Patents by Inventor Douglas A. Kempel
Douglas A. Kempel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9735827Abstract: A protective case for use with a portable electronic device includes a protective shell including a cavity for receiving the portable electronic device and a pliable surface disposed in an opening of the protective shell. The pliable surface being adapted to transmit at least a portion of a mechanical force applied at an external surface of the protective shell to the control feature of the installed portable electronic device to actuate the control feature of the installed portable electronic device. The protective case also includes a feature disposed in a wall of the protective shell for accessing an electrical connector of the installed portable electronic device from outside the protective shell.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Publication number: 20170099074Abstract: A protective case for use with a portable electronic device includes a protective shell including a cavity for receiving the portable electronic device and a pliable surface disposed in an opening of the protective shell. The pliable surface being adapted to transmit at least a portion of a mechanical force applied at an external surface of the protective shell to the control feature of the installed portable electronic device to actuate the control feature of the installed portable electronic device. The protective case also includes a feature disposed in a wall of the protective shell for accessing an electrical connector of the installed portable electronic device from outside the protective shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Patent number: 9560435Abstract: A protective enclosure for a mobile computing device that has an interactive touchscreen includes a first case member and a second case member. The second case member is attachable to the first case member via a latching mechanism, and the combined case members provide a protective interior of the enclosure. Pliable areas of the first and/or second case member align with a control button of the mobile computing device and transfer external force to the control button. An electrical connector of the protective enclosure is structured to engage a corresponding connector of the mobile computing device. The protective cover includes audio headphones and a headphone cable that connects between the audio headphones and an exterior surface of the second case member, electrically connecting the audio headphones to the electrical connector of the protective enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Patent number: 9402122Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts includes a protective shell having first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case member to at least partially cover the electronic device. An aperture defined by the protective shell is aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially enclosed by the protective shell. A securing mechanism secures the first member with the second member. An electrical connection attached to the protective shell is configured to connect an electrical source to at least one of the electrical contacts of the electronic device to provide an electrical connection to the electrical source when the electronic device is received by the first member.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Publication number: 20150319520Abstract: A protective enclosure for a mobile computing device that has an interactive touchscreen includes a first case member and a second case member. The second case member is attachable to the first case member via a latching mechanism, and the combined case members provide a protective interior of the enclosure. Pliable areas of the first and/or second case member align with a control button of the mobile computing device and transfer external force to the control button. An electrical connector of the protective enclosure is structured to engage a corresponding connector of the mobile computing device. The protective cover includes audio headphones and a headphone cable that connects between the audio headphones and an exterior surface of the second case member, electrically connecting the audio headphones to the electrical connector of the protective enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Patent number: 9145250Abstract: A protective enclosure for an electronic device such as a laptop computer or tablet computer that comprises a shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding the electronic device. The shell is substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant. The inside of the shell has a hook and loop liner with shock absorbing corner bumpers having hook and loop type bases so that the bumpers may attach at any point on the liner inside the shell to accommodate electronic devices of various sizes and to secure the device inside the enclosure in a shock absorbent suspended manner. The shell may further comprise a USB connector hub for connection to the USB port of a laptop computer or PC tablet enclosed in the protective shell.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Patent number: 9114923Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts includes a protective shell having a first member and a second member. The first member has a first coil arranged to convey electromagnetic energy with respect to a second, external coil. The second member is configured to join with the first case member to at least partially cover the electronic device. An aperture defined by the protective shell is aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially enclosed by the protective shell. An electrical connection attached to the protective shell is configured to directly or indirectly convey electrical power received at the first coil to at least one of the electrical contacts of the electronic device to provide an electrical connection to the electrical source when the electronic device is received by the first member.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Publication number: 20150175333Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts includes a protective shell having first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case member to at least partially cover the electronic device. An aperture defined by the protective shell is aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially enclosed by the protective shell. A securing mechanism secures the first member with the second member. An electrical connection attached to the protective shell is configured to connect an electrical source to at least one of the electrical contacts of the electronic device to provide an electrical connection to the electrical source when the electronic device is received by the first member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Publication number: 20150166237Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts includes a protective shell having a first member and a second member. The first member has a first coil arranged to convey electromagnetic energy with respect to a second, external coil. The second member is configured to join with the first case member to at least partially cover the electronic device. An aperture defined by the protective shell is aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially enclosed by the protective shell. An electrical connection attached to the protective shell is configured to directly or indirectly convey electrical power received at the first coil to at least one of the electrical contacts of the electronic device to provide an electrical connection to the electrical source when the electronic device is received by the first member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2015Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Patent number: 8976512Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts includes a protective shell having first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case member to at least partially cover the electronic device. An aperture defined by the protective shell is aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially enclosed by the protective shell. A securing mechanism secures the first member with the second member. An electrical connection attached to the protective shell is configured to connect an electrical source to at least one of the electrical contacts of the electronic device to provide an electrical connection to the electrical source when the electronic device is received by the first member.