abutting a perimeter of the slot to retain the neck
of the tab in the slot, the first slider sliding from an initial
position nearer the hinge to a subsequent position at the trailing
end of the pair of rails; a pair of pinions coupled to the spool of
the first slider and engaging the pair of racks to rotate the spool
as the first slider slides in the pair of tracks, the spool
configured to rotate and wind the backing of the laminate around
the spool and remove the backing layer from the laminate as the
first slider slides from the initial position to the subsequent
position; a pair of wheels coupled to the first slider and riding
on the pair of rails of the base when the lid is in the
intermediate position, the pair of wheels following the taper of
the trailing end of the pair of rails to allow the lid to move from
the intermediate position to the closed position; and a second
slider carried by the lid and slidable back and forth along the
pair of tracks, and comprising a second handle above the opening
and a roller below the second handle, the roller configured to abut
to the web of the laminate and press the screen protector against
the mobile device as the second slider slides back and forth while
the lid is in the closed position.
21. The machine of claim 1, further comprising: stumps positioned
on an inner surface of the lid at a perimeter of the opening
configured to match and mate with corresponding holes in the web of
the screen protector laminate.
22. The machine of claim 1, further comprising: holes in the base
or the blanks corresponding to at least some of the stumps.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Screen protectors are common accessories for cellular
phones. Affixing a screen protector can be an exacting and
difficult task. It is often necessary to properly align the screen
protector with the screen of the cellular phone. The screen
protector can have an adhesive layer that can attract and/or trap
contaminating particles and/or air bubbles. The improvement of
screen protectors in as ongoing endeavor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way
of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:
[0003] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a screen protector
installation machine with a screen protector laminate in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention, shown in with a lid in an open
position and with a mobile device or cellular phone is a base.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a partial, detailed perspective view of the base
of the screen protector installation machine of FIG. 1, shown with
the mobile device or cellular phone therein.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a partial, detailed perspective view of the lid of
the screen protector installation machine with the screen protector
laminate of FIG. 1.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the screen
protector installation machine with the screen protector laminate
of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 5 is a top view of the screen protector installation
machine of FIG. 1, shown with the lid in an intermediate
position.
[0008] FIG. 6 is a side view of the screen protector installation
machine of FIG. 1, shown with the lid in the intermediate
position.
[0009] FIG. 7 is a front view of the screen protector installation
machine of FIG. 1, shown with the lid in an intermediate
position.
[0010] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the screen protector
installation machine of FIG. 1, shown with the lid in a closed
position.
[0011] FIG. 9 is a side view of the screen protector installation
machine of FIG. 1, shown with the lid in the closed position.
[0012] FIG. 10 is a front view of the screen protector installation
machine of FIG. 1, shown with the lid in the closed position.
[0013] FIG. 11 is a top view of the screen protector installation
machine of FIG. 1, shown with the lid in the closed position.
[0014] FIG. 12 is a top view of the screen protector laminate of
FIG. 1.
[0015] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments
illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe
the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of
the scope of the invention is thereby intended.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] As used herein, the term "substantially" refers to the
complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action,
characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For
example, an object that is "substantially" enclosed would mean that
the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely
enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute
completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context.
However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so
as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total
completion were obtained. The use of "substantially" is equally
applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the
complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic,
property, state, structure, item, or result.
[0017] As used herein, "adjacent" refers to the proximity of two
structures or elements. Particularly, elements that are identified
as being "adjacent" may be either abutting or connected. Such
elements may also be near or close to each other without
necessarily contacting each other. The exact degree of proximity
may in some cases depend on the specific context.
[0018] The terms "mobile device" and "cell phone" are used
interchangeably herein, unless otherwise specified, to refer to a
portable handheld electronic device, such as a cellular or cell
phone, tablet or tablet computer, phablet, game, and the like, with
a display screen, and that is portable and handheld. The display
screen can be a touch screen that can receive input by touch such
as finger swipes, and/or can have a virtual keyboard. The mobile
device can have a battery and memory and a processor with software
running thereon. The mobile device can have cellular, WiFi and/or
Bluetooth connectivity, and can have a wireless transmitter,
receiver, or transceiver. Thus, the mobile device can provide
internet browsing, game playing, movie and picture display, e-book
display, etc. In addition, the mobile device can include a digital
camera. Throughout the description, the term "cell phone" will be
used as an example of the mobile device, and such use of the term
"cell phone" includes all mobile devices or portable handheld
electronic devices, unless otherwise specified.
