U.S. patent application number 13/463525 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-07 for shell device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hui-Chun CHUNG. Invention is credited to Hui-Chun CHUNG.
Application Number | 20130292281 13/463525 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49511724 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130292281 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHUNG; Hui-Chun |
November 7, 2013 |
SHELL DEVICE
Abstract
A shell device includes a protecting frame and a decorative
plate. The protecting frame is removably mounted on an electronic
device casing, and includes a loop-shaped plate portion for
abutment with a back side of the electronic device casing, a frame
opening defined by the loop-shaped plate portion, a loop-shaped
surrounding wall extending transversely from the loop-shaped plate
portion, and an abutting rib formed on an end of the loop-shaped
surrounding wall opposite to the loop-shaped plate portion for
tight abutment with an end of a lateral side of the electronic
device casing proximate to a front side of the electronic device
casing. The decorative plate is disposed within the loop-shaped
surrounding wall, is exposed partially from the frame opening, and
is covered partially by the loop-shaped plate portion.
Inventors: |
CHUNG; Hui-Chun; (Taipei
City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CHUNG; Hui-Chun |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
49511724 |
Appl. No.: |
13/463525 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 2011/002 20130101;
H04B 1/3888 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/320 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A shell device adapted to be removably mounted on an electronic
device casing that has back and front sides and a lateral side
interconnecting the back and front sides, said shell device
comprising: a protecting frame to be removably mounted on the
electronic device casing, and including a loop-shaped plate portion
adapted for abutment with the back side of the electronic device
casing, a frame opening defined by said loop-shaped plate portion,
a loop-shaped surrounding wall extending transversely from said
loop-shaped plate portion, and an abutting rib formed on an end of
said loop-shaped surrounding wall opposite to said loop-shaped
plate portion and adapted for tight abutment with an end of the
lateral side of the electronic device casing proximate to the front
side of the electronic device casing; and a decorative plate
disposed within said loop-shaped surrounding wall, said decorative
plate being exposed partially from said frame opening and covered
partially by said loop-shaped plate portion.
2. The shell device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said decorative
plate includes a substrate, and a layered structure formed on said
substrate and having a pattern layer.
3. The shell device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said substrate
is to be disposed proximate to the back side of the electronic
device casing and said layered structure is proximate to said
loop-shaped plate portion of said protecting frame.
4. The shell device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said decorative
plate further includes a top layer on said pattern layer, said top
layer being one of a transparent layer and a translucent layer.
5. The shell device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said top layer
is adhered on said pattern layer.
6. The shell device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said top layer
is removably disposed between said pattern layer and said
loop-shaped plate portion of said protecting frame.
7. The shell device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said substrate
is proximate to said loop-shaped plate portion of said protecting
frame and said layered structure is to be disposed proximate to the
back side of the electronic device casing.
8. The shell device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protecting
frame further includes a retaining portion projecting from an inner
surface of said loop-shaped plate portion in proximity to said
loop-shaped surrounding wall, said decorative plate being pressed
by said retaining portion against the back side of the electronic
device casing.
9. The shell device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said decorative
plate further includes a through hole penetrating through said
substrate and said layered structure.
10. The shell device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said substrate
is made of a material selected from the group consisting of glass,
metal, and plastic.
11. The shell device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protecting
frame further includes at least one notch formed in said
loop-shaped surrounding wall and indented from said end of said
loop-shaped surrounding wall.
12. The shell device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protecting
frame is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of
silicone rubber, metal, and plastic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a shell device, more particularly
to a shell device to be removably mounted on an electronic device
casing.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Portable electronic devices, such as a mobile phone, a
personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like, are increasingly
popular for consumers. Various shell devices having various
patterns, textures, or colors for protecting the portable
electronic devices have been launched in the market.
[0005] However, the present shell devices for protecting the
portable electronic devices are generally formed integrally.
Therefore, when the user wishes to change the pattern or color of
his/her shell device, it is required to buy a new shell device to
replace the old one.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a shell
device having a replaceable decorative plate.
[0007] Accordingly, the shell device of this invention is adapted
to be removably mounted on an electronic device casing that has
back and front sides and a lateral side interconnecting the back
and front sides. The shell device includes a protecting frame and a
decorative plate. The protecting frame is to be removably mounted
on the electronic device casing, and includes a loop-shaped plate
portion adapted for abutment with the back side of the electronic
device casing, a frame opening defined by the loop-shaped plate
portion, a loop-shaped surrounding wall extending transversely from
the loop-shaped plate portion, and an abutting rib formed on an end
of the loop-shaped surrounding wall opposite to the loop-shaped
plate portion and adapted for tight abutment with an end of the
lateral side of the electronic device casing proximate to the front
side of the electronic device casing. The decorative plate is
disposed within the loop-shaped surrounding wall. The decorative
plate is exposed partially from the frame opening and is covered
partially by the loop-shaped plate portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of a shell device according to the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment when assembled with a mobile phone;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment taken along line III in FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred
embodiment of a shell device according to the present invention;
and
[0014] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a third preferred
embodiment of a shell device according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the first preferred embodiment of
a shell device of this invention is adapted to be removably mounted
on an electronic device casing 10 (for example, a mobile phone
casing) that has back and front sides 101, 102 and a lateral side
103 interconnecting the back and front sides 101, 102. The shell
device includes a protecting frame 2 and a decorative plate 3.
[0016] The protecting frame 2 is removably mounted on the
electronic device casing 10, and includes a loop-shaped plate
portion 21 adapted for abutment with the back side 101 of the
electronic device casing 10, a frame opening 26 defined by the
loop-shaped plate portion 21, a loop-shaped surrounding wall 22
extending transversely from the loop-shaped plate portion 21, and
an abutting rib 25 formed on an end of the loop-shaped surrounding
wall 22 opposite to the loop-shaped plate portion 21 and adapted
for tight abutment with an end of the lateral side 103 of the
electronic device casing 10 proximate to the front side 102 of the
electronic device casing 10. The protecting frame 2 further
includes a retaining portion 23 and a plurality of notches 24. The
retaining portion 23 projects from an inner surface of the
loop-shaped plate portion 21 in proximity to the loop-shaped
surrounding wall 22. The retaining portion 23 can be formed in
various configurations, such as a looped retaining rib, a plurality
of retaining bumps, or two opposite retaining ribs respectively
formed at opposite sides 211 of the loop-shaped plate portion 21
and respectively pressing two opposite sides 301 of the decorative
plate 3. The notches 24 are formed in the loop-shaped surrounding
wall 22 and are indented from the end of the loop-shaped
surrounding wall 22. The notches 24 are provided for exposing parts
on the electronic device casing 10, such a power switch, a charging
slot, a USB port, a volume button, or the like. In this preferred
embodiment, the protecting frame 2 is made of silicone rubber. The
protecting frame 2 can be made of other materials, such as metal,
plastic, or the like.
[0017] The decorative plate 3 is disposed within the loop-shaped
surrounding wall 22 and between the loop-shaped plate portion 21 of
the protecting frame 2 and the back side 101 of the electronic
device casing 10. The decorative plate 3 is pressed by the
retaining portion 23 against the back side 101 of the electronic
device casing 10. The decorative plate 3 is exposed partially from
the frame opening 26 and is covered partially by the loop-shaped
plate portion 21. The decorative plate 3 includes a substrate 31
proximate to the back side 101 of the electronic device casing 10,
and a layered structure 32 formed on the substrate 31 and proximate
to the loop-shaped plate portion 21 of the protecting frame 2. The
layered structure 32 has a pattern layer 321 and a transparent or
translucent top layer 322 adhered on the pattern layer 321. The
transparent or translucent top layer 322 is provided for protecting
the pattern layer 321 from abrading or scratching. The decorative
plate 3 further includes a through hole 33 penetrating through the
substrate 31 and the layered structure 32. The through hole 33 is
provided for exposing a camera lens of an electronic device. In
this preferred embodiment, the substrate 31 can be made of metal or
plastic. Preferably, the substrate 31 is made of a titanium alloy
that is light weight and that has high mechanical strength.
[0018] Alternatively, the decorative plate 3 can be composed of the
substrate 31 made of different materials.
[0019] In assembling the preferred embodiment of the shell device
of the present invention, the decorative plate 3 is disposed on the
back side 101 of the electronic device casing 10 in a manner in
which the substrate 31 abuts with the back side 101 of the
electronic device casing 10. The protecting frame 2 is then mounted
on the electronic device casing 10 so that the abutting rib 25
abuts tightly with the end of the lateral side 103 of the
electronic device casing 10 proximate to the front side 102 of the
electronic device casing 10. When the user desires to replace the
decorative plate 3, the protecting frame 2 is removed from the
electronic device casing 10, and the decorative plate 3 can be
replaced with a new one.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, the second preferred embodiment of a
shell device according to this invention is shown to be similar to
the first preferred embodiment except that the top layer 322 is
removably disposed between the pattern layer 321 and the
loop-shaped plate portion 21 of the protecting frame 2.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 6, the third preferred embodiment of a
shell device according to this invention is shown to be similar to
the first preferred embodiment except that the substrate 31 of the
decorative plate 3 is proximate to the loop-shaped plate portion 21
of the protecting frame 2 and the layered structure 32 is proximate
to the back side 101 of the electronic device casing 10. In this
preferred embodiment, the layered structure 32 is composed of the
pattern layer 321, and the substrate 31 is made of glass which is
anti-abrasive and light-transmissive. Alternatively, the substrate
31 can be made of light-transmissive plastic, such as polymethyl
methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, or the
like. The substrate 31 is provided for protecting the pattern layer
321 from abrading or scratching.
[0022] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *