Protection Device for Electronic Equipment

Abstract

A protection device for an electronic equipment includes a frame unit for protecting the electronic equipment, and a functional unit combined with the frame unit. The frame unit includes a main frame for mounting the electronic equipment. The functional unit includes a functional board mounted in the mounting bracket of the frame unit, a mobile power supply mounted on the functional board, and a charging plug connected with the mobile power supply and insertable into a charging slot of the electronic equipment. Thus, the functional unit is removably mounted on the frame unit so that the functional unit can be removed from the frame unit for replacement of the functional unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a protection device and, more particularly, to a protection device for an electronic equipment.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional protection device for an electronic equipment, such as a cell phone, digital camera, global positioning system (GPS), car video recorder and the like, comprises a back guard board for mounting the electronic equipment, and two side guard plates mounted on two opposite sides of the back guard board and locked onto two opposite sides of the electronic equipment respectively. The back guard board has a top provided with an upper locking portion locked onto the top of the electronic equipment and a bottom provided with a lower locking portion locked onto the bottom of the electronic equipment. However, the conventional protection device can only be used to protect the electronic equipment and does not have a charging function so that the user has to additionally prepare a charger or back-up battery to provide a power supply to the electronic equipment. In addition, the back guard board has determined colors or patterns, thereby greatly limiting the aesthetic quality of the electronic equipment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a protection device, comprising a frame unit adapted for protecting the electronic equipment, and a functional unit combined with the frame unit. The frame unit includes a main frame adapted for mounting the electronic equipment. The functional unit includes a functional board mounted in the mounting bracket of the frame unit, a mobile power supply mounted on the functional board, and a charging plug connected with the mobile power supply and adapted for being insertable into a charging slot of the electronic equipment.

The frame unit further includes a mounting bracket mounted on the main frame for mounting the functional unit. The mounting bracket of the frame unit extends outward from one side of the main frame. The mounting bracket of the frame unit has an inner periphery provided with a guide track. The guide track of the mounting bracket has an end provided with an entrance. The functional board of the functional unit is inserted through the entrance of the guide track into the guide track of the mounting bracket. The functional board of the functional unit has an end provided with a protruding stop portion that is movable to abut the entrance of the guide track. The functional board of the functional unit has a surface provided with an exposing hole adapted for aligning with an objective lens of the electronic equipment.

The functional unit further includes a solar panel mounted on and connected with the mobile power supply of the functional unit to provide an electric power to the mobile power supply of the functional unit.

The functional unit further includes an ornamental panel mounted on the functional board, and the ornamental panel of the functional unit is provided with characters or patterns and is directed outward from the functional board. The functional board of the functional unit has an interior provided with a mounting hole for mounting the ornamental panel, the mounting hole of the functional board has an inner periphery provided with a retaining groove for retaining the ornamental panel, and the ornamental panel of the functional unit is mounted in the mounting hole of the functional board and is removably retained by the retaining groove of the functional board. The ornamental panel of the functional unit is preferably an optical grating so that the patterns of the ornamental panel present a spatial effect. The functional unit further includes a card mounted on the ornamental panel, and the card of the functional unit is preferably a travel card, stored-value card or pre-paid card. The card of the functional unit is a memory card, and the functional unit further includes a universal serial bus (USB) adapter connected with the card.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the functional unit is removably mounted on the frame unit so that the functional unit can be removed from the frame unit to facilitate replacement of the functional unit.

According to another advantage of the present invention, the mobile power supply of the functional unit is electrically connected with the electronic equipment so that the functional unit can charge the electronic equipment instantaneously without having to additionally prepare a charger or back-up battery.

According to a further advantage of the present invention, the functional unit includes an ornamental panel to enhance the aesthetic quality of the protection device.

According to a further advantage of the present invention, the ornamental panel of the functional unit is removably mounted on the functional board so that the ornamental panel of the functional unit can be removed from the functional board to facilitate a user replacing the ornamental panel.

