TECHNICAL FIELD
The disclosure generally relates to cases, and particularly to a protection case for an electronic device.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Protection cases for electronic devices may be made of plastic, which cannot provide good protection if the electronic device is impacted by an external force.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a means to overcome the above-mentioned problems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views.
FIG. 1 is an isometric, assembled view of an embodiment of a protection case of an electronic device.
FIG. 2 is an isometric, assembled view of the protection case of FIG. 1, viewed from another angle.
FIG. 3 is an isometric, exploded view of the protection case of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an isometric, exploded view of the protection case of FIG. 1, viewed from another angle.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a circled portion V of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a circled portion VI of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the protection case and the electronic device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a circled portion VIII of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references can mean “at least one.”
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show a protection case 1 for an electronic device 2 that includes a baseboard 10, a sidewall 12, and a number of buffering modules 14. The sidewall 12 extends from a periphery of the baseboard 10. The buffering modules 14 are received in the sidewall 12 and the baseboard 10. The baseboard 10 and the sidewall 12 cooperatively define a receiving space 16 to receive the electronic device 2. In one embodiment, the baseboard 10 and the sidewall 12 are substantially hollow and filled with a liquid, such as water. The buffering modules 14 release active metal powder 142 into the water when the protection case 1 is impacted by an external force. The active metal powder 142 is a chemical that reacts with water to generate hydrogen gas. Thus, the external force impacting the protection case 1 is buffered via a buoyancy generated by a difference in density between the hydrogen gas and air. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device 2 is a tablet computer. The active metal powder 142 can be, but is not limited to, sodium, magnesium, or potassium.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show that the baseboard 10 has a predetermined thickness and includes an inner side surface 100 and an outer side surface 102 substantially parallel to the inner side surface 100. The receiving space 16 is defined in the inner side surface 100. The inner side surface 100 contacts the electronic device 2 when the electronic device 2 is received in the protection case 1. The protection case 1 defines a number of first receiving holes 106 in the outer side surface 102 to receive the buffering modules 14.
The sidewall 12 extends from the periphery of the baseboard 10. FIG. 7 shows that a hollow space in the sidewall 12 communicates with a hollow space in the baseboard 10. The sidewall 12 includes a top surface 120 substantially parallel to the outer side surface 102 of the baseboard 10. The sidewall 12 defines a number of second receiving holes 122 in the top surface 120 to receive the buffering modules 14.
In the illustrated embodiment, the baseboard 10 is substantially rectangular. There are three first receiving holes 106, four second receiving holes 122, and seven buffering modules 14. The second receiving holes 122 are defined in corresponding four corners of the protection case 1.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show that each of the buffering modules 14 includes a receiving body 140, the active metal powder 142, a spring 143, a first plate 144, a second plate 145, and a holding arm 146. The receiving body 140 is substantially hollow and made of resilient material. The receiving body 140 defines an opening 1400. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving body 140 is a hollow ball. The active metal powder 142 and the spring 143 are received in the receiving body 140. A first end of the spring 143 is connected to an inner surface of the receiving body 140. A second end of the spring 143 is connected to the first plate 144. The first plate 144 and the second plate 145 are made of magnetic material. The first plate 144 includes a first surface (not labeled) facing the second plate 145. The second plate 145 includes a second surface (not labeled) facing the first plate 144. Magnetic polarity of the first surface is opposite to magnetic polarity of the second surface. Thus, the first plate 144 attracts the second plate 145 via a magnetic force. The holding arm 146 includes a fixing end 1460 connected to an inner side of the sidewall 12, and a free end 1462 connected to the second plate 145.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show that in assembly, the sidewall 12 and the baseboard 10 are filled with water. The active metal powder 142 is filled in the receiving body 140 via the opening 1400. The first plate 144 is pulled by the spring 143 to block the opening 1400. The receiving bodies 140 are received in a respective first receiving hole 106 or a respective second receiving hole 122. A part of the receiving body 140 protrudes out of the first receiving hole 106 or the second receiving hole 122. The other part of the receiving body 140 is accommodated inside the sidewall 12 or the baseboard 10. The free end 1462 of the holding arm 146 holds the second plate 145. The second plate 145 is attracted to the first plate 144 by the magnetic force.
When the protection case 1 is impacted by an external force, the receiving body 140 is deformed by the external force, which causes the spring 143 to be stretched to push the first plate 144 away from the opening 1400. Thus, the active metal powder 142 is released into the water to generate hydrogen gas, and the external force is buffered by the buoyancy generated by a difference in density between the hydrogen gas and the air.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments.
Patent Application
20140185204
