U.S. patent application number 12/853494 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for protective case with sliding display cover.
This patent application is currently assigned to CYPRESS HOLDINGS, LTD. D/B/A CYPRESS INDUSTRIES, CYPRESS HOLDINGS, LTD. D/B/A CYPRESS INDUSTRIES. Invention is credited to David Council Benker, Thomas J. Lonsdale, II.
Application Number | 20120037536 12/853494 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45564027 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120037536 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lonsdale, II; Thomas J. ; et
al. |
February 16, 2012 |
Protective Case With Sliding Display Cover
Abstract
The display screen of a handheld device, such as a mobile phone,
personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, palmtop
computer, or the like, can be protected from physical shock using a
protective case with a sliding display screen cover. The protective
case includes a main body having an opening positioned to
correspond with a position of the display screen of the handheld
device. A protective door, for example a roll-top type door, is
slidably coupled to the main body, so that the display screen is
exposed when the door has been slid open, and covered when the door
has been slid closed. The door can be coupled to the body via a
track, and can be made of a transparent or semitransparent material
to allow viewing of the screen when closed, while still protecting
the screen from physical shock.
Inventors: |
Lonsdale, II; Thomas J.;
(Austin, TX) ; Benker; David Council; (Cedar Park,
TX) |
Assignee: |
CYPRESS HOLDINGS, LTD. D/B/A
CYPRESS INDUSTRIES
Austin
TX
|
Family ID: |
45564027 |
Appl. No.: |
12/853494 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/701 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2585/6845 20130101;
G06F 1/16 20130101; G06F 1/1628 20130101; G06F 1/1626 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/701 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A protective case for a handheld device with a display screen,
the protective case comprising: a main body substantially covering
a handheld device placed within the protective case to shield the
handheld device from physical shock, the main body including a
front side having an opening formed therein and positioned to
correspond with a position of the display screen of the handheld
device when the handheld device is positioned within the protective
case; a track extending at least partially along at least one side
of the opening; and a flexible door slidably engaging the track and
configured to slide along the track into an open position
substantially exposing the display screen, and into a closed
position substantially covering the display screen and protecting
the display screen from physical shock.
2. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising: the flexible
door configured to curl around the back of the handheld device in
the open position.
3. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising: the flexible
door comprising ribs arranged in a plane parallel to a surface of
the display screen and perpendicular to a direction in which the
flexible door slides.
4. The protective case of claim 3, further comprising: the ribs
comprising lands and grooves formed in a single piece of flexible
material.
5. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising: the flexible
door constructed of a material that is at least semi-transparent,
permitting viewing of the display screen and providing protection
from physical shock when the flexible door is closed.
6. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising: the flexible
door comprising a plurality of slats coupled side by side in a
roll-top configuration.
7. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising: the main
body comprising a cavity extending from an edge of the opening and
extending partially into a back portion of the main body; and the
flexible door configured to slide into the cavity and around at
least a portion of the handheld device.
8. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising: the flexible
door configured to slide over an outer surface of the main
body.
9. An apparatus comprising: a case constructed of a sturdy material
and configured to hold a handheld device having a display screen,
the case including an opening substantially corresponding to a
shape and size of the display screen and through which the display
screen can be viewed; and a door member slidably coupled to the
case and constructed of a rugged material to provide a
shock-protecting barrier over the display screen when slid into a
closed position, and to expose the display screen to view when slid
into an open position.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: the door member
comprising a plurality of at least semi-rigid slats coupled side by
side using bendable joints.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the semi-rigid slats
comprise lands; the bendable joints comprise groves; and the door
member is formed of a unitary piece of material.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: the unitary
piece of material comprising a translucent, flexible material.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: at least one slot
engaging the rugged door member and guiding movement of the door
member during opening and closing.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: the door member
configured to rest substantially within the slot when the door
member is in an open position.
15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: at least one
track formed along an edge of the opening; and the door member
including at least one tab matingly engaging the at least one
track.
16. A sliding display cover for a portable device, the sliding
display cover comprising: a collection of narrow slats arranged
side by side and movably coupled to adjacent narrow slats; a means
for coupling the collection of narrow slats to a protective cover
including an opening substantially corresponding to a display
screen of a portable device, wherein the display cover
substantially covers the opening in a closed position, and curls
around at least a portion of the portable device in an open
position.
