U.S. patent application number 14/693805 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-17 for case having a storage compartment for electronic devices.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dae-Young KIM. Invention is credited to Dae-Young KIM.
Application Number | 20150365122 14/693805 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53190799 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150365122 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Dae-Young |
December 17, 2015 |
CASE HAVING A STORAGE COMPARTMENT FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Abstract
A case, having a storage compartment, for an electronic device
includes a soft protective case that protects the electronic device
installed therein; a hard protective frame, configured to removably
mount over the soft protective case wherein the hard protective
frame comprises grooves; and a cover which has rails adapted to
mate with and slidably mounted on the grooves so that the cover
slides along the grooves to open and close the storage
compartment.
Inventors: |
KIM; Dae-Young; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KIM; Dae-Young |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
53190799 |
Appl. No.: |
14/693805 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14562621 |
Dec 5, 2014 |
9049283 |
|
|
14693805 |
|
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62012962 |
Jun 16, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/575.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/185 20130101;
G06F 1/1628 20130101; A45C 2200/15 20130101; H04M 1/21 20130101;
H04B 1/3888 20130101; A45C 2013/025 20130101; A45C 11/00 20130101;
H04M 1/04 20130101; A45C 2011/002 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 1/3888 20060101
H04B001/3888; H04M 1/21 20060101 H04M001/21 |
Claims
1. A case, having a storage compartment, for an electronic device,
comprising: a soft protective case which comprises a back panel to
cover a back portion of the electronic device, and a side wall
extending from a top surface of the back panel along edges of the
back panel; a hard protective frame, configured to removably mount
over the soft protective case, wherein the hard protective frame
comprises an aperture to form the storage compartment therein; and
a cover which slides forward and backward with respect to the hard
protective frame for opening and closing the storage compartment
formed on a bottom surface of the soft protective case.
2. The case of claim 1, further comprising a sliding means for
sliding the cover forward and backward with respect to the hard
protective frame.
3. The case of claim 2, wherein the sliding means comprises a pair
of rails formed on the cover and a pair of rail guides formed on
the hard protective frame wherein the rails are configured to slide
forward and backward along the rail guides.
4. The case of claim 1, wherein a raised wall is formed on the
bottom surface of the soft protective case to form the storage
compartment.
5. The case of claim 4, wherein the raised wall of the soft
protective case is received in the aperture of the hard protective
frame.
6. The case of claim 5, wherein the raised wall of the soft
protective case snugly fits in the aperture of the bard protective
frame.
7. The case of claim 5, wherein a longitudinal recess is formed on
the bottom surface of the soft protective case along an outer side
of the raised wall of the soft protective case.
8. The case of claim 7, wherein a longitudinal protrusion is formed
on the hard protective frame along a boundary of the aperture.
9. The case of claim 8, wherein the longitudinal protrusion of the
hard protective frame snugly fits in and is received by the
longitudinal recess of the soft protective case.
10. The case of claim 1, wherein width and length of the storage
compartment are respectively substantially same or slightly greater
than those of a credit card so that the credit card can snugly fit
in the storage compartment.
11. The case of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the soft
protective case further comprises a depression for easy access to a
credit card stored in the storage compartment.
12. The case of claim 1, wherein the hard protective frame further
comprises a locking protrusion and the cover further comprises a
locking recess positioned to mate with the corresponding locking
protrusion for locking the cover to the hard protective frame to
prevent the cover from sliding.
13. The case of claim 1, wherein the hard protective frame further
comprises a locking recess and the cover further comprises a
locking protrusion positioned to mate with the corresponding
looking recess for locking the cover to the hard protective frame
to prevent the cover from sliding.
14. The case of claim 1, wherein the soft protective cover is made
of soft material and the hard protective frame and the cover are
made of hard material.
15. The case of claim 14, wherein the soft protective cover is made
of thermoplastic polyurethane and the hard protective frame and the
cover are made of polycarbonate.
16. The case of claim 1, wherein the soft protective case comprises
a long recess and the hard protective frame comprises a long
protrusion such that the long recess of the soft protective case
receives the long protrusion of the hard protective frame
therein.
