Waterproof Cover for Personal Music Player
A waterproof enclosure for use with a personal music player having an earphone jack has a case formed of a flexible material and creates a watertight interior space sized to receive the personal music player. The case can have a lineout having a proximal end coupled to the case and a distal end with a waterproof sound emitting component. The case can have an audio adapter coupled to the case and to the sound emitting component and having a stem projecting into the interior space, the stem sized to connect with the earphone jack. The lineout can be integrally molded with the case.
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/734,752 filed on Apr. 12, 2007, and entitled “Waterproof Cover for Personal Music Player”, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/791,525 filed on Apr. 12, 2006, and entitled “Waterproof Protective Covering with Earpiece Assembly for Personal Music Player”. The entire disclosures of these prior applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure is generally directed to protective enclosures for personal music players, and more particularly to a waterproof cover that permits the use of a personal music player in a wet environment.
2. Description of Related Art
Small personal music players such as MP3 players and Apple's iPod products are known in the art. However, these products are not typically known to operate in a wet or aquatic environment. Protective and decorative skins and cases for these types of personal music players are also known in the art. However, a vast majority of these products are also not intended for use in a wet or aquatic environment. If a conventional personal music player is submerged in water or used in an environment with substantial moisture, these known skins or cases do not offer waterproof protection to prevent water damage to the personal music players.
There are several recent waterproof cases for personal music players and other electronic items. The products are typically rigid shells that house the player. These products can be relatively heavy and bulky and do not allow a user to operate at least some controls while the music player is housed inside the case. These products also require attachment of a separate set of waterproof headphones. The attachment point between the headphones and the case can create a water leak potential.
There is at least one known waterproof case that is known to have a rigid case and a flexible membrane on a portion of the case to permit operation of some of the controls for the music player. The joint or seal between the shell and the membrane also can create a water leak potential.
Waterproof MP3 players and other personal music players are also commercially available. These types of units require a user to download their music to the waterproof player. Unless the user uses the waterproof player all the time, the user must have at least one other standard unit and maintain and update both products. This can include downloading music to both units.
Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:
The present invention is directed to waterproof enclosures for personal music players and the like. The disclosed waterproof enclosures solve or improve upon one or more of the above-noted problems and disadvantages with personal music players and covers. In one example, a disclosed waterproof enclosure has a cover that is formed entirely of a flexible material such as silicone, rubber, or other elastomeric materials. In another example, a disclosed waterproof enclosure has an integral earphone device extending from a part of the case. In another example, a tether connects two parts of the waterproof case and creates an attachment loop for securing the waterproof enclosure to an article of clothing or other object to carry the device. In a further example, a disclosed waterproof enclosure includes an integral jack adapter that connects to an earphone jack on a personal music player when the enclosure is secured over the player. The disclosed waterproof enclosures permit an audio device such as a personal music player to be housed within the enclosure and to be used in a substantially wet environment, even while submerged to a limited depth during swimming, snorkeling, or the like.
Turning now to the drawings,
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In this example, the ear buds 32 are coupled to one another at a splitter 34, which in turn is coupled to the first part 14 of the case 12 by an elongate lineout or extension 36. The lineout 36 extends from a top of the first case part 14 in the disclosed example. As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the lineout 36 can extend from any part of the enclosure 10 and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The positioning of the lineout 36, as will become apparent below, can be varied according to the particular personal music player for which the enclosure 10 is intended. The earpiece or earphone lineout 36 is coupled to the case 12 at a location where an earphone connector or adapter 40 is carried on the case. In this example, the adapter 40 includes a stem 42 projecting into the interior of the enclosure 10. The stem 42 in the disclosed example is a conventional contact prong that can be received in an opening or earphone jack in a personal music player as is known in the art.
The stem 42 in this example extends from a shoulder or annular flange 44 positioned against an interior surface 46 of the first part 14 in the enclosure. The adapter 40 in this example includes a tail 48 on the exterior side of the case 12. The tail 48 can be connected to one or more wire leads 50 as is known in the art. In the disclosed example, the earphone adapter 40 can be integrally molded or insert molded as a part of the case 12 using an insert mold process. The adapter 40, wires 50, and sound emitting components in the ear buds 32 can be held in place in a mold. The flexible material of the case 12 can be molded around these components. The shoulder or flange 44 is sized larger than the tail 48 and stem 42. The flexible material of the case 12 surrounds the tail 48 and bears against the shoulder 44 to retaining the adapter in place as a part of the case 12. The tail and/or the shoulder can be configured with surface features that interlock with the surrounding flexible material when molded to retain the adapter 40 in place as well. The shoulder in such an example could be eliminated entirely.
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To create compression on the beads at the joint 20 upon assembly of the enclosure, the size of one or both of the parts 14 and 16 can be formed so as to be in relative tension when the case 12 is assembled. As shown in
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The enclosure 10 disclosed and described herein can be formed from any number of suitable materials. However, in one example, the material can be substantially flexible and resilient to perform its intended function and also be waterproof. In a particular example, the material can be hydrophobic such that it resists capillary action to further enhance the seal at the joint 20. Such materials can also be utilized and configured in a manner to tightly follow the contour of a personal music player housed within the interior of the enclosure. Snug or tight surface-to-surface contact between the external surfaces of the music player and the interior surfaces of the enclosure 10 can further resist water being able to enter the waterproof enclosure during use.
Another benefit of using a substantially flexible material for fabricating the enclosure is that a user may be able to operate the controls of the music player through the exterior case 12 during use. The flexibility of the material can permit a person to press buttons and manipulate actuators on the music player without having to open the enclosure. The position of the thin walled section 84 can vary to correspond to the position of the controls on a given music player. The design of the case 12 can be easily modified or manufactured to match the variety of music players available. Thus, the unit can be fully used under water. In one example, a liquid silicone rubber material or other similar gel-like or jelly like material can be used to integrally mold the case 12, the lineout 36, and the tether 18. Such materials, when molded, can be highly flexible, stretchable, bead water, and have a tacky surface feel. The contact points at the joint can thus create a substantial water tight seal due to the characteristics of the material. The flexible and resilient nature of such materials can permit easy insertion and removal of a music player from the unit and configuration of the cover to closely follow the contour of a given player. Such materials can also be puncture resistant and leak resistant even if punctured.
As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the size, shape, configuration, and material of the flexible waterproof enclosure 10 and earpiece and sound emitting components can vary considerably and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The material used for the flexible skin or case 12 can be any suitable flexible elastomeric material. The earpiece or headphone jack can be in-molded so as to make the entire assembly one piece as shown and described. Alternatively, the earpieces, lineout and jack adapter could be a separate part of the assembly that would be attached with a waterproof impermeable seal. The two sections pr parts 14 and 16 of the flexible case could be molded and interconnected by a tether as one piece, as in the example shown. Alternatively, the covering could be molded as two pieces if such configuration would be better suited to a particular personal music player or a particular seal design. The loop can be as shown connecting the two sections or portions of the case, or could be omitted or made to be entirely on one portion or the other. The enclosure can be used to cover any personal electronic device. However, in one example, the disclosed enclosure can be particularly suited for digital audio devices such as MP3 players or Apple's iPod units.
Although certain waterproof enclosures and features for personal music players or other electronic devices have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
Claims
1. A waterproof enclosure for use with a personal music player having an earphone jack, the enclosure comprising:
- a case formed of a flexible material and configurable to create a watertight interior space sized to receive the personal music player;
- a lineout having a proximal end coupled to the case and a distal end, the lineout integrally molded with the case;
- a waterproof sound emitting component at the distal end of the lineout; and
- an audio adapter coupled to the case and to the sound emitting component and having a stem projecting into the interior space, the stem sized to connect with the earphone jack.
2. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the case has a first part and a second part that together define the interior, wherein the case can be opened to expose the interior and can be closed along a joint, a watertight seal provided along the joint between the first and second parts when closed.
3. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 2, wherein the watertight seal extends circumferentially around the case and is provided in part on each of the first and second parts of the case.
4. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 2, wherein the watertight seal and the first and second parts of the case are integrally molded from a stretchable liquid silicone rubber material.
5. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 4, wherein a tether is integrally molded with and connects the first and second part of the case.
6. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 4, wherein the lineout is integrally covered by the flexible material forming the case.
7. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the audio adapter has a retainer that prevents the stem from being pulled from the case and a lineout extending from the jack adapter.
8. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 7, further comprising a wire lead extending within the lineout from the audio adapter to the waterproof sound emitting component, wherein the lineout is integrally formed from the flexible material as part of the case.
9. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 1, further comprising one or more wire leads extending from the audio adapter to the sound emitting component, wherein the one or more wire leads are encased in the flexible material integrally molded as part of the case.
10. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the lineout is integrally formed from the flexible material as part of the case, and wherein part of the audio adapter and the waterproof sound emitting component are encased in the flexible material with the lineout.
11. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the case is formed from a stretchable liquid silicone rubber material.
12. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 1, further comprising a thin walled section on the case having a wall thickness thinner than a thickness of the material of the case surrounding the thin walled section, wherein the thin walled section of the case permits actuation of the at least one control device through the case.
13. A waterproof enclosure for a personal music player having at least one control device on an exterior surface for operating a function of the player, the enclosure comprising:
- a case formed from a resilient flexible material and configurable to create a watertight interior space shaped and sized to receive the personal music player;
- a sound emitting component coupled to a lineout extending from the case; and
- a thin walled section on the case having a wall thickness thinner than a thickness of the material of the case surrounding the thin walled section,
- wherein the case and an outer sheath of the lineout are integrally molded with one another, and
- wherein the thin walled section of the case permits actuation of the at least one control device through the case.
14. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 13, wherein the case further comprises two parts configurable between a watertight closed configuration and an open configuration, the two parts joined along a watertight seal when in the closed configuration.
15. A waterproof enclosure according to claim 13, wherein the flexible material is a stretchable liquid silicone rubber material.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 16, 2010
Publication Date: Jan 27, 2011
Inventors: Janet Lee Latchford (Michigan City, IN), Lynette Kay Werner (Michigan City, IN), Bryan Jon Lempia (River Forest, IL)
Application Number: 12/857,419
International Classification: B65D 85/00 (20060101);