Special receptacle or package – For a household appliance
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-25
2001-08-14
Fidei, David T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a household appliance
C206S811000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273252
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a protective covering for a hand-held device and, in particular, for a communications device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Portable cell phones, pagers and similar hand-held devices currently enjoy tremendous popularity. These communications devices are carried along virtually everywhere and, as such, are inevitably exposed to the elements and are also liable to be dropped in puddles or snow.
Since water can affect the operation of, and even ruin, a cell phone, pager, or other electronic device, protective coverings have been developed for such communications devices. However, none of these coverings forms an entirely satisfactory barrier to water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to shield hand-held devices in general, and electronic communications devices in particular, from water more effectively.
The preceding object, as well as others which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by the invention.
One aspect of the invention resides in a one-shot, i.e., single-use or disposable, protective covering for a hand-held communications device or similar device. The covering comprises a one-piece elastically deformable resilient bag with a single opening. The bag has an undeformed condition and an expanded condition, and the bag is designed to fully enclose the hand-held device when the bag is in the expanded condition. The bag is further designed so that the device is insertable in the bag only upon expansion of the bag from the undeformed condition, and the bag conforms to the shape of the device after its introduction in the bag's expanded condition. The covering additionally comprises a layer of adhesive on the bag arranged to permit substantially complete sealing of the opening in the expanded condition of the bag, and both the adhesive and bag are substantially water-impermeable.
In accordance with the invention, a protective covering for a hand-held device includes a bag for reception of the device. The bag is of one piece and has a single opening which can be substantially completely sealed by an adhesive. The bag, as well as the adhesive for sealing the opening, are substantially water-impermeable. By virtue of these features, the covering enables the hand-held device to be well-protected from water.
Inasmuch as the bag is elastic and designed so that the hand-held device can be inserted therein only when the bag is expanded, the bag can shrink onto the communications device and conform to the contour thereof. This makes it possible for individual elements of the device, e.g., operating keys and the like, to be recognizable from the outside.
Another aspect of the invention resides in a hand-held article, such as a communications article. The article comprises a protective covering free of openings, and the covering includes a water-impermeable elastically deformable bag as well as water-impermeable bonding material sealing the bag against water. The article also comprises a device inside the bag, and the bag elastically grips the device.
An additional aspect of the invention resides in a method of protecting a device. The method comprises the steps of elastically expanding a substantially water-impermeable bag, and inserting the device in the bag while performing the expanding step. The method further comprises the steps of elastically gripping the device with the bag when the device is in the bag, and sealing the bag with substantially water-impermeable bonding material while performing the gripping step.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be forthcoming from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3954177 (1976-05-01), Faust
patent: 4185742 (1980-01-01), Fisk et al.
patent: 4763783 (1988-08-01), Talbot
patent: 5140800 (1992-08-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5467576 (1995-11-01), Hendriks
patent: 5499713 (1996-03-01), Huffer
patent: 5812188 (1998-09-01), Adair
patent: 6082535 (2000-07-01), Mitchell
Durando Antonio R.
Fidei David T.
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