Patent Application
20190296788
The present invention relates generally to the field of protective cases, and more particularly to a protective cover for an electronic device that has a stretchable storage area.
With portable handheld electronic devices (smart phones, media players, and other small personal electronic devices) becoming immensely popular and the expensive of these devices increasing rapidly. The owners of these devices want to protect them, through the use of protective cases. Many different types of cases have been designed and created to provide the owner with varying degrees of protection and convenience.
One problem the prior art references have attempted to solve is the incorporation of a wallet or pocket in the case. If one wanted to carry their phone and their wallet they would need two different items. This increases the number of such items a person carries around, the greater the likelihood that she will either forget one or more of the items at home, and the greater the likelihood that she will misplace one in a restaurant, bar, office, etc. Some prior art cases combine a portable handheld electronic device protection capability with the personal-item-carrying capability of a wallet.
The issue with these prior art invention is that such prior art offering compartments for carrying personal items are often too bulky to fit easily in a users' pocket. Some prior art cases have rigid compartments integrated into the case, reducing the items which can physically fit within the compartment. Other prior art cases try to allow for larger items to be attached to the phone but they are difficult to use and not secure which results in the person losing their items or having to fumble around with the phone.
Thus, it is desired to have a protective case that has a compartment that is secure, can fit numerous items of varying thickness and shape and be aesthetically pleasing.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a multipurpose protective case for electronic devices comprising; a housing having a front compartment and a rear surface, wherein the front compartment is sized to securely fit an electronic device; a piece of elastic material secured to the rear surface of the housing, wherein an accessible space is formed between the rear surface of the housing and the piece of elastic material; a first plurality of attachment points secured to the rear surface of the housing; a first plurality of securing means secured to the piece of elastic material; and a detachable compartment having-a front surface and a rear surface, wherein an opening to a compartment is formed between the front and rear surfaces and the compartment is accessible through an opening, a second plurality of attachment points are secured to the rear surface, wherein the second plurality of attachment points substantially align with the first plurality of attachment points, and a second plurality of securing means, wherein the second plurality of securing means substantially align with the first plurality of securing means.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a protective case for electronic devices comprising; a housing sized to secure to an electronic device and having a rear surface; a first plurality of attachment points secured to the rear surface of the housing at predetermined locations; a first plurality of securing means secured to the piece of elastic material positioned relative to the first plurality of attachment points; and a detachable compartment having a rear surface, wherein a second plurality of attachment points secured to the rear surface and a second plurality of securing means secured to the rear surface in substantially the same position as the first plurality of the attachment points and the securing means.
The present invention relates to a protective case that has an attachable compartment that connects to the rear side of the protective case. The attachable compartment is made of a stretchable and flexible material to allow for larger items to be stored in the compartment. It also allows the user to carry a single item that has their electronic device (e.g. phone) and their other belongings (e.g. credit cards, money, phone keys, etc.) and frees up valuable pocket or purse space. The attachable compartment allows for a greater variety of items which can be help, and the ability to attach and detach the compartment allows the user more freedom to work with. The attachable compartment also, based on the fastening mechanisms, can be used as a stand for the electronic device in various positions.
The design shown below and, in the figures, provides a protective case that has an attachable compartment that also acts as a stand when fastened to the protective case in specific setups. This provides the user with the opportunity to have additional storage attached to the protective device that is easily detachable and also provides a stand for their protective case when needed.
As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular embodiments described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.
It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements or use of a “negative” limitation.
The protective case 300 is sized and shaped to fit the various electronic device(s) it is designed to securely fit and protect. The depicted embodiment is one shape and size, but many shapes and sizes may be required based on the type of electronic device.
The attachable storage 200 provides a compartment to store various items. The depicted embodiment is only one style of compartments which the attachable storage 200 can embody. Various sizes, shapes, textures, materials, or the like can be used based on both the intended items to be held within the compartment, and the size and shape of the protective case 300. In some embodiments, the attachable storage 200 is made from a waterproof material and has a substantially waterproof closing mechanism. The attachable storage 200 may come in various sizes, shapes, colors, designs, and the like. For example, one attachable storage 200 may be sized to fit credit cards only. In another example, the attachable storage 200 may be sized to fit a key for an automobile (either keyed or keyless entry) and various other oversized items.
The edge guard 307 may be made from, but not limited to, aluminum, steel, iron, copper, brass, bronze, zinc, stainless steel, polyolefins, styrenics, polypropylene, copolymer polypropylene, polystyrene, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, copolymer polypropylene, or the like that are able to be fitted around the electronic device, but also provide protection to the electronic device if dropped or hit against a hard surface. The back cover 305 is made from an elastic material such as various polymers, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate rubber, Spandex®, nylon, stretch vinyl and the like. In some embodiments, the sleeve 301 and the back cover 305 are made from the same material and are a unitary element. In some embodiments, the back cover 305 is made from a rigid, or semi-elastic material.
On the rear surface of the protective case 300, a sleeve 301 is secured to the back cover 305 and along the exposed edges of the sleeve 301 a plurality of first fastener segment 303 are secured. In the depicted embodiment, the first fastener segment 303 covering substantially two sides of the sleeve 301 and a lower edge is securely attached to the back cover 305, thereby creating an accessible compartment between the rear surface of the protective case and the sleeve 301 which can receive and store various items (show in
The sleeve 301 may be made from, but not limited to, an elastic material such as various polymers, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate rubber, Spandex®, nylon, stretch vinyl and the like.