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Patent number: 8917496Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts includes a protective shell having first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case member to at least partially cover the electronic device. An aperture defined by the protective shell is aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially enclosed by the protective shell. A securing mechanism secures the first member with the second member. An electrical connection attached to the protective shell is configured to connect an electrical source to at least one of the electrical contacts of the electronic device to provide an electrical connection to the electrical source when the electronic device is received by the first member.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Patent number: 8767385Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel includes a protective shell having a first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case. An aperture defined by the protective shell aligns with the interactive control panel. A protective membrane for an electronic device includes a sheet of engineered thermoplastic having dimensions corresponding to features of a surface of the electronic device, and has a combination of sufficient thinness and a dielectric constant that together permit capacitive inputs on a front side of the protective membrane to be transmitted to the capacitance sensing interactive control panel. The protective cover and/or the protective membrane include a metalized coating or metallic additive.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Publication number: 20140090990Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel includes a protective shell having a first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case. An aperture defined by the protective shell aligns with the interactive control panel. A protective membrane for an electronic device includes a sheet of engineered thermoplastic having dimensions corresponding to features of a surface of the electronic device, and has a combination of sufficient thinness and a dielectric constant that together permit capacitive inputs on a front side of the protective membrane to be transmitted to the capacitance sensing interactive control panel. The protective cover and/or the protective membrane include a metalized coating or metallic additive.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel
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Patent number: 7688580Abstract: A protective enclosure for an electronic device that has a protective shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding the touch screen device in a substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant manner. Modular units can be releasably connected in a rigid manner to the protective enclosure to form an integrated unitary device that is substantially crush-resistant and watertight unit. The modular units can be interchangeable and connect to the protective case using the same format.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas A. Kempel, Jamie L. Johnson
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Patent number: 7663879Abstract: There is provided by this invention a protective enclosure for a personal electronic device that is generally comprised of a shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding the electronic device disposed to make the shell substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant. The enclosure has a transparent flexible protective membrane that is integrally fixed on the shell so that the flexible protective membrane is positioned over the touch screen of the electronic device when the electronic device is enclosed in the shell. The flexible protective membrane having a back side that has a substantially planar smooth surface that is adjacent to the touch screen of the electronic device wherein tactile inputs on a front side of the flexible protective membrane are communicated to the touch screen through the transparent flexible protective membrane.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas Kempel
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Patent number: 7449650Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-directional activation button disposed on a protective case for activating a multi-directional control device on an electronic device. The multi-directional activation button has a flexible membrane with a top side divided into directional surfaces that are aligned with a plurality of directions of operation of said multi-directional activation button. A membrane supports an extension that engages the multi-directional control device. The membrane has a length from a pivot point that controls the direction and the amount of movement of an activation extension wherein movement from the pivot point simulates an extension of a user's finger depending upon which directional surface of the rubber membrane is depressed by the user's finger. The multi-directional activation button may be utilized for push button activation, toggle slide operations, dial wheel, or joy stick like operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2007Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Alan Morine, Douglas Kempel
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Publication number: 20080017493Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-directional activation button disposed on a protective case for activating a multi-directional control device on an electronic device. The multi-directional activation button has a flexible membrane with a top side divided into directional surfaces that are aligned with a plurality of directions of operation of said multi-directional activation button. A membrane supports an extension that engages the multi-directional control device. The membrane has a length from a pivot point that controls the direction and the amount of movement of an activation extension wherein movement from the pivot point simulates an extension of a user's finger depending upon which directional surface of the rubber membrane is depressed by the user's finger. The multi-directional activation button may be utilized for push button activation, toggle slide operations, dial wheel, or joy stick like operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Inventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Alan Morine, Douglas Kempel
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Publication number: 20070297149Abstract: A protective enclosure for an electronic device that has a protective shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding the touch screen device in a substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant manner. Modular units can be releasably connected in a rigid manner to the protective enclosure to form an integrated unitary device that is substantially crush-resistant and watertight unit. The modular units can be interchangeable and connect to the protective case using the same format.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2007Publication date: December 27, 2007Applicant: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: Curtis Richardson, Douglas Kempel, Jamie Johnson
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Patent number: 7312984Abstract: A protective enclosure is disclosed for an interactive flat-panel control device. The protective enclosure is watertight, crush-resistant, and impact-resistant. An electrical adapter may disposed within the protective enclosure and covered with an elastomeric covering that permits a connector of the adapter to flex with respect to the lower shell of the enclosure so that the connector may easily be inserted into an interface jack of the electronic device. The elastomeric covering also provides a watertight seal that enables the protective enclosure to be submersibly watertight. While providing protection, the protective enclosure simultaneously allows smooth and accurate interaction with the interactive flat-panel controlled device. The protective enclosure has a protective membrane that permits RF and touch screen stylus inputs, as well as capacitance, such as from a finger, to be transmitted accurately to the flat-panel control.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Brian P. Thomas, Douglas A. Kempel, Alan V. Morine
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Patent number: D581421Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2006Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: Curtis R. Richardson, Douglas Kempel