U.S. patent number RE35,318 [Application Number 08/276,983] was granted by the patent office on 1996-08-27 for viewing screen protective shield.
Invention is credited to William J. Warman.
United States Patent |
RE35,318 |
Warman |
August 27, 1996 |
Viewing screen protective shield
Abstract
A viewing screen protective shield is set forth removably
securable in association with a viewing screen, such as LCR
screens, as found in fish finders and the like, which are typically
exposed to adverse weather conditions. The protective shield is
readily removable and replaceable and include convex peripheral
edges to conform the shield to the convex screen with an outwardly
extending tab formed outwardly of a single corner of the shield to
enhance manual grasping thereof. To enhance securement of the
shield to the associated screen, a plurality of transparent
adhesive strips may be secured to an interior surface of the shield
to enhance securement of the transparent shield to the associated
screen.
Inventors: |
Warman; William J. (Mesa,
AZ) |
Family
ID: |
23198431 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/276,983 |
Filed: |
July 19, 1994 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
309486 |
Feb 13, 1989 |
05132588 |
Jul 21, 1992 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
313/479; 313/478;
348/818; 348/832 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01J
29/867 (20130101); H01J 29/896 (20130101); H04N
5/65 (20130101); H01J 2229/8922 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01J
29/89 (20060101); H04N 5/65 (20060101); H04N
005/72 () |
Field of
Search: |
;150/154,158,165,168
;348/818,819,832 ;313/461,477R,478,479 ;43/4,17.1 ;428/40
;220/2.1R,2.1A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Horabik; Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lisa; Donald J.
Claims
What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the United States is as follows: .[.1. A viewing screen
protective shield for use in combination with an electronic device
having a convex viewing screen formed with arcuate corners, said
shield comprising,
a thin transparent film of constant thickness defined by a forward
face and a rear face, and
said film defined by a generally rectangular configuration with
convex outwardly extending peripheral edges, and
said edges defined by a top, bottom, right, and left edge, and
a tab extending outwardly of a junction defined by said top and
left edges, and
wherein the junctions defined by the intersection of the top and
right edges, right and bottom edges, bottom and left edges, are of
arcuate geometric configuration to conform to the arcuate corners
of the viewing screen, and
wherein the film is polarized to minimize glare when utilized in an
environment exposed to sunlight, and
wherein a first and second clear transparent adhesive strip is
secured to the rear face of the film adjacent the right and left
edges of the film, and
wherein the adhesive strips include an overlying removable covering
strip manually removable to expose adhesive thereunder for enhanced
securement
to the viewing screen..]..Iadd.2. A method of using a thin film to
protectively shield an electronic instrument comprising the steps
of:
providing an electronic instrument having a face plate having an
outermost major surface portion,
providing a thin, flexible, transparent, plastic film of generally
constant thickness having a major surface portion, and
completely applying and releasably adhering the major surface
portion of the film to the outermost major surface portion of the
face plate.
.Iaddend..Iadd.3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step
of:
applying a releasable, clear, transparent, adhesive layer between
the film and the face plate for enabling enhanced securement of the
film to the face plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.4. The method of claim 2
wherein the thin film providing step further comprises the step
of:
providing the thin film as a single sheet of polarized film to
minimize glare when utilized in an environment exposed to
sunlight.
.Iaddend..Iadd. . A method of using a thin film to protectively
shield an electronic instrument comprising the steps of:
providing an electronic instrument having a polymeric face plate
having an outermost major surface portion,
providing a thin, flexible, transparent film of polymeric material
of generally constant thickness having a major surface portion,
and
completely contacting the major surface portion of the film
directly to the outermost major surface of the face plate without
an intermediate adhesive layer therebetween while naturally
releasably adhering the film to the
face plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.6. A protective shield and electronic
instrument assembly comprising:
an electronic instrument having a face plate having an outermost
major surface portion,
a thin, flexible, transparent, plastic film of generally constant
thickness having a major surface portion completely applied to and
releasably adhered to the outermost major surface portion of the
face plate.
.Iaddend..Iadd.7. The assembly of claim 6 further comprising:
a releasable, clear, transparent, adhesive layer between the film
and the face plate for enabling enhanced securement of the film to
the face plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein
the film is a single polarized sheet to minimize glare when
utilized in an environment exposed
to sunlight. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. A protective shield and electronic
instrument assembly comprising:
an electronic instrument having a polymeric face plate having an
outermost major surface portion,
a thin, flexible, transparent film of polymeric material of
generally constant thickness having a major surface portion
completely in direct contact with and releasably adhered to the
outermost major surface portion of the face plate without an
intermediate adhesive layer therebetween. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to protective shields, and more
particularly pertains to a new and improved viewing screen
protective shield wherein the same may be readily secured and
replaced as necessary in association with a viewing screen
typically exposed to erosion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of protective shields of various types to afford a level of
protection to an associated device is known in the prior art.
