U.S. patent application number 14/043849 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for protective cases for mobile devices.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hendra Bong, Djuliadi Herlanto, San-san Wardojo. Invention is credited to Hendra Bong, Djuliadi Herlanto, San-san Wardojo.
Application Number | 20140138265 14/043849 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50726903 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140138265 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bong; Hendra ; et
al. |
May 22, 2014 |
Protective Cases for Mobile Devices
Abstract
This invention relates to protective cases for mobile devices.
The case includes a main body covering part of a major surface of
the mobile device that is integral and/or secured to sidewall
enclosures. The main body includes spoke(s) integral and/or secured
to sidewall enclosures. The sidewall enclosures are corner sidewall
enclosures and non-corner side enclosures that protect the surfaces
of the mobile device from dropping damage. The sidewall enclosures
can be assembled by users.
Inventors: |
Bong; Hendra; (Hayward,
CA) ; Herlanto; Djuliadi; (Diamond Bar, CA) ;
Wardojo; San-san; (San Diego, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bong; Hendra
Herlanto; Djuliadi
Wardojo; San-san |
Hayward
Diamond Bar
San Diego |
CA
CA
CA |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50726903 |
Appl. No.: |
14/043849 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61708654 |
Oct 2, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 2011/002 20130101;
A45C 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/37 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A protective case for a mobile device, comprising: sidewall
enclosure(s) that cover at least part of the perimeter of a mobile
device; and a main body that covers a part of the back of the
mobile device, including one or more spokes integral with and/or
secured to the sidewall enclosures.
2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the sidewall enclosures
are four corner sidewall enclosures to protect four corners of the
mobile device.
3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the sidewall enclosures
can be detached from the main body and replaced with other sidewall
enclosures.
4. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the main body is
X-shaped with spokes that are integral with and/or secured to the
corner sidewall enclosures
5. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the corner sidewall
enclosures are secured to the main body by screws, pins, or mating
parts.
6. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the main body holds the
sidewall enclosures against the mobile device to protect the mobile
device.
7. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the sidewall enclosure
portions are interchangeable to access mobile device functions.
8. The protective case of claim 1, wherein main body is one of the
following shapes a plus sign, a vertical line, V-shaped,
diamond-shaped, and open frame shaped.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/708,654, filed on Oct. 2, 2012, which is
incorporated by reference herein.
[0002] This invention relates to a protective case for mobile
devices such as cell phones, e-readers, music players, and
tablets.
[0003] As mobile devices have evolved to offer advanced features,
the replacement cost for damaged devices has grown. Unfortunately,
if a mobile device hits a hard surface, it may damage it. It may be
a dent or scratch, but sometimes the damage may require purchasing
a new mobile device. If we are talking about a cell phone, the user
may pay dearly, because the warranty may have expired or simply not
cover the damage and carrier contracts for reduced prices may not
be available. Thus, many users have bought protective cases for
cell phones. Some cases may wrap protective material around the
entire cell phone except for the display. Such an approach may
protect the cell phone from shocks, dents and scratches but
something is lost--the beauty of the cell phone design. The
inventors recognized these problems and sought to identify what
surfaces of the mobile device are susceptible to damage and protect
those surfaces in a less bulky fashion that reveals much of the
cell phone design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates to protective cases for mobile
devices.
[0005] In a feature, the case includes a main body covering only
part of a major surface of the mobile device that is integral
and/or secured to sidewall enclosures that protect the mobile
device.
[0006] In another feature, the case includes a main body that
includes one or more spokes that are integral and/or secured to
sidewall enclosures protecting the mobile device.
[0007] In another feature, the sidewall enclosures are corner
sidewall enclosures and non-corner sidewall enclosures that protect
the mobile device on the surfaces susceptible to dropping
damage.
[0008] In another feature, the protective case includes a variety
of sidewall enclosures that are separable parts that can be
assembled for customization by users.
[0009] In other features, the sidewall enclosures are molded,
machined, and/or shaped to enclose at least part of the perimeter
of the mobile device and are integral with and/or secured to the
main body. When the sidewall enclosures are assembled to the main
body, they form a case that encloses at least part of the perimeter
of the mobile device, and part of the back of the mobile
device.
[0010] In other features, the case particularly encloses certain
parts of the mobile device such as the corners where it is more
susceptible to damage. The corner and non-corner sidewall
enclosures can be minimal with molded interior shapes conforming to
the mobile device to preferably form a snug fit or relatively large
and robust to have more coverage and an extra level of
protection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of a protective case for
a mobile device.
[0012] FIG. 2a illustrates a planar shaped main body of a
protective case.
[0013] FIG. 2b is an exploded view of an open frame shaped main
body and the rest of a protective case.
[0014] FIG. 2c illustrates an X-shaped main body.
[0015] FIG. 3a illustrates a protective case that includes an
X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to the corner
sidewall enclosures.
[0016] FIG. 3b illustrates a protective case that includes corner
sidewall enclosures without the main body.
[0017] FIG. 3c illustrates a protective case that includes an
X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to the corner
sidewall enclosures.
[0018] FIGS. 4a-4d illustrate the modular nature of the protective
case that allows for customization.
[0019] FIG. 5a illustrates a protective case that includes an open
frame shaped main body and sidewall enclosures.
[0020] FIG. 5b illustrates a protective case that includes an open
frame shaped main body with corner sidewall enclosures.
[0021] FIGS. 6a-6d illustrate various corner and non-corner
sidewall enclosures.
[0022] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a protective case that
includes an open frame shaped main body, corner sidewall enclosures
and non-corner sidewall enclosures.
[0023] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a protective case that
includes an X-shaped main body, corner sidewall enclosures, and
sidewall enclosures.
[0024] FIG. 9a illustrates a corner sidewall enclosure of a
protective case integral with and/or secured to an open frame
shaped main body.
[0025] FIG. 9b illustrates a spoke of the main body secured by a
screw to the corner sidewall enclosure.
[0026] FIG. 9c illustrates a spoke of the main body secured in a
slot of the corner sidewall enclosure.
[0027] FIG. 9d illustrates an open frame shaped main body that
includes an extension that wraps around a corner sidewall
enclosure.
[0028] FIG. 10a illustrates a protective case for a cell phone
using an X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to four
corner sidewall enclosures.
[0029] FIG. 10b illustrates a protective case for a tablet using an
X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to four corner
sidewall enclosures.
[0030] FIG. 11a illustrates an embodiment of a main body that
includes a spoke integral with and/or secured to two corner
sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile
device.
[0031] FIG. 11b illustrates another embodiment of a main body that
includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner
sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile
device.
[0032] FIG. 11c illustrates another embodiment of a main body that
includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner
sidewall enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile device.
[0033] FIG. 11d illustrates another embodiment of a main body that
includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner
sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile
device.
[0034] FIG. 11e illustrates another embodiment of a main body that
includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner
sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile
device.
[0035] FIG. 11f illustrates another embodiment of a main body that
includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner
sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile
device.
[0036] FIG. 11g illustrates another embodiment of a main body that
includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner
sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile
device.
[0037] FIG. 11h illustrates another embodiment of a main body that
includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner
sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] The following description includes the best mode of carrying
out the invention, illustrates the principles of the invention,
uses illustrative values, and should not be taken in a limiting
sense. The scope of the invention is determined by reference to the
claims. Each part or step is assigned its own number in the
specification and drawings. The drawings are not to scale and do
not reflect the relative size of the parts.
[0039] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded and perspective view of a
case that can protect a mobile device (e.g., cell phone, tablet,
and e-reader). The mobile device can be a cell phone such as
Apple's iPhone, an iPad, iPod, and other firms' tablets, a
computer, an e-reader such as Amazon's Kindle, and other mobile
devices such as the Android OS mobile devices.
[0040] The protective case includes a main body 24 that is integral
with and/or secured to secondary portions that fully or partly
enclose the perimeter or edges of the mobile device 42 to eliminate
or reduce damage to the mobile device when it collides with a hard
surface.
[0041] For brevity, the application uses the phrase "integral with"
to refer to adjacent "parts" that are structurally a single part.
The application uses "secured" to refer to adjacent parts held
together mechanically by, for example, a screw, a rivet, a fastener
and/or adhesive.
[0042] The secondary portions include corner sidewall enclosures
12, 14, 18, and 20 and non-corner sidewall enclosures 10, 15, 16,
and 22. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the non-corner sidewall
enclosures 10, 22 enclose the top sidewall and the bottom sidewall
of the mobile device 42. The non-corner sidewall enclosures 15, 16
enclose the right sidewall and the left sidewall of the mobile
device 42. Corner sidewall enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 protect
the corners of the mobile device 42. In another embodiment, instead
of corner sidewall enclosure 20, the protective case includes a
corner sidewall enclosure 26 with an opening 27 for a lanyard, a
strap or another purpose. In another embodiment, instead of the
corner sidewall enclosure 20, the protective case includes a corner
sidewall enclosure 29 that includes a button 28 for activating a
function (e.g., camera shutter) of the mobile device 42.
[0043] In another embodiment, a corner sidewall enclosure 30
includes an opening 30 at the top and a closed bottom enclosure 34
to hold an input tool, such as a stylus or pen 36. The sidewall
enclosures are integral with and/or secured to the open frame
shaped main body 24.
[0044] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the main body 24 is an open
frame shaped, which is on the periphery of the mobile device 42
with an opening in the center. The main body 24 can be rigid or
elastic and a singular object or include multiple-pieces assembled
together.
[0045] The open frame shaped main body 24 that holds the corner
sidewall enclosures and the non-corner sidewall enclosures together
has center opening in the main body 24 so it can be disposed on the
back or even the front (i.e., display side) of the mobile device
42.
[0046] The corner sidewall and non-corner sidewall enclosures are
made of rigid or non-rigid materials such as aluminum, other
metals, plastic, rubber, polyurethane, carbon fiber, or other
composite materials.
[0047] FIG. 2a illustrates a planar shaped main body 44, including
an opening 43, that covers and protects the back of the mobile
device.
[0048] FIG. 2b is an exploded view of an open frame shaped main
body and the rest of a protective case. As shown, the protective
case includes an open frame shaped main body 24, non-corner
sidewall enclosures 10, 15, 16, and 22, and corner sidewall
enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20. The non-corner sidewall enclosure 10
includes a rectangular shaped opening 38 and a circular opening 40
to access the mobile device's functions (e.g., camera, flash,
microphone and other controls or for exposing the mobile device's
graphics, name, on/off/sleep button, mute button, and volume
buttons).
[0049] FIG. 2c illustrates a main body that includes spokes that is
integral with and/or secured to the corner sidewall enclosures. As
shown in FIG. 2c, the X-shaped main body 46 is a four-spoke body in
the shape of an "X" or two "V's" that are integral with and/or
secured to each other where one "V" is inverted with respect to the
other "V."
[0050] FIG. 3a illustrates a protective case that includes an
X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to the corner
sidewall enclosures. The corner sidewall enclosures portion 12, 14,
18, and 20 enclose the corners of the mobile device 42, and are
held together by the X-shaped main body 46 on the back of the
mobile device 42. Together when assembled with the mobile device 42
within, the corner sidewall enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 and the
X-shaped main body 46 form a snug fit case to contain the mobile
device 42. This embodiment allows a minimal amount of material to
cover the mobile device 42 while protecting the corners of the
mobile device 42, which are most susceptible to damage due to a
fall or drop, as well as the back of the mobile device 42.
[0051] FIG. 3b illustrates a protective case that includes corner
sidewall enclosures 12, 14, 18, 20 secured to the mobile device 42
without the main body 46. FIG. 3c illustrates a protective case
that includes an X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to
the corner sidewall enclosures without the mobile device 42.
[0052] FIG. 4a illustrates another embodiment of a protective case
for a mobile device 42 that includes an open frame shaped main body
24 that is integral with and/or secured to top sidewall enclosure
10 with openings 38 and 40, the non-corner sidewall enclosures 15,
16, and the bottom sidewall enclosure 22. Non-corner sidewall
enclosure 16 includes a set of openings 48, 50, and 52 to access
functions of the mobile device 42.
