Portable device case with corner protector
A case for a portable electronic device such as cell phones, cameras, MP3 players and PDAs wherein said case includes material at the corners to provide protection to the electronic device. To reduce bulk at the corners and allow the material forming the case to conform with the contours of the device, the protection at the corners includes strips of material defining apertures there between. The apertures provide reduction in bulk and allow the case to conform to the corners of the device therein. Alternately, the protection at the corners can be provided by other structures co-molded into the corners of the cases. Such structures include material that is of a reduced thickness than other material used in the case, or structures that are formed to conform to the corners of the case. Such structures can be joined to the material forming the panels of the case by co-molding.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/756,157 filed on Jan. 4, 2006. The Application is also a continuation in part of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/275,443 filed on Jan. 3, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/641,204, filed Jan. 3, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to carrying cases for portable electronic devices, such as cell phones, cameras, MP3 players, and PDAs. More particularly, the invention relates to cases having corner protectors. Further, the invention relates to a case for a clamshell type cellular phone. The invention also relates to methods for producing the case using a co-molding process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCell phones, pagers, PDA's, MP3 players, and other portable electronic devices have become increasingly popular. Users of the devices like to keep the devices readily accessible on their person. Due to their portable nature, the devices are also subject to being dropped and otherwise roughly handled, which can result in damage to the electronics inside, or to the plastic housing of the device. To address the above concerns, cases have been developed to both carry and protect the portable electronic devices. These cases often include a clip or other retaining structure to allow the case to be removably attached to the user's clothing, such as a belt.
The clips or retainers commonly used are removeably attached to the case by fastening to a plastic post, which itself is attached to the case. The plastic post can be an integral part of the case, being formed of the same material as the case. In other prior art embodiments, the post is a separate piece, sewn into or otherwise permanently attached to the case. While this provides a secure attachment post for the clip, the post becomes a cumbersome and unwanted protrusion when the clip is removed. The case disclosed herein is provided with a detachable post, thereby providing a case unburdened with unnecessary protrusions. The case disclosed herein also provides an attachment point for other accessories such as a light, velcro, keychain or magnets.
The portable electronic cases of the prior art are generally constructed of leather, nylon, or other material provided in sheets. The material is cut to predetermine sizes to form panels, which are then sewn or otherwise attached to form a pocket for holding the portable electronic device. With this type of construction, if one desires parts of a panel to have different physical properties, such as elasticity, texture, color or clarity, different pieces of material must be physically joined to one another to create a panel having the desired characteristics. Typically, the materials are joined by stitching, heat weld, or adhesive. The seams created at the joints add unwanted bulk and add to the cost of construction. It is therefore desirable to produce a case that includes different physical properties, but does not require pieces to be mechanically joined. To that end, the case disclosed herein is constructed of a co-molded material.
For cases designed for clamshell devices, such as cellular phones, the prior art teaches cases having two detachable pocket sections. Each pocket section fits over a section of the clamshell phone and are then connected by a snap, zipper, or velcro. Because of the nature of the case materials, if the pocket sections were not detachable, there would be no way to place the case on the phone, as leather and nylon do not stretch sufficiently to allow one pocket to be placed on the phone and then have the other pocket placed on the phone. By use of the co-molded material described herein, sufficient elasticity may be incorporated into the case to allow the case to be constructed as a single unit. In other words, the two pockets do not have to be separable. Further, the elasticity of the material allows the case to give and fit the contours of the phone in a superior fashions when compared to the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention disclosed herein is an improvement for cases typically used with cell phones and portable electronic devices. Some of the cases described include cut out areas or apertures or areas without material at corners of the device. The apertures allow for reduced thickness and bulk where the case would normally cover the corners of the device. This aperture or open area allows the cell phone case to be constructed without the need to notch or dart the case material to allow the material to fit the curve of the corner of the cell phone or other portable device.
