FR3112263A1 - Protective case for portable electronic device such as smartphone or tablet. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective shell (100) for an electronic device (1) comprising a camera (5, 6) and a microphone (8), the protective shell (100) allowing easy blocking of the camera and the microphone to implement, practical and reversible. The shell (100) comprises a peripheral rim (102) provided with an oblong opening (103,104) and a concealment tongue (110) mounted sliding provided with a control pin (111, 121) arranged in the oblong opening , and an optical cover (112,113) arranged such that in a first position of concealment of the concealment tab (110), the optical cover (112,113) faces the camera (5, 6), and in a retracted position of the concealment tab (110), the optical cover (112,113) is offset with respect to the camera. Figure for abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Protective cover for portable electronic device such as smartphone or tablet.

The invention relates to a protective shell for a portable electronic device of the smart phone type (hereinafter “smartphone”) or tablet.

The portable electronic devices concerned by the invention comprise a screen, most often touch-sensitive, on which the users can view images, in particular photos or videos stored in memory or taken by the electronic device itself, thanks to one or more lenses arranged on one or more sides of the device. These devices also have a microphone for sound recording, for video, but also for other functions such as making phone calls.

All these devices also have transmitters/receivers allowing communication through different networks: telephone network, Internet network, Wifi network, Bluetooth® network, etc.

Despite the constant efforts of manufacturers and telephone operators to protect access to these electronic devices, there are risks that a third party may introduce into the memory of the device, via access vulnerabilities, spyware capable of triggering remotely, and without the user noticing, the camera(s) and the microphone, in order to capture sounds and/or images without the user's consent.

These electronic devices can also be used by the user to discreetly record sounds and/or images, without the consent of third parties present around him, for example during confidential meetings.

To solve this problem, the participants of these meetings are often asked to leave their smartphone, tablet or laptop outside the room, which is very uncomfortable since the participants may need to take notes or consult files on their device.

An objective of the present invention is therefore to propose a solution allowing blocking of the camera(s) and of the microphone. Another objective is that this blocking be easy to implement, practical and reversible, and that it be independent of the operation of the device. Another objective is that the blocking of the camera(s) and the microphone can be observed and checked by a person nearby.

The idea underlying the invention is to provide in a protective shell a reversibly retractable physical mask for the camera(s) and/or the microphone, this mask fitting into the classic structure of protective shells between the device and the hull, which avoids being outside the hull and being torn off voluntarily or involuntarily.

The subject of the invention is more specifically a protective shell for an electronic device comprising at least one image capture lens, at least one sound pickup microphone and at least one connection orifice intended to receive a connection member, the shell comprising:
- a bottom intended to receive a dorsal face of the device, and
- a peripheral rim substantially perpendicular to the bottom and intended to be inserted by force around the device and to hold it against the bottom of the shell in the position of use, characterized in that the shell further comprises:
- at least a first oblong opening provided in the bottom and/or in the peripheral rim
- at least one concealment tongue mounted sliding and provided with a control pin arranged in the first oblong opening, and with at least one optical cover arranged so that in a first concealment position of the tongue, said at least one mask is facing said at least one image capture lens, and in a retracted position of the tongue, said at least one mask is offset with respect to said at least one image capture lens.

According to particular embodiments:
• the protective shell may comprise a single oblong opening and a single concealment tab, the single concealment tab being provided, in addition, with at least one acoustic cover arranged such that in the concealment position, said at least one acoustic mask is facing said at least one sound pickup microphone to prevent sound pickup, and in the retracted position, said at least one acoustic mask is offset with respect to said at least one sound pickup microphone to enable sound capture.
• the protective shell may further comprise a second concealment tab provided with a control pin arranged in a second oblong opening and at least one acoustic cover arranged such that in a first concealment position of the second concealment tab, said at least one acoustic cover faces said at least one sound pickup microphone to prevent sound pickup, and in a retracted position of the second concealment tab, said at least one acoustic cover is offset from said at least one sound pickup microphone to allow sound pickup.
• said at least one concealment tab may comprise at least one oblong slot arranged such that it is always opposite said at least one connection port of the device and allows access to it, that said at least one tab d concealment either in the concealment position or in the retracted position.
• the concealment tab may comprise two optical shields arranged to simultaneously and reversibly conceal a front image capture lens and a back image capture lens.
• the concealment tongue can be slidably mounted along a portion of the peripheral rim, the latter comprising slideways for guiding the tongue in translation.
• the optical cover(s) and/or the acoustic cover(s) may have a face visible from the outside, in the concealment position, the face visible from the outside being covered with a warning pattern allowing visually ensure that the optical shield(s) and/or the acoustic shield(s) are in the concealment position.
• at least one masking tongue can be covered with a material with a low coefficient of friction.
• said at least one concealment tab may further comprise an elastically retractable locking pin intended to automatically pass through a locking orifice of the shell when said at least one tab is in the concealment position.

Other characteristics of the invention will be set out in the detailed description below given with reference to the appended figures, given by way of example, and which represent, respectively:

, a schematic perspective view of a smartphone seen from behind, relative to the position of use;

, a schematic perspective view of the smartphone of FIG. 1 seen from the front, relative to the position of use;

, a schematic exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of an electronic device shell according to the invention, comprising two concealment tabs;

, a schematic perspective view of concealment tabs according to the first embodiment in the concealment position and being actuated towards the retracted position;

, a schematic perspective view of concealment tabs according to the first embodiment in the retracted position and being actuated towards the concealment position;

, a schematic exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of an electronic device shell according to the invention comprising a single concealment tab allowing concealment of the camera and the microphone in a single gesture;

, a schematic perspective view of a concealment tab according to the second embodiment in the retracted position and being actuated towards the concealment position;

, a schematic perspective view of a concealment tongue according to the second embodiment in the concealment position and being actuated towards the retracted position;

, a schematic perspective view of a concealment tab according to a third embodiment in the retracted position and being actuated towards the concealment position;

, a schematic cross-sectional view of a hull according to the invention, along the section line XX of FIG. 4;

, a schematic view in longitudinal section of a shell according to the invention, along the section line XI-XI of FIG. 4; And

, a schematic exploded perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an electronic device shell according to the invention comprising a locking pin in the hidden position.

Figure 1 illustrates a smartphone 1 seen from behind, relative to the position of use, that is to say that the dorsal face 2 in contact with the hand of the user is visible. Figure 2 illustrates the same smartphone, turned over, i.e. seen from the front. In this position, the visible front face 3 is provided with a screen 4.

This example of a smartphone includes two image capture lenses, a 5 lens on the back face 2 and a 6 lens on the front face 3.

With respect to the position of use, these lenses 5 and 6 are located towards the top of the smartphone 1.

On the edge 7 of the smartphone are, in this example, at least one sound pickup microphone 8 and at least one connection hole 9 intended to receive a connection device, such as a charger, a data transfer cable , a memory card, etc.

The invention proposes a shell 100, a first embodiment of which is illustrated in FIG. 3, which makes it possible to reversibly conceal the objective(s) 5-6, as well as the microphone 8.

In this first embodiment, the shell 100 comprises a bottom 101 intended to receive the dorsal face 2 of the device 1, and a peripheral rim 102 substantially perpendicular to the bottom and intended to be inserted by force around the device 1 to hold it against the bottom 101 of the shell 100 in the position of use.

According to the invention, and in this first embodiment, the shell further comprises a first 103 and a second 104 oblong openings formed in the peripheral rim 102.

Of course, the bottom 101 of the shell includes an orifice 105 facing the image capture lens 5 arranged on the back of the electronic device 1 to allow shots to be taken, as well as an orifice 106 facing the micro 8 to allow the capture of audible and intelligible sounds.

The shell 100 also includes two concealment tabs 110-120 mounted to slide along the peripheral rim 102 and each provided with a control lug 111-121, the two control lugs being arranged respectively in the first oblong opening 103 and in the second oblong opening 104.

In this exemplary embodiment, the concealment tab 110 comprises two optical shields 112-113 arranged such that in a first concealment position of the tab 110, they are each opposite an image capture lens , respectively 5 and 6, and in a retracted position of the tongue, the covers 112-113 are offset with respect to said image capture objectives, respectively 5 and 6. These positions are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Furthermore, the second concealment tab 120 is provided with an acoustic cover 122 arranged such that in a first position of concealment of the second concealment tab 120, said acoustic cover 122 is facing the pickup microphone sound 8 to prevent sound pick-up, and in a retracted position of the second concealment tab 120, the acoustic cover 122 is offset from said microphone 8 to allow sound pick-up. These positions are also illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

In these figures, the bottom 101 and the peripheral rim 102 of the shell are not illustrated for the sake of clarity in order to show the position of the tongues 110-120.

In use, the tabs 110-120 are therefore arranged between the peripheral rim 102 and the edge 7 of the electronic device 1, the control lugs 111-121 passing respectively through the oblong openings 103-104 of the shell and arranged to slide in these openings.

FIG. 4 illustrates the retracted position in which the optical masks 112-113 are offset with respect to the image capture objectives, respectively 5 and 6, which can therefore capture images freely.

To switch to the concealment position illustrated in FIG. 5, the user slides the control pin 111 downwards, in the direction of the arrow F1, along the oblong opening 103 (not illustrated).

The flexible, but not elastically deformable, tab 110 then slides between the peripheral edge 102 of the shell and the edge 7 of the electronic device 1, and the optical covers 112-113 move until they are opposite the front lenses 5 and dorsal image capture 6 which are then simultaneously and reversibly obscured, so that no image can any longer be taken.

In the same way, the user slides the control pin 121 downwards, in the direction of the arrow F1, along the oblong opening 104 (not shown).

The flexible, but not elastically deformable, tab 120 then slides between the peripheral edge 102 of the shell and the edge 7 of the electronic device 1, and the acoustic cover 122 moves until it is opposite the microphone 8 for picking up sound, which is then suppressed, so that no audible and comprehensible sound can no longer be taken.

To switch to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 4, the user slides the control pins 111-121 upwards, in the direction of the arrow F2, along the oblong openings, respectively 103-104 (not illustrated).

In a second advantageous embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the protective shell 200 according to the invention comprises a bottom 201 intended to receive the dorsal face 2 of the device 1, and a peripheral rim 202 substantially perpendicular to the bottom and intended to fit in force around the device 1 to hold it against the bottom 201 of the shell 200 in the position of use.

The protective shell 200 also comprises a single oblong opening 203 and a single concealment tab 210 provided with a control pin 211 intended to be arranged to slide, in use, in the single oblong opening 203. The bottom 201 of the shell also comprises an orifice 205 opposite, in the position of use, the image capture lens 5 arranged on the back of the electronic device 1 to allow shots to be taken, as well as an orifice 206 opposite the micro 8 to allow the capture of audible and intelligible sounds.

As in the previous embodiment, the concealment tab 210 is also provided with as many optical covers as the electronic device comprises video capture lenses. In the example shown, the tongue therefore comprises two optical covers 212-213. The single tab 210 also includes an acoustic cover 214.

The optical masks 212-213 and the acoustic mask 214 are arranged such that in the concealment position of the tab 210, the optical masks 212-213 are opposite the image capture objectives, respectively 5-6, to prevent the capture of images, and the acoustic mask is opposite the sound pickup microphone 8 to prevent the capture of audible and understandable sounds, and in the retracted position of the tongue 210, the optical masks 212-213 are offset with respect to said image capture objectives, respectively 5-6, to allow image capture and the acoustic cover 214 is offset with respect to the microphone 8 for sound capture to allow sound capture.

These positions are illustrated in figures 7 and 8.

As before, in these figures, the bottom 101 and the peripheral rim 102 of the shell are not illustrated for the sake of clarity in order to show the position of the tabs 110-120.

In use, the tongue 210 is arranged between the peripheral rim 102 and the edge 7 of the electronic device 1, the control pin 211 passing through the oblong opening 203 of the shell and being arranged to slide in this opening.

FIG. 7 illustrates the retracted position in which the optical masks 212-213 are offset with respect to the image capture objectives, respectively 5 and 6, which can therefore capture images freely, and in which the acoustic mask 214 is offset by compared to the microphone 8, allowing the capture of audible and understandable sounds.

