Data entry terminal having flexible, transparent front cover

Abstract

A durable, clear, protective cover for a device having a touch screen, keypad, or other user interface. The cover protects the device without interfering with the ability to use the device. The protective cover is constructed by vacuum-forming a thin sheet of transparent polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on the front and at least a portion of the sides of a mold made of the target device. Accordingly, the protective cover made from a single piece of material will have the topography matching the device, which facilitates in the continued usability of the device when the protective cover is disposed on the device. Furthermore, the protective cover fits securely on the device such that no adhesives or other mechanisms are required to secure the protective cover onto the device, nor are any tools required to install or remove the protective cover.

1 . A protective cover for use with a data entry device having at least a front and a plurality of sides, the front of the data entry device having at least one of a touch screen interface and a keypad, comprising: 
 a thin, flexible, transparent, unitary structure having a topography corresponding to the front and at least a portion of the plurality of sides of the data entry device, wherein the structure is of sufficient size and elasticity to enable the structure to be secured to the data entry device without using any additional securing mechanism, the structure having a suitable thickness adjacent to at least one of the touch screen interface and keypad to allow actuation of at least one of the touch screen interface and keypad.    
   
   
       2 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises formed polyurethane approximately 0.008 to 0.020 inch in thickness.  
   
   
       3 . The protective cover of  claim 2 , wherein the thickness of the structure adjacent to the touch screen is approximately 0.015 to 0.020 inches.  
   
   
       4 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises formed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) approximately 0.008 to 0.020 inch in thickness.  
   
   
       5 . The protective cover of  claim 4 , wherein the thickness of the structure adjacent to the touch screen is approximately 0.016 to 0.020 inches.  
   
   
       6 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the structure is colored.  
   
   
       7 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the structure is opaque.  
   
   
       8 . A data entry device, comprising: 
 a housing having a front, a back, and a plurality of sides, the front of the data entry device having at least one of a touch screen interface and a keypad; and    a protective cover comprising a thin, flexible, transparent, unitary structure having a topography corresponding to the front and at least a portion of the plurality of sides of the data entry device, wherein the structure is of sufficient elasticity to enable the structure to be secured to the data entry device without using any additional securing mechanism, the structure having a suitable thickness adjacent to at least one of the touch screen interface and keypad to allow actuation of at least one of the touch screen interface and keypad.    
   
   
       9 . The protective cover of  claim 8 , wherein the structure comprises formed polyurethane approximately 0.008 to 0.020 inch in thickness.  
   
   
       10 . The protective cover of  claim 9 , wherein the thickness of the structure adjacent to the touch screen is approximately 0.015 to 0.020 inches.  
   
   
       11 . The protective cover of  claim 8 , wherein the structure comprises formed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) approximately 0.008 to 0.020 inch in thickness.  
   
   
       12 . The protective cover of  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the structure adjacent to the touch screen is approximately 0.016 to 0.020 inches.  
   
   
       13 . The protective cover of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the structure is colored.  
   
   
       14 . The protective cover of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the structure is opaque.  
   
   
       15 . A process of constructing a protective cover for a data entry device having a front and a plurality of sides, comprising: 
 providing at least one mold of at least the front and a substantial portion of the plurality of sides of the data entry device;    heating a single sheet of thin, flexible, transparent material;    using a vacuum to draw the heated transparent material down over the mold;    removing the transparent material from the mold before the transparent material has fully cooled; and    trimming the transparent material such that it will cover only the front and a portion of the plurality of sides of the data entry device.    
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the transparent material comprises polyurethane approximately 0.015 to 0.020 inch in thickness prior to the heating step.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the transparent material comprises polyvinyl chloride (PVC) approximately 0.016 to 0.020 inch in thickness prior to the heating step.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of coloring at least a portion of the transparent material.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of causing at least a portion of the transparent material to become opaque.  
   
   
       20 . A protective cover for use with a data entry device having a front and a plurality of sides, prepared by a process comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one mold of at least the front and a substantial portion of the plurality of sides of the data entry device;    heating a single sheet of thin, flexible, transparent material;    using a vacuum to draw the transparent material down over the mold;    removing the transparent material from the mold before the transparent material has fully cooled; and    trimming the transparent material such that it will cover only the front and a portion of the plurality of sides of the data entry device.    
   
   
       21 . The protective cover of  claim 20 , wherein the transparent material comprises polyurethane approximately 0.015 to 0.020 inch in thickness prior to the heating step.  
   
   
       22 . The protective cover of  claim 20 , wherein the transparent material comprises polyvinyl chloride (PVC) approximately 0.016 to 0.020 inch in thickness prior to the heating step.  
   
   
       23 . The protective cover of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of coloring at least a portion of the transparent material.  
   
   
       24 . The protective cover of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of causing at least a portion of the transparent material to become opaque.