According to a further advantage of the present invention, the functional unit covers the electronic equipment so as to further protect the electronic equipment.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a protection device for an electronic equipment in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional assembly view of the protection device for an electronic equipment as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective assembly view of the protection device for an electronic equipment as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of a protection device for an electronic equipment in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a protection device for an electronic equipment in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a functional unit of a protection device for an electronic equipment in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a functional unit of a protection device for an electronic equipment in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a functional unit of a protection device for an electronic equipment in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a functional unit of a protection device for an electronic equipment in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a protection device for an electronic equipment 3 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame unit 1 for protecting the electronic equipment 3, and a functional unit 2 combined with the frame unit 1.

The electronic equipment 3 is a mobile apparatus, such as a cell phone, digital camera, global positioning system (GPS), car video recorder and the like. The electronic equipment 3 is provided with an objective lens 31 and a charging slot 32.

The frame unit 1 includes a main frame 11 for mounting the electronic equipment 3, and a mounting bracket 12 mounted on the main frame 11 for mounting the functional unit 2. The mounting bracket 12 of the frame unit 1 extends outward from one side of the main frame 11. The mounting bracket 12 of the frame unit 1 has an outer diameter equal to that of the main frame 11. The mounting bracket 12 of the frame unit 1 has an inner periphery provided with a guide track 13. The guide track 13 of the mounting bracket 12 has an end provided with an entrance 14.

The functional unit 2 is removably mounted on the frame unit 1 and covers the electronic equipment 3. The functional unit 2 includes a functional board 21 mounted in the mounting bracket 12 of the frame unit 1, a mobile power supply 23 mounted on the functional board 21, and a charging plug 24 connected with the mobile power supply 23 and insertable into the charging slot 32 of the electronic equipment 3. The functional board 21 of the functional unit 2 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the mounting bracket 12 of the frame unit 1. The functional board 21 of the functional unit 2 is removably mounted on the mounting bracket 12 of the frame unit 1. The functional board 21 of the functional unit 2 is inserted through the entrance 14 of the guide track 13 into the guide track 13 of the mounting bracket 12. The functional board 21 of the functional unit 2 has an end provided with a protruding stop portion 22 that is movable to abut the entrance 14 of the guide track 13 to stop movement of the functional board 21 of the functional unit 2 and to prevent the functional board 21 of the functional unit 2 from being fully retracted into the guide track 13 of the mounting bracket 12. The functional board 21 of the functional unit 2 has a surface provided with an exposing hole 25 aligning with the objective lens 31 of the electronic equipment 3 so that the objective lens 31 of the electronic equipment 3 is exposed outward from the exposing hole 25 of the functional board 21. The mobile power supply 23 of the functional unit 2 is a power supply matching the electronic equipment 3.

In assembly, the electronic equipment 3 is received in the main frame 11 of the frame unit 1. Then, the functional board 21 of the functional unit 2 is inserted through the entrance 14 of the guide track 13 into the guide track 13 of the mounting bracket 12. At this time, the exposing hole 25 of the functional board 21 aligns with the objective lens 31 of the electronic equipment 3 so that the objective lens 31 of the electronic equipment 3 is exposed outward from the exposing hole 25 of the functional board 21. Then, the charging plug 24 of the functional unit 2 is inserted into the charging slot 32 of the electronic equipment 3 so that the mobile power supply 23 of the functional unit 2 is electrically connected with the electronic equipment 3. Thus, the frame unit 1 can protect the electronic equipment 3, and the functional unit 2 can charge the electronic equipment 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the functional unit 2 further includes a solar panel 231 mounted on and connected with the mobile power supply 23 of the functional unit 2 to provide an electric power to the mobile power supply 23 of the functional unit 2.

Referring to FIG. 5, the functional unit 2 further includes an ornamental panel 26 mounted on the functional board 21. The ornamental panel 26 of the functional unit 2 is provided with characters or patterns and is directed outward from the functional board 21 to enhance the aesthetic quality of the protection device.

Referring to FIG. 6, the functional board 21 of the functional unit 2 has an interior provided with a mounting hole 211 for mounting the ornamental panel 26. The mounting hole 211 of the functional board 21 has an inner periphery provided with a retaining groove 212 for retaining the ornamental panel 26. The ornamental panel 26 of the functional unit 2 is mounted in the mounting hole 211 of the functional board 21 and is removably retained by the retaining groove 212 of the functional board 21. Thus, the ornamental panel 26 of the functional unit 2 is removably mounted on the functional board 21 to facilitate a user replacing the ornamental panel 26. The ornamental panel 26 of the functional unit 2 has a surface provided with the exposing hole 25.

Referring to FIG. 7, the ornamental panel 26 of the functional unit 2 is an optical grating so that the patterns of the ornamental panel 26 present a spatial effect.

Referring to FIG. 8, the functional unit 2 further includes a card 27 mounted on the ornamental panel 26. Preferably, the card 27 of the functional unit 2 is a travel card, stored-value card or pre-paid card.

Referring to FIG. 9, the card 27 of the functional unit 2 is a memory card, and the functional unit 2 further includes a universal serial bus (USB) adapter 28 connected with the card 27.

Accordingly, the functional unit 2 is removably mounted on the frame unit 1 so that the functional unit 2 can be removed from the frame unit 1 to facilitate replacement of the functional unit 2. In addition, the mobile power supply 23 of the functional unit 2 is electrically connected with the electronic equipment 3 so that the functional unit 2 can charge the electronic equipment 3 instantaneously without having to additionally prepare a charger or back-up battery. Further, the functional unit 2 includes an ornamental panel 26 to enhance the aesthetic quality of the protection device. Further, the ornamental panel 26 of the functional unit 2 is removably mounted on the functional board 21 so that the ornamental panel 26 of the functional unit 2 can be removed from the functional board 21 to facilitate a user replacing the ornamental panel 26. Further, the functional unit 2 covers the electronic equipment 3 so as to further protect the electronic equipment 3.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A protection device, comprising:

a frame unit adapted for protecting the electronic equipment; and

a functional unit combined with the frame unit;

wherein the frame unit includes a main frame adapted for mounting the electronic equipment; and

the functional unit includes a functional board mounted in the mounting bracket of the frame unit, a mobile power supply mounted on the functional board, and a charging plug connected with the mobile power supply and adapted for being insertable into a charging slot of the electronic equipment.

2. The protection device of claim 1, wherein

the frame unit further includes a mounting bracket mounted on the main frame for mounting the functional unit;

the mounting bracket of the frame unit extends outward from one side of the main frame;

the mounting bracket of the frame unit has an inner periphery provided with a guide track;

the guide track of the mounting bracket has an end provided with an entrance; and

the functional board of the functional unit is inserted through the entrance of the guide track into the guide track of the mounting bracket.

3. The protection device of claim 2, wherein the functional board of the functional unit has an end provided with a protruding stop portion that is movable to abut the entrance of the guide track.

4. The protection device of claim 1, wherein the functional board of the functional unit has a surface provided with an exposing hole adapted for aligning with an objective lens of the electronic equipment.

5. The protection device of claim 1, wherein the functional unit further includes a solar panel mounted on and connected with the mobile power supply of the functional unit to provide an electric power to the mobile power supply of the functional unit.

6. The protection device of claim 1, wherein

the functional unit further includes an ornamental panel mounted on the functional board; and

the ornamental panel of the functional unit is provided with characters or patterns and is directed outward from the functional board.

7. The protection device of claim 6, wherein

the functional board of the functional unit has an interior provided with a mounting hole for mounting the ornamental panel;

the mounting hole of the functional board has an inner periphery provided with a retaining groove for retaining the ornamental panel; and

the ornamental panel of the functional unit is mounted in the mounting hole of the functional board and is removably retained by the retaining groove of the functional board.

8. The protection device of claim 6, wherein the ornamental panel of the functional unit is an optical grating so that the patterns of the ornamental panel present a spatial effect.

9. The protection device of claim 6, wherein

the functional unit further includes a card mounted on the ornamental panel; and

the card of the functional unit is a travel card, stored-value card or pre-paid card.

10. The protection device of claim 9, wherein

the card of the functional unit is a memory card; and

the functional unit further includes a universal serial bus (USB) adapter connected with the card.