To switch to the concealment position illustrated in FIG. 8, the user slides the control pin 211 downwards, in the direction of the arrow F1, along the oblong opening 203 (not illustrated).

The flexible single tab 210, but not elastically deformable, then slides between the peripheral rim 202 of the shell and the edge 7 of the electronic device 1, and the optical covers 212-213 move until they are facing the objectives of image capture, respectively 5 and 6, which are then blanked out, so that no more images can be taken.

Concomitantly, the acoustic cover 122, also attached to the single tongue 210, moves until it is facing the sound pickup microphone 8, which is then obscured, so that no audible and understandable sound can be picked up.

To switch to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 7, the user slides the control pin 211 upwards, in the direction of the arrow F2, along the oblong opening 203 (not illustrated).

The passage between one and the other position is therefore done in a single gesture, by actuating only the lug 211. This second embodiment is therefore more practical than the first, because it allows simultaneous and reversible concealment of all the sensors (image and sound) in a single operation.

The electronic device 1 generally comprises other orifices, such as connection orifices such as those given previously as an example.

To prevent these orifices from being obscured by the tab, for example to allow electrical charging of this device, even in the concealment position, the concealment tab(s) may comprise as many oblong slots as the device comprises connection holes.

These oblong slots are arranged in such a way that they are always facing the or each connection port of the device and allow access to them, whether said at least one concealment tab is in the concealed position or in the retracted position .

A third corresponding embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 9. In this figure, the concealment tab 310 is in the retracted position and being actuated towards the concealment position, in the direction of the arrow F1.

Shell 300 includes the same components as the shells described above. In particular, the tongue 310 comprises a control pin 311, at least one optical occultation mask (here two) 312-313 and an acoustic occultation mask 314. The tongue 310 further comprises an oblong slot 315 arranged so that it is always opposite the connection port 9 of the device 1 and allows access to it, whether said concealment tab 310 is in the concealed position or in the retracted position. Thus, even when the tongue 310 is lowered in the direction of the arrow F1 towards the concealed position, the orifice 9 remains accessible since the oblong slot 315 has slid, but has remained facing the orifice 9.

This embodiment applies to both the first and the second embodiment.

To facilitate the sliding of the tongue and ensure its precise positioning, the peripheral rim advantageously comprises slideways for guiding the tongue in translation.

This embodiment is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. These figures illustrate the shell 200 according to the invention in cross section X-X and in longitudinal section XI-XI as illustrated in Figure 6.

Thus, in section, the shell has a C-shaped profile, the core of which is formed by the bottom 201 and the branches are formed by the peripheral edge 202. The peripheral edge 202 and the bottom 201 comprise ribs 204 arranged opposite the one from the other to provide between them and the edge 202a of the peripheral rim a channel in which the tongue(s) 210 extend. In other words, the ribs 204 together form slides for guiding in translation of the tongue. These slides also make it possible to keep the tab away from the edge of the electronic device and the peripheral edge, which prevents it from being crushed and which facilitates its actuation.

Advantageously, the or each concealment tab is covered with a material with a low coefficient of friction to facilitate its sliding between the peripheral rim and the electronic device.

In a particular embodiment, the tab has, at the level of the covers, a warning pattern making it possible to ensure visually and at a distance from the electronic device, that the optical cover(s) and/or the acoustic cover(s) are in a hidden position, which allows remote visual control of the blocking of these sensors, for example during confidential meetings.

In other words, the optical and acoustic covers have a face visible from the outside through the orifices 205 and 206, covered with a warning pattern such as for example a red paint.

In a particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the concealment tongue 410 further comprises an elastically retractable locking pin 411 intended to automatically pass through a locking orifice 412 provided in the peripheral edge of the shell when said tongue 410 is in concealment position.

To allow the return to the retracted position, it suffices to press on the pin 411 to disengage it from the orifice 412, and to actuate the control pin 413 as explained above. Of course, this locking pin can be adapted to the other embodiments previously described.

