This invention relates generally to cases for electrical devices, and relates more particularly to such cases that provide access to and allow easy usage of electrical devices and methods of providing and using the same.
The portable media player, cellar telephone, and portable computer market has changed dramatically in the past several years, and with such change, a new market for cases for portable media players, cellar telephones, and portable computers has developed. Recent trends have focused on the emergence of smart devices, which are electrical devices that incorporate features usually found in desktop and laptop computers, but not found in traditional handheld phones or media players.
Smart devices can include the merging of one or more of the following features: a personal data/digital assistant (PDA) and a cellular phone; a keyboard interface (e.g., a QWERTY keyboard), configured as either a touch screen or tactile keyboard; and the capability to receive/download and view audio/video files. Furthermore, smart devices can: run operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers; include advanced features like e-mail, Internet access, and e-book reader capability; and/or include a built-in full keyboard or external universal serial bus (USB) keyboard and video graphics array (VGA) connector. In other words, smart devices can be considered miniature computers that have telephone or wireless networking capabilities. Examples of smart devices include the iPhone® product and iPad® product by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Another example of a smart device is the Blackberry® product by Research In Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
While smart devices provide great benefits to their users, actually using a smart device can sometimes be challenging. For example, if a user does not have a surface on which to rest the smart device, the user must hold the device in one hand while trying to operate the smart device with the other hand. Many smart devices are not designed to be easily held in one hand and operated using the other hand. In these cases, the user will have to hold the smart device at awkward angles against his body or risk dropping and damaging the expensive smart device.
Accordingly, a need exists for a case for an electrical device (e.g., a smart device) that both protects the electrical device and allows easy operation of the electrical device in various situations.
To facilitate further description of the embodiments, the following drawings are provided in which:
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.
The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, electrically, mechanically and/or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled but not be mechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not be electrically or otherwise coupled; two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not be electrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant.
“Electrical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include coupling involving any electrical signal, whether a power signal, a data signal, and/or other types or combinations of electrical signals. “Mechanical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include mechanical coupling of all types.
The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable.
Some embodiments concern a holder for an electrical device. The holder can include: (a) a cover configured to couple to the electrical device, the cover having: (1) a front portion; (2) a back portion opposite the front portion; (3) one or more side portions; and (b) a holding mechanism coupled to the back portion of the cover such that the holding mechanism is rotatable at least ninety degrees relative to the back portion of the cover, the holding mechanism having: (1) a strap assembly configured to couple to the back portion of the cover; and (2) a strap configured to couple to the strap assembly. The back portion has a substantially circular aperture. At least a first portion of the strap assembly has a substantially circular shape. The at least the first portion of the strap assembly is configured to couple to the cover at the substantially circular aperture of the back portion. The holding mechanism is configured to rotate relative to the back portion of the cover such that the at least first portion of the strap assembly is rotatable around the substantially circular aperture of the back portion. The holding mechanism is further configured such that at least a part of a hand of a user of the electrical device can slide between the strap assembly and the strap to removably couple the holding mechanism to the at least the part of the hand of the user of the electrical device. The one or more side portions are configured such that the one or more side controls of the electrical device are accessible to the user when the cover is coupled to the electrical device. The cover is configured such that the screen of the electrical device is accessible to the user when the cover is coupled to the electrical device. The cover is configured such that the front portion of the cover is adjacent to the back of the electrical device when the cover is coupled to the electrical device.
Still other embodiments concern a case configured to removably couple to a portable electrical device. The case is configured to couple to at least part of a hand of a user of the portable electrical device. The case including: (a) a body configured to removably coupleable to the portable electrical device; (b) a holding assembly coupled to the body, the holding assembly having: (1) a first coupling assembly configured to coupled the body; and (2) a hand coupling assembly coupled to the first coupling assembly and configured to removably couple to the at least the part of the hand of the user of the portable electrical device. At least a portion of the first coupling assembly is substantially circular-shaped. The body having: a back side with a first substantially circular aperture; and a front side opposite the back side. The at least the portion of the first coupling assembly that is substantially circular-shaped is removably coupled to the body at the first substantially circular aperture of the back side of the body. The holding assembly is coupled to the body such that the holding assembly is rotatable at least ninety degrees relative to the body and the portable electrical device when the body is coupled to the portable electrical device and the body is further coupled to the holding assembly. The holding assembly is further configured such that the at least the part of the hand of the user of the portable electrical device can slide into the holding assembly to removably couple the holding assembly to the at least the part of the hand of the user of the portable electrical device. The body is configured to couple to the portable electrical device such that the screen of the portable electrical device is useable when the body is coupled to the portable electrical device and the back side of the portable electrical device is adjacent to the front side of the body.
