Video Device Case with Extensible Glare Shields

Abstract

Provided is a case/pouch for holding a portable, electronic, video-capable device and for protecting it from minor bumps. The case encapsulates the device and includes a window/opening for viewing the device's screen/display. A top shield and a left and a right shields are positioned about the window opening, and are extensible outwardly from the front wall of the case, to shade the screen/display from light and glare. Each of the glare shields can be folded back against the front wall of the case when the owner Is not viewing the device. With the glare shields folded in, the case/pouch provides a compact carrying structure. A mounting structure, such as a belt, an elastic band, or a VELCRO® attachment, is used to hold the device enclosed case/pouch to a seat back or other mounting position for hands-free viewing.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/888,329, filed Aug. 21, 2013 for “Universal Case Holder”,the invention of Frederick G. Miller. That Provisional Patent Application is incorporated in its entirety herein as if recited herein in full.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable electronic video-capable devices, including smart phones and tablet computers. The owners of these devices often want to use them to play games, text and email, conduct Internet research, and watch movies and television programming.

A problem with such video devices is that their light-weight, power-stingy screens/displays are either LCD or LED. Such video screens/displays are not very bright, and thus are difficult to see in daylight or very bright artificial lighting.

These video displays would be easier to see If there screens/displays were shaded from light and glare. Additionally, these devices would benefit from a custom-sized case or pouch which would provide protection from minor bumping.

Such use, i.e., game playing, text and email, and movie and television watching often occurs when the owner is otherwise unoccupied. Being unoccupied often occurs while traveling by car, bus, train, ship or airplane.

Thus, it is. desirable that the case or pouch be capable of independently, and securely, holding the video device, thereby freeing the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objectives for this invention are achieved with a case or pouch which is attachable to a seat back. This case/pouch includes a display viewing opening and incorporates extensible glare shield positioned around the viewing opening.

The invention is preferably a soft pouch holder for holding an i-phone, a smart phone, an I-pad, a smart pad, or a tablet computer, or other video display, on which the owner can play videos and movies. The pouch is sized to accept a specific device.

The pouch has a front wall and a back wall spaced apart to receive the device there between. The front and back walls are held together by a plurality of elastic hands spaced about the edges of the top, bottom, and one side of the front and back walls. These elastic hands are permanently attached at the respective side edges of each wall. One side of the front and back walls has no elastic bands attached and defines the insertion side for a device to be held by the pouch. The insertion side of the pouch is closed off by one or more straps which are attached permanently either to the back wall or the front wall, and removably attached to the other wall by a fastener.

The elastic bands cause the front and back walls to assert a mild pressure on the device inserted into the pouch and thereby the device is securely held within the pouch. The dimensions of the front and back wails can be slightly larger than the device being held and thus it is protected from slight bumps from all sides.

An open viewing area is positioned in the front wall and sized and shaped to match the viewing area of the screen/display of the device. The viewing area can be a rectangular opening in the front wail or alternately it can have a flexible clear screen across the opening. If the device has a resistive touch screen, pressure exerted on a flexible clear screen will be transferred to operate the device. For newer devices, having a capacitive touch screen, the owner's finger must touch the screen directly and therefore a separate clear screen over the device screen may cause problems. Both resistive and capacitive touch screen devices have separate control buttons located at the side or periphery of the device which can be operated easily when the device is held within the pouch.

Attached to the outer face of the front wait at each opposing side edge of the viewing area, is a left extensible flap and a right extensible flap. These side flaps each lay against the viewing face of the pouch (the outer side of the front wall) when not in use. They can be pivoted outwardly to extend perpendicular (normal) to the viewing face of the pouch when the video display is to be in operation. The width of each side flap is about one-half the width of the pouch viewing area. They can be wider, but then they would have to be folded to overlap one another when folded upon the viewing area of the pouch.

A front cover is attached at the top of the pouch rear wall to extend over the top of the pouch and down over the viewing area and folded side flaps. When the top cover is extended outwardly it forms a top flap, which is held in position by the outwardly extended side flaps. It can be pivoted upward to view the screen of the device. It is held outward by the side flaps to extend like an awning.