17. A case, having a storage compartment, for an electronic device,
comprising; a soft protective case which comprises a back panel to
cover a back portion of the electronic device, a raised wall formed
on a bottom surface of the back panel to form the storage
compartment, and a side wall extending from a top surface of the
back panel along edges of the back panel; a hard protective frame,
configured to removably mount over the soft protective case,
wherein the hard protective frame comprises an aperture to form the
storage compartment therein; and a cover which slides forward and
backward with respect to the hard protective frame for opening and
closing the storage compartment formed on a bottom surface of the
soft protective case, wherein a boundary of the aperture
substantially surrounds the raised wall.
18. The case of claim 17, further comprising a sliding means for
sliding the cover forward and backward with respect to the hard
protective frame, wherein the sliding means comprises a pair of
rails formed on the cover and a pair of rail guides formed on the
hard protective frame wherein the rails are configured to slide
forward and backward along the rail guides.
19. The case of claim 17, wherein the soft protective cover is made
of thermoplastic polyurethane and the hard protective frame and the
cover are made of polycarbonate.
20. The case of claim 17, wherein the soft protective case
comprises a long recess and the hard protective frame comprises a
long protrusion such that the long recess of the soft protective
case receives the long protrusion of the hard protective frame
therein.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 14/562,621 filed on Dec. 5, 2014 which
claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No.
62/012,962 filed Jun. 16, 2014, each earlier application hereby
expressly incorporated toy reference herein in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a case having, a storage
compartment, for an electronic device and, more particularly, to a
mobile phone case having three main members of a soft protective
case, a hard protective frame and a cover. The cover is configured
to slidably open and close the storage compartment which stores
personal items such as a credit card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, smart
phones, tablet computers and the like, have become popular and
widely used for communication, entertainment purposes and other
purposes. These electronic devices are intended to be carried or
moved about and as such, these devices are more likely to be
accidentally dropped, hit, or scratched. To protect the portable
electronic devices, protective cases have been introduced and
become popular in connection with the electronic devices such as
cell phones, smart phones, tablet computers and the like.
[0004] There has been a trend towards combining several functions
into the protective cases, for example, a case having a pocket or
purse clutter integrated therein. Among many types of cases,
flip/folio-style cases have become popular to have a storage space
to store credit/debit cards. A cover flip opens and closes over an
electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart phone. Such
cover usually has a securing mechanism such as a snap, a magnet, or
hook and loop fasteners. Credit cards are usually stored inside the
front cover of the case. In order to use the electronic device, the
cover must be opened, thereby exposing the front of the device and
the credit cards together. Thus, whenever a user uses the
electronic device, the credit cards are exposed as well.
[0005] Besides, the sizes and shapes of modern cell phones have
become much more compact than those in the past, and accordingly,
the cases have become compact as well. Thus, adding a storage space
for personal items such as a credit card tends to make the cases
unnecessarily bulkier and heavier.
[0006] Therefore, to solve the above problems and facilitate
convenient carrying of personal items such as credit/debit cards,
there is a need for a case for an electronic device having a
compact, stylish and integrated structure for a storage compartment
to store personal items such as a credit/debit card(s). This
invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the
long-felt need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages
of the prior art. The present invention provides a case, having a
storage compartment, for an electronic device and, more
particularly, to a mobile phone case having three main members of a
soft protective case, a hard protective frame and a cover. The
cover is configured to slidably open and close the storage
compartment which stores a credit card.
[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a case, having a
storage compartment, for an electronic device which includes a soft
protective case, a hard protective frame, and a cover. The cover
slides forward and backward with respect to the hard protective
frame to open and close the storage compartment formed by the soft
protective case and the cover.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a case, having
a storage compartment, for an electronic device which includes a
soft protective case, a hard protective frame, and a cover. A
raised wall is formed on a bottom surface of the soft protective
case to form a storage compartment and the hard protective frame
has an aperture to surround the raised wall. The hard protective
frame and the cover respectively have grooves and rails and the
rails slide forward and backward with respect to the grooves to
open and close the cover.