Yet other embodiments concern a method of providing a case for a portable electrical device. The method including: providing a body configured to removably coupleable to the portable electrical device, the body comprising: a front side opposite the back side; a back side with a first substantially circular aperture, wherein the body is configured to couple to the portable electrical device such that the screen of the portable electrical device is useable when the body is coupled to the portable electrical device and the back side of the portable electrical device is adjacent to the front side of the body; providing a holding assembly configured such that the at least the part of the hand of the user of the portable electrical device can slide into the holding assembly to removably couple the holding assembly to the at least the part of the hand of the user of the portable electrical device, the holding assembly having: a first coupling assembly coupled the body wherein the first coupling assembly comprises at least a substantially circular-shaped portion; and a hand coupling assembly coupled to the first coupling assembly and configured to removably couple to the at least the part of the hand of the user of the portable electrical device; and coupling the holding assembly to the body by coupling the at least the substantially circular-shaped portion of the first coupling assembly of the holding assembly to the body at the first substantially circular aperture of the back side of the body and such that the holding assembly is rotatable at least ninety degrees relative to the body.
Additional embodiments concern a method of using a case with a portable electrical device. The case comprising a body and a first holding assembly with the first holding assembly configured to couple to at least a part of a hand of a user. The method including: coupling the body of the case to the portable electrical device; coupling the body to the first holding assembly; coupling at least part of the hand of the user to the first holding assembly; and rotating the body and the portable electrical device at least ninety degrees relative to the first holding assembly.
Still further embodiments concern a case configured to removably couple to a portable electrical device. The case including: (a) a body configured to removably couple to the portable electrical device; (b) one or more rotatable elements coupled to the body; and (c) a holding assembly coupled to the one or more rotatable elements and configured to couple to at least part of a hand of a user. The one or more rotatable elements are couple to the body such that the at least a part of the one or more rotatable elements and the holding assembly are rotatable at least ninety degrees relative to the body. The body comprises a front side and a back side opposite the front side. The holding assembly is located at the back side of the body. A screen of the portable electrical device is located at the front side of the body when the body is coupled to the portable electrical device.
Yet additional embodiments concern a holder for an electrical device. The holder having: (a) an inner cover configured to couple to the electrical device; (b) at least one first ring assembly coupled to the inner cover, the at least one inner ring assembly having: (1) a base portion configured to couple to the body; (2) one or more rotatable portions coupled to the base portion such that the rotatable portions are rotatable three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the body and the base portion; (c) an outer cover coupled to the inner cover and the at least one inner ring assembly; (d) a holding mechanism coupled to the one or more rotatable portions of the at least one ring assembly such that the holding mechanism is rotatable at least three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the outer cover, the holding mechanism further configured to removably couple to at least part of a hand of a user of the electrical device.
Still another embodiment concerns a method of providing a case for a portable electrical device. The method including: (a) providing a body configured to couple to the portable electrical device; (b) providing one or more rotatable elements; (c) providing at least one holding assembly configured to couple to at least part of a hand of a user and further configured to couple to the one or more rotatable elements; (d) providing a filler cap configured to couple to the one or more rotatable elements when the at least one holding assembly is not coupled to the one or more rotatable elements; and (e) coupling the one or more rotatable elements to the body such that the at least the at least one holding assembly is rotatable at least approximately ninety degrees relative to the body when the at least one holding assembly is coupled to the one or more rotatable elements.
Turning to the drawings,
In some examples, case 100 can be configured to removably couple to portable electrical device 290 (
In some embodiments, portable electrical device 290 can be an electrical device configured to produce and receive electrical signals. For example, portable electrical device 290 can be a cellular (or mobile) phone, a laptop computer, an audio playback device, a portable AM (amplitude modulated) and FM (frequency modulated) radio, a satellite radio, a portable CD (compact disk) player, a data storage device, an audio player, an audio-visual player, and/or a portable media (e.g., MP3) player. For example, portable electrical device 290 can be an electrical device manufactured by Research in Motion Limited (e.g., the Blackberry® device), Palm, Inc. (e.g., the Palm® device), or Apple Computer, Inc. (e.g., the iPod® MP3 player, the iTouch® device, the iPad® device, and/or the iPhone® device).