However, the resulting apertures are not without their problems. The apertures leave the corners of the cell phone exposed and unprotected. If the cell phone or other portable electronic device is dropped, the exposed corner of the device may be subject to impact with the ground, possibly resulting in damage of breakage of the device. Thus, it is object of the invention to provide protection to the cell phone or electronic device, while still providing a construction that eliminates or reduces the issues associated with sowing or otherwise bonding materials to fit a curved surface.
The disclosure describes an improved portable electronics case and a method of constructing the same. The cell phone case is formed of a co-molded material produced by pouring a first liquid plastic into a mold, and then pouring a second liquid plastic into the mold, the second plastic having physical characteristics different from the first. Once set, the material is removed from the mold and sewn to form pockets for the electronic device.
If the case is to be used for a clamshell type cellular phone, two pockets are formed, the pockets sharing a common or continuous panel Further, the disclosure describes a unitary case for clamshell phones, allowing for both donning and removal of the case onto the phone as a unit.
Further, the disclosure describes a case including a removable post or attachment point for a clip. The retainer used to hold the removable post, may be used to house other devices, such as a light, keychain, velcro, magnets, or other useful items.
Shown herein as the preferred embodiment is a case for a clamshell cellular phone. One skilled in the art will recognize the construction, materials, and methods can be applied to other cases for portable electronic devices, and need not be limited to the clamshell design shown in the figures. With reference to the figures, the case 10 includes a first pocket 15 and a second pocket 20 for receiving a portion of the cell phone 11. The case 10 includes a backbone panel 25. The backbone panel 25 forms part of both the first pocket 15 and the second pocket 20. The first pocket 15 includes a face sheet 30, made of a clear material allowing a user to see the display 31 of the cell phone 1, when the cell phone 11 is inserted into the first pocket 15. The face sheet 30 is attached to the backbone panel 25 about part of its perimeter to form the first pocket 15. In an alternate embodiment, intermediate side panels 35 and 36 (as used on the second pocket 20) are used to attach the backbone panel 25 to the face sheet 30. The various components forming the first pocket 15 are attached to one another using heat welding, adhesive, stitching 21, or any other construction method to join two materials known in the art. One skilled in the art will recognize that the pockets of the case 10 can be formed of any number of panels, so as to suit the shape of the phone 11 or other portable device.
As shown in
The backbone panel 25 can include a window 48 to allow a user to see the outside display of the cell phone 11. The window 48 is formed of a clear material. The window 45 is joined to the backbone panel 25 by heat welding, adhesive, or stitching 21, or any other construction know in the art. With a judicious selection of materials, the window 35 may be co-molded into the backbone panel 25 during the manufacture of the backbone panel 25, as described herein for other structures.
The second pocket 20 is formed in a similar fashion, by attaching the backbone panel 25 to a front panel 37 about portions of its perimeter. As shown in the drawings, the second pocket 20 includes side panels 35 and 36. One skilled in the art will recognize that many different configurations, panels, and places to attach the pieces together may be used to produce the first pocket 15 and second pocket 20.
The first pocket 15 and second pocket 20 are to be joined by a continuous piece of material; that is the first 15 and second 20 pocket are not attached by velcro, snaps, buttons, zippers, or any other structure which allows easy detachment and reattachment from and to one another. With the single or continuous panel forming part of both pockets, a backbone panel 25 is formed linking the two pockets.
In use, the case 10 is placed onto the phone 11 by inserting part of the opened phone into one or the other of the first pocket 15 or the second pocket 20. Since the face sheet 30 is typically longer than the front panel 37, thereby creating a first pocket 15 that is deeper than the pocket formed by the front panel 37, when donning, it is preferable to insert the phone 11 into the first pocket 15 before inserting the phone into the second pocket 20, as shown in
Although the backbone panel 25 forms part of both the first 15 and second 20 pockets, and is one continuous piece, it need not be a uniform or homogenous piece. In other words, the backbone panel 25 may be formed of a plurality of pieces or materials attached to each other by stitching, heat welding, adhesive, or other permanent attachment. For instance, the center portion 45 can be formed of an elastic material, while the portions forming the pockets 15, 20 can be of a less elastic material.
In the preferred embodiment, the backbone panel 25 is formed by co-molding. Other parts of the case may also be formed by this process. Co-molding allows the part or panel being manufactured to easily incorporate different properties, colors, textures, shapes or other characteristics, while allowing for efficient construction. To construct the backbone panel or other part, a mold 100 is constructed. As shown in
As shown in
For instance, the first substance 120 is placed in the mold 100 only in the area for piping 111, as shown in
In the instance of the first substance 120 being EPE, the liquid EPE is placed in the desired area of the mold 100 at room temperature. The EPE is then spread out and forced into the desired areas, such as piping 111 or textured area 101, where air voids are likely. The mold 100 containing the EPE is then heated, and then cooled to room temperature.
The second material 140 is then poured. The second material 140 may have different properties than the first material 120. For instance, the second material 140 may be of a different color or texture. In some embodiments, the area of the mold 100 into which the second material 140 is poured may have a surface treatment or texture 101 to produce a surface texture on the finished product.
In a similar fashion, other pours may be made of either the same material, or different ones, until the panel having the desired characteristics is complete.
Shown in
With reference to the mold shown in
Once the desired materials are poured and cured, the co-molded panel is removed from the mold and sewn or otherwise attached to other panels to produce the case.
In other embodiments, the co-molding process allows other structures to be placed or integrated into the panel. For instance, once the first substance 120 is poured, additional materials can be placed into the mold, to create a panel having areas with different characteristics. The materials may be the same substance, or include a second substance 140 for co-molding, or may include other materials or structures, such as scrims, reinforcements, or windows, judiciously placed within the mold to create areas having particular structural characteristics.
For instance, a scrim 130 or other woven or non-woven reinforcement may be placed in areas where there will be stitching during the assembly of the case. Such scrims are placed where the panel will be stitched to lesson the likelihood of the stitching pulling through the case material. Similarly, a scrim can be placed in the area of the aperture for the clip post, thereby reinforcing that area. In other embodiments, the window 48 is placed in the mold prior to the second material pour, thereby eliminating the need to stitch the window 48 in place, as the window will be co-molded between the first material and the second material, and thereby retained. In another example shown in
In other embodiments, and as a direct result of co-molding process, portions of a panel can be thicker or thinner than other sections. For instance, areas where the finished product will include stitching can easily be made thicker to prevent pull through. Other areas, such as the textured area of the mold in
In additional to the layers shown in the figures, a final lining material such as rayon, may be applied either by spraying or laminating, onto the last poured layer. The lining material allows the cellular phone, or other portable device, to easily slide into and out of the case.
With reference to
As shown in
Areas 17c and 17d include strips of material 2a-d, which divide the open areas 17c and 17d and provide some material over the otherwise exposed corners of the cell phone 11. Defined another way, open areas 17a and d include strips of material 2a-d, thereby defining a plurality of apertures 5a-f. One skilled in the art will recognize the number of apertures can be varied. For example, the open areas 17c and d could include netting, or strips of material placed in different directions.
As shown in
For example, a co-molding process, such as described previously herein, could be used to place protective structures, such as strips, molded corner protectors, netting, or other structures, at the corners of the case. These structures can be thicker than the sheets of material 8 and 9 forming the walls of the case 10, to allow for more protection to the corners. For instance, with reference to
Is an alternate embodiment, reinforcement members or other preformed structures, that is structures molded to the contours of the case, are placed within the open areas and secured to the material or panels of the cell phone case 10 to provide protection at the corners of the electronic device or cell phone 11. Because the structures are molded or formed, they can be made of a specific thickness that is different than the panels forming the case 10.
The case 10, no matter how produced, can include a detachable clip 200. With reference to
The post 210 is removably attached to the case 10. The case 10 includes an aperture 216 sized to allow the lug 214 to fit through yet is not large enough to allow the base 212 to pass. The post 210 is positioned so that the lug 214 extends outwardly away from the case 10, and the base 212 remains in the case 10, the base 212 being too large to fit through the aperture 216. The base 212 is retained in position by a retainer 220, the retainer 220 limiting movement and securing the base 212 when engaged. When disengaged, the retainer 220 allows the post 210 to be removed from the case 10.
In the preferred embodiment, the base 212 is a generally thin, flat member, having a perimeter including two parallel straight portions 222 and two curved portions 230. The retainer 220 is slightly thicker than the base 212, and includes a recess 225 to receive the base 212. The recess 225 may go entirely through the retainer 220 as an aperture. The perimeter of the recess 225 is generally concentric with the perimeter of the base 212. The retainer 220 includes tabs 226 which extend over the base 212, to keep the base 212 from moving in a direction perpendicular to the base 212. In the preferred embodiment, the tabs 226 are located to extend over the curved portions 230 of the base 212. The retainer 220 is attached to the inside of the case 10 so that it is located about the aperture 216. The retainer 220 is attached to the case by any means known in the art, including stitching, heat weld, and adhesive. The retainer 220 could also be co-molded into the case 10, or formed as part of the case.
In use, the post 210 is attached to the case 10 by inserting the lug 214 into the aperture 216 from the inside of the case. The retainer 220 is convexly flexed to allow the curved portion 230 of the base 212 to be inserted under a tab 226. Once positioned, the retainer 220 is unflexed and the opposite curved portion 223 is allowed to snap under the remaining tab 226, thereby securing the base 212 between the case 10 material and the tabs 226.
To remove the post, the retainer 220 is again convexly flexed to snap base 212 over the tab 226, allowing the base to be disengaged from the retainer 220 and the lug 214 to be pushed through the aperture 216, thereby removing the post 210 from the case 10. In such a fashion, the post 210 may be selectively attached to the case, or removed, as desired by the user.
One skilled in the art will recognize other structures could be used to connect a post to a retaining structure on the case. An example of such an embodiment includes a retainer 240 and base 250 that include mating structures that allow the base 250 to be separated and reconnected to the retainer 240.
In the embodiment shown in
The retainer 240 includes an aperture 280 sized to allow the lug 270 to pass through. As shown in
The base 250 can also include separation recesses 320 and 321 at its perimeter. The separation recesses are areas exposed to the perimeter that are of reduced thickness. When the base 250 and retainer 240 are mated, the separation recesses allow space between the two structures to allow a fingernail or other object to lever the two structures apart.
The retainer 240 includes a plurality of receivers 290, 291 for receiving and engaging the shafts 260 and 261. In the embodiment shown in
In an alternate embodiment shown in
As shown in
One skilled in the art will recognize that other types of constructions may be utilized in attaching the post to the case. One such constructive is a bayonet mount, as shown in
In use, the post 500 is inserted into aperture base end 540 first, such that projections 525 a-d are inserted into notches 522 a-d. Adjacent notches 525 a-d are flanges 535 a-d. The flanges are generally arcuate in shape and form part of the aperture 520 perimeter, thus restraining the post 500 from side to side movement. The flanges 535 a-d are of a thickness less than the thickness of the base 510, so as to accommodate the projections 525 a-d when the post 500. The base 510 also includes stops 545 a-b on the flanges 535 a-b so that rotation of the post is stopped, preventing over rotation of the post 500.
The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A case for portable device, the case being formed of panels of material attached to form a pocket for receiving the device, the case including:
- a first panel of comprising a first polymer material attached to a second panel of comprising a second polymer material to form a pocket for receiving the portable device, the first material being a different material from the second material, the case including a plurality of apertures at a corner of the device when the device is placed in the case,
- wherein the plurality of apertures are defined by strips of material extending across an open corner of the case, the strips of material comprising one or more of the first material and the second material.
2. The case of claim 1, wherein the strips of material are two in number.
3. The case of claim 1, wherein the strips of material defining the apertures extend from first panel and are attached to the second panel.
4. A case for a portable device, the case including:
- a plurality of panels of a polymer material, the panels assembled to form a pocket for receiving the portable device, the pocket including a second polymer material incorporated into the pocket, the second material positioned to protect corners of the portable device when the device is in the case,
- wherein the second material is thicker than the material forming the panels.
5. The case of claim 4, wherein the second material is co-molded to at least one of the plurality of panels.
6. A case for a portable device, the case including,
- a first panel of comprising a first polymer material shaped to have strips of material extending therefrom, and a second panel of comprising a second polymer material,
- the first panel attached to the second panel to form a pocket having an opening for receipt of the portable device,
- the strips of material attached to the second panel to form part of the pocket, the strips of material comprising one or more of the first material and the second material,
- wherein the strips of material define a plurality of apertures.
7. The case of claim 6, wherein the strips of material are positioned near corners of the device when the device is in the case.
8. The case of claim 6, wherein the strips of material are co-molded to the first panel.
9. The case of claim 8, wherein the strips of material are thicker than the rest of the first panel.
10. The case of claim 6, wherein the strips of material are thicker than the rest of the first panel.
11. The case of claim 9, wherein the strips of material include an aperture.
12. The case of claim 4, wherein the second material is thicker at the corners of the case than the panels forming the pocket.
13. The case of claim 4, wherein the material forming the panels is molded and allowed to cool before the second material is molded to at least one of the plurality of panels.
14. The case of claim 5, wherein co-molding the second material to the at least one of the plurality of panels comprises molding the material forming the panels, allowing the material forming the panels to cool, and molding the second material to the at least one of the plurality of panels.
15. A case for a portable device, the case comprising:
- a pocket configured for receiving the portable device, the pocket comprising a first outer polymer material co-molded with a second inner polymer material, the first outer material being a different material from the second inner material;
- wherein the first outer material has open areas at corners of the pocket; and
- wherein the second inner material is positioned at the corners of the pocket within the open areas in the first outer material, and protect corners of the portable device when the portable device is in the case.
16. The case of claim 15, wherein the first outer material is more elastic than the second inner material.
17. The case of claim 15, wherein the first outer material is a different color than the second inner material.
18. The case of claim 15, wherein the first outer material is a different texture than the second inner material.
19. The case of claim 15, wherein the second inner material is thicker than the first outer material.
20. The case of claim 15, wherein the pocket comprises a plurality of panels formed from the first outer material.
21. The case of claim 15, wherein elasticity of the first outer material co-molded with the second inner material allows the case to give and fit the contours of the portable device.
22. The case of claim 15, further comprising a second pocket for further receiving the portable device.
23. The case of claim 15, wherein the portable device is a nonclamshell portable device.
24. A case for a portable device, the case comprising:
- a pocket configured for receiving the portable device, the pocket comprising a first outer polymer material co-molded with a second inner polymer material;
- wherein the first outer material has open areas at corners of the pocket;
- wherein the second inner material is positioned at the corners of the pocket within the open areas in the first outer material, and protect corners of the portable device when the portable device is in the case; and
- wherein the first outer material or the second inner material comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of silicone, a thermoset, a thermoplastic, PVC, EPE, and a polymer.
25. The case of claim 15, wherein the first outer material is allowed to cool before molding the second inner material to the first outer material.
26. A case for a portable device, the case comprising:
- a first polymer material forming part of a pocket for receiving the portable device, the pocket having open areas at corners thereof through the first material; and
- a second polymer material co-molded to the first material and positioned within the open areas to protect corners of the portable device when the device is in the case, the first material being a different material from the second material.
27. The case of claim 26, wherein the first material forms a plurality of panels to form the pocket.
28. The case of claim 26, wherein the first material is allowed to cool before molding the second material to the first material.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 15, 2013
Date of Patent: Oct 7, 2014
Assignee: Speculative Product Design, LLC (Mountain View, CA)
Inventors: Patrick M. Bodkin (Lombard, IL), Gregg Flender (Bedford, MA), Mike Tracz (Brecksville, OH)
Primary Examiner: Gerald Gauthier
Application Number: 13/843,310
International Classification: H04M 9/08 (20060101);