[0019] The term "screen protector" is used herein to refer to a
layer or film placed on or over a display screen of the mobile
device to provide protection to the display screen. The screen
protector can comprise one or more layers, such as a protective
glass or plastic layer, an adhesive layer to affix the protective
layer to the screen of the mobile device, etc. The screen protector
can be transparent such that the display screen can be viewed
through the screen protector. In one aspect, the screen protector
can be flexible and can comprise a flexible film supported by the
screen of the mobile device. In another aspect, the screen
protector can be rigid enough to maintain its shape and be
self-supporting. In one aspect, the screen protector can be
disposed directly on the display screen. In another aspect, the
screen protector can be disposed over and above the display screen,
with a space or gap therebetween. The screen protector can have a
size and shape to substantially match or cover the display screen.
In addition, the screen protector can extend beyond the display
screen and cover other portions of a user surface of the portable
handheld electronic device. The screen protector can have notches
or cut-outs in the perimeter thereof, and/or apertures
therethrough, to accommodate accessories of the portable handheld
electronic device, such as a camera lens, a speaker, a button, etc.
In addition, the screen protector can have lateral sides that are
curved to match or follow a curvature of the display screen, which
can have curved lateral sides extending to lateral edges of the
portable handheld electronic device. The outermost lateral edges of
the screen protector can contact the display screen to eliminate a
gap at the lateral perimeter of the screen protector and the
display screen. Thus, the curvature of the lateral edges of the
screen protector can have a slightly different curvature than the
lateral edges of the display screen.
[0020] An initial overview of the inventive concepts are provided
below and then specific examples are described in further detail
later. This initial summary is intended to aid readers in
understanding the examples more quickly, but is not intended to
identify key features or essential features of the examples, nor is
it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0021] The invention presents a screen protector installation
machine for use with a screen protector laminate to apply a screen
protector from the laminate to a mobile device. The laminate can
comprise a web or web layer that carries and supports other layers,
including the screen protector and a backing layer on the screen
protector opposite the web. Thus, the screen protector is
sandwiched between the web and the backing layer. The web can be
larger than the screen protector and the backing layer such that
the screen protector and the backing layer are suspended and
circumscribed around a perimeter by the web. The backing layer can
cover an adhesive layer of the screen protector until
installation.
[0022] The machine comprises a lid coupled to a base and closable
over the base. In one aspect, the lid can be pivotally coupled to
the base. The base comprises an impression to receive and secure
the mobile device. In one aspect, the base can receive one of
multiple interchangeable blanks each having a different impression
or cavity corresponding to a particular mobile device or cellular
phone. A first slider is carried by the lid and comprises a spool
rotatable with respect to the lid. During use, the laminate is
carried by the lid and positioned between the lid and the spool,
and the spool is positioned between the laminate and the
impression. The web of the laminate is coupled to the lid and a tab
of the backing layer is coupled to the spool. As the slider slides
over the impression and the mobile device, the spool rotates to
wind the backing layer around the spool to expose the screen
protector, or the adhesive layer thereof, for installation on the
mobile device. In addition to exposing the screen protector, the
lid properly positions and orients the screen protector over the
mobile device. Furthermore, the lid is automatically lowered onto
the base, and the screen protector is automatically lowered onto
the mobile device, by movement of the first slider after the
backing layer is removed.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 12, a screen protector laminate 14 is
shown in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for use
with a screen protector installation machine such as machine 10
shown in FIGS. 1-11. The laminate 14 comprises the screen protector
18 carried by a web 22 or web layer. The web 22 can carry all the
components of the laminate 14, and can be affixed to and carried by
the machine 10. Thus, the web 22 can be sized much larger than the
screen protector 18 such that the screen protector 18 is suspended
from the web 22 and circumscribed by the web 22 around a perimeter
of the screen protector 18. In addition, the laminate comprises a
backing layer 26 over the screen protector 18 opposite the web 22.
Thus, the screen protector 18 is sandwiched between the web 22 and
the backing layer 26. The backing layer 26 can be a release liner
that covers and protects an adhesive layer of the screen protector
18 during shipping and handling, and that is removed immediately
preceding installation of the screen protector 18 on a display
screen of a mobile device or cell phone. The web 22 and the backing
layer 26 can be flexible.
[0024] The backing layer 26 can cover the entire screen protector
18. In addition, the backing layer 26 can have a tab 30 extending
beyond the screen protector 18 and over the web 22. The tab 30 can
be used with the machine 10 to remove the backing layer 26 from the
screen protector 18, or from the adhesive layer thereof, prior to
installation. The tab 30 can have an enlarged head 34 coupled to
the backing layer 26, or main portion thereof, by a narrower neck
38. In addition, the enlarged head 34 can have a narrower leading
end 42 and a wider trailing end 46 with a wider edge adjacent the
narrower neck 38. Furthermore, the tab 30 or enlarged head 34 can
tapper from the narrower leading end 42 to the wider trailing end
46. The narrower leading end 42 can form a proximal end of the
backing layer 26.
[0025] The web 22 can be elongated and can have opposite proximal
and distal ends, or leading and trailing ends. Holes 50 can be
formed in the web 22 at the proximal and distal ends. The holes 50
can be arranged in a hole pattern that is asymmetrical, or with the
hole pattern in the proximal end being different from the hole
pattern in the distal end. Thus, the web 22 can have only a single
correct orientation during use.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1-11, the screen protector installation
machine 10 is shown in an exemplary embodiment. The machine 10,
along with the screen protector laminate 14, can be used to install
the screen protector 18 on a display screen of a mobile device,
such as a cell phone 54. The machine 10 comprises a lid 58 coupled
to a base 62 and closable over the base 62. In one aspect, the lid
58 can pivot with respect to the base 62 and can be pivotally
coupled to the base 62. A hinge 66 can couple the lid 58 to the
base 62 with the lid 58 pivoting about the hinge 66 between: 1) an
open position with the lid 58 away from the base 62 (FIGS. 1-4); 2)
a closed position with the lid 58 over and/or on the base 62 (FIGS.
8-11); and 3) an intermediate position with the lid 58 over and
spaced-apart from the base 62 at an acute angle (FIGS. 5-7). Thus,
the lid 58 and the base 62 can form a clam-shell that can open to
receive a cell phone 54 and the screen protector laminate 14, and
can close to align and apply the screen protector 18 to the cell
phone 54.
[0027] The base 62 comprises an impression 70, such as a cavity, to
receive and secure the cell phone 54. The impression 70 can have a
perimeter of portions thereof that are contiguous with a perimeter
or portions thereof of the cell phone 54 to hold and position the
cell phone 54 in the base 62. In another aspect, the base 62 can
comprise interchangeable blanks 74 selectively secured to the base
62. Each blank 74 can comprise an impression 70 to receive and
secure a different cell phone. Thus, the base 62 can have a recess,
such as a cavity, with posts received in bores of a selected blank
74. In one aspect, the base 62 and/or the blank 74 can comprise a
pivotal connector 78 pivotally coupled to the base 62 or the blank
74 adjacent the impression 70, and having a protrusion inserted
into a socket of the cell phone 54. The protrusion can mimic a plug
adapted for the socket to further insure that the correct blank 74
is being used for the selected cell phone 54, and/or to further
secure the cell phone 54 with respect to the base 62.
[0028] Furthermore, a pair of rails 82 can be carried by the base
62 and positioned on opposite sides of the impression 70 or cavity.
In one aspect, the rails 82 can be formed on or with the blank 74.
In another aspect, the rails 82 can be formed on or with the base
62. The rails 82 can extend longitudinally along the base 62 and
along the length of the base 62, the impression 70, and the cell
phone 54. The rails 82 can have a leading end near the hinge 66 and
the lid 58 in the open position, and a trailing end 86 further from
the hinge 66. The trailing end 86 of the rails can have a taper
declining towards the base 62 and into or towards a cavity in the
base 62.
[0029] The lid 58 is adapted to receive, carry and secure the
screen protector laminate 14, and to align and position the screen
protector 18 of the laminate 14 over the impression 70, and thus
the screen of the cell phone 54. The lid 58 can have stumps 90
positioned on an inner surface of the lid 58. The stumps 90 can be
positioned at proximal and distal ends of the lid 58, and can mate
and correspond with the holes 50 of the laminate 14. The stumps 90
can be arranged in a stump pattern with the stumps at the proximal
end being different from stumps in a stump pattern in the distal
end. As described above, the stumps 90 and the holes 50 can be
patterned to properly orient the laminate 14 on the lid 50. The
holes 50 can be press-fit onto the stumps 90.
