Electronic device case

Abstract

Electronic device case with a hollow rectangular case made of resilient material such as leather, vinyl or the like or non resilient material such as plastic or aluminum or the like, the case being comprised of an upper half and a lower half hingedly connected at one end, both the halves capable of being opened or closed with respect to each other by a zipper, the upper half having a belt clip or belt loop fixedly attached to its outer surface, the lower half having an electronic device retaining means located on the inside, said retaining means allowing said electronic device control buttons to be visible and usable while said electronic device is retained in said case, said lower half being capable of folding outwards to a suitable viewing angle, said viewing angle being secured by means of a pair of support straps that each terminate centrally at one end to the side wall of said upper half and at the opposite end to the side wall of said lower half. The support straps are capable of being shortened or lengthened by means of hook and loop fastening material or other known fastening methods thereby allowing the user to adjust the viewing angle of said electronic device. The upper half of the electronic device case has a pair of attachment rings located near the corners of the top outer surface, said attachment rings capable of retaining a neck strap thereby allowing the user to wear said electronic device on his or her chest.

Description

Cross References to Related Application

[0001] This is a continuation of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/203,531, filed May 10, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of carrying cases, and more particularly to an electronic device carrying case. Cases for protecting and carrying objects have been in existence for many hundreds of years. Cases have been designed and manufactured that are intended to be worn by the user thereby allowing the user to have his or her hands free for other purposes than carrying the case. Such cases may have a shoulder carrying strap, belt clip or the like to allow the user to carry the case hands free. In the recent past electronic devices have shrunk to hand held size. One such device is an electronic organizing device called a personal digital assistant known as a PDA. One such brand of hand held device is the Palm Pilot, manufactured by 3COM company. Other PDA devices are manufactured by other leading electronics manufacturers and are relatively the same size and have similar features. These features include a phone book, to do list, project list and the like. Some PDA's are actually palm sized computers that have many of the functions of larger lap top or desk top computers such as word processing. Additionally, some PDA manufactures make add on modules such as GPS locators, digital cameras and the like. Other hand held electronic devices that are in common use include calculators, scanners, cell phones and the like. Cases for electronic devices such as PDA's are available including some versions that use belt clips so that the user can carry his or her PDA in a hands free fashion.

[0003] However, no existing electronic device case allows the user to operate the device while it is in its case and still in close proximity to the users body. Furthermore, there is no other case that can hold the device so that the user can operate the device with one hand, leaving the second free to hold a cell phone or the like. Additionally, there is no other electronic device case that allows the user to hang the case and enclosed electronic device on the users chest and to use the electronic device while in that position. Finally, there is no other electronic device case available that allows the user to adjust the viewing angle of the electronic device while in its case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The primary object of the invention is to provide an electronic device case that allows a user to store and or use the electronic device while in close proximity his or her body and in a hands free fashion.

[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic device case that allows a user to view and operate the electronic device with one hand or no hands while still in close proximity to the user.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic device case that allows the user to adjust the viewing angle of the electronic device while the device is being held in its case while the case is attached to the users belt or held by a neck strap.

[0007] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

[0008] Electronic device case comprising: a hollow rectangular case made of resilient material such as leather, vinyl or the like or non resilient material such as plastic or aluminum, said case being comprised of an upper half and a lower half hingedly connected at one end, both said halves capable of being opened or closed with respect to each other by means of a zipper or other known closure means, said upper half having a belt clip or strap fixedly attached its outer surface so that said case resides in a vertical orientation with respect to the user, said lower half having an electronic device retaining means located on the inside, said retaining means allowing said device's control buttons to be visible and usable while said device is retained in said case, said lower half also having a stylus retaining means, said lower half being capable of folding outwards to a suitable viewing angle, said viewing angle secured by means of a pair of support straps that each terminate at one end to the approximate center, side wall of said upper half and at the opposite end to the approximate center side wall of said lower half. The electronic case wherein said support straps are capable of being shortened or lengthened by means of hook and loop fastening material or other known fastening methods thereby allowing the user to adjust the viewing angle of said electronic device. The electronic device case wherein said upper case has a pair of attachment rings located near the opposing corners of the top outer surface, said attachment rings capable of retaining a neck strap thereby allowing the user to wear said electronic device on his or her chest.

