Latch Mechanism of a Protective Case for Portable Electronic Device
A protective case for an electronic device includes a cover and a back plate that are hingedly coupled to one another. The cover has a locking plate hingedly coupled to the top of the cover. A latching mechanism is disposed on the top of the back plate. The locking plate is configured to rotate over the cover and back plate and be engaged by the latching mechanism, locking the cover and back plate together. Furthermore, a portable electronic device is configured to be enclosed by the cover and the back plate, which provide protection for the portable electronic device.
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This application claims priority to and is based on U.S. Patent Application No. 61/748,999, filed Jan. 4, 2013, Attorney Docket No. 0621.2149P, entitled “Latch Mechanism of Protective Case for Portable Electronic Device,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a protective case for a portable electronic device, and in particular, a latch mechanism that retains the case in a closed position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious protective covers, cases, and sleeves for portable electronic devices, such as cellular phones, smart devices, media players, and portable computers, are known. Some designs provide additional protection to the device from damage, but do not permit use of the device when disposed in the protective cover. Other designs permit use of the device when disposed in the cover, but do not sufficiently protect the device from damage, misuse, or unauthorized use when handled by young children or infants. Furthermore, some designs allow the device to be slipped into a protective cover, while others lock the device within the protective cover. Protective covers, however, often are difficult to open to gain access to the interior of the protective cover and remove the device.
Therefore, there is a need for a protective case for a portable electronic device that is appropriate for use by infants and young children. In addition, there is a need for a protective case for a portable electronic device that is configured to be easily opened and easily locked closed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes a protective case for an electronic device with a cover having a top, a bottom, and an opening disposed between the top and the bottom, and a back plate having a top and a bottom, and the bottom of the back plate is hingedly connected to the bottom of the cover. Furthermore, the present invention includes at least one latch member disposed on the top of the back plate, and a locking plate that is disposed on the top of the cover and configured to be engaged by the at least one latch member. Moreover, when the locking plate is engaged by the at least one latch member, an electronic device is locked into place between the cover and back plate.
Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThis application incorporates herein by reference, in their entirety, the disclosure of U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 13/351,811, entitled “Protective Case for Portable Electronic Device”, filed Jan. 17, 2012and the disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/596,759 entitled “Protective Case for Portable Electronic Device”, filed Feb. 9, 2012.
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It is to be understood that a protective case for a portable electronic device may be fabricated from any suitable material, or combination of materials, such as plastic, foamed plastic, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, supple natural or synthetic materials including, but not limited to, cotton, elastomers, polyester, plastic, rubber, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. Suitable plastics may include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), or the like. Suitable foamed plastics may include expanded or extruded polystyrene, expanded or extruded polypropylene, EVA foam, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
It is also to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention.
Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A protective case for a portable electronic device, comprising:
- a first cover including a top, a bottom, and an opening disposed between the top and the bottom;
- a second cover including a top and a bottom, the bottom of the second cover hingedly connected to the bottom of the first cover;
- the portable electronic device being receivable between the first and second covers;
- at least one latch member disposed on one of the first and second covers; and
- a locking plate configured to be engaged by the at least one latch member and disposed on the other of the first and second covers, wherein when the locking plate is engaged by the at least one latch member, the portable electronic device is locked between the first cover and second cover.
2. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising a screen protector covering the opening of the first cover.
3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the locking plate is hingedly connected to the top of the first cover.
4. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the locking plate includes a first aperture and a second aperture.
5. The protective case of claim 4, wherein the at least one latch member includes a first latch member and a second latch member.
6. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the at least one latch member is substantially L-shaped.
7. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the at least one latch member is slidably reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the at least one latch member is configured to engage the locking plate in the first configuration and is configured to disengage the locking plate in the second configuration.
8. The protective case of claim 7, further comprising a spring biasing the at least one latch member in the first configuration.
9. A protective case for a portable electronic device, comprising:
- a first cover including a first edge and a second edge;
- a second cover including a first edge and a second edge, the second edge of the second cover being hingedly connected to the second edge of the first cover so that the first cover and the second cover can be positioned in an open position, where the first edge of the first cover is spaced away from the first edge of the second cover, and a closed position, where the first edge of the first cover is adjacent to the first edge of the second cover;
- the portable electronic device being receivable between the first and second covers;
- at least one latch member disposed on one of the first and second covers proximate its the first edge; and
- a locking plate disposed on the other of the first and second covers proximate to its first edge, the locking plate being shaped to extend over the first edge of the first and second covers to engage the at least one latch member when the first cover and second cover are in the closed position.
10. The protective case of claim 9, wherein the first cover includes an opening and a screen protector covering the opening.
11. The protective case of claim 9, wherein the locking plate is hingedly connected to the first cover.
12. The protective case of claim 9, wherein the locking plate includes a first aperture and a second aperture.
13. The protective case of claim 12, wherein the at least one latch member includes a first latch member and a second latch member.
14. The protective case of claim 9, wherein the at least one latch member is substantially L-shaped.
15. The protective case of claim 9, wherein the at least one latch member is slidably reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the at least one latch member is configured to engage the locking plate in the first configuration and is configured to disengage the locking plate in the second configuration.
16. The protective case of claim 15, further comprising a spring biasing the at least one latch member in the first configuration.
17. A protective case for a portable electronic device, comprising:
- a first cover including an inner surface and an outer surface;
- a second cover including an inner surface and an outer surface, the second cover being hingedly connected to first cover so that the first and second covers can be positioned in an open position, where the inner surface of the first cover and the inner surface of the second cover are exposed, and a closed position, where the inner surface of the first cover is adjacent to the inner surface of the second cover;
- the portable electronic device being receivable between the first and second covers;
- at least one latch member disposed on the outer surface of one of the first and second covers; and
- a locking plate pivotally coupled to the outer surface of the other of the first and second covers, the locking plate being repositionable between an unlocked position and a locked position, where when the locking plate is in the locked position and the first cover and the second cover are in the closed position, the locking plate is engaged with the at least one latch member.
18. The protective case of claim 17, wherein the locking plate includes a first aperture and a second aperture.
19. The protective case of claim 18, wherein the at least one latch member includes a first latch member and a second latch member, the first latch member being engagable with the first aperture and the second latch member being engagable with the second aperture.
20. The protective case of claim 17, wherein the first cover includes an opening and a screen protector covering the opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 3, 2014
Publication Date: Jul 10, 2014
Applicant: MATTEL, INC. (El Segudno, CA)
Inventors: Ross RUMFOLA, III (Akron, NY), Daniel J. DAMON (South Wales, NY), Jared P. PARDI (Cheektowaga, NY), Donald W. STUCKE, JR. (East Aurora, NY)
Application Number: 14/146,972
International Classification: A45C 11/00 (20060101);