[0010] Still another object of the invention is to provide a case,
having a storage compartment, for an electronic device which
includes a soft protective case, a hard protective frame, and a
cover. The hard protective frame is provided with an indentation
structure and the cover is constructed to form a complementary
structure to be received in the indentation structure of the hard
protective case. In addition, the hard protective frame has a
protuberance on an opposite side of the indentation structure of
the hard protective frame to structurally support and reinforce the
indentation structure of the hard protective frame. The soft
protective case has a complementary structure of an indentation to
receive the protuberance of the hard protective frame.
[0011] The advantages of the present invention, are: (1) the case
having a storage compartment of the present invention well protects
an item such as a credit card stored in the storage compartment;
(2) the case of the present invention has one compact, stylish, and
integrated structure; and (3) the credit card is not easily visible
to others.
[0012] Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the
fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the
following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a case with an electronic
device installed therein according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the case according to the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows another perspective view of the case with the
cover slidably open according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the soft protective case
of the present invention;
[0018] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a perspective view of the hard
protective frame of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the hard protective frame mounted
on the soft protective case according to the present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 7A and 7B show a top view of the soft protective case
according to the present invention;
[0021] FIGS. 8A and 8B show a bottom view of the hard protective
frame of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the cover of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 10 shows a bottom view of the cover of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 12A shows a perspective view of the case having a
standing leg according to the present invention; and
[0026] FIG. 12B shows another perspective view of the case having a
standing leg of FIG. 12A when the cover is slide open.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this
disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not
limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters
described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein
is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of
example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed
invention.
[0028] Also, as used in the specification including the appended
claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include the plural,
and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least
that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or
"approximately" one particular value and/or to "about" or
"approximately" another particular value. When such a range is
expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular
value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values
are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about",
it will be understood that the particular value forms another
embodiment.
[0029] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show perspective views of the case for an
electronic device 100 according to the present invention. The
electronic device 100 may be a mobile phone, a cell phone, PDA, a
smart phone, etc.
[0030] The case 10 of the present invention, having a storage
compartment 60, for an electronic device 100, includes a soft
protective case 20 to cover the electronic device 100 installed
therein; a hard protective frame 30, configured to removably mount
over the soft protective case 20; and a cover 40. The soft
protective case 20 includes a back panel 21 to cover a back portion
110 of the electronic device 100, and the back panel 21 includes a
top surface 22 and a bottom surface 23 such that the top surface 22
faces the electronic device 100. In addition, the soft protective
case 20 further includes a raised wall 50 formed on a bottom
surface 23 of the back panel 21 to form a storage compartment 60,
and a side wall 25 extending from a top surface 22 of the back
panel 21 along edges of the back panel 21.
[0031] The hard protective frame 30 is constructed to removably
mount over the soft protective case 20 and includes grooves 70. The
cover 40 includes rails 80 adapted to mate with and to be slidably
mounted on the grooves 70 so that the cover 40 slides along the
grooves 70 to open and close the storage compartment 60. The.
grooves 70 may be formed vertically as in FIG. 3, or alternatively,
they 70 may be formed horizontally.
[0032] The soft protective case 20 significantly covers a back
portion 110 of the electronic device 100 with the top surface 22 of
the back panel 21 and a side portion 120 of the electronic device
100 with the side wall 25 of the soft protective case 20. In
addition, the soft protective case 20 is sufficiently flexible to
accept insertion of the electronic device 100 therein and
sufficiently rigid to securely retain the inserted electronic
device 100. The soft protective case 20 significantly covers a back
portion 110 and a side portion 120 of the electronic device
100.
[0033] Items that can be stored in the storage compartment 60
include credit cards, payment cards, identification cards (e.g.,
driver's license, membership card, etc.), business cards, coupons,
receipts, gift cards, and the like.
[0034] The hard protective frame 30 further includes an aperture 32
to surround the raised wall 50 of the soft protective case 20.
Preferably, the aperture 32 snuggly fits with an outer side 52 of
the raised wall 50 of the soft protective case 20.
[0035] FIGS. 4 and 5A and 5B respectively show perspective views of
the soft protective case 20 and the hard protective frame 30.
[0036] The soft protective case 20 is provided with a plurality of
indentations 26 and the hard protective frame 30 has complementary
structures 36 received in the indentations 26. The indentations 26
are provided on the side wall 25 of the soft protective case 20 as
shown in FIG. 4. Lower side of the indentations 26 is provided with
a long recess and the complementary structures 36 is provided with
a corresponding long protrusion so that the the long protrusion is
received in the long recess for secure and tight coupling of the
soft protective case 20 and the hard protective frame 30.
[0037] The hard protective frame 30 is provided with an indentation
structure 38 and the cover 40 has a complementary structure 48
received in the indentation structure 38 of the hard protective
case 30. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the indentation structure 38 of
the hard protective frame is constructed along the boundary of the
aperture 32 and the indentation structure 38 receives the cover 40.
The cover as a whole is configured to form the complementary
structure 48. Accordingly, the cover 40 looks like a cut-out from
the hard protective frame 30.
[0038] FIGS. 8A and 8B show a bottom view of the hard protective
frame 30.
[0039] The hard protective frame 30 has a protuberance 34 on an
opposite side of the indentation structure 38 of the hard
protective frame 30 to structurally support and reinforce the
indentation structure 38 of the hard protective frame 30, and the
soft protective case 20 has a complementary structure of an
indentation 24 to receive the protuberance 34 of the hard
protective frame 30. FIG. 7B shows the indentation 24 in a shade
and FIG. 8B shows the protuberance 34 in a shade formed along the
boundary of the aperture 32. The complementary structure 24 of the
soft protective cover 20 is constructed along the raised wall
50.
[0040] Because of the indentations, protuberance and complementary
structures of the soft protective cover 20, the hard protective
frame 30, and the cover 40, the case 10 has a compact and
integrated structure.
[0041] FIGS. 6 and 7A respectively show top views of the soft
protective case 20 and the hard protective frame 30 such that the
hard protective frame 30 is mounted on the soft protective case
20.
[0042] The number of the grooves 70 is preferably two and the
grooves are formed on opposite side walls 31 of the hard protective
frame 30. The number of the rails 80 is two as well and the rails
80 are formed on opposite side walls 41 of the cover 40.
[0043] The side walls 31 and 41 of the hard protective frame 30 and
the cover 40 are preferably slanted as shown in FIGS. 3 and 11.
Because of this slanted side walls, the cover 40 is not dislodged
from the hard protective frame 30 and can slide forward and
backward with respect to the hard protective frame 30. The rails 80
of the cover 40 are received in the grooves 70 of the hard
protective frame 30. The rails 80 face toward each other as shown
in FIG. 11, locking the cover 40 onto the hard protective frame 30,
and thus, the case 40 can slide forward and backward with respect
to the hard protective frame 30 without being dislodged. The case
40 may slide up and down the hard protective frame 30, or
alternatively, the case 40 may slide to the right and the left with
respect to the hard protective frame 30 as shown in FIGS. 12A and
12B.
[0044] The width and length of the storage compartment 60 is
respectively slightly greater than those of a credit card 90 so
that a credit card can be snugly inserted therein and elastic tabs
51 are formed on opposite sides of the raised wall 50 of the soft
protective case 20 for securely holding the credit card 90.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, the raised wall 50 of the soft
protective case 20 is enclosed to form and define the storage
compartment 60.
[0046] The bottom surface 23 of the soft protective case 20 may
further include a depression 27 for easy access to a credit card 90
stored in the storage compartment 60. The depression 27 may be
located in the middle or on the side as shown in FIG. 7A. Because
of the depression 27, a user can put his finger in the depression
27 and lift an upper side of the credit card to pick it up from the
storage compartment 60.
[0047] FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively show a top view and bottom view
of the cover 40. The hard protective frame 30 may further include a
locking protrusion 37 and the cover 40 may further include a
locking recess 47 positioned to mate with the corresponding locking
protrusion 37,
[0048] Alternatively, the hard protective frame 30 may have a
locking recess 47 and the cover 40 may have a locking protrusion
37. To close the storage compartment 60, a user slides up the cover
40 onto the hard protective frame 30 until the locking protrusion
37 mates or locks with the locking recess 47. Sliding down the
cover will dislodge the locking protrusion 37 from the locking
recess 47.