[0053] FIG. 4b illustrates another embodiment of a protective case
for a mobile device 42 that includes an open frame shaped main body
24 that is integral with and/or secured to corner sidewall
enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 and non-corner sidewall enclosures
15, 16. Non-corner sidewall enclosure 16 includes openings 48, 50,
and 52 to access functions of the mobile device 42.
[0054] FIG. 4c illustrates another embodiment of a protective case
for a mobile device 42 that includes an open frame shaped main body
24 that is integral and/or secured to corner sidewall enclosures 12
and 20 along with top non-corner sidewall 10 with openings 38 and
40, corner sidewall enclosures 14 and 18 along with bottom
non-corner sidewall 22.
[0055] FIG. 4d illustrates another embodiment of a protective case
for a mobile device 42 that includes an X-shaped main body 46 that
is integral and/or secured to corner sidewall enclosures 12, 14,
18, and 20.
[0056] FIG. 5a illustrates the assembled protective case shown as
an exploded view in FIG. 1. FIG. 5a illustrates the corner sidewall
enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20, and non-corner sidewall enclosures
10, 15, 16, and 22 enclose the edges around the perimeter of the
mobile device. The non-corner sidewall enclosures 15, 16 are
integral with and/or secured to the open frame shaped main body 24.
FIG. 5b illustrates a case that includes an open frame shaped main
body 24 with corner sidewall enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 to
protect corners of mobile device 42.
[0057] FIG. 6a illustrates a corner sidewall enclosure 12 that
protects the corner of mobile device 42. FIG. 6b illustrates a
sidewall enclosure 54 that protects two corners and the top of the
mobile device 42. FIG. 6c illustrates a sidewall enclosure 56 that
encloses the corner and the non-corner of the mobile device 42.
FIG. 6d illustrates non-corner sidewall enclosures 10, 15 that
protect the non-corner perimeter of the mobile device 42.
[0058] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the protective case shown
assembled in FIG. 5a. The only new part added to the case of FIG.
5a is a corner sidewall 200 with an opening 100.
[0059] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of protective case shown
assembled in FIG. 4d. The only part added to the case of FIG. 5a is
a corner sidewall 200 with an opening 100.
[0060] FIG. 9a illustrates a corner sidewall enclosure 20 of a
protective case integral with and/or secured to an open frame
shaped main body 24.
[0061] FIG. 9b illustrates a spoke of the main body 46 secured by a
screw 62 to the corner sidewall enclosure 13 of the mobile device
42.
[0062] FIG. 9c illustrates a spoke of the main body 46 secured in a
slot of the corner sidewall enclosure 66 of the mobile device
42.
[0063] FIG. 9d illustrates an open frame shaped main body 24 that
includes an extension 68 that wraps around a corner sidewall
enclosure 20 of the mobile device 42.
[0064] FIG. 10a illustrates a protective case for a cell phone
using an X-shaped main body 46 secured to four corner sidewall
enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20.
[0065] FIG. 10b illustrates a protective case for a tablet 70 using
an X-shaped main body 80 secured to four corner sidewall enclosures
72, 74, 76, and 78.
[0066] FIG. 11a illustrates an embodiment of a main body 82 that
includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to two corner
sidewalls enclosures 54, 300 to protect four corners of a mobile
device.
[0067] FIG. 11b illustrates another embodiment of a main body 84
that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to four
corner sidewalls enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 to protect four
corners of a mobile device.
[0068] FIG. 11c illustrates another embodiment of a main body 86
that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to four
corner sidewall enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 to protect four
corners of a mobile device.
[0069] FIG. 11d illustrates another embodiment of a main body 88
that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to four
corner sidewalls enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 to protect four
corners of a mobile device.
[0070] FIG. 11e illustrates another embodiment of a main body 90
that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to four
corner sidewalls enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 to protect four
corners of a mobile device.
[0071] FIG. 11f illustrates another embodiment of a main body 92
that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to four
corner sidewalls enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 to protect four
corners of a mobile device.
[0072] FIG. 11g illustrates another embodiment of a main body 94
that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to four
corner sidewalls enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 to protect four
corners of a mobile device.
[0073] FIG. 11h illustrates another embodiment of a main body 96
that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to four
corner sidewalls enclosures 12, 14, 18, and 20 to protect four
corners of a mobile device.
* * * * *