In some examples, case 100 can include: (a) a body 110 (i.e., a cover) configured to removably couple to portable electrical device 290 (
In some examples, body 110 can have: (a) a front portions (or sides) 205 (
Body 110 can include: (a) inner cover 211; and (b) an outer cover 112. Outer cover 112 can be coupled to inner cover 211. In some examples, outer cover 112 can be glued, welded, bonded, or otherwise attached to inner cover 211. In another embodiment, the inner and outer covers can be a single, integral piece. In some embodiments, regardless of whether body 110 has separate inner and outer covers or a single cover, body 110 has a width 441 (
Outer cover 112 can have an aperture 815 (
In some examples, inner cover 211 can be configured to couple to portable electrical device 290. Body 110 can be further configured such that portable electrical device 290 can be located at front side 218 (
In various embodiments, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In some examples, inner connector mechanism 321 can be configured to couple to inner cover 211 and outer cover 112. For example, inner connector mechanism 321 can be at least partially located between inner cover 211 and outer cover 112. In the same or different example, inner connector mechanism 321 can couple to inner cover 211 by at least partially being located inside of aperture 816. Similarly, inner connector mechanism 321 can be coupled to outer cover 112 by at least partially being located inside of aperture 815. In various embodiments, inner cover 211 can include a rim 817 at the edge of aperture 816 to which inner connector mechanism 321 can couple, and/or outer cover 112 can include rim 814 at the edge of aperture 815 to which outer connector mechanism 322 can couple.
Inner connector mechanism 321 can include: (a) a base portion 825 coupled to body 110; and (b) one or more rotatable portions 324 coupled to base portion 825 such that rotatable portions 324 are rotatable relative to body 110 and base portion 825. As will be described in detail below, rotatable portions 324 are configured to be removably coupled to holding assembly 130 (
Outer connector mechanism 322 can be at least partially coupled to back side 106. In some examples, outer connector mechanism 322 can include: (a) a perimeter portion 327; and (b) a rim portion 328 coupled to perimeter portion 327 and extending away from perimeter portion 327. In various examples, outer connector mechanism 322 is configured such that perimeter portion 327 is coupled to back side 106, and interior rim portion 328 is coupled to edge 814 of aperture 815.
Inner connector mechanism 321 can be coupled to outer connector mechanism 322. In various embodiments, inner connector mechanism 321 can be glued, welded, bonded, or otherwise attached to outer connector mechanism 322. In many examples, rim portion 328 can be glued, welded, bonded, or otherwise attached to base portion 825. In other examples, inner connector mechanism 321 and outer connector mechanism 322 are not coupled together. Rather, inner connector mechanism 321 and outer connector mechanism 322 can be coupled to inner cover 211 and outer cover 112 of body 110.
As shown in
Strap assembly 131 can be configured to removably couple to rotatable elements 320. In some examples, strap assembly 131 can include a coupling mechanism 935 (
In some examples, as shown in
In some examples, holding assembly 130 is configured such that at least the part of the hand of the user (e.g., one or more fingers, one or more fingers and one or more knuckles, and/or a palm) can slide between strap assembly 131 and strap 132 to removably couple holding assembly 130 to the hand of the user of electrical device 290.
In various embodiments, when part of the hand of the user is coupled to holding assembly 130, the user can easily use electrical device 290. For example, a user can place electrical device 290 in case 100 and slide part of his hand between strap assembly 131 and strap 132. At this point, the user is securely holding electrical device 290 with one hand, as shown in
As described above, holding assembly 130 is rotatable relative to body 110. When the part of the user's hand is coupled to holding assembly 130, body 110 can be rotated relative to holding assembly 130. Accordingly, the user can rotate the angle of electrical device 290 relative to the user's hand that is holding case 100. In same examples, electrical device 290 can be rotated up to approximately three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the hand of the user holding case 100. In the same or different examples, from the point of view of the user, electrical device 290 can be rotated between a portrait view and a landscape view, as shown in
In some examples, strap assembly 131 can include one or more coupling mechanisms 933 (
Turning to another embodiment,
In some examples, case 1200 can include: (a) a body 1210 configured to removably couple to portable electrical device 290 (
Body 1210 can include: (a) inner cover 1211; and (b) an outer cover 1212 with a depression 1215. Outer cover 1212 can be coupled to inner cover 1211. Rotatable elements 1220 can include: (a) an inner connector mechanism 1221 configured to couple to outer cover 1212; and (b) an outer connector mechanism 1222 coupled to outer cover 1212 and configured to couple to holding assembly 130. In some examples, inner connector mechanism 1221 and outer connector mechanism 1222 can be similar to inner connector mechanism 321 and outer connector mechanism 322 of
In various embodiments, inner connector mechanism 1221 can be coupled to depression 1215. In some examples, one side of inner connector mechanism 1221 can rest on the bottom of depression 1215. Outer connector mechanism 1222 can be used to couple inner connector mechanism 1221 to body 1210 and/or provide a more aesthetic look for case 1200.
Turning to yet another embodiment,
In some examples, case 1300 can be configured to removably couple to portable electrical device 290 (
In some examples, case 1300 can include: (a) body 110 configured to removably couple to portable electrical device 290 (
In some examples, holding assembly 1350 (i.e., a holding mechanism) can include: (a) a hook 1351 (i.e., a stand); (b) an exterior hook cover 1352 coupled to hook 1351; (c) a hook base 1853 (
Holding assembly 1350 can be configured to removably couple to rotatable elements 320. In some examples, holding assembly 1350 can include a coupling mechanism 935 (
Holding assembly 1350 can be configured such that hook 1351 can be placed in at least a first position and a second position relative to exterior hook cover 1352 and/or hook base 1853. For example, holding assembly 1350 can be configured such that hook 1351 can be placed in a first position relative to exterior hook cover 1352 and/or hook base 1853 (
Holding assembly 1350 is further configured such that hook 1351 can be placed in a second position relative to exterior hook cover 1352 and/or hook base 1853 (
In some examples, the user can move hook 1351 from the first position to the second position by pulling hook 1351 away from exterior hook cover 1352. Similarly, the user can move hook 1351 from the second position to the first position by pushing hook 1351 toward the exterior hook cover.
In some examples, a manufacturer, distributor, or retail seller can provide, distribute, or sell a body (e.g., body 110 or 1210 of
Referring to
Method 2000 in
Subsequently, method 2000 of
Next, method 2000 of
Method 2000 in
In some examples, activity 2064 can include coupling the one or more rotatable elements to the body such that the at least a part of the one or more rotatable elements and the at least one holding assembly and/or the filler cap are rotatable at least approximately ninety degrees, approximately one hundred and eighty degrees, approximately two hundred and seventy degrees, and/or approximately three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the body.
Turning to another embodiment,
Referring to
In various embodiments, the case can include a body and a holding assembly. The holding assembly can be configured to couple to at least part of a hand of a user. In some examples, the body can be similar or identical to body 110 and/or 1210 of
Method 2100 in
Subsequently, method 2100 of
Next, method 2100 of
Method 2100 in
Subsequently, referring back to
Referring again to
Furthermore, the body uncoupled from the first holding assembly can be similar or identical to body 110 uncoupled from holding assembly 130, as shown in
Next, method 2100 of
Method 2100 in
Subsequently, method 2100 of
Next, method 2100 of
Method 2100 in
For example,
Subsequently, referring back to
Next, method 2100 of
Method 2100 in
Then, method 2100 in
In some examples, case 3100 can include: (a) a body 3110 configured to removably couple to portable electrical device 290 (
Body 3110 can include one or more edge portions 3168. In some examples, edge portions 3168 can be configured to couple to electrical device 290. Furthermore, body 3110 can also include one or more apertures 3165 and 3115. Aperture 3115 can be located substantially at the center of body 3110 and be circular-shaped. Apertures 3165 can be located at an outer edge of body 3110. In some examples, apertures 3165 can be configured to provide access to one or more controls or buttons on electrical device 290 when electrical device 290 is coupled to body 3110.
In some examples, holding assembly 3130 (i.e., a holding mechanism) can include: (a) a stand 3351; and (b) a stand base 3353 coupled to stand 3351. In some examples, stand 3351 is coupled to stand base 3353 at a joint 3154. Holding assembly 3130 can be configured to removably couple to body 3110 at aperture 3115. In some examples, holding assembly 3130 can include a coupling mechanism (not shown) that is configured to couple to body 3110 at aperture 3115. In some examples, the coupling mechanism is a protrusion extending from holding assembly 3130. In various embodiments, the coupling mechanism can snap into aperture 3115. In other embodiments, other coupling mechanisms can be used to couple holding assembly 3130 to body 3110.
Holding assembly 3130 can be configured such that stand 3351 can be placed in at least a first position and a second position relative to stand base 3353. For example, as shown in
As illustrated in
In some examples, the user can move stand 3351 from the first position to the second position by pulling stand 3351 away from stand base 3353. Similarly, the user can move stand 3351 from the second position to the first position by pushing stand 3351 toward stand base 3353. In some examples, stand 3351 is coupled to stand base 3353 at a joint 3154. In some example, stand 3351 and stand base 3353 can moved relative to one another by rotating stand 3351 at joint 3154.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. For example, to one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that activities 2060-2064 of
All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the embodiment claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unless such benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are stated in such claim.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/096,519, filed Apr. 28, 2011. U.S. application Ser. No. 13/096,519 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/329,091, filed Apr. 28, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/357,523, filed Jun. 22, 2010. U.S. application Ser. No. 13/096,519 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/329,091 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/357,523 are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61329091 | Apr 2010 | US | |
61357523 | Jun 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13096519 | Apr 2011 | US |
Child | 13756188 | US |