[0030] The lid 58 has an opening 94 therein positioned over the
impression 70 and over the cell phone 54 in the closed position.
The laminate 14 is positioned across the opening 94 and can extend
the length of the opening 94. The stubs 90 can be positioned at a
perimeter of the opening 94. Thus, the leading end of the web 22
can be coupled to the lid 58 at one end of a perimeter of the
opening 94 and a trailing end of the web 22 can be coupled to the
lid 58 at an opposite end of the perimeter of the opening 94. A
pair of opposite side slots 98 are defined between the web 22 and
opposite lateral sides of the opening 94.
[0031] The lid 58 can have a pair of tracks 102 carried by the lid
58 on opposite sides of the opening 94. The tracks 102 can face one
another across the opening 94. A pair of sliders, namely a first
slider 106 and a second slider 110, can be carried by the lid 58
and can slide back and forth along the pair of tracks 102. Unless
otherwise specified, the terms "first" and "second" are used to
distinguish the sliders from one another, and not to imply that two
sliders are required. In one aspect, the tracks 102 can be channels
and the sliders 106 and 110 can have carriages sliding in the
channels. In another aspect, the tracks 102 can be rails and the
sliders 106 and 110 can have carriages gripping the rails on
opposite sides thereof. The first slider 106 can be slid from an
initial position nearer the hinge 66 (defining the leading end of
the laminate or web) to a subsequent position at the trailing end
86 of the pair of rails 82 (defining a trailing end of the laminate
or web). In addition, the lid 58 can have a pair of racks 114
carried by the lid 58 and positioned on opposite sides of the
opening 94. The racks 114 can be located on an underside of the
lid.
[0032] The first slider 106 is carried by the lid 58 and slidable
back and forth along the pair of tracks 102. The first slider 106
removes the backing layer 26 from the laminate 14. The first slider
106 comprises a first handle 118 located above the opening 94 to be
grasped or engaged by a user, and slid across the opening 94. In
addition, the first slider 106 comprise a spool 122 positioned
below the first handle 118, below the opening 94 and below the lid
58. The first slider 106 and/or the first handle 118 has a pair of
lateral spars 126 extending between the first handle 118 and the
spool 122, and extending through the opposite side slots 98 between
the laminate 14 and the sides of the opening 94. Thus, the first
handle 118 can be coupled to the spool 122 through the pair of
opposite side slots 98. The lateral spars 126 can be secured to the
carriages engaging the tracks 102. In use, the laminate 14 can be
positioned across the opening and between the opening 94 and the
spool 122. Thus, the spool 122 is positioned below the laminate 14,
and adjacent the backing layer 26.
[0033] The tab 30 of the backing layer 26 can be coupled to the
spool 122 so that the baking layer 26 can be wound around the spool
122 as the spool 122 rotates and the first slider 106 slides. The
spool 122 can have a slot 130 to receive tab 30, or the head 34
thereof. The slot 130 can have a width less than the trailing end
46 of the head 34, and the wider edge 46 of the enlarged head 34
can be wider than the slot 130. Thus, the head 34 compresses to
pass through the slot 130, and expands when withdrawn from the
other end of the slot 130, with the wider edge 46 abutting a
perimeter of the slot 130 to retain the neck 38 of the tab 30 in
the slot 130.
[0034] The machine 10 can comprise a rack and pinion type interface
between the first slider 106 and the lid 58, and coupled to the
spool 122 to rotate the spool 122 as the first slider 106 slides
along the track 102. As described above, a pair of racks 114 can be
carried on an underside of the lid 58. A pair of pinions 134, such
as gears, can be coupled to the spool 122 and can engage the pair
of racks 114 to rotate the spool 122 as the first slider 106
slides. In one aspect, the pinions 134 and the spool 122 can be
co-axial and fixed with respect to one another. The spool 122
rotates and winds the backing layer 26 of the laminate 14 around
the spool 122, and removes the backing layer 26 from the laminate
14 and the screen protector 18 as the first slider 106 slides from
the initial position to the subsequent position. The spool 122 can
be sized, such as with an outer diameter, to wind the backing layer
26 as the first slider 106 slides.
[0035] A pair of wheels 138, such as bearings or sliders, can be
coupled to the first slider 106. Unless otherwise specified, the
term "wheel" is used herein broadly to include bearing or sliders.
In one aspect, the wheels 138 and the spool 122 can be co-axial.