17. The sliding display cover of claim 16, wherein: the collection
of narrow slats comprise lands on a unitary piece of material; and
the lands are movably coupled to adjacent lands by grooves cut out
of the unitary piece of material to form the lands.
18. The sliding display cover of claim 16, further comprising: the
means for coupling to a protective cover includes at least one tab
configured to slidably mate with a track in the protective
cover.
19. The sliding display cover of claim 16, further comprising: the
narrow slats comprising a flexible translucent material.
20. The sliding display cover of claim 17, further comprising: the
means for coupling comprising an extension of the sliding display
cover configured to remain within a slot of the protective cover
regardless of whether the sliding display is in an open or closed
position.
21. A method comprising: placing an electronic device within a
protective case having a roll-top display cover configured to
protect a screen of the electronic device from physical shock when
the roll-top display cover is in a closed position; and sliding the
roll-top display cover from the closed position into an open
position, in which the screen is substantially exposed.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the roll-top display case is
slidably coupled to a slot in the main body of the protective
cover.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein placing the electronic device
further comprises: aligning the screen of the electronic device
with an opening in a main body of the protective case.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to protective
cases, and more particularly to protective cases having sliding
display covers.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Most handheld electronic devices for example mobile phones,
personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like, have display
screens that are vulnerable to minor damage such as a scratched
display surface, to more severe damage such as the display screen
cracking from accidentally dropping or striking the screen on a
door, table edge, or the like.
[0003] Attempts to protect the display screen of such handheld
devices range from applying clear protector-sheets to the screen to
prevent scratching, to carrying the device in a protective case.
Clear sheets used to cover the screen to prevent scratching do very
little, if anything, to protect the display screen from physical
shocks, such as being dropped onto a hard surface. Likewise, many
of the protective cases leave the display screen exposed, and thus
also provide limited, if any, protection for the display from
physical shock.
[0004] Some cases require the user to remove the device from the
case to view the display, while others provide a removable display
cover, or a cover designed to be flipped open to expose the
display. These cases, however, are not always easy to use. For
example, it can be inconvenient to be forced to remove a device
from its case before use. Likewise, covers that flip-open tend to
be vulnerable to having the cover broken off. Thus, it can be seen
that currently available technology for protective cases is less
than perfect.
SUMMARY
[0005] A protective case according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure can be used to protect the display screen of a
handheld device from physical shock, while still allowing easy
access for viewing or entering user input in the case of touch
screens. The protective case has a door that slides into open and
closed positions to alternately expose or cover an opening in the
protective case through which the display screen can be viewed or
accessed. In some embodiments, the sliding door can be constructed
of a material that is at least semi-transparent, permitting viewing
of the display screen, even when the door is closed, while at the
same time providing protection from physical shock.
[0006] In some embodiments, the protective case includes a main
body substantially covering a handheld device placed within the
protective case. The main body can be used to shield the majority
of the handheld device from physical shock. In some embodiments,
the main body includes a front side having an opening formed
therein, and positioned to correspond to a position of the display
screen of the handheld device when the handheld device is
positioned within the protective case. The main body can include a
track, either formed as part of the main body or connected thereto.
The track extends at least partially along at least one side of the
opening. Various embodiments also include a flexible door slidably
engaging the track, configured to slide along the track into an
open position substantially exposing the display screen, and into a
closed position substantially covering the display screen and
protecting the display screen from physical shock.
[0007] The flexible door can be configured to curl around the side,
back, bottom, or top of the handheld device when the door is in the
open position. In various embodiments, the door includes ribs
arranged in a plane parallel to a surface of the display screen and
perpendicular to whichever direction the flexible door slides. The
ribs can include lands and grooves formed in a single piece of
flexible material, or may include multiple slats coupled side by
side in a roll-top configuration. In some embodiments, the lands
and grooves can be machined, while other embodiments include lands
and grooves molded, pressed, or formed in another suitable
manner.
[0008] In various embodiments, the main body includes a cavity
extending from an edge of the opening and extending partially into
a back portion of the main body. The flexible door can be
configured to slide into this cavity, and around at least a portion
of the handheld device. In some embodiments, the flexible door is
configured to slide over an outer surface of the main body, rather
than, or in addition to, sliding within the cavity.
[0009] A case constructed according to some embodiments can be made
of a sturdy material, and configured to hold a handheld device
having a display screen. The case can include an opening
substantially corresponding to a shape and size of the handheld
device's display screen, and through which the display screen can
be viewed. Such a device can include a door member slidably coupled
to the case and constructed of a rugged material to provide a
shock-protecting barrier over the display screen when slid into a
closed position, and to expose the display screen to view when slid
into an open position. The door member can include multiple rigid
or semi-rigid slats connected side by side using bendable joints.
The material used to construct the door member can be a
translucent, flexible material.
[0010] Various embodiments include at least one slot engaging the
rugged door member and guiding movement of the door member during
opening and closing, and the door member can be configured to rest
substantially within the slot when the door member is in an open
position. The door member may include at least one tab matingly
engaging a track on the case.
[0011] Various embodiments include a sliding display cover for a
portable device. Some such sliding display covers include a
collection of narrow slats arranged side by side and movably
coupled to adjacent narrow slats, and a means for coupling the
collection of narrow slats to a protective cover including an
opening substantially corresponding to a display screen of a
portable device, wherein the display cover substantially covers the
opening in a closed position, and curls around at least a portion
of the portable device in an open position.
[0012] The collection of narrow slats can include lands on a
unitary piece of material; and the lands can be movably coupled to
adjacent lands by grooves cut out of the unitary piece of material
to form the lands. The means for coupling to a protective cover can
include one or more tabs configured to slidably mate with a track
in the protective cover. The means for coupling can include an
extension of the sliding display cover configured to remain within
a slot of the protective cover regardless of whether the sliding
display is in an open or closed position.
[0013] A method according to various embodiments can include
placing an electronic device within a protective case having a
roll-top display cover configured to protect a screen of the
electronic device from physical shock when the roll-top display
cover is in a closed position, and sliding the roll-top display
cover from the closed position into an open position, in which the
screen is substantially exposed. The method can also include
aligning the screen of the electronic device with an opening in a
main body of the protective case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Aspects of this disclosure will become apparent upon reading
the following detailed description and upon reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate
similar elements:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a top view of a protective case holding a portable
electronic device and having a sliding display cover in an open
position, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a top view of a protective case holding a portable
electronic device, and having a sliding display cover in a closed
position, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a protective case holding a
portable electronic device, and having a sliding display cover in a
partially open position, according to embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a roll-top display cover
slidably mounted in a track, according to embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a roll-top display cover,
according to embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of portion A of FIG. 5;
and
[0021] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to
various embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of
the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The
embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the
disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended
to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the
contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents,
and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0023] Referring first to FIG. 1, a protective case 100 according
to various embodiments of the present disclosure is shown with a
sliding display screen cover is illustrated and discussed.
Protective case 100 includes a case body 103 having various an
openings 105, 109, and 113, and hand grips 115. Case body 103 can
be constructed of various different materials to protect an
electronic device enclosed within case body 103 from physical shock
due to accidentally bumping, dropping or striking protective case
100. For example, in some embodiments, case body 103 can be
constructed of a substantially rigid plastic, rubber, metal, metal
alloy, or other material, that can be selected to provide various
degrees and types of protection, and to achieve a desired size
profile. Various materials and finishes can also be used to make
protective case 100 easier to grip, easier to slide in and out of a
pocket or purse, or to achieve another desired tactile
characteristic. In some embodiments, a flexible rubber or
rubber-like material can be used. In some embodiments protective
case 100 also provides moisture resistance or insulation.
[0024] Case body 103 can be constructed of a single piece of
material, or can constructed in multiple different segments that
can be snapped, clasped, glued, or otherwise joined to form the
entire case body 103. For example, in some embodiments, case body
103 can be a unitary piece of relatively flexible material that can
be temporarily stretched or deformed to allow insertion of an
electronic device through opening 109 or another opening (not
illustrated). In other embodiments, one or more rigid or semi-rigid
portions of case body 103 can be disassembled to allow insertion of
an electronic device, then reassembled around the inserted
device.
[0025] In at least one embodiment, case body 103 includes openings
105, 109, and 113 that are specifically configured for use with a
particular electronic device. For example, opening 105 can be
configured to correspond to the position of a speaker in a mobile
telephone, opening 113 can be used to accommodate a pushbutton or
other user input device, and opening 109 can be sized and
positioned to accommodate a display screen of an electronic device,
such an iPhone, a Droid, or another similar device. In various
embodiments, case body 103 can be constructed or modified to
include additional or fewer openings to accommodate various
features of various different handheld or portable electronic
devices. For example, case body 103 can include an opening in the
back of case body 103 (not illustrated) to accommodate a camera
included on an electronic device. In some embodiments, only the
exact number of openings needed for use with a particular
electronic device are included in case body 103, while other
embodiments can be generically constructed for use with multiple
different electronic devices, and may therefore include some
openings not used for any one particular device.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 1, protective case 100 includes an
opening 109 sized and positioned for use in conjunction with an
electronic device having a display screen and positioned within
case body 103. Opening 109 can, in some embodiments, be covered
with a substantially clear material. This clear material can be
rigid or flexible, and of any desired thickness. However, in at
least one embodiment, the clear material is constructed to be thin
enough to permit user interaction with a touch screen display
included on the electronic device. In other embodiments, opening
109 is left uncovered to facilitate access to the display screen of
the electronic device.
[0027] Protective cover 100 includes a slidable display cover
configured to slide over opening 109 to cover the display screen of
an electronic device located within case body 103 and protect the
display screen from physical shock. The slidable display cover is
not visible in FIG. 1, because it has been slid into an open
position. In some embodiments, the slidable display cover may be
partially visible even when it is in a fully open position.
[0028] Referring next to FIG. 2, protective cover 200 is
illustrated with a display screen cover 210 in a closed, or
protective position, covering an opening (not visible) in case body
203. In various embodiments, display screen cover 210 can be slid
open or closed to alternately expose or cover an opening such as
opening 109 (FIG. 1). At least one embodiment implements display
screen cover 210 in a "roll-top" configuration. For example, when
display screen cover 210 is slid from left to right to expose the
opening in case body 203, display screen cover 210 slides around
the right edge and around the back of the electronic device held
within protective cover 200. In some embodiments, display screen
cover 210 can wrap externally around case body 203. In other
embodiments, display screen cover 210 wraps around the inside of
case body 203.
[0029] Although the examples discussed herein generally describe a
display screen cover that wraps around a left or right side of an
electronic device, embodiments that slide up or down and wrap
around the top or bottom edge of the electronic device are also
contemplated, consistent with the configuration of the electronic
device placed within the protective case. In yet other embodiments,
display screen cover 210 can be an accordion-style door (not
illustrated) having lateral elements that fold up on one another as
the door is slid into an open position.
[0030] A display screen cover 210 according to various embodiments
can be constructed of rigid or semi-rigid materials, which can help
to absorb or deflect physical shock from the display of an
electronic device when the display screen cover 210 is in a closed
position. In some embodiments, display screen cover 210 can be
constructed of a transparent, semi-transparent, translucent, or
other material that allows viewing of the display screen of an
electronic device held within case body 203, even when display
screen cover 210 is in a closed position. In other embodiments,
display screen cover is substantially opaque.
[0031] Referring next to FIG. 3, protective case 300, which
includes a sliding door 310 partially covering opening 309 in case
body 303, is illustrated. Case body 303 also includes opening 115,
configured to allow access to various connectors included on an
electronic device housed within protective case 300. Although not
specifically illustrated, case body 303 may also include various
plugs, covers, or the like that can be used to close opening 115
when access to the connectors or ports through opening 115 is not
desired.
[0032] Case body 303 also includes seams 322 and 324, which
illustrate points at which various separate portions of case body
303 can be disassembled or assembled. For example, in some
embodiments, the bottom portion of case body 303 can be separated
from the top portion at seam 324, thereby facilitating placement of
an electronic device therein. In other embodiments, the front and
back portions of case body 303 can be separated at seam 322, and
then reassembled after an electronic device has been inserted. In
some embodiments case body 303 is the housing provided by the
manufacturer of an electronic device, and the sliding door 310 is
integral with, or attachable to, the primary housing of the
electronic device. Put another way, the electronic and other
components of an electronic device, including for example the
display screen, can be housed within, or integrated with,
protective cover 200.
[0033] Referring next to FIG. 4, a cover and track assembly 400 is
illustrated according to various embodiments of the present
invention. Cover and track assembly 400 includes sliding display
cover 410 and track 420. Track 420 can be formed a rigid or
semi-rigid plastic, metal, metal alloy, rubber-like material, or
other material, and is constructed to mate with sliding display
cover 410. In embodiments like those illustrated in FIG. 4, track
420 can be mounted to a case body, such as those illustrated and
discussed with respect to FIGS. 1-3, so that an electronic device
can be placed inside of track assembly 400, so that a display
screen of the electronic device (not illustrated) can be
alternately covered or exposed as sliding display cover 410 is slid
to an open or closed position. Note that as sliding display cover
410 is slid open to expose the display of the electronic device,
sliding display cover will wrap around an outside edge of the
device, and in some embodiments at least partially around the back
of an electronic device placed inside of track assembly 400.
[0034] In some embodiments, track 420 is formed as an integral part
of a protective case, such as those illustrated and discussed in
FIGS. 1-3. Furthermore, in some such embodiments, track 420 does
not extend entirely around an edge of an electronic device placed
inside of the protective case. Instead, the track can extend only
along an edge of an opening 309 (FIG. 3). In some such embodiments,
a device placed inside of the protective case can guide the
movement of any portion of sliding display cover 410 that is not
current engaging track 420. Furthermore, in some embodiments track
420 may engage only one side of sliding display cover 410.
[0035] Various methods and types of engaging mechanisms can be used
to connect sliding display cover 410 to track 420. For example,
track 420 may include one or more grooves into which one or more
pins of sliding display cover 410 fit. In other embodiments,
various rail, bearing, wheel, and continuous or semi-continuous
male and female coupling techniques can be used to couple sliding
display cover 410 to track 420. In some embodiments, track 420 may
consist essentially of a pin or other protrusion configured to mate
with a corresponding receiver connected to, or formed in, sliding
display cover 410. At least one embodiment contemplates that each
side of track 420 consists essentially of an upper and lower
portion that protrude over and guide individual slats or ribs of
sliding display cover 420.
[0036] Referring next to FIG. 5, a display cover 500 according to
various embodiments is illustrated. Display cover 500 includes a
series horizontal members 510 connected to each other and
positioned side by side. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the
horizontal members includes a protrusion 516 that can be slidably
mated to a track in a protective cover, as discussed in FIGS. 1-4.
As illustrated, display cover 500 is constructed from a single
piece of material by forming lands 512 separated by grooves 514 cut
into the material. The illustrated configuration allows display
cover 500 to bend or flex when moved along track included in a
protective case.
[0037] Referring briefly to FIG. 6, an expanded view of an edge of
display cover 500 is illustrated. The expanded view shows the lands
512, grooves 514, and protrusions 516.
[0038] Although FIGS. 5 and 6 specifically illustrate a display
cover 500 constructed from a single piece of material, other
embodiments of display cover 500 can use individual slats, bars, or
the like. In some such embodiments, the slats or bars can be
connected by a strapping material, or simply placed next to each
other and held in place by an external frame (not illustrated). In
yet further embodiments, the display cover can be a unitary door
constructed from one or more pieces of material without lands and
grooves. Such a door should be flexible enough to bend at least
partially around an outside portion of an electronic device when
slid along a track included in a protective cover as described
herein.
[0039] Referring next to FIG. 7, a method 700 according to various
embodiments of the present invention will be discussed. At block
703, an electronic device is placed within a protective cover
having a roll-top display cover. The display screen of the
electronic device is preferably aligned with an opening in the
protective cover, so that sliding the roll-top display cover into a
closed position will be able to protect the display screen from
physical shock. As illustrated by blocks 705 and 707, if the cover
is closed, a user can slide the roll-top display cover from the
closed position to an open position to expose the display screen of
the electronic device for use by the user. As illustrated by blocks
709 and 711, if the user desires to protect the display screen of
the electronic device from physical shock, the roll-top display
cover can be slid into a closed position.
[0040] As used herein, the terms "electronic device," "handheld
device," "portable device," and similar terms are used
interchangeably to refer to various different devices that can be
carried by person and include a display screen. Examples of
electronic devices include, but are not limited to, mobile
telephones or other communication devices, televisions, radios,
audio visual devices, audio players, timekeeping devices, personal
digital assistants (PDAs), and other computing devices.
[0041] Various embodiments of a protective case having a sliding
screen cover have been described to a level of detail that will
allow one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed
invention. Although more than one embodiment has been discussed,
other variations and modifications of the disclosed embodiments can
be made based on the description provided, without departing from
the scope of the invention as set forth in the following
claims.
* * * * *