A screen protector is generally used for an electronic device, such as a cell phone, (global positioning system) GPS unit, tablet computer or communication device, game console, hand-held device, PDA (personal digital assistant), e-book reader, texting or email device, or laptop computer. Screen protectors are known in the art to protect the screens of such devices, from inadvertent scratching and scuffing. In addition, for devices that utilize touch screens, the protector keeps skin oil off the screen, keeping them cleaner and more functional. They also help increase longevity and improve performance of such devices.
One embodiment of the invention describes a screen protector which has the unique property of giving the user tactile feedback of where they are on the screen.
Screen protectors for electronic devices have been available for some time (
One embodiment of the invention shows a small ridge that protrudes vertically out of the screen protector, so that the user can feel that under his/her finger/touch. Other variations are also presented here.
One embodiment of the invention, e.g. as described in
Our invention has different variations and types. For example, the marker(s) can be in the shape of dots, lines, circles, crosses, squares, other geometrical shapes and patterns, or any asymmetrical shape or pattern. It can be one marker or multiple (tactile) markers. It can be made of soft, elastic, plastic, or flexible material. Alternatively, it can be made of rigid, solid, or coarse material. In one embodiment, the marker is going inward or lower or down (as a hole, recess, or niche), with respect to the surface of the screen protector. In one embodiment, the marker is going outward or higher or up, with respect to the surface of the screen protector, e.g. as a lip or tongue. In one embodiment, the markers are parallel to each other. In one embodiment, the markers are perpendicular to each other. In one embodiment, the markers are diagonal or crossed with an angle, with respect to each other. In one embodiment, the markers are arrays or matrix of dots or patterns of smaller shapes or objects.
Different materials can be used (e.g. plastic, elastic, transparent, translucent, polymer, touch-sensitive screen or layer, or rubber). One can also replace the protector for different users, depending on preferences, e.g. on the material and color, and size of fingers or hands, for better guiding the fingers and ease of use.
The ridge can be fabricated in a variety of means, including forming out of the screen material itself (e.g. cold forming, thermoforming, hydroforming, explosion forming, etc.), or it can be made of a second material that sits on top of the screen protector. This second material can be applied in various ways (e.g. a sticker, glue, molding, printing of ink, printing of plastic, vacuum, surface tension, using very smooth surfaces, using friction, Velcro-type mechanism, hook-and-loop strap tape, etc.). Tactile feedback can also be accomplished by having the barrier recess into the screen protector. This trough can be created by forming the material as mentioned before. It could also be formed into the material by reducing the thickness of the screen protector locally.
Here are the components of
110: Cover. In one embodiment, the cover is dimensioned to cover the exposed screen of the device. In one embodiment, the cover is dimensioned slightly less than the exposed screen size to allow a tolerance for alignment to the screen.
120: Cover material
130: Mark, e.g., bridge, indentation, bump, or curved surface, e.g., in the form of line.
Here are the components of
210: Cover
230, 232, 234, 236: Multiple Marks, e.g., bridge or indentation or lip or extension, e.g., in the form of line or curve. In one embodiment, the mark(s) identify the location of soft keyboard row(s) of keys or specific key(s), precisely or roughly.
Note that the multiple lines or markers may have different sizes, thicknesses, depths, feel, material, shape, or heights, to distinguish the main line from the secondary lines or markers, by just the touch and feel of the fingers, to locate and distinguish various regions of the keyboard or menu on the screen.
Here are the components of
310: Cover
330: Mark, toward the bottom side, e.g., bridge or indentation, e.g., in form of line.
332 and/or 334: Mark(s) toward left and/or right sides. In one embodiment, the mark(s) identify the location of soft keyboard row(s) of keys or specific key(s), or regions on screen.
In various embodiments, the protector can be in one piece or multiple pieces. The protector can be in one layer or multiple layers. The protector can be made of one material or multiple materials. The protector can be in rectangular or square shape, or any other arbitrary shape, for different embodiments. The protector can be thick or thin, or variable thickness, for more user's comfort and handlings.
Here are the components of
400: Device with screen, e.g., a Mobile Device
405: Screen
410: Cover, e.g., transparent.
Any variations of the above teaching are also intended to be covered by this patent application.
The current application is related to (continuation of) a prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/395,025, filed on May 7, 2010, with the same inventors and assignee, and similar title, taking benefits of all teachings and earlier filing date of that application.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61395025 | May 2010 | US |