WO2015148259A1

WO2015148259A1 - Overlay application fixture

Info

Publication number: WO2015148259A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/021458
Authority: WO
Inventors: Julianne Luna SO
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing
Priority date: 2014-03-25
Filing date: 2015-03-19
Publication date: 2015-10-01
Also published as: TW201601618A

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present principles, there is provided a method and a fixture for applying an overlay to a front wall of an electronic device. The method includes providing (610) an overlay application fixture having a front wall and a rear wall. The front wall has an overlay opening shaped to receive the overlay. The rear wall has an electronic device opening shaped to receive a portion of the electronic device and leading to the overlay opening. The portion includes the front wall of the electronic device. The method further includes placing (620) the portion of the electronic device into the electronic device opening of the overlay applicator fixture. The method also includes applying (650) the overlay to the front wall of electronic device through the overlay opening of the overlay application fixture.

Description

OVERLAY APPLICATION FIXTURE

CROSS REFERENCES

This application claims priority to a U.S. Provisional Application, Serial No. 61/969,988, filed on March 25, 2014, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present principles relate generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to an overlay application fixture for electronic devices.

BACKGROUND

Often, an overlay is adhered to the front of an electronic device such as, for example, a set top box (STB). However, adhering an overlay onto the front of a set top box (STB) is typically done by hand. Disadvantageously, this increases the amount of time spent by the applicator (person) trying to align the overlay in the exact location of the existing front panel of the STB.

SUMMARY

These and other drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are addressed by the present principles, which are directed to an overlay application fixture for electronic devices.

According to an aspect of the present principles, there is provided a method for applying an overlay to a front wall of an electronic device. The method includes providing an overlay application fixture having a front wall and a rear wall. The front wall has an overlay opening shaped to receive the overlay. The rear wall has an electronic device opening shaped to receive a portion of the electronic device and leading to the overlay opening. The portion includes the front wall of the electronic device. The method further includes placing the portion of the electronic device into the electronic device opening of the overlay applicator fixture. The method also includes applying the overlay to the front wall of electronic device through the overlay opening of the overlay application fixture.

According to another aspect of the present principles, there is provided an overlay application fixture for applying an overlay to a front wall of an electronic device. The fixture includes a rectangular structure having a front wall, a rear wall, and four side walls. The front wall has an overlay opening shaped to receive the overlay. The rear wall has an electronic device opening shaped to receive a portion of the electronic device. The portion includes the front wall of the electronic device. The electronic device opening leads to the overlay opening to allow the overlay to be placed onto the portion of the electronic device through the overlay opening when the portion of the electronic device is inserted into the fixture.

According to yet another aspect of the present principles, there is provided an overlay application package. The package includes an electronic device having at least a front wall, an overlay, and a fixture for applying the overlay to the front wall of the electronic device. The fixture includes a rectangular structure having a front wall, a rear wall, and four side walls. The front wall has an overlay opening shaped to receive the overlay. The rear wall has an electronic device opening shaped to receive a portion of the electronic device. The portion includes the front wall of the electronic device. The electronic device opening leads to the overlay opening to allow the overlay to be placed onto the portion of the electronic device through the overlay opening when the portion of the electronic device is inserted into the fixture.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present principles may be better understood in accordance with the following exemplary figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an overlay application fixture 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 2 shows a back view of the overlay application fixture 100 of FIG. 1 with a set top box (STB) 1 50 located ready for insertion into the fixture 100, in

accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the overlay application fixture 100 placed onto a set top box 150, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the overlay application fixture 100 and the STB 150 with an overlay 1 80 adhered to the STB 150, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles; FIG. 5 shows a front view of the STB 150 with the overlay 1 80 adhered thereto, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 6 shows a method 600 for adhering an overlay 1 80 to an STB 150 using an overlay application fixture 1 00, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the overlay application fixture 1 00 of FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles; and

FIG. 8 shows a front view of another overlay application fixture 800, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present principles are directed to an overlay application fixture for electronic devices. Advantageously, the present principles allow an applicator (person) to adhere an overlay onto an electronic device in an efficient and accurate manner. The overlay can be, for example, but is not limited to, a sticker. The sticker can include information such as, but not limited to, identification information, control information, and display information.

In an embodiment, a set top box is the electronic device to which the overlay is to be attached. However, it is to be appreciated that the present principles can be applied to any electronic device to which an overlay is intended to be placed. Thus, while one or more embodiments herein refer to the application of an overlay onto a set top box, the present principles can be readily applied to other types of electronic devices as readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, given the teachings of the present principles provided herein.

In an embodiment, an overlay application fixture is created. The fixture has a rear wall that faces towards the front wall of an electronic device when the fixture is installed onto the electronic device. The fixture also has a front wall that faces away from the front wall of the electronic device when the fixture is installed onto the electronic device. The front wall of the fixture has an overlay opening that is shaped to receive an overlay to be applied to the front surface of the set top box. The rear wall of the fixture has an electronic device opening that is shaped to receive and accommodate a portion (e.g., the front portion) of the electronic device. The electronic device opening leads to the overlay opening, thus forming a through-all opening from the front wall to the rear wall of the fixture. The overlay has a non- adhesive front side and an adhesive rear side. The fixture is placed onto the electronic device through the electronic device opening such that the overlay opening is aligned with the portion of the front wall of the electronic device where the overlay is to be placed. The applicator exposes the adhesive on the rear side of the overlay, orients the overlay to be parallel to the front wall (that is, the front side to which the overlay is to be installed) of the electronic device, and places the overlay into the overlay opening and onto the electronic device.

In another embodiment, an overlay application fixture is created. The fixture has a rear wall that faces towards the front wall of an electronic device when the fixture is installed onto the electronic device. The fixture also has a front wall that faces away from the front wall of the electronic device when the fixture is installed onto the electronic device. The overlay has a non-adhesive front side and an adhesive rear side. In contrast to the previously described fixture, this fixture lacks a though-all opening formed from the overlap opening and the electronic device opening of the previous embodiment, but includes a pocket. The pocket has an opening on the rear wall of the fixture, and an opposing side (hereinafter pocket rear side) with respect to the rear wall opening. The applicator exposes the adhesive on the rear side of the overlay, orients the overlay to be parallel to the pocket rear side, and places the overlay face down into the pocket and onto the pocket rear side so that the adhesive rear side is exposed. The fixture can be oriented so that the adhesive side is facing upward towards the applicator (or any other convenient position), and the applicator inserts and pushes the electronic device face down (front wall down) into the pocket towards the pocket rear side in order for the overlay to adhere to the electronic device.

In both embodiments, the overlay can include a protective film on the front side of the overlay that is the same size or smaller than the overlay. In the second embodiment (where the fixture has a pocket), the protective film can be removed before placing the overlay face down into the pocket. However, removing the protective film from the overlay can increase the risk of scratches or damage to the overlay during the installation of the overlay. Hence, the aforementioned through-all opening allows the overlay to be adhered to the electronic device with the protective film in place during the installation of the overlay. Some of the many attendant advantages of the present principles include a reduction in the amount of time spend applying the overlay to the electronic device, and increased precision in overlay placement onto the electronic device.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an overlay application fixture 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. The overlay application fixture 100 can have an overall structure which can be rectangular and includes a front wall 101 , a rear wall 102, fasteners 1 03, an overlay opening 1 10, and a STB opening 1 1 1 that goes through to the overlay opening 1 10 to essentially form a through-all opening from the front wall 101 to the rear wall 102. The fasteners 103 are for securely attaching a plate 167 to the fixture 100. The plate 1 67 itself includes an overlay opening 1 1 0. The plate 1 67 is sized in relation to an overlay 180 to allow the overlay 180 to be placed through the overlay opening 1 10. Thus, the plate 167 can be readily changed depending upon the particular overlay that is to be attached. In this way, the majority of the fixture can be re-used when applying different sized overlays to the same device, where the plate 167 can be simply switched to correspond to a particular overlay to be currently applied to the device. The plate 1 67 can be made of plastic, metal, or other material. Such other material should exhibit structural integrity and rigidity comparable to those provided by plastic and metal, and sufficiently robust to withstand the pressures needed to apply the overlay.

In the examples of at least FIGs. 1 -4, the front side of the overlay application fixture includes a recessed flat portion (i.e., plate 167) where the overlay opening 1 10 is located. Accordingly, it is this recessed flat wall (i.e., plate 1 67) and not the surrounding border 1 77 that is considered the front wall 101 . Hence, the terms front wall 101 and plate 167 are used interchangeably herein. Also, the plate 1 67 can be considered a front wall 101 because it can be the exposed part that an observer sees when viewing the fixture 100 with the plate 167 attached. Additionally, the plate 167 can be considered a front wall 101 in that it can be integrated with the bulk of the fixture 100 to be one unitary structure or it can be permanently attached to the front wall 101 .

The overlay opening 1 10 typically has less area in plan view than the set top box opening 1 1 1 , at least in the region proximate the front wall 101 as the overlay opening 1 1 0 extends towards the front wall 101 . The peripheral portion of the overlay opening 1 1 0 is has a recessed portion 1 81 that behaves as a guide and holder for the overlay 180 to be positioned with respect to the front wall 1 51 before the overlay 180 affixed to the front wall 1 51 .