A securing mechanism 306, in the depicted embodiment, is attached at the four corners of the sleeve 301. These first attachment point 314 provide a detachable securing means, which are connected to reciprocal securing means (not shown) on the attachable storage 200. In the depicted embodiment, the first attachment point 314 are magnets. However, in various embodiments various fasteners can be used. These first attachment point 314 provide for the attachable storage 200 to be connected to the protective case 300 at any one of the corners and prop the protective case up (as shown in
The attachable storage 200 is shown having a main body with an opening to an internal compartment at the top end 205, and a flap 201 that covers the opening at the top end 205. In the shown embodiment, the three sides of the man body expect for the top end 205 are substantially secured and closed. In the depicted embodiment the attachable storage 200 is a unitary piece of material. In additional embodiments, the attachable storage 200 is comprised of a plurality of different pieces of material secured together. In various embodiments, the attachable storage 200 is comprised of several layers of material.
On surface 207 of the flap 201 a first attachment means 209A is secured in a predetermined location and a second attachment means 209B is secured to rear surface 203 in a position that substantially aligns with the first attachment means 209A, so that when the flap 201 is closed, the first and second attachment means 209A and 209B mate. The attachable storage 200 is sized to substantially cover the sleeve 301 of the protective case 300, wherein the first fastener segment 303 substantially aligns with a securing means (not shown) of the attachable storage 200 to secure the two together. The flap 201 is sized to cover a predetermined portion of the opening so that materials placed inside, they secured within the internal compartment. Opening 213 may have various other securing means such as zippers, latches, and the like. In some embodiments, these other securing means provide a watertight seal of the internal compartment of the attachable storage 200.
The first and second attachment means 209A and 209B are mating materials, such as, but not limited to a hook and loop style fastener or various other detachable fasteners known to those skilled in the art. The attachable storage 200 may be made from, but not limited to, an elastic material such as various polymers, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate rubber, Spandex®, nylon, stretch vinyl and the like.
The rigidity of the attachable storage 200 may be accomplished by a layer of rigid material being integrated into surface 204. In some embodiments, a second fastener segments 207 may have a rigid design. This will allow the attachable storage 200 to flex to accommodate various items placed within the compartment and still be used as a stand to support the housing 300. The rigid material may be integrated into the single piece of material design.
The second fastener segment 207 and the second attachment points 210 are shown on the surface 203 of the attachable storage 200. In the depicted embodiment, the second fastener segment 207 is shown along the edges of the rear surface 203, and this is designed to substantially align with the first fastener segment 303 of the protective case 300. The second attachment point 210 are shown attached to rear surface 203 of the attachable storage 200. The second attachment point 210 substantially align with the first attachment point 314 of the protective case. The second attachment point 210 are designed to mate with the fastening type of the first attachment point 314. The attachable storage 200 is able to attach to the housing 300 in various positions and directions based on the spacing and positioning the of the attachment points and the fastener segments. For exemplary purposes the attachable storage 200 may be able to attach right side up (shown in
In additional embodiments, the second fastener segment 207 may have different configurations or placements based on the first fastener segment 303 location and placement. The second fastener segment 207 is shown terminating substantially at the interchange of the top edge and the flap 201. The second fastener segment 207 may be, but not limited to a hook and loop style fastener or various other detachable fasteners known to those skilled in the art.
The attachable storage 200 may be made from, but not limited to, an elastic material such as various polymers, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate rubber, Spandex®, nylon, stretch vinyl and the like. In some embodiments, where the attachable storage 200 is made from, or a portion of the attachable storage 200 is made from a rigid material, various plastics, polymers, metals, or materials with increased rigidity may be incorporated into the design.
In additional embodiments, various buttons, clasps, clips, and adhesive materials may be used to replace the various attachment means used in the electronic device case and storage assembly 100.
In a first embodiment, the sleeve 301 is sized to fit at least one credit card or other card, and the attachable storage 200 is sized to fit small items such as lip gloss, headphones, keys, or the like. In various embodiments, the size of the sleeve 301 and the attachable storage 200 may be altered or modified to hold larger items.
The invention is inclusive of combinations of the embodiments or embodiments described herein. References to “a particular embodiment” or “embodiment” and the like refer to features that are present in at least one embodiment of the invention. Separate references to “an embodiment” or “particular embodiments” or “embodiments” or the like do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or embodiments; however, such embodiments are not mutually exclusive, unless so indicated or as are readily apparent to one of skill in the art. The use of singular or plural in referring to “method” or “methods” and the like is not limiting. The word “or” is used in this disclosure in a non-exclusive sense, unless otherwise explicitly noted.
While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. The present invention shall be easily carried out by an ordinary skilled person in the art, and any modifications and changes are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice embodiments of the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
All publications and patents cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. The citation of any publication is for its disclosure prior to the filing date and should not be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/701,753 filed Sep. 12, 2017. The disclosure of the prior applications is considered part of (and is incorporated by reference in) the disclosure of this application.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15701753 | Sep 2017 | US |
| Child | 16435489 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14707113 | May 2015 | US |
| Child | 15701753 | US |