[0049] The hard protective frame 30 may further comprise a cavity
39 and the cover 40 may further comprise a mating protrusion 49
positioned to mate with the cavity 39 of the hard protective frame
30. Alternatively, the hard protective frame 30 may have a mating
protrusion 49 and the cover may have a cavity 39. Mating and
interlocking of the mating protrusion 49 and the cavity 39 prevents
dislodging of the cover 40 from the hard protective frame 30.
[0050] Preferably, the hard protective frame 30 and the cover 40
have three types of locking mechanisms: the grooves 70 and the
rails 80 on opposite sides, the locking protrusion 37 and the
locking recess 47 on the top, and the cavity 39 and the mating
protrusion 49 on the bottom. Because of these locking mechanisms,
the cover 40 can securely close the storage compartment 60 and
slide forward and backward with respect to the hard protective
frame 30 without being dislodged.
[0051] The soft protective cover 20 may be made of any soft
material to protect a mobile phone and a credit card therein,
preferably thermoplastic polyurethane, and the hard protective
frame 30 and the cover 40 may be made of hard material, preferably
polycarbonate.
[0052] Due to the soft material of the soft protective cover 20, it
may be sufficient to hold in place a credit card within the storage
compartment 60. The bottom surface 23 of the soft protective case
20 may further comprise a plurality of recesses 29 to hold the
credit card in place.
[0053] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the present
invention. A longitudinal recess 55 may be formed on the bottom
surface 23 of the soft protective case 20 along the outer side 52
of the raised wall 50 of the soft protective case 20, and a
longitudinal protrusion 35 may be formed on the hard protective
frame 30 along a boundary of the aperture 32. The longitudinal
protrusion 35 of the hard protective frame 30 may snugly fit into
and be received by the longitudinal recess 55 of the soft
protective case 20.
[0054] In the alternative embodiment of the present Invention, the
case 10, having a storage compartment 60, for an electronic device
100, may include a soft protective case 20 which comprises a back
panel 21 to cover a back portion 110 of the electronic device 100,
and a side wall 25 extending from a top surface 22 of the back
panel 21 along edges of the back panel 21; a hard protective frame
30, configured to removably mount over the soft protective case 20,
wherein the hard protective frame 30 comprises an aperture 32 to
form a storage compartment 60; a cover 40 to slide forward and
backward with respect to the hard protective frame 30 for opening
and closing the storage compartment 60 formed on a bottom, surface
23 of the soft protective case 20; and a sliding means 92 for
sliding the cover 40 forward and backward with respect to the hard
protective frame 30.
[0055] The sliding means 92 may include a pair of grooves 70 formed
on the hard protective frame 30 and a pair of rails 80 formed on
the cover 40 such that the rails 80 are configured to mate with and
to be slidably mounted on the grooves 70. A raised wall 50 may be
formed on a bottom surface 23 of the soft protective case 20 to
form the storage compartment 60 and the aperture 32 of the hard
protective frame 30 surrounds the raised wall 50 of the soft
protective case 20. Preferably, the aperture 32 snugly fits with
the outer side 52 of the raised wall 50.
[0056] The soft protective case 20 is provided with a plurality of
indentations 26 and the hard protective frame 30 has complementary
structures 36 to be received in the indentations 26. Furthermore,
the hard protective frame 30 is provided with an indentation
structure 38 and the cover 40 has a complementary structure 48
received in the indentation structure 38 of the hard protective
case 30. FIG. 5B shows the indentation structure 38 in a shade. The
hard protective frame 30 has a protuberance 34 on an opposite side
of the indentation structure 38 of the hard protective frame 30 to
structurally support and reinforce the indentation structure 38 of
the hard protective frame 30, and the soft protective case 20 has a
complementary structure of an indentation 24 to receive the
protuberance 34 of the hard protective frame 30.
[0057] FIGS. 12A and 12B show perspective views of the case having
a standing leg according to the present invention.
[0058] The case 10 further comprises a standing leg 110 which fits
in an opening 120 formed on a back portion of the hard protective
frame 30 wherein the standing leg 110 is pivoted with the opening
120. Thus, the standing leg 110 can be rotated to support the case
10, and when the standing leg 110 is not used, it can be rotated
back in the opening 120.
[0059] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail,
compositions and operation may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *