US20120152966A1

US20120152966A1 - Protective cover for electronic device

Info

Publication number: US20120152966A1
Application number: US12/979,478
Authority: US
Inventors: Bin Dai
Original assignee: Futaihua Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Futaihua Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-21
Filing date: 2010-12-28
Publication date: 2012-06-21
Also published as: CN102551300A

Abstract

A protective cover for an electronic device includes a bottom plate and a sidewall. The sidewall extends from an edge of the bottom plate. The protective cover defines a signal transmission opening, thereby exposing an antenna assembly portion of the electronic device. An inner surface of the protective cover is smooth, and an outer surface is rough.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to device protection and, more particularly, to a protective cover for an electronic device having a display.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to protect a housing of an electronic device, a silicone protective cover can be used. The silicon protective cover provides access to device controls while preventing direct contact therewith, which can potentially damage or disfigure the device. If the electronic device is dropped, the silicone protective cover can cushion the impact. The protective cover often defines openings providing access to connective elements of the device, such as a USB port and power input.
However, since the electronic device is entirely covered by the silicone protective cover, signal transmission to and from the electronic device may be affected, and the appearance of the covered device may be unappealing.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a protective cover.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from another angle.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the protective cover of FIG. 1, covering an electronic device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the protective cover of FIG. 3, taken along line IV-IV.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a mold for manufacturing the protective cover of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, an embodiment of a protective cover 30 for an electronic device 40 includes a bottom plate 31 and a sidewall 32 extending from an edge thereof. A top end of the sidewall 32 angles inwardly to form a hooked portion 33. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom plate 31 is substantially rectangular. The sidewall 32 includes a first curved plate 321, a second curved plate 322, a third curved plate 323, and a fourth curved plate 324. The first curved plate 321, the second curved plate 322, the third curved plate 323, and the fourth curved plate 324 cooperatively form a substantial rectangular shape. The protective cover 30 is made of silicone. The electronic device 40 has a touch panel 41.
The first curved plate 321 defines a signal transmission opening 3211 in an end corresponding to an antenna assembly portion 401 (see FIG. 4) of the electronic device 40. The first curved plate 321 further defines a first access opening 3212 in a middle portion corresponding to a USB jack (not shown) of the electronic device 40.
The second curved plate 322 defines a second access opening 3221 in an end away from the first curved plate 321, corresponding to a volume control (not shown) of the electronic device 40.
The third curved plate 323 defines a third access opening 3231 in an end adjacent to the second curved plate 322, corresponding to a power jack (not shown) of the electronic device 40.
In the illustrated embodiment, an inner surface 301 of the protective cover 30 is smooth, and an outer surface 302 is rough.
When the protective cover 30 is applied on the electronic device 40, the inner surface 301 snugly conforms to the contours thereof. The antenna assembly portion 401 is exposed via the signal transmission opening 3211. The USB jack, volume control and power jack are exposed via the first access opening 3212, the second access opening 3221, and the third access opening 3231, respectively.
Because the antenna assembly portion 401 is exposed via the signal transmission opening 3211, signal transmission of the electronic device 40 is unencumbered. In addition, since the protective cover 30 only covers a back portion of the electronic device 40, a favorable appearance is maintained.
Referring to FIG. 5, the protective cover 30 is manufactured by an injection mold 50. The injection mold 50 includes a first mold 51 and a second mold 52. A protrusion 511 is formed on the first mold 51, and an outer surface 5110 of the protrusion 511 is a smooth surface. The second mold 52 defines a groove 521 and an inner surface 5210 of the groove 521 is a rough surface. Molten silicone material is injected between the first mold 51 and the second mold 52, thereby forming the protective cover 30 with the smooth inner surface 301 and the rough outer surface 302.
While the smooth inner surface 301 of the protective cover 30 snugly conforms to the contours of the electronic device 40, the rough outer surface provides a stable and positive grip thereof.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages.

Claims

1. A protective cover for an electronic device, comprising:

a bottom plate; and

a sidewall extending from an edge of the bottom plate;

wherein the protective cover defines a signal transmission opening, thereby exposing an antenna assembly portion of the electronic device.

2. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the protective cover is a smooth surface.

3. The protective cover of claim 2, wherein an outer surface of the protective cover is a rough surface.

4. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the sidewall comprises a first curved plate, a second curved plate, a third curved plate, and a fourth curved plate; the first curved plate, the second curved plate, the third curved plate, and the fourth curved plate cooperatively form a substantially rectangular shape.

5. The protective cover of claim 4, wherein the signal transmission opening is defined in the first curved plate.

6. The protective cover of claim 5, wherein the first curved plate further defines a first access opening.

7. The protective cover of claim 6, wherein the second curved plate defines a second access opening in an end thereof away from the first curved plate.

8. The protective cover of claim 7, wherein the third curved plate defines a third access opening in an end thereof adjacent to the second curved plate.

9. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein a top end of the sidewall angles inwardly to form a hooked portion.

10. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is made of silicone.