AU5194800A - Carrying bag for a cellular phone - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: Masahiko Hattori Masahiko Hattori WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Carrying Bag for a Cellular Phone" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1/1 1/2 TITLE OF THE INVENTION CARRYING BAG FOR A CELLULAR PHONE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field Of The Invention This invention is related to a waterproof protective carrying bag for a cellular phone which is suitable for use, for example, when working at the waterfront or in the 00 rain, and also is useful for reducing the shock from dropping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Often, the cellular phone is wet by fishermen or dock workers, or is damaged by dropping on hard surfaces or in water by the general users.

The cellular phone is usually kept by a hanging strap attached to -the phone, in a device attached to the belt at the waist, in a pocket on clothes, in a bag carried by the user and the like. However, in any conventionai case, there is no protection against water or shock of dropping.

For this reason, a carrying bag for a cellular phone that provides water proof and shock resistance is needed by many users, -particularly to those who have frequent association with hazardous environments such as, for example, fishermen, dock workers and construction workers. However, There is no such carrying bag presently available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a cellular phone carrying bag that provides a water proof and shock resistance environment for the cell phone. In a preferred embodiment, the cell phone is capable of use while remaining in the protective carrying bag.

The cell phone carrying bag of the present invention provides a pocket to keep and seal up the cellular phone, wherein. the cell phone pocket is surrounded by one or more air pockets to maintain the phone within a resilient air cushion for shock resistance. Preferably, the cell phone pocket is adapted and structured to seal due to air pressure in the one or more air pockets. An air valve is provided for inflation and deflation of the air pockets.

*In a preferred embod iment, the carrying bag comprises' a first compartment to seal the cellular phone, the compartment having an opening at one end thereof, an air compartment substantially surrounding the first compartment, the air compartment having a valve for inflating and deflating the bag, and a closure at said opening, the closure sealing the first compartment when the air compartment is filled with air.

The cellular phone carrying bag of the present invention can hold and seal the cellular phone from moisture, while providing shock resistance from dropping the phone on a hard surface. Preferably, the bag is constructed so that the phone can be used while stored in the bag for water proof and shock resistant use. Thus, even if the phone is accidentally dropped into the water, it is kept in safe condition without 3 exposure to the water. Also, when the phone is dropped onto the ground, the air pocket resists the impact shock.

BRIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view of a preferred embodiment the cellular phone carrying bag of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the carrying bag of FIG. 1, taken along line 2- 2 thereof.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the carrying bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carrying bag of FIG. 1, taken along line 4- 4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of components for making the carrying bag of FIG. 1, illustrating sealing lines joining individual layers.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of components for making the carrying bag of FIG.

1, illustrating an opening formed between inner layers.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the carrying bag of FIG. 1 before insertion-of a cell phone and inflation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS This cellular phone carrying bag of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof. In the drawings, like components are referenced with the same numerals in each of the figures.

4 As illustrated, phone carrying bag 1 is composed flexible sheets and is sized to fit the width, length, and thickness of a cellular phone 4. A phone storage compartment or pocket 2 has an opening 21 at one end for insertion and removal of the cell phone. The opening 21 is closed with a closure 22, which is an extension of the face sheet 12, and which for-ms a tight seal with back sheet 11 when the air compartments or pockets 3 are filled with air. Valve 33 is provided for inflating and ~*deflating the air pockets 3.

The flexible sheet material used to form the carrying bag can be of any suitable rubber (natural or synthetic) or plastic material, either clear or colored, that prevents water from being transmitted. Waterproof fabrics capable of forming air pockets ca~n also be used. Particularly useful materials are .polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl '0'.00 chloride, and the like. Preferably, at least window area 35 is made of a transparent or **000' clear sheet material for seeing the cellular phone and using the phone while stored in 15 the protective carrying bag.

0..

The carrying bag is preferably made using four sheets of flexible material that can be heat sealed. First, face sheet 12 and one internal sheet 32 are joined to form a face subassembly 42 (Fig. 4) by sealing an area in the center of the sheets at a position that corresponds generally to the outline and dimensions of the cellular phone for which the bag is being made. The sealed area in the center provides window area 35. if the sheet material used is not transparent, then window area can be provided by cutting an opening in sheets 12 and 32 equal to the desired window area and sealing a clear sheet material between sheets 12 and 32.

Second, back sheet 11 containing air valve 33 is joined with internal sheet 31 to form a back subassembly 41 (FIG. 5) by sealing a second area 36 in the center of those sheets at a position that corresponds generally to the outline and dimensions of the cellular phone, for which the bag is being made.

Sheets 11, 12, 3 1 and 32 are stacked together with internal sheets 3 1 and 32 adjacent each other and face sheet 12 and back sheet 11 facing away from each other.

Then, an opening 34 is provided in internal sheets 31 and 32 and the internal sheets are sealed together around the opening (FIG. 6).

Then, sheets 11, 12, 31 and 32, along with pocket forming sheet 22, are sealed together at their outer periphery, thus forming between sheets 11 and 31 and between sheets 12 and 32 pockets 3 for containing air. The longitudinal edges and top edge of the sheets are sealed together to form pocket 2 for-containing the cell phone with opening 21 at the bottom end for insertion and removal of the phone. An piece of sheet material is provided external to the peripheral seal of air pocket 3 (FIG.

4) for use in providing closure 22 during final assembly of the carrying bag. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, this extra sheet is sealed to the lower.

peripheral edge 50 of face assembly 42 and to the side peripheral edges of both the face assembly 42 and rear assembly 4 1. H{owever, it can be provided other equivalent manner.

The phone pocket 4 can be opened by folding closure 22 back against face sheet 12 to provide access to opening 2 1. When closure 22 is folded back against back sheet I1I and pockets 3 are inflated with air, closure 22 provides a waterproof seal for phone pocket 4. Of course, other types of seals known in the field of fleible bags can also be used to seal the opening 21 such as, for example, a zip-lock seal.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the opening or vent 34 that is provided between inside sheets 31 and 32 permits air to flow between the pockets 3 when they are filled from valve 33. Thus, only one valve is required in the assembly to f111 the air pockets 3 between the face sheet 12 and interior sheet 32 and between back sheet I1I and interior sheet 3 1.

Preferably, a tab 6 is provided for attaching the carrying bag to a carrying strap which permits hanging the carrying bag and enclosed cell phone from the user.

see. Thus, to use the cellular phone carrying bag of the present invention, a user folds back closure 22 and inserts a cell phone through opening 21 into pocket 2, and folds closure 22 back into contact with back sheet 11. Ater inserting the phone into the carrying bag, air pockets 3 are inflated using valve 33, thereby tightly sealing closure 22 against water. Air pockets 3 also provide shock resistance against dropping the phone on a hard surface.

Secause the structure of the carrying bag of the present invention is simple, the waterproof, shock resistant phone carrying *bag can be supplied at a low cost.

Also, when the cell phone is stored properly in the carrying bag, if the phone is dropped accidentally into the water or on a hard surface such as the ground, there is no leak~ and the phone is kept safe fr'om damage. In addition,'because the carrying bag of the present invention seals the stored phone in air, it can also be used for S7 numerous purposes such as protection when shipping the phone in a box or other container.

The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof. However, it should be noted that improvements and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention may be made by those skilled in the art.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (8)

1. A carrying bag for a cellular phone, said bag comprising a flexible device having an opening at the end for insertion and removal of said phone, a flexible phone pocket for holding the phone, and one or more air pockets substantially surrounding the flexible phone pocket, said structure being made of a flexible, waterproof material.

2. The carrying bag according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent window area for viewing the cell phone.

3. The carrying bag according to claim 1, wherein said device is adapted and structured to provide use of the phone while being contained in the bag.

4. The carrying bag of claim 1, said bag comprising sheets of waterproof flexible material, wherein a -face sheet and a first internal sheet are joined together to form a face assembly that provides a central window area and a surrounding area forming a first pocket for containing air, wherein a back sheet and a second internal sheet are joined together to form a back assembly that provides a back central area and a second surrounding area forming a pocket for containing air, wherein the face assembly and back assembly are joined together to form a phone pocket therebetween for holding said phone substantially surrounded by the air pockets, and wherein a closure is provided to seal the phone pocket against water.

The carrying bag of claim 4, further comprising an opening between the face assembly and the back assemble for communication between the first and second pockets, said opening being sealed from the phone- pocket. 9

6. The carrying bag of claim 5, further comprising a valve in the back assembly for inflating and deflating said pockets.

7. The carrying bag according to claim 4, wherein said the phone can be viewed through said central window and used while being contained in the bag.

8. to the bag. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising a carrying strap attached Dated this NINTH day of AUGUST 2000. Masahiko Hattori Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant