U.S. patent application number 13/281629 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-03 for mobile telephone or portable digital media player case having interchangeable panels.
This patent application is currently assigned to MARWARE, INC.. Invention is credited to Chanseol Chung, Edward Martin, Christopher Piedra.
Application Number | 20120103844 13/281629 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45995458 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120103844 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Piedra; Christopher ; et
al. |
May 3, 2012 |
MOBILE TELEPHONE OR PORTABLE DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYER CASE HAVING
INTERCHANGEABLE PANELS
Abstract
A case for a portable digital device, such as a mobile telephone
or a portable digital media player, includes a set of
interchangeable rear panels having different appearances or
functions at least at one outer surface thereof. Two mutually
interlocking shells engage one of the rear panels. The shells and
the panels cooperate for receiving and locking the device within
the shells and in front of the one rear panel.
Inventors: |
Piedra; Christopher;
(Hollywood, FL) ; Chung; Chanseol; (Hollywood,
FL) ; Martin; Edward; (Hollywood, FL) |
Assignee: |
MARWARE, INC.
HOLLYWOOD
FL
|
Family ID: |
45995458 |
Appl. No.: |
13/281629 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61406794 |
Oct 26, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/00 20130101;
A45F 5/021 20130101; A45C 2011/002 20130101; H04B 1/3888 20130101;
A45F 2200/0516 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/320 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A case for a portable digital device, the case comprising: a set
of interchangeable rear panels having different appearances or
functions at least at one outer surface thereof; and two mutually
interlocking shells for engaging one of said rear panels; said
shells and said panels cooperating for receiving and locking the
device within said shells and in front of said one rear panel.
2. The case according to claim 1, which further comprises a locking
device disposed on said shells for locking said shells
together.
3. The case according to claim 2, wherein said locking device
includes a tongue protruding from one of said shells and having a
catch formed thereon and a slot formed in the other of said shells
for receiving said catch.
4. The case according to claim 1, wherein said shells each have a
respective channel formed therein for receiving one of said rear
panels.
5. The case according to claim 1, which further comprises different
coverings disposed on said panels for providing said different
appearances.
6. The case according to claim 5, wherein said different coverings
are selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic
materials.
7. The case according to claim 1, wherein said different
appearances of said rear panels are provided by different colors,
surface designs, textures, patterns or finishes.
8. The case according to claim 1, which further comprises a belt
clip articulating on one of said panels.
9. The case according to claim 1, wherein the portable digital
device is a mobile telephone or a portable digital media player.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e), of provisional application No. 61/406,794 filed Oct.
26, 2010; the prior application is herewith incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention:
[0003] The invention relates to a mobile telephone or portable
digital media player case having interchangeable panels which are
used to change the appearance and/or function of the case.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Prior art cases for portable digital devices are provided
with different appearances by virtue of their color, texture or
pattern. Some cases have added functions, such as providing the
ability to attach the case to a belt.
[0006] However, once the case is purchased and placed on the
device, it cannot change its appearance or function.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a
mobile telephone or portable digital media player case having
interchangeable panels, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned
disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type
and which provides the ability to easily change the appearance
and/or function of the case.
[0008] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, a case for a portable
digital device, such as a mobile telephone or a portable digital
media player. The case comprises a set of interchangeable rear
panels having different appearances or functions at least at one
outer surface thereof. Two mutually interlocking shells are
configured for engaging one of the rear panels. The shells and the
panels cooperate for receiving and locking the device within the
shells and in front of the one rear panel.
[0009] In accordance with another feature of the invention, a
locking device is disposed on the shells for locking the shells
together. The locking device may include a tongue protruding from
one of the shells and having a catch formed thereon and a slot
formed in the other of the shells for receiving the catch. In this
way, the shells are locked together with the panel in place, which
protects the device while using the device to give strength,
rigidity and support to the case.
[0010] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the
shells each have a respective channel formed therein for receiving
one of the rear panels. The channels hold the panel in place and
therefore also add to the rigidity of the case.
[0011] In accordance with an added feature of the invention,
different coverings are disposed on the panels for providing the
different appearances. The different coverings may be formed of
natural or synthetic materials and may have different colors,
surface designs, textures, patterns or finishes.
[0012] In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, a
belt clip articulates on one of the panels. An arm band or other
attachment apparatus could also be fixed to the rear panel instead
of a belt clip, all of which provide a different function for the
rear panel.
[0013] Other features which are considered as characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
[0014] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in a mobile telephone or portable digital media player
case having interchangeable panels, it is nevertheless not intended
to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and
structural changes may be made therein without departing from the
spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of
equivalents of the claims.
[0015] The construction of the invention, however, together with
additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood
from the following description of the specific embodiment when read
in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, front-elevational view of a case
according to the invention, in which a device, such as a mobile
telephone or portable digital media player, is disposed;
[0017] FIGS. 2-6 are respective right side-elevational,
rear-elevational, left side-elevational, bottom-plan and top-plan
views of the case shown in FIG. 1, having a plain rear panel;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a rear-perspective view of the case shown in FIG.
1 having the plain rear panel;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a front-perspective view of the case shown in FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 9 is an exploded, rear-perspective view of the case
without a device disposed therein;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a rear-perspective view of a rear panel with a
wood-grained surface;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a rear-perspective view of a rear panel with a
belt-hook thereon; and
[0023] FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are rear-perspective views of
respective rear panels having natural wood, fabric or canvas,
imitation or faux leather and reflective or mirrored surfaces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and
first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a case 1
according to the invention, in which a device 40 is disposed. The
device 40 may be a portable digital media player, a mobile
telephone such as the iPhone 4.RTM. from Apple or another device.
The case 1 may be formed of a synthetic material, such as
polycarbonate or ABS, and has two interlocking U-shaped shells or
frames 2, 3 and a rear panel 10 which allow the case 1 to be
assembled around the device 40 and protect it from shock and
soiling. The shells 2, 3 and the rear panel 10 have various
openings formed therein to permit access to ports, buttons,
switches and camera lenses of the device. The shells 2, 3 are
joined together at a parting line 4 in the assembled condition or
state. The rear panel 10 is one of several interchangeable rear
panels, as will be explained below. FIG. 7 is a perspective view
showing the case in the assembled condition or state with a plain
rear panel 10 as in FIG. 3 and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing
the case in the assembled condition or state with a device 40
disposed therein.
[0025] As is seen in FIG. 9, the right side of the larger U-shaped
shell 2 has a protruding tongue 12 with a detent or catch 13 formed
thereon, which is snapped into a corresponding slot 14 in the
smaller U-shaped shell 3. It will be understood that the left side
of the shell 2 has an identical tongue 12 and detent or catch 13,
which is snapped into a corresponding slot 14 in the smaller
U-shaped shell 3. The tongues and the detents or catches cooperate
to form a locking device for locking the shells 2, 3 and the rear
panel 10 together in the assembled condition or state. The rear
panel 10 is retained in channels 16, 17 respectively provided
within the U-shaped shells 2, 3.
[0026] FIGS. 10-15 show rear panels to be slid into the channels
16, 17 in place of the rear panel 10. The rear panel 20 in FIG. 10
has a wood-grained covering 21 disposed thereon so as to provide
the case 1 with a wood-grained finish, as seen from the back. The
rear panel 22 in FIG. 11 has a belt hook thereon, which is
described below. The rear panel 28 in FIG. 12 has a natural wood
covering 29, the rear panel 30 in FIG. 13 has a fabric or canvas
covering 31, the rear panel 32 in FIG. 14 has a natural, imitation
or faux leather covering 33 and the rear panel 34 in FIG. 15 has
reflective or mirrored covering 35.
[0027] Therefore, the coverings may be formed of natural wood,
leather, fur, metal, carbon fiber or any other natural material or
of synthetic wood, vinyl, fur or any other synthetic material. The
panels may also be provided in any color or with a surface design,
texture or pattern.
[0028] The rear panel 22 has a base 23 and a belt clip 24 which
pivots on the base at a shaft 25 and is biased by a non-illustrated
spring, so that an end 26 of the belt clip 24 is normally pushed
against the outer surface of the rear panel 22. The base 23 is
mounted on the rear panel 22. An arm band or other device with a
different function could also be used in place of the belt
clip.
[0029] The case 1 is assembled by sliding the device 40 into the
larger U-shaped shell 2 and then sliding one of the panels into the
channel 16 behind the device. The smaller U-shaped shell 3 is then
slid-on over the device 40, so that the channel 17 slides over the
exposed end of the panel. The shell 3 is locked into place by
allowing the detent or catch 13 to snap into the slot 14. The
device 40 is protected while strengthening and supporting the case
1 which is tightly disposed thereon.
* * * * *