Shields of the prior art have typically been of cumbersome and
expansive construction or of configurations not particularly well
suited for providing replacement shields to viewing screens exposed
to erosion in their environment such as fish finders and the like,
and subject to solar, airborne dust particles, and water spray
exposure. Examples of prior art protective shields available may be
found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,674 to Crawford for example. The
Crawford patent utilizes an angulated shield securable to an upper
surface of a television receiver to deflect articles falling
thereon. The angulation of the upper shield prevents objects from
entering the electrical circuitry and air ducts rearwardly of the
television set.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,568 to Dynesen sets forth a casing pivotally
mounted rearwardly of a calculator that may optionally support or
protect the calculator face. The Dynesen patent is of relatively
rigid construction to address the problem of protecting a
calculator during storage thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,406 to Weatherspoon sets forth a flexible vinyl
protective covering for securement overlying a vehicular windshield
including a plurality of fasteners for securement of the shield to
the automobile as well as utilizing stiffening elements along
peripheral side edges of the shield to maintain the geometric
integrity of the shield during use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,776 to Ward sets forth a transparent shield
utilizing hook and loop fasteners for securement of the shield and
an associated foam protective layer to cover the elongate surfaces
of various electrical devices to enable utilization of the device
while simultaneously protecting the device subject to breakage
during use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,043 to Booker sets forth an enclosure for
calculator type devices utilizing an enclosure with a transparent
window positioned therethrough to enable access to the various
components of the calculator or the like while simultaneously
protecting the calculator from impact during use.
As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for
a new and improved viewing screen protective shield wherein the
same addresses both the problems of effectiveness in use and ease
of installation or removal, and in this respect, the present
invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of protective shields now present in the prior art, the present
invention provides a viewing screen protective shield wherein the
same may be readily and efficiently securable to a viewing screen
typically subject to destructive environmental conditions. As such,
the general purpose of the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and
improved viewing screen protective shield which has all the
advantages of the prior art protective shields and none of the
disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention comprises a relatively thin
polymeric flexible shield adherably mountable to a viewing screen.
The shield is of generally rectangular configuration formed with
convexly outwardly extending peripheral edges with a single
extending tab directed outwardly of a corner of the intersection of
two of the edges to enable and enhance manual grasping of the
shield. The shield may be polarized to reduce glare in daylight
viewing conditions and be further provided with a plurality of
transparent adhesive strips for enhanced securement of the shield
to a viewing screen.
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but
rather in the particular combination of all of them herein
disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in
this particular combination of all of its structures for the
functions specified.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are, of course additional features of the invention that will
be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of
the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is
based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several
purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that
the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application, which
is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to
the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved viewing screen protective shield which has all the
advantages of the prior art protective shields and none of the
disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved viewing screen protective shields which may be easily and
efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved viewing screen protective shield which is of a durable
and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved viewing screen protective shield which is susceptible
of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and
labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of
sale to the consuming public, thereby making such viewing screen
protective shields economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
new and improved viewing screen protective shield which provides in
the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages
thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages
normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved viewing screen protective shield wherein the same is
readily securable and releasable in association with a viewing
screen.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming
a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the
invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects
attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated
preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of the instant invention in
association with an electronic device including a viewing
screen.
FIG. 2 is an orthographic top plan view of the instant
invention.
FIG. 3 is an isometric illustration of Section 3, as illustrated in
FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to
3 thereof, a new and improved viewing screen protective shield
embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and
generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be
described.
More specifically, it will be noted that the viewing screen
protective shield 10 essentially comprises a polymetric transparent
film 11 adherably securable to the viewing screen 13 of an
electronic instrument 12, such as a fish finder and the like.
Instruments of this class are typically exposed to adverse
environmental conditions such as airborne debris, dust, water
vapor, and solar exposure. The viewing screen 13 is formed with
arcuate corners conventional in the industry and is of a generally
convex outwardly extending geometric configuration. The film 11 may
be formed to be polarized to reduce glare during usage of the
device 12 and film 11 in outdoor environments.
The film 11 is formed with convex peripheral edges including top
edge 14, bottom edge 15, right edge 16, and left edge 17, whereupon
application of the film to the viewing screen 12, the film 11 will
overlie the entire surface of the screen. A tab 18 extends
diagonally outwardly of the intersection of the left and top edges
17 and 14 respectively to enhance manual grasping of the film to
enable an individual to readily remove and replace the film 11 as
it, rather than the more expensive screen 12, loses clarity due to
exposure in particular environmental scenarios.
The intersection of the top and right edges 14 and 16, right and
bottom 16 and 15, and bottom and left edges 15 and 17, are formed
as arcuate corners to conform the film 11 to the viewing screen
13.
Further, natural adhesion between the polymeric film 11 and the
polymeric viewing screen 13 enables adhesion of the film to the
screen. Additional transparent adhesive strips 19 and 20 positioned
adjacent right and left edges 16 and 17 respectively enables
enhanced securement of the film 11 to the screen 13 wherein each
adhesive strip is provided with a removable covering strip 22 that
may be peeled away to expose the adhesive thereunder and enable the
securement of the film to the screen 13. Further, it should be
noted that the film 11 is of a constant thickness throughout to
avoid distortion in the viewing of subject matter presented by the
electronic device 12 through the viewing screen 13.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention,
the same should be apparent from the above description, and
accordingly no further discussion relative to the manner of usage
and operation of the instant invention shall be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *