U.S. patent application number 12/507788 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-16 for carrying receptacle.
Invention is credited to Zalman Fellig.
Application Number | 20100230301 12/507788 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42729817 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100230301 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fellig; Zalman |
September 16, 2010 |
CARRYING RECEPTACLE
Abstract
A method (and device so formed) for adapting a skin type
decorative and protective case customized for fitting a hand held
electronic device having a viewing screen and/or keyboard and
configured for remaining on the device during use of the device.
The method comprises the steps of forming the skin with a slot for
insertion of thin items such as credit cards and money into a
pocket either between walls of the case or between a wall of the
case and an electronic device inserted in the skin case. The
pockets are provided with elements to minimize any change of
appearance of the original profile and elements for assisting in
removing the items from the snug pocket element. The pockets
further include elements for maintaining the integrity thereof
relative to the remainder of the casing. The pocket may
alternatively be directly integrated as part of the device
housing.
Inventors: |
Fellig; Zalman; (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ISRAEL NISSENBAUM
1038-56TH ST
BROOKLYN
NY
11219
US
|
Family ID: |
42729817 |
Appl. No.: |
12/507788 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61160004 |
Mar 13, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 2011/002 20130101;
H04M 1/04 20130101; H04M 1/0283 20130101; A45C 11/182 20130101;
A45C 15/00 20130101; H04B 1/3888 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/232 |
International
Class: |
B65D 69/00 20060101
B65D069/00 |
Claims
1. A skin case customized and configured for fitting a hand held
electronic device having a viewing screen and/or keyboard, the skin
case having length and width dimensions of at least the length and
width of a standard credit card of 3.375'' and 2.125'' respectively
(85.times.55 mm), the skin case being customized and configured to
closely conform to a shape of the hand held electronic device and
to have apertures and cutouts in registration with access elements
thereof and configured for remaining on the hand held electronic
device during manual operative use of the hand held electronic
device, the skin case comprising an outer wall which is configured
to conform to the shape of the hand held electronic device and a
pocket element positioned within the skin case, the socket element
being of structural integrity and the skin case and pocket element
being of sufficient size and configured to snugly enclose and hold
at least one standard credit card having said length and width
dimensions and a standard credit card thickness of 0.02'' (0.76
mm), with minimal change in thickness of the profile of the hand
held electronic device, the skin case being formed with a slot for
insertion and removal of the at least one credit card into and from
the pocket element, the slot having an open access length dimension
of at least 2.125'' (55 mm)
2. The skin case of claim 1, wherein the pocket element is provided
with at least one of: a) at least one element to minimize change of
appearance of the original profile, b) at least one element for
assisting in removing the card from the pocket element, and c) at
least one element for maintaining the integrity of the slot
relative to the remainder of the case.
3. The skin case of claim 1, wherein the hand held electronic
device is a cell phone and wherein the skin case is configured to
permit phone calls to be made and received, as the manual operative
use.
4. The skin case of claim 3, wherein the cell phone is one of a
cell phone with a viewing screen and a cell phone with a viewing
screen and a non-virtual keyboard.
5. The skin case of claim 1, wherein the pocket element is
configured to be formed between the hand held electronic device and
a wall of the skin case with the hand held electronic device
providing one wall of the pocket element.
6. The skin case of claim 1, wherein the pocket element is
configured to be comprised of an outer wall of the skin case and an
inner wall within the skin case.
7. The skin case of claim 1, wherein the skin case is configured
for the integrated placement of a separate hard wall element on an
outer wall of the skin case and wherein the pocket element is
comprised of the hard wall element and one of the outer wall of the
skin case and the hand held electronic device.
8. The skin case of claim 7, wherein the hard wall element is
provided with a belt clip.
9. The skin case of claim 2, wherein the element to minimize change
of appearance of the original profile comprises a recess in an
inner wall surface of the pocket element of length and width
dimensions of at least 3.375''.times.2.125'' (85.times.55 mm) and a
depth of at least 0.02'' (0.76 mm), the recess being configured to
contain the at least one credit card therein to provide the
minimized change of appearance.