[0009] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic device case of the present invention

[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a person wearing the electronic device case of the present invention in the open position

[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a person wearing the electronic device case of the present invention in the closed position.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a person wearing the electronic device case while using a neck strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the electronic device case of the present invention. The case is made primarily of two halves 2, 22 that when closed form a rectangular shape. The case is made of resilient material such as leather, vinyl or the like or non resilient material such as plastic or aluminum or the like. The two halves 2, 22 are attached at one end by an adjoining hingable strip 60. A Zipper 4, 24 can be zipped to close the case and unzipped to open the case. When the case opens the lower half is held from opening completely by a pair of retaining straps 15 terminate at approximately the center on either side of the upper and lower case. Each strap is comprised of a downwardly facing strip 14 and an upwardly facing strip 16. The straps 15 are adjustable by means of hook and loop type fastening material 44, 46 or other commonly known fastening devices such as snaps. In this way a person can adjust the angle of viewing of the electronic device 26 by lengthening or shortening the strap 15. The viewing angle can be as much as ninety degrees from the users body or fewer degrees depending on what is the ideal viewing angle for the user. Electronic device retaining cover 28 removably holds the electronic device 26 in place The electronic device may also be held without a retaining cover by substituting hook a loop fastening means on the rear of the electronic device and the inside of lower case 22. The retaining cover 28 is cut short so that the user can have access to the operational buttons 30 located on the electronic device. A retaining strap 32 removably holds a stylus 34 that is commonly used in conjunction with the touch screen of an electronic device such as a PDA 26. A belt clip 10 is fixedly retained into pocket 12 which is centrally located on the outside of upper case half 2. Alternately, a sewn belt loop can be sewn to the outside of the upper case half 2. Rings 6, 8 located at the top outer corners of the upper case half allow a person to attach a neck strap 50 to the the electronic device case as shown in FIG. 4. In this configuration the user can have close visual contact with the electronic device 26 while the users hands are free to do other things. Referring to FIG. 2 we see the electronic device case of the present invention while attached to a users belt 42. Notice that the user can use the stylus 30 and yet still have one hand free to do other things such as holding a cell phone. FIG. 3 shows the electronic device case of the present invention in the closed position where case halves 2, 22 are held closed by zipper 4,24. Obviously, the electronic device case of the present invention can have additional compartments that can hold credit cards, check books and the like.

[0016] In the above described and illustrated way, the electronic device case of the present invention allows a user to carry his or her electronic device in a hands free fashion. The user can operate the electronic device while the case and enclosed electronic device are still attached to the users belt. The straps that hold the lower half of the electronic device case in the open position can be adjusted shorter or longer thereby adjusting the viewing angle of the electronic device. The rings located on the outride of the case allow the user to attach a neck strap thereby allowing the electronic device case to rest on the users chest. The design of the case allows the view the screen of the electronic device with no hands or allows user to work with the electronic device with only one hand thereby allowing the user to do other things with his or her other hand such as holding a cell phone.

[0017] While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Electronic device case comprising:

a hollow rectangular case made of resilient material such as leather, vinyl or the like or a non resilient material such as plastic or aluminum or the like;

said case being comprised of an upper half and a lower half hingedly connected by an adjoining strip at one end;

both said halves capable of being opened or closed with respect to each other by means of a zipper or other known closure means;

said upper half having a means of attachment such as a belt clip or strap so that said upper half of said case can be attached to the users body in a vertical position;

said lower half having a electronic device retaining means located on the inside;

said retaining means allowing said electronic device control buttons to be visible and usable while said electronic device is retained in said case;

said lower half being capable of folding outwards to a suitable viewing angle;

said viewing angle being obtained by means of a pair of outwardly disposed support straps that each terminate at the approximate center, side of said upper case half at one end and at the approximate center side of said lower case half at the opposite end.

2. Electronic device case as claimed in

claim 1 wherein

said support straps are capable of being shortened or lengthened by means of hook and loop fastening material or other known fastening methods thereby allowing the user to adjust the viewing angle of said electronic device while housed in said electronic device case.

3. Electronic device case as claimed in

claim 1 wherein

said upper case has a pair of attachment rings located near the opposing corners of the top outer surface; said attachment rings capable of retaining a neck strap thereby allowing the user to wear said electronic device on his or her chest.