The outward extending top flap and the two side flaps form a glare shield around the top and sides of the device screen. Thus, the LCD or LED screen of the device can be easily viewed, even in a daylight or bright artificial light situation. or text and email

An elastic band or other holding or typing structure is attached to the back wall of the pouch for mounting the pouch to the back of a seat on a bus, a train, a car, or an airplane. When a move or a television show is being watched, this mounting structure permits the viewer to relax and have his/her hands free.

The extensible top and both side flaps are opaque and extended act as glare shields for the viewing area. When the flaps are folded against the front of the pouch, the pouch becomes a carrying case. The front and rear walls, the top flap, and the two side flaps can be made of various materials. Leather either with or without an inner padding is a preferred choice. It is easy to work with in manufacturing and provides a handsome looking case. However, a polymer plastic may also be used. Using a synthetic material provides the possibility of making the front and back walls of any of a various selected stiffness. This is also true for the left and right side flaps and the top flap which folds to become the cover.

The left and right side flaps can be made stiffer using reinforcing ribs or other means. A connector or an interlock can be positioned where each side flap abuts the top flap to keep the glare shields as a three quarter surround. A bottom flap is not used as generally light does not come from the floor or from a location below the mounted location of the pouch.

While the side flaps above-discussed are extended by pivoting, i.e., rotating outward, other types of glare shields can be substituted. One such alternative, is a multi-segmented. Interlocking leaf structure which can he pulled outward and then collapsed down upon itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, advantages and operation of the present invention will become readily apparent and further understood from a reading of the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which;

FIG. 1 is a front, elevation view of the pouch of the invention with the glare shields open;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pouch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front, elevation view of the pouch of FIG. 1 in the closed state;

FIG. 4 is a front, elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the pouch having side glare shield being segmented and folded in upon themselves on the front wall of the body of the pouch;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevation view of the pouch of FIG. 3, in the closed state with the shields folded closed;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevation view of the pouch in the closed state of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 Is a bottom plan view of the pouch of FIG. 1 with open shields;

FIG. 8 Is a right side elevation view of the pouch of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the pivot extensible side shields extended;

FIG. 9 is a right side elevation view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 4 with segmented side shields extended;

FIG. 10 is a partial view of a sliding securement of a side shield to the top shield for the first embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a partial view of a pivoting latch securement of a side shield to the top shield for the first embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 Is a partial view of a sliding pin securement of a segmented side shield to the fop shield for the alternate embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a elevation view of a slide pin for a side shield securement; and

FIG. 14 is an elevation view of a pivot pin for a side shield securement

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a case or pouch 21, FIG. 1, for holding a portable, electronic, video-capable device, not shown, such as a smart phone or a tablet computer, which is operated by the owner to view movies and the like. The case 21 includes a viewing opening 23 which may have a clear screen 23 for viewing the programming presented on the screen of the video device.

The case 21 has a front wall 25, FIGS. 1 and 2, and a rear wail 27, spaced apart from the front wall 25 for holding the device in between. The front 25 and rear 27 walls are held together by a series of elastic sheets 29. Attached to the front wall 25 and extending along the right and left sides of the viewing screen 23 is a right and left glare shield 31, 33. Attached to the top edge of the rear wall 27 and extending over the front wall 25 is a top glare shield 35. The top glare shield 35 carries a snap socket 37 at its front edge, while the front wall 25 carries a mating snap post 39 at its bottom edge.

The right side of the ease 21 is open for inserting the video-capable device. This right side is closed off by a pair of straps 41, 43, which are permanently secured to either the front or back walls 25, 27, and are releasable secured to the outside of the other wall by snaps 45, 47, respectively. An elastic band 49 is attached to the outside face of the back wall 27. This elastic band 49 is capable of stretching over a seat back, not shown, of a car, bus, train or airplane, to mount the case 21 for mounting the case to a position for hands-free program viewing.

When not in use, the shields 31, 33, 35 can be folded against the outside face of the front wall 25, FIGS. 3, 5, 8. The right and left shield 31, 33 are folded, i,e, pivoted, to be folded over onto the screen 23, FIGS. 3, 5, 6. The top shield 35 then is folded down over the shields 31, 33 to foe snapped into place as a cover. The pouch 21 is thereby transformed into a convenient carrying case which is capable of protecting the video device from damage from minor bumps.

As an alternative to snaps, the straps 41, 43, the top shield 35 and the outward face of the front wall 25 can carry VELCRO® closures 51. Other types of closures can also be used.

The front wall 25 and the back wall 27 are separated by a space 53, FIGS. 2, 5, 6, and 7, which holds the video device. The front and back walls, 25, 27 are drawn together by a series of elastic sheets 29 spaced about the three sides of the pouch 21. The spacing between the front and back walls 25, 27 is such that the elastic sheets 29 cause these walls to exert a slight, pressure, or a squeeze, on the video device to hold if securely within the case 21.

The elastic hand 49 is to mount the case/pouch 21 can he replaced with a belt 55 having a buckle 57, FIGS. 8 and 9. This belt 55 also extends from the outward face of the rear wall 27, The straps 41, 43 are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 as being permanent attached to the front wall 25 and releasably attached to the rear wall 27.

In FIG. 8, the top shield 35 is shown as being held in an outwardly straight position over the viewing screen 23 by a pivoted side shield 31. The side shields 31, 33 like the top shield 35 are essentially flat planar members. In FIG. 9, the top shield 35 is being held In the same position as in FIG. 8, by an extendable segmented side shield 59. This segmented side shield 59 is an alternative to the flat planar shields 31, 33. The segments interlock when the shield 59 is pulled outwardly, and collapse upon one another then the shield Is push back against the front wall 25. A segmented shield 59 can be positioned outboard from the folded down top shield 35, as shown in FIG. 4, when the segments are pushed back against the front wall 25. This permits for a flatter profile than if the top shield lap 35 covered the folded down right and left segmented shields 59, 61, FIG. 4.

It is advantageous that the side shields 31, 33 or 59, 61 be looked into position to positively engage the top glare shield 35 when viewing the video device. This prevents the shields from collapsing, partially or totally, when the case/pouch 21 is subjected to vibrations or other movement, while being mounted to a seat back for viewing. Several structures can foe used to hold the side glare shields in position with the top glare shield 35. A planar side glare shield 33 can be connected to the fop glare shield 35 with a sliding pin 63 mounted on the side shield, FIG. 10. Alternatively, a pivoting plate 65 can be mounted on the side shield, FIG. 11. The sliding pin 63 engages a hole in the top glare shield 35. The pivoting plate 65 engages a slot in the top glare shield 35. A segmented side glare shield 61, when positioned outboard the edge of the fop glare shield 35 can utilize an off-set sliding pin 67 mounted thereto to engage a hole in the top glare shield 35. FIG. 12.

The sliding pins 63, 67, FIG. 13, can have an end nub 69 for grasping, and a journal block 71 which guides the back and forth sliding movement. The pivoting plate 65, FIG. 14. can have an end nub 73 for grasping, a pivot pin 75, and an engagement loop 77 for engaging the slot in the top glare shield 35.

The pouch 21, Including the front and back walls 25, 27 and the three glare shields 31, 33, 35, can be made from a selection of materials. Each provides differences over the others. The preferred construction is out of leather. Leather provides a rich and handsome look. The side glare shields 31, 33 can be cut from the same sheet of leather as the front wail 25. The leather can be sewn about the edges and the pivot line of each glare shield 31, 33 can be the leather itself. The cover, i.e., the top glare shield can be cut horn a separate sheet of leather and sewn onto the top edge of the back wall 25. The elastic sheets can be out from elastic material and sized to fit. Gluing is a viable alternative to sewing.

The size and dimensions of the pouch 21 are made to fit a particular video-capable device. Various manufactures of smart phones and tablet computers size their products individually. There is no industry requirement for standard size.

The clear viewing screen 23 can be made of a clear flexible plastic, including PET, polyethylene, and silicone. It can he either sewn or glued into place.

Plastics create a viable alternative to leather and provide the ability to easily change the color and stiffness of the front and back walls and the top and side glare shields. Plastics also provide the ability to mold the various parts. The segmented collapsible side shields 59, 61 cannot be implemented in leather, but are easily implemented in a plastic. In addition, both the planar side glare shields 31, 33 and the segmented side glace shields 59, 61 can be attached to the front wall 25 by a hinge when these members are made of plastic. A “piano hinge” can be used to connect each side glare shield to the front wall 25 and permit pivoting, when these members are made in plastic.

Many changes can be made in the above-described invention without departing from the intent and scope thereof. It is therefore intended that the above description be read in the illustrative sense and not in the limiting sense. Substitutions and changes can be made while still being within the scope and intent of the invention and of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pouch/case for holding an electronic video display device for viewing movies played on the device, comprising:

a body for holding the video display device while a movie is played, said body having a front wall and a rear wall;

a viewing opening in the front wall of the body; and

a top glare shield and a right and a left side glare shields, said shields each being extensible from the front wall of the body to surround the viewing opening and keep light from impinging thereon.

2. The pouch/case of claim 1, wherein said top glare shield and the right and the left side glare shields are selectably foldable against the front wall of the body when the video display device is not being operated.

3. The pouch/case of claim 2, wherein said right and left glare shields are planar in shape and pivot on the front wall of the body outwardly to extend therefrom, and inwardly to lay against the viewing opening.

4. The pouch/case of claim 3, wherein the top glare shield is attached to the top edge of the rear wall and is extendable over the front wall and downward over the folded right and left glare shields laying against the viewing opening.

5. The pouch/case of claim 4, wherein the front and rear walls are juxtaposed to each other and spaced apart from one another.

6. The pouch/case of claim 5, wherein the video display device is positionable between the front and rear walls to be held therein.

7. The pouch/case of claim 8, wherein the front and rear walls are connected by a series of elastic sheets spaced about the top, bottom and one side of the pouch/case, whereby the front and rear wails press slightly against a video display device positioned there between to hold the video display device securely within the pouch/case.

8. The pouch/case of claim 7, wherein the viewing opening includes a clear viewing screen extending there across.

9. The pouch/case of claim 8, also including a plurality of closure members extending between the front and rear wall on the side where there are no elastic sheets.

10. The pouch/case of claim 9, wherein the closure members include a strap permanently attached to either the front or the back wall, having a releasable attachment member operating to attach the free end of each strap to the non-permanently attached wall.

11. The pouch/case of claim 10, wherein the top glare shield includes a releasable attachment member for releasably mating the free end of the top glare shield to the bottom of the front wall.

12. The pouch/case of claim 11, wherein the top glare shield is planar and flexible.

13. The pouch/case of claim 12, wherein the right and left side glare shield are each flexible and attached to the front wall proximate an edge of the clear viewing screen.

14. The pouch/case of claim 13 wherein the front and rear walls, the top glare shield and the right and left side glare shield are opaque.

15. The pouch/case of claim 14, also including a mounting structure for mounting the pouch/case to a seat back.

16. The pouch/case of claim 15, wherein the mounting structure is an elastic band attached to the rear wall.

17. The pouch/case of claim 15, wherein the mounting structure is a belt attached to the rear wall.

18. The pouch/case of claim 2, wherein the right and left side glare shields include a plurality of interlocking segmented leaves, wherein each shield is capable of being extended outwardly and collapsed inwardly against the front wall.

19. The pouch/case of claim 14, wherein the front and rear walls, the top glare shield and the right and left side glare shields are made of leather.

20. The pouch/case of claim 14, wherein the front and rear walls, the fop glare shield and the right and left side glare shields are made of plastic.