10. The skin case of claim 2, wherein the element for assisting in
removing the card from the pocket element comprises an aperture in
an outer wall of the pocket element configured to permit finger
access to materials contained in the pocket element for sliding the
materials out of the slot.
11. The skin case of claim 2, wherein the element for maintaining
the integrity of the slot relative to the remainder of the case
comprises one of radiussed ends of the slot and reinforced ends of
the slot.
12. The skin case of claim 2, wherein the case includes a
magnetically protective element which protects an inserted item
having a magnetic strip.
13. A method for adapting a skin type decorative and protective
case customized for fitting a hand held electronic device having a
viewing screen and/or keyboard, the case being customized to
closely conform to the shape of the hand held device and to have
apertures and cutouts in registration with access elements thereof
and configured for remaining on the device during use of the
device, the method comprising the steps of a) forming the skin to
have a pocket element of structural integrity of sufficient size
configured to snugly hold at least one credit card, with minimal
change in thickness of the profile of the electronic device b)
forming the skin with a slot for insertion of the at least one
credit card into the pocket element; c) providing the pocket
element with at least one element to minimize any change of
appearance of the original profile; d) providing the pocket element
with at least one element for assisting in removing the card from
the pocket element; and e) providing the slot with at least one
element for maintaining the integrity thereof relative to the
remainder of the case.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the pocket element is formed
between an outer wall of the skin case and the electronic
device.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the skin case is formed with a
pocket element between walls thereof.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the case is rectangular with
two ends and two sides and wherein a slot is provided in at least
one of the ends and sides with a slot in an end being at least
2.125'' in length and a slot in a side being at least 3.375'' in
length.
17. A hand held electronic device contained within the skin case of
claim 10.
18. The hand held electronic device of claim 17, wherein the hand
held electronic device is provided with an element to retain the at
least one credit card in the pocket element from non-intended
removal.
19. The hand held electronic device of claim 18, wherein the hand
held electronic device is one of a cell phone and a PDA.
20. The skin case of claim 1, wherein the skin case is comprised of
a flexible stretchable material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to decorative or protective "skins"
(close fitting cases or casings) customized for and used with hand
held electronic devices such as cell phones, PDAs and mp3 players
while the devices are in use, and particularly relates to
functional modifications thereof for use as holding or carrying
receptacles for other items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There is a growing trend toward minimization and
integration, with the constant need to reduce the size and number
of items people find necessary to carry with them. Items currently
deemed to be necessities include cell phones such as the
iPhone.RTM., Treo.RTM. and Blackberry.RTM. (trademarks for specific
brand cell phones); mp3 players such as the iPod.RTM.; wallets
containing money, credit cards (and ATM cards), ID materials such
as driver's licenses and car registrations; and to a lesser extent,
handheld computers known as PDAs, digital cameras, etc.
[0003] At the top of the necessity list, cell phones, such as the
iPhone.RTM., Blackberry.RTM. and Treo.RTM. have become very popular
in integrating many of the above functions such as phone, PDA,
camera, web browser, GPS, mp3 player, etc. However, while
integration of electronic functions has been taking place, very
little has been done to integrate mechanical carrying functions
with cell phones or other hand held devices. Larger items such as
calculators, book readers and the like have been integrated into
cases, with notebooks, pens, calendars, etc. but these devices and
cases are not hand held, usually cannot be carried in a pocket and
are not subject to minimal size utilizations. Alternatively,
especially with smaller devices, carrying cases are provided with
separate pockets for holding the devices such as the iPod Nano.
These are simply carrying cases that often require that a device be
removed from the case in order to use it.
[0004] Decorative and protective holders for hand carried
electronic devices such as cell phones, mp3 players, PDAs and the
like, known as "skins" because of their skin tight character, are
commonly customized and utilized as skin tight personalized
decorative and protective enclosures for the hand carried devices
and which remain on the devices while in use (they are only removed
for servicing the device or to decoratively change color and design
(e.g., to match an outfit being worn or as an expression of
individuality). The skins primarily function as outer decorative
covers and provide some protection against minor damage such as
scratches. The skins are generally thin walled and of minimal bulk
for enhanced appearance and are generally made of flexible
stretchable materials with functional cut-outs customized to the
device, for screen viewing and operation controls or connections.
The skins are snugly stretchingly fit onto the devices, and in
contrast to many clip-on holders such as holsters which are made of
leather or hard plastic, skins are unitarily constructed or molded
of flexible, stretchable materials such vinyl, pvc, silicone and
the like, to allow for device insertion and snug containment. Some
skins are however configured for changeable integration with
removable and exchangeable decorative hard plastic backings to
enable ready variations in design and color according to a user's
preference and as a supportive element for belt clips and the like.
Because of their skin tight and close fitting characteristics and
decorative nature, skins are not amenable to other uses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide
mechanical holding elements with hand held electronic devices, with
minimal or without noticeably increasing the dimensions, footprint
and appearance of such devices,
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to modify and
provide functional utilization of customized skin tight enclosures
for such devices in order to effect the mechanical holding.
[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
hand held electronic devices with the minimally sized mechanical
holding elements integrated with the skin tight enclosures for
holding essentials of cards (credit, debit, ATM, ID and the like),
paper money and other thin items.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide
access aid elements to the mechanical holding elements to
facilitate ready removal of the essentials being held.
[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
skin type cases for hand held electronic devices with integrated
holding elements suitable for holding several cards including cards
with magnetic strips and some paper money and other thin objects,
such as notes, in a minimal dimension configuration.
[0010] It is still yet another object of the present invention to
provide the skin type cases for hand held electronic devices with
integrated holding elements and with elements for maintaining the
integrity of the holding elements even in the minimal dimension
configuration.
[0011] Generally the present invention comprises the integration of
mechanical holding elements with electronic devices, suitable for
holding at least one credit card, an ID card and at least one item
of paper currency. In an embodiment of the present invention the
mechanical holding elements are integrated with a skin type
decorative and protective case customized for fitting a hand held
electronic device having a viewing screen and/or non-virtual
keyboard (some devices have options for virtual keyboards
operatively appearing on the screen). The case is customized to
closely conform to the shape of the particular device and to have
apertures and cutouts in registration with access elements or ports
(e.g., microphone, earphone, charging), viewing screens, keyboards,
stylus holders, function controls, etc. The case or "skin" is
accordingly configured for remaining on the device during use of
the device.
[0012] The present invention further comprises a method for
adapting the skin to have a pocket element of structural integrity
of sufficient size configured to snugly hold several credit cards,
and/or other items such as ID, money and the like, of the same or
similar dimension with minimal if any change in thickness of the
profile of the electronic device. The method comprises the steps of
forming the skin with a slot for insertion of thin items such as
credit cards and money into a pocket either between walls of the
case or between a wall of the case and an electronic device
inserted in the skin case. The pockets are provided with elements
to minimize any change of appearance of the original profile and
elements for assisting in removing the items from the snug pocket
element. The pockets further include elements for maintaining the
integrity thereof relative to the remainder of the casing. The
invention further comprises the skin case so formed.
[0013] The above and further objects, features, and advantages of
the present invention will become more evident from the following
discussion and drawings in which:
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cell phone skin
case, with cards, shown in dashed lines, as being
inserted/removed;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the cell phone skin of FIG. 1 more
clearly showing a card insertion slot;
[0016] FIGS. 3a and 3b are front plan views of the cell phone skin
case of FIG. 1 showing, in dashed lines, the casings being used
with adaptive shapes for iPhone.RTM. and Blackberry.RTM. cell
phones respectively with cutouts for customized external access
also being shown in dashed lines.