The shell according to the invention therefore makes it possible to mechanically secure the shooting and sound recording by an electronic device of the smartphone or tablet type, while allowing external visual verification, all in a discreet manner since the concealment tab is arranged between the peripheral edge of the shell and the edge of the electronic device.

Of course, the arrangements of the various elements of the shell according to the invention are given by way of example, and the person skilled in the art can modify them and adapt them to the various models of devices.

According to other embodiments not illustrated:
- the microphone 8 can be located on one of the faces 2-3 of the smartphone, preferably on the front face 3. In this case, the cover of the microphone will have an arrangement similar to the cover of the lens(es);
- one and/or the other oblong opening 103, 104, 203 could be located in the bottom 101 provided that the control lug(s) are arranged in such a way as to allow the tab(s) to slide along the peripheral rim.

Claims (9)

Protective shell (100, 200, 300, 400) for an electronic device (1) comprising at least one image capture lens (5, 6), at least one sound capture microphone (8) and at least one connection orifice (9) intended to receive a connection member, the shell (100, 200, 300, 400) comprising:
• a bottom (101, 201) intended to receive a back face (2) of the electronic device (1), and
• a peripheral rim (102, 202) substantially perpendicular to the bottom (101, 201) and intended to be inserted by force around the electronic device (1) and to hold it against the bottom (101, 201) of the shell in the position of use, characterized in that the shell further comprises:
• at least a first oblong opening (103, 104, 203) provided in the bottom (101, 201) and/or in the peripheral rim (102, 202);
• at least one concealment tab (110, 210, 310, 410) slidably mounted and provided with a control pin (111, 211, 311, 413) arranged in the first oblong opening (103, 104, 203), and at least one optical cover (112-113, 212-213, 312-313) arranged such that in a first position of concealment of the concealment tab (110, 210, 310, 410), said at least one optical shield (112-113, 212-213, 312-313) faces said at least one image capture lens (5, 6), and in a retracted position of the tab, said at least one optical mask (112-113, 212-213, 312-313) is offset with respect to said at least one image capture lens (5, 6). Protective shell according to claim 1, comprising a single oblong opening (203) and a single concealment tab (210, 310, 410), the single concealment tab being further provided with at least one acoustic mask (122, 214, 314) arranged such that in the occultation position, said at least one acoustic cover (122, 214, 314) faces said at least one sound pickup microphone (8) to prevent the sound pickup, and in the retracted position, said at least one acoustic cover (122, 214, 314) is offset relative to said at least one sound pickup microphone (8) to allow sound pickup. Protective shell according to claim 1, further comprising a second concealment tab (120) provided with a control pin (121) arranged in a second oblong opening (104) and at least one acoustic cover (122 ) arranged such that in a first position of concealment of the second concealment tab, said at least one acoustic mask (122) faces said at least one sound pickup microphone (8) to prevent the pickup of sound, and in a retracted position of the second concealment tab, said at least one acoustic cover (122) is offset from said at least one sound pickup microphone (8) to allow sound pickup. Protective shell according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the said at least one masking tab (300) comprises at least one oblong slot (315) arranged such that it is always opposite the said at least a connection orifice (9) of the electronic device (1) and allows access to it, whether said at least one concealment tab is in the concealed position or in the retracted position. Protective shell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the concealment tab (100, 200, 300) comprises two optical covers (112-113, 212-213, 312-313) arranged to simultaneously conceal and reversibly a front lens (5) for image capture and a back lens (6) for image capture. Protective shell according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the concealment tab (100, 200, 300, 400) is mounted to slide along a portion of the peripheral rim (102, 202), the latter comprising guide slides (204) of the tongue in translation. Protective shell according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the optical mask(s) and/or the acoustic mask(s) have a face visible from the outside, in the concealed position, the visible face of the exterior being covered with a warning pattern making it possible to visually ensure that the optical cover(s) and/or the acoustic cover(s) are in the concealment position. Protective cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the said at least one masking tongue is covered with a material with a low coefficient of friction. Protective shell according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the said at least one concealment tab (400) further comprises an elastically retractable locking pin (411) intended to pass automatically through a locking orifice ( 412) of the shell (400) when said at least one tab (400) is in the hidden position.