In other embodiments, the overlay application fixture 100 can omit such border 1 77 so that the front wall is the entirety of the furthermost portion of the overlay application fixture 100 that opposed the rear wall 1 02 of the overlay application fixture 100. These and other variations of the overlay application fixture 100 are readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art given the teachings of the present principles provided herein, while maintaining the spirit of the present principles.

In other embodiments of the present principles, the fixture is essentially made as an integral unit where the plate 167 is omitted from the front face 101 of the fixture 100, and the border 177 is also omitted. In this way, the fixture 100 is essentially formed as a rectangular integral unit (see FIG. 8). Such a configuration is easy and cost effective to manufacture and use. These and other variations of the fixture 100 are readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art given the teachings of the present principles provided herein, while maintaining the spirit of the present principles.

Moreover, as determined facing the front wall 101 of the overlay application fixture 100, the overlay application fixture 1 00 includes a bottom wall 191 , a top wall 192 (see FIG. 2), a left side wall 193, and a right side wall 194. The walls 1 91 through 194 can be considered peripheral walls that define a periphery 1 96 of the fixture 100.

accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. This view shows the rear wall 102 and the STB opening 1 1 1 . In this view, the STB 150 is aligned with the STB opening 1 1 1 of the overlay application fixture 100 in preparation for the overlay application fixture 100 to be placed onto a portion (e.g., the frontend) of the STB 150 via the STB opening 1 1 1 .

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the overlay application fixture 100 placed onto a set top box 150, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. The STB opening 1 10 of the overlay application fixture 100 is sized to tightly fit over a portion (here, the front portion) of the STB 150. The overlay application fixture 100 is placed onto the STB 150 through the STB opening 1 1 1 such that the overlay opening 1 1 0 is aligned with the portion 151 A of the front wall 151 of the STB 150 where the overlay is to be placed.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the overlay application fixture 100 and the STB

150 with an overlay 1 80 adhered to the STB 150, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. The overlay 180 is visible (exposed) through the overlay opening 1 1 0.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the STB 150 with the overlay 1 80 adhered thereto, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. The overlay application fixture 100 has been removed from the STB 100, showing the end result of using the overlay application fixture 100, namely a perfectly placed overlay 180.

FIG. 6 shows a method 600 for adhering an overlay 180 to an STB 150 using an overlay application fixture 1 00, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the electronic device is an STB. However, as noted above, it is to be appreciated that the present principles are not limited to solely STBs and, thus, other electronic devices can also be used while maintaining the spirit of the present principles.

At step 61 0, create or obtain an overlay application fixture 1 00. The fixture 100 has a rear wall 1 02 that faces towards the front wall 1 51 of the STB when the fixture 100 is installed onto the STB 150 (per step 620). The fixture 100 also has a front wall 101 that faces away from the front wall 151 of the STB 150 when the fixture 100 is installed onto the STB 150. The front wall 1 01 of the fixture 1 00 has an overlay opening 1 1 0 that is shaped to receive an overlay 180 to be applied to the front wall 151 of the STB 150. The rear wall 102 of the fixture 100 has an STB opening 1 1 1 that is shaped to receive and accommodate a portion (e.g., the front portion) of the STB 150. The STB opening 1 1 1 leads to the overlay opening 1 10, thus forming a through-all opening from the front wall 101 to the rear wall 102 of the fixturel 00. The overlay 1 80 has a non-adhesive front side and an adhesive rear side.

At step 620, place the fixture 100 onto the STB 150 through the STB opening 1 1 1 such that the overlay opening 1 10 is aligned with the portion of the front wall

151 of the STB 150 where the overlay 180 is to be placed.

At step 630, expose the adhesive on the rear side of the overlay 1 80.

At step 640, orient the overlay 180 to be parallel to the front wall 151 (that is, the front side to which the overlay is to be installed) of the STB 150. At step 650, place the overlay 180 into the overlay opening 1 10 and onto the STB 150. Step 650 is considered to include pressing firmly across and/or applying the appropriate amount of force across the overlay 180 to ensure the overlay 180 is adhered to the STB 150.

At step 660, remove the fixture 100 from the STB 150. For example, the applicator can push the STB 150 out of the fixture 100 from the front. Simply pulling the STB 150 from the back could cause the protective film (if present) on the front of the overlay to be removed if the protective film is larger than the overlay itself.

An embodiment of the invention can incorporate applying an overlay to a front wall of an electronic device that includes the features of configuring (61 0) an overlay application fixture to have a front wall and a rear wall in which the front wall can have an overlay opening shaped to receive, orient and/or hold the overlay. The rear wall can have an opening leading to the overlay opening and can be shaped to receive a portion of the electronic device in which the portion of the electronic device includes the front wall of the electronic device. The method can include moving (620) the electronic device into the electronic device opening of the overlay applicator fixture and positioning the overlay in the overlay opening. The method can also include applying (650) the overlay to the front wall of electronic device by applying pressure on the overlay through the overlay opening of the overlay application fixture.

Alternatively, the overlay can be positioned in the overlay opening and the step of moving (620) the electronic device into the electronic device opening of the overlay applicator fixture is performed such that the overlay is applied to the front wall of the electronic device by pressure generated by the moving step.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the overlay application fixture 1 00 of FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. In this view, the plate 167 can be clearly seen, along with the fasteners 103 that securely attach the plate 167 to the fixture 100. The plate 167 can include holes 168 that the fasteners 103 pass through and can be unthreaded. The fixture 100 includes threaded holes 169 that engage threads on the fasteners 103.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of another overlay application fixture 800, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. The overlay application fixture 800 has an overall rectangular structure 847 and includes a front wall 801 , a rear wall 802, an overlay opening 81 0, and a STB opening 81 1 that goes through to the overlay opening 1 10 to essentially form a through-all opening from the front wall 801 to the rear wall 802. FIG. 8 is similar to overlay application fixture 800, but does not include the plate 1 67, fasteners 103, and border 177.

The present description illustrates the present principles. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the present principles and are included within its spirit and scope.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the present principles and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions.

Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and

embodiments of the present principles, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof.

Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Reference in the specification to "an embodiment" of the present principles, as well as other variations thereof, means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present principles. Thus, the appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", as well any other variations, appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same

embodiment.

Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present principles is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art without departing from the scope or spirit of the present principles. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present principles as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A method (600) for applying an overlay to a front wall of an electronic device, comprising:

configuring (610) an overlay application fixture to have a front wall and a rear wall, the front wall having an overlay opening shaped to receive and hold the overlay, the rear wall having an opening leading to the overlay opening and being shaped to receive a portion of the electronic device, the portion of the electronic device including the front wall of the electronic device;

moving (620) the electronic device into the electronic device opening of the overlay applicator fixture;

positioning the overlay in the overlay opening; and,

applying (650) the overlay to the front wall of the electronic device by applying pressure through the overlay opening of the overlay application fixture.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the overlay has a non-adhesive front side and an adhesive rear side, and the method further comprises:

exposing (630) the adhesive on the rear side of the overlay; and

orienting (640) the overlay to be parallel to the front wall of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture has an overall rectangular shape.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the overlay is a sticker.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the overlay has at least one of identification information, control information, and display information thereon.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a set top box.

7. An overlay application fixture (100) for applying an overlay to a front wall of an electronic device, comprising:

a structure having a front wall (101 ), a rear wall (102), and side walls (191 , 192, 1 93, 194), the front wall having an overlay opening (1 10) shaped to receive the overlay, the rear wall having an electronic device opening (1 1 1 ) shaped to receive a portion of the electronic device, the portion including the front wall of the electronic device,

wherein the electronic device opening leads to the overlay opening to allow the overlay to be placed onto the portion of the electronic device through the overlay opening when the portion of the electronic device is inserted into the fixture.

8. The overlay application fixture of claim 7, wherein the overlay is a sticker.

9. The overlay application fixture of claim 8, wherein the overlay has at least one of identification information, control information, and display information thereon.

10. The overlay application fixture of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is a set top box.

1 1 . The overlay application fixture of claim 7, wherein the rear wall (102) faces towards the front wall of the electronic device when the portion of the electronic device is inserted into the fixture, and the front wall (101 ) faces away from the front wall of the electronic device when the portion of the electronic device is inserted into the fixture

12. An overlay application package, comprising:

an electronic device (1 50) having at least a front wall (151 );

an overlay (180); and

a fixture (100) for applying the overlay (180) to the front wall (151 ) of the electronic device (150),

wherein the fixture includes: a structure having a front wall (101 ), a rear wall (102), and four side walls (1 91 , 192, 193, 1 94), the front wall having an overlay opening (1 10) shaped to receive the overlay, the rear wall having an electronic device opening (1 1 1 ) shaped to receive a portion of the electronic device, the portion including the front wall of the electronic device,

13. The overlay application package of claim 12, wherein the overlay is a sticker.

14. The overlay application package of claim 13, wherein the overlay has at least one of identification information, control information, and display information thereon.

15. The overlay application package of claim 12, wherein the electronic device is a set top box.

16. The overlay application package of claim 12, wherein the rear wall

(1 02) faces towards the front wall (1 51 ) of the electronic device (1 50) when the portion of the electronic device (150) is inserted into the fixture (100), and the front wall (1 01 ) faces away from the front wall (151 ) of the electronic device (150) when the portion of the electronic device (150) is inserted into the fixture (1 00).