[0017] FIGS. 4 and 5 are left and right side elevation views
respectively of the cell phone skin case of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a rear plan view of the cell phone skin case of
FIG. 1;
[0019] FIGS. 7 and 8 are top and bottom elevation views
respectively of the cell phone skin case of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 9, depicts a second embodiment of a cell phone skin
with co-extensive and adjacent walls configured to provide a full
independent pocket; and
[0021] FIG. 10 is another alternative embodiment of a cell phone
skin case with a removable hard plastic decorative backing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Hand held electronic devices such as cell phones, for which
skin cases are customized, generally have length dimensions of
about 4.2 to about 4.8'' by a width of 2.3 to about 2.8''
(dimensions of currently common multi-use cell phones) in order to
provide an acceptable size for a viewing screen and finger controls
while remaining of a sufficiently small enough bulk suitable for
being carried in a jacket or shirt pocket or in a small purse. The
thickness, depending on the nature of the devices and particular
manufacturer, is generally between about 0.5 to 1.0''. The case is
configured to snugly peripherally enclose the housing of the
electronic device but not to cover a screen/and or keyboard of the
device and to have a decorative and/or protective wall of the case
which covers the back or obverse side of the hand held device
relative to the viewing screen and/or keyboard with the
aforementioned width and length dimensions. The devices for use in
the present invention must accordingly have an area dimension
footprint of at least 3.375''.times.2.125'' whereby a carried card
does not, of necessity, protrude from the case.
[0023] In accordance with the present invention at least one side
of the case or the rear of the case is provided with an insertion
slot opening which is at least slightly more than about 3.375'' (85
mm) in length extending along the right or left side of the case or
at least slightly more than about 2.125'' (55 mm) in length
extending along the bottom or top of the hand held device (or
stretchable to such dimension lengths). The above dimensions permit
fitting accommodation insertion of standard cards of such
dimensions (credit, debit, ATM, driver's license, etc.) in
lengthwise and edgewise insertion operations respectively. The slot
has an access width of at least about 0.02'' (0.76 mm), the
standard width of a credit card or is of sufficient flexibility to
permit such insertion with stretching.
[0024] In a first embodiment of a skin case the case wall directly
covers the rear of the hand held device with the card retaining
pocket being formed between the electronic device and the outer
wall of the case. Optionally, a magnetically protective element is
interposed between the electronic device and inserted materials
having magnetic strips and the like to protect information on the
strip from being affected by a magnetic field in the device. In a
second embodiment, the outer case wall covers an inner case wall
with the latter covering the rear of the hand held device. The
pocket element is accordingly formed between the outer and inner
case walls. Optionally, the inner case wall is magnetically
protective. In a third embodiment the pocket and access slit are
formed between a flexible wall of the case and a snap-on decorative
wall of a hard plastic material. In such latter embodiment, the
hard plastic is of sufficient rigidity and strength to optionally
support a belt clip element of thin dimensions and which belt clip
is configured to not impede operation of the elements utilized in
assisting removal of items from the snug fitting pocket. It is
preferred that the area of the skin wall (inner wall surface) which
contacts the inserted cards be provided with a recess or be thinned
in the area adjacent the inserted card to at least partially
accommodate the width of the inserted cards in order to minimize
case expansion and noticeable change of the profile of the cell
phone or other electronic device. In a fourth embodiment, the
device is contained within a housing therefore with the pocket for
carrying at least one credit card being formed within or on the
housing. In such latter embodiment, additional elements, such as
internal retaining leaf clips, are preferably utilized in
preventing materials inserted in the pocket from accidentally
falling out. Magnetic isolation elements may be utilized in any of
the embodiments to protect inserted items having magnetic strips
from being damaged or the information therein being corrupted.
[0025] Simple slitting of the side or rear wall of a skin case is
an ineffective way to provide the access slot in a skin casing,
since the ends of the slit tend to propagate through stretching
stresses resulting from insertion and removal of items from the
pocket. The present invention accordingly further includes elements
which reinforce the ends of the insertion slot. For example the
ends of the insertion slot may be thickened or may be otherwise
reinforced. Alternatively, the ends of the slot may be radiussed
and/or molded initially into the case structure with a radiussed
stress relieving curvature.
[0026] Because the items such as cards and thin paper elements are
very snugly contained within the respective pockets they are
difficult to extract without warping finger removal. In accordance
with the present invention, the case or skin is provided with an
extraction assisting element, such as a central aperture in the
rear wall of the skin, whereby a user can place a finger through
the aperture to at least partially slide contained cards, paper
money and other thin items through the insertion slot for removal
by exposed edge grasping. It is preferred that the extraction
assisting elements be configured to prevent or reduce incidence of
item skewing on insertion and extraction.