The wheels 138 can turn freely with respect to the spool 122 and
the pinions 134 or gears. The wheels 138 ride on the pair of rails
82 of the base 62 when the lid 58 is in the intermediate position.
The pair of wheels 138 abut to the pair of rails 82 in the
intermediate position to resist the lid 58 from moving to the
closed position, and to maintain the screen protector 18 off of the
cell phone 54 until the backing layer 26 has been removed and the
adhesive exposed. The pair of wheels 138 can follow the taper of
the trailing end 86 of the pair of rails 82 to allow the lid 58 to
move from the intermediate position to the closed position. Thus,
the first slider 106 maintains the lid 58, and thus the screen
protector 18, spaced-apart from the cell phone 54. While sliding,
the first slider 106 removes the backing layer 26 from the screen
protector 18 and the web 22, and automatically allows the lid to
close under the force of gravity to automatically place the screen
protector 18, such as the adhesive layer thereof, onto the screen
of the cell phone 54.
[0036] As described above, the second slider 110 is carried by the
lid 58 and is slidable back and forth along the pair of tracks 102.
The second slider 110 comprises a second handle 142 positioned
above the opening 94 and a roller 146 below the second handle 142,
but above the laminate 14, the web 22 and the screen protector 18.
The roller 146 is positioned adjacent and against the web 22 of the
laminate 14 to abut to the web 22 of the laminate 14 and press the
screen protector 18, and the adhesive layer thereof, against the
cell phone 54 as the second slider 110 slides back and forth while
the lid 58 is in the closed position. The roller 146 can have a
width to match a width of the screen protector 18.
[0037] As described above, the holes 50 of the laminate 14 or the
web 22 can be coupled to the stumps 90 positioned on the inner
surface of the lid 58 to hold the web 14 and the screen protector
18 from moving with respect to the lid 58, the base 62, and the
cell phone 54. The holes 50 can be press-fit onto the stumps 90.
The stumps 90 and the holes 50 can be patterned so that only one
position and orientation of the laminate 14 is possible to insure
correct positioning and alignment of the screen protector 18 with
respect to the cell phone 54. In addition, the base 62 or the blank
74 can have holes 150 corresponding to at least some of the stumps
90 to insure that correct blank 74 is being used, and/or to keep
the web 22 on the lid 58.
[0038] A method for installing a screen protector 18 on a cell
phone 54, and for using the machine 10 described above, comprises:
[0039] opening the lid 58 of the machine 10 and positioning the
first and second sliders 106 and 110 to their initial positions
nearer the hinge 66; selecting a correct blank 74 with an
impression 70 that matches the cell phone 54; [0040] positioning
the blank 74 on the base 62; [0041] fitting the laminate 14 to the
lid 58, which may comprise: [0042] threading the laminate 14
between the spool 122 and the first handle 118; [0043] fitting the
holes 50 of the web 14 onto the stubs 90 of the lid 58; [0044]
inserting the tab 30 of the backing layer 26 into the slot 130 of
the spool 122, which may comprise inserting the enlarged head 34
through the slot 130; [0045] pivoting the lid 58 to the
intermediate position with the wheels 138 against the rails 82;
[0046] sliding the first slider 106 from the initial position
towards the subsequent position with the spool 122 rotating and
winding the backing layer 26 around the spool 122 and exposing the
screen protector 18 and adhesive layer thereof; [0047] allowing the
wheels 138 to follow the trailing end 86 of the rails 82 towards
the base 62, and allowing the lid 58 to close with respect to the
base 62, and allowing the exposed screen protector 18 and adhesive
thereof to contact the cell phone 54; and [0048] sliding the second
slider 110 from the initial position towards a subsequent position
with the roller 146 pressing the web 22, and thus the screen
protector 18 against the cell phone 54. The second slider 110 can
be slid back and forth.
[0049] It is to be understood that the examples set forth herein
are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or
materials disclosed, but are extended to equivalents thereof as
would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant
arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein
is used for the purpose of describing particular examples only and
is not intended to be limiting.
[0050] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or
characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or
more examples. In the description, numerous specific details are
provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to
provide a thorough understanding of the technology being described.
One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the
invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific
details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In
other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations
are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of
the invention.
[0051] While the foregoing examples are illustrative of the
principles of the invention in one or more particular applications,
it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that
numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation
can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without
departing from the principles and concepts described herein.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited,
except as by the claims set forth below.
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