Patent Application
20180006676
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 owner's 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 of a protective case for electronic devices comprising; a housing having 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 rear surface of the housing, wherein at least one edge of the piece of elastic material is unsecured, thereby creating a first compartment, a first portion of a securing means attached to the housing substantially along the secured edges of the piece of elastic material, a pocket having a second compartment having a front surface and a rear surface and a top edge, and a second portion of the attachment means secured to the rear surface to substantially align with the first portion of the attachment means secured to the housing.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a protective case for electronic devices comprising; a housing having front compartment and a rear surface, wherein the front compartment is sized to securely fit an electronic device, a first piece of material secured to rear surface of the housing, wherein at least one edge of the piece of elastic material is unsecured, thereby creating a first compartment, a second piece of material is secured to the rear surface of the housing above the at least one unsecured edge, a first portion of a securing means attached to the housing substantially along the secured edges of the piece of elastic material, and a pocket having a second compartment and a second portion of the attachment means secured to the pocket to substantially align with the first portion of the attachment means secured to the housing.
The present invention relates to a protective case that has a detachable and stretchable compartment on the rear side of the case. This allows the user to have a single item that has their electronic device and their other belongings so there is a lower probability that their items will get lost or misplaced and also allow the user to free up valuable pocket or purse space. The stretchable 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 design shown below provides the user with the opportunity to have one or two compartments attached to their electronic device, this provides more space to carry more materials or items, the ability to separate the items to provide for more organization, and the ability to quickly detach one of these compartments in the event they want to separate the compartments.
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 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 housing 300, a sleeve 301 is secured to the back cover 305 and along the exposed edges of the sleeve 301 a plurality of attachment means 303 are secured, covering substantially three sides of the sleeve 301 leaving the top edge of the sleeve 301. In the depicted embodiment, the three sides of the sleeve 301 are substantially covered. In additional embodiments, the bottom side of the sleeve 301 is exposed and the attachment means 303 is secured to the back cover 305 below the bottom of the sleeve 301. The attachment means 303 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 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.
The pocket 200 is shown having a main body 203 with an opening at the top edge 205, and a flap 201 that covers the opening at the top edge 205. In the shown embodiment, the three sides of the man body 203 expect for the top edge 205 are substantially secured and closed. On the inside 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 the main body 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 pocket 200 is sized to substantially cover the sleeve 301 of the housing 300, wherein the attachment means 303 substantially aligns with a securing means (not shown) of the pocket 200 to secure the two together. The flap 201 is sized to cover a predetermined portion of the opening so that materials placed inside are unable to fall out.
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 pocket 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 pocket 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 additional embodiments, various buttons, clasps, clips, and adhesive materials may be used to replace the various attachment means used in the protective cover 100.
In a first embodiment, the sleeve 301 is sized to fit at least one credit card or other card, and the pocket 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 pocket 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.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14707113 | May 2015 | US |
| Child | 15701753 | US |