[0027] With specific reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show
skin case 10 customized to the shape of an electronic device such
as the iPhone.RTM. 20 shown in dashed lines in the screen display
11 in FIG. 3a or the Blackberry.RTM. 30 shown in dashed lines in
the screen and keyboard display 30a and 30b of FIG. 3b. The other
dashed lines show cutouts in FIGS. 3a and 3b for access to various
cell phone elements such as respective earphones 21 and 31,
speakers 22 and 32 and charging ports 23 and 33 and controls of the
respective cell phones. Other hand held electronic devices,
exemplified by those of FIGS. 3a and 3b, have their own customized
aperture cutouts.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6, side wall 10a is provided
with a longitudinal slot 10' for insertion of card 1 and folded
paper bill 2. FIG. 1 shows the interior surface of rear wall 12
being provided with a recess 12a sized to accommodate at least one
standard card 1 and paper bill 2 with the aforementioned standard
card dimensions. The longitudinal insertion/removal is shown in
FIGS. 1,2 and 3a and 3b, with the card(s), money and the like being
positioned and held between the rear of the device (cell phones 20
and 30) and the rear wall 12 of the skin. Alternatively, though not
shown, the top 13 or bottom 14 (if there is sufficient room
relative to the charging port) may be provided with an axial slot
for edgewise insertion of card 1 therethrough.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the center of the recess 12a
is apertured with thumb aperture 12b which provides thumb (or other
finger) access to the cards and other items contained therein to
assist or facilitate sliding removal thereof in a block or
seriatim. Though the access aperture may be positioned anywhere
adjacent the card 1, it is preferred that it be centrally located
to prevent skewing of the card during removal and a trued sliding
out of slot 10'.
[0030] If desired, a separate pocket may be formed such as
schematically shown in FIG. 9, by covering recess 12a as in FIG. 1,
with a wall 12c, wherein cards and bills may be contained between
such wall and outer wall 12. Alternatively, an additional outer
wall may be grafted onto the outer wall 12 and apertured
accordingly to permit external access to the contained cards and
bills. With an enclosing pocket the wall closest to the contained
cell phone is preferably made of a magnetically protective material
to protect magnetic strips of contained cards from being affected
by magnetic fields within the cell phone.
[0031] FIG. 10 depicts a skin 15 with a replaceable hard plastic
decorative attachment 16. As shown, placement of attachment 16 on
skin 15 creates a spaced pocket therebetween with the insertion
slot 17 being formed in the attachment 16 and with a key thumb slot
18. A clip 19 is positioned below the slot and serves to clip the
skin case, with electronic device therein, onto a belt
[0032] The insertion slot 10' of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-8
may be reinforced with a strong stitch and/or additional layer of
an alternative fabric around the lip of the opening. This will
ensure the rubber doesn't bend and fold when the money is placed
within it but slips through easily. The pocket that holds the
actual money and cards is preferably made of or lined with a
material that allows the cards to slip out easily such as a canvas
type material.
[0033] Alternatively, the pocket may be an additional pocket that
sits on the outside of the actual skin as an add on, and made of
the same type of material to ensure that the money and cards are
easily placed in and removed from the skin and built out of a
material that allows the money and cards to slip in and out easily
enough. Whether the pocket is internal as described above, the lip
on the opening is preferably hardened and beveled to ensure that
paper money and cards do not slip out on their own but with actual
force with a user's hand. In addition a securing mechanism, e.g.,
hook and eye connectors, clips, snap buttons, magnet and or other
type of securing mechanism may be used to ensure that the money and
or cards do not slip out inadvertently.
[0034] More preferably from a manufacturing standpoint, as shown in
FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the slot 10' is molded directly with the
formation of the skin and has walls which are spaced at their ends
10''. The separation between walls of slot 10' resists tearing and
slot length propagation to maintain integrity of the skin and its
holding receptacle.
[0035] It is understood that the above description and drawings are
merely exemplary of the present invention and that changes in
structure, elements, materials, dimensions and the like, such as
formation of the pocket within the device itself, may be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention as
defined in the following claims.
* * * * *