ITMI20131774A1 - DEVICE TO ALLOW THE REALIZATION OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND A USER OF THAT APPLIANCE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

"Device to allow the creation of a connection between a mobile electronic device and a user of said device"

Field of application of the invention

The present invention relates to the sector of accessories for mobile electronic devices, ie devices the use of which does not place restrictions on the mobility of the user. Mobile electronic devices include, by way of example, mobile phones, smartphones (i.e. mobile phones capable of performing certain functions typically performed by a computer), MP3 players (i.e. devices capable of reproducing a sound track stored in the device and encoded in the MP3 standard) and compact portable computers (ie consisting of a parallelepiped body of reduced thickness). The mobile electronic devices can be equipped with a touch sensitive screen better known as a "touchscreen", ie a screen by touching which the user of the device interacts with the latter by giving commands.

The present invention refers, in particular, to housings for mobile electronic devices. By "case" we mean a protection that can be connected to a mobile electronic device so as to cover the latter at least partially, to isolate it from the surrounding environment and therefore guarantee its conservation as much as possible.

The present invention refers, more precisely, to a device comprising a housing for a mobile electronic device, conceived to allow the creation of a connection between said device and a user of the same.

Review of the known art

Mobile electronic devices nowadays generally have a rectangular parallelepiped shape of reduced thickness. In particular, a mobile electronic device usually comprises: a first base at which a user of the device can give commands to the latter by means of a screen and / or a keyboard; a second base opposite the first base; and four side walls interposed to the bases and of a height significantly lower than the length and width of the bases. If the mobile device does not have a keyboard, usually the screen is of the "touchscreen" type and has such a width that it almost entirely occupies the first base.

The housings of such apparatuses are usually also of rectangular parallelepiped shape of reduced thickness and comprise a cavity that can be occupied by the apparatus to be housed. In particular, the cavity is preferably complementary to the apparatus to be kept. The cavity is delimited by a first base comprising an opening to allow the appliance to be inserted into the cavity, a second base opposite said first base and four side walls interposed with the bases. The connection between the case and the device inserted in it is generally made by interlocking. The opening at the first base of the housing usually has such a width that, when the device is inserted in the housing, the screen and / or the keyboard at the first base of the device are accessible by a user. of the latter. In this way, the user can interact with the device without having to remove it from the case in which it is inserted. The opening at the first base of the housing can be as wide as the first base so that the housing is devoid of the latter. The housing described above can also be equipped with a pivoting wall which can be opposed to the first base of the housing when there is no need to use the apparatus kept therein.

Technological progress has made it possible to create ever more compact mobile electronic devices. In particular, there are appliances which are so compact that they can be carried inside a pocket of an article of clothing worn by a user of the appliance. However, not all mobile electronic devices are compact enough to fit in a pocket. Furthermore, these devices have such a rigidity that their presence in a user's pocket could cause discomfort to the latter. The user of the device may therefore be forced to carry the device, for example by holding it in one hand or by placing it in a bag which is in turn carried by the user. In the latter case, if the bag has a capacity significantly greater than the volume of the device, there is however the risk that the user, in case of need, will have difficulty in quickly identifying the device inside the bag. .

In order to overcome these drawbacks, it has been decided to equip the housings for mobile electronic devices with elements that allow a connection to be made between the housing (and with it the device kept therein) and the user of the device. In particular, it was decided to modify the common enclosures by integrally connecting one or more perforated elements, such as a ring, to the latter. By way of example, in the event that the user of the device wears an openable and resealable bracelet on his wrist, to establish a connection between the case and the user of the device it is sufficient to open the bracelet, insert the latter into the ring of the case and close the bracelet by wrapping it around the wrist. In this way the device hangs from the user's wrist by means of the bracelet. Similarly, the connection between the case and the user of the device can be obtained by means of an openable and resealable necklace. In this case, the device hangs from the user's neck through the necklace. The presence of the ring therefore transforms the simple case into a device which, in addition to performing a protective function towards the guarded appliance, facilitates its transport by the user.

In such devices, however, the rings are, as mentioned above, integrally connected to the case. In particular, the ring is usually connected to the housing so as to lie parallel to the bases of the apparatus inserted in the housing. Since the case is pendant by means of a bracelet or a necklace, the case can rotate on itself around an axis passing through the point of contact between the ring and the bracelet (or necklace). When this occurs (for example following an accidental impact between the case and another object), the rotation of the case causes a twisting of the bracelet or necklace which can therefore give rise to a dangerous grip on the wrist or neck of the user of the appliance.

Aims of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to indicate a device comprising a housing for a mobile electronic device equipped with at least one perforated element by means of which it is possible to make a connection between the housing and a user of the device without the aforementioned drawbacks occurring. .

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is a device for enabling a connection to be made between a mobile electronic device and a user of the device, the device comprising:

• a case for the device, the case being connectable to the device;

• at least one element comprising at least one through hole, said element will be indicated in the following description with the expression "perforated element";

• means for connecting the perforated element to the enclosure,

wherein according to the invention the connection means are connection means between a first portion of the housing and a second portion of the perforated element, the connection means being suitable for allowing a rotation of the perforated element with respect to the housing around at least one first axis of rotation through the first and second portion.

The perforated element is therefore rotatable with respect to the housing about an axis of rotation passing through the junction between the perforated element and the housing. Advantageously, this ensures that an undesired rotation of the housing on itself does not lead to a rotation of the perforated element on itself.

Further innovative features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, the device comprises at least one element extending in length indicated in the following of the present description with the expression "longitudinal element", the longitudinal element having a first end and a second end mutually connectable and disconnectable, the longitudinal element crossing the hole of the perforated element so as to be concatenated to the perforated element when the first and second ends are mutually connected.

According to another aspect of the invention, the longitudinal element has such a length that it can be wound at least once around a user's wrist when the ends of the longitudinal element are mutually connected.

According to another aspect of the invention, the length of the longitudinal element is such that the longitudinal element can be wound at least once around the user's neck when the ends of the longitudinal element are mutually connected.

By way of example, the longitudinal element is a bracelet or a necklace that can be worn by the user of the device respectively on a wrist or around the neck. The longitudinal element, by means of the perforated element, therefore creates a connection between the housing (and with it the apparatus kept therein) and the user of the apparatus.

Advantageously, the fact that the perforated element is rotatable with respect to the case around an axis of rotation passing through the junction between the perforated element and the case, ensures that an undesired rotation of the case on itself does not involve any twisting of the bracelet or of the necklace.

Regardless of whether it is a bracelet or a necklace, the longitudinal element also allows the case to be connected to an object carried by the user of the device, such as a bag handle. In this way, when the user needs to remove the electronic device from the bag in which it was placed, the device can be identified in a very short time, for example by running the longitudinal element with the fingers until reaching the perforated element. and therefore of the custody.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the means for connecting the perforated element to the housing comprise a pin having two ends (respectively indicated in the following of the present description as "third end" and "fourth end"), the pin being integrally connected to the first portion of the housing at the third end, the pin being rotatably coupled to the second portion of the perforated element at the fourth end.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the means for connecting the perforated element to the housing comprise a pin having a third end and a fourth end, the pin being rotatably coupled to the first portion of the housing at the third end, the pin being solidly connected to the second portion of the perforated element at the fourth end.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, the means for connecting the perforated element to the housing comprise a pin having a third end and a fourth end, the pin being rotatably coupled to the first portion of the housing at the third end, the pin being coupled rotoidally to the second portion of the perforated element at the fourth end.

According to another aspect of the invention, the means for connecting the perforated element to the housing comprise a ball joint suitable for allowing rotation of the perforated element with respect to the housing around at least a second axis of rotation orthogonal to the first axis of rotation.

Brief description of the figures

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of an example of its embodiment and from the attached drawings, given purely for explanatory and non-limiting purposes, in which: - Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, a device according to the present invention applied to a smartphone;

Figure 2 shows, in perspective view, a first variant of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows, in perspective view, a second variant of the device of Figure 1 comprising a bracelet for connecting the device to a wrist of a smartphone user.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention

In the remainder of the present description, a figure may also be illustrated with reference to elements not expressly indicated in that figure but in other figures. The scale and proportions of the various elements depicted do not necessarily correspond to the real ones.

Figure 1 shows a smartphone 1 with an almost rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprising a first base 2 in correspondence with which a touchscreen type screen 3 is placed, a second base (not visible in the figures) opposite the first base 2, and four side walls (not visible in the figures) interposed to said first and second bases. The side walls have a height significantly lower than the length and width of the bases 2, so that the smartphone 1 is of reduced thickness. The screen 3 is preferably rectangular in shape, occupies a smaller area than that of the first base 2 and is in a central position with respect to it. This causes there to be a portion 4 of the first base 2 interposed between each edge of the screen 3 and the side wall of the smartphone 1 respectively opposite the edge. The screen 3 is therefore surrounded, as a frame 4, by said four portions of the first base 2. The smartphone 1 is connected to a device 10 comprising a case 11 that wraps the smartphone 1 in correspondence with the second base and the side walls . Preferably, the case 11 is made of metal and is connected to the smartphone 1 by interlocking. The device 10 further comprises a ring 12 connected to the housing 11 preferably at a lateral edge 13 of the latter. By way of example, the corner 13 is rounded and is placed at the top right in figure 1. The ring 12 delimits a hole 14 having, by way of example, a diameter of 20 mm. The connection between the ring 12 and the housing 11 is made by means of a short pin 15, preferably straight, integrally connected to the edge 13 of the housing 11 at one of its ends 16 (also referred to as "third end" in the present invention), and passing through a through hole made in the thickness 18 of the ring 12 at another end 19 of its own (also referred to as the "fourth end" in the present invention) opposite the end 16. The through hole made in the thickness 18 of the ring 12 has such an amplitude that the ring 12 is free to rotate around the pin 15. In particular, the ring 12 is free to rotate, with respect to the housing 11, around an axis conveniently embodied in the pin 15. This is the latter protrudes inside the hole 14 for a short length 17 in correspondence with which the pin 15 widens transversely to prevent the pin 15 from slipping out of the hole in the thickness 18. In a p first alternative configuration of the device 10 not shown in the figures, the pin is solidly connected to the ring at one end, and passes through a through hole made in the thickness of the case at the opposite end. In this configuration, the pin (and with it the ring) is free to rotate on itself, with respect to the case, in the hole made in the thickness of the latter.

In a second alternative configuration of the device 10 not shown in the figures, the pin passes through a through hole made in the thickness of the ring at one end, and through a through hole made in the thickness of the case at the opposite end. In this configuration, the pin is free to rotate on itself both with respect to the ring in the hole made in the thickness of the latter, and with respect to the case in the hole made in the thickness of the latter.

In a third alternative configuration of the device 10 not shown in the figures, the ring comprises at least two mutually connectable and disconnectable ends to allow the insertion of an object into the ring, i.e. to allow the arrangement of any object in such a way that said object passes through hole 14. By way of example, such a ring is a carabiner.

The ring 12 is a "hookable" element which makes the device 10 suitable for allowing the creation of a connection between the smartphone 1 and a user of the same.

Figure 2 shows a device 20 which differs from the device 10 of Figure 1 due to the presence of a spherical joint 21 instead of the pin 15. By way of example, the joint 21 comprises an element 22, preferably spherical, integrally connected to a short pin 23, preferably straight, at a first end of the latter. The pin 23 passes through a through hole made in the thickness of the case 11 in correspondence with a second end of its own opposite the sphere 22. The through hole made in the thickness of the case 11 has such an amplitude that the pin 23 (and with it the ring 12) is free to rotate on itself, with respect to the housing 11, in said hole. The sphere 22 comprises a through hole, preferably diametrical, crossed by the ring 12. The through hole made in the sphere 22 has such an amplitude that the ring 12 is free to rotate, with respect to the sphere 22, around a diameter of the latter. Preferably, the axis of rotation of the pin 23 on itself is arranged orthogonally to the diameter of the sphere 22 around which the ring 12 is rotatable.

Figure 3 shows a device 30 which differs from the device 10 of Figure 1 in that it comprises a bracelet 31 having two ends 32 and 33 mutually connectable and disconnectable. The bracelet 31 passes through the hole 14 delimited by the ring 12, so as to be linked to the latter. In figure 3, by way of example, the ends 32 and 33 are disconnected from each other. By fastening the bracelet 31 around a wrist of a user of the smartphone 1, the case 11 is connected to said user. The device 30 therefore allows the smartphone 1 to be connected to a wrist of a user thereof.

The axis around which the ring 12, conveniently materialized in the pin 15, is rotatable, is arranged vertically when the case 11 is kept raised from the ground by means of the bracelet 31.

Although in figure 3, for the sake of convenience, reference has been made to only one example of embodiment of the invention, in which the device 30 allows to make a connection between the smartphone 1 and a wrist of a user of the smartphone 1, it must be it is clear that the device object of the invention is not limited to the above example but can be used to allow the creation of a connection between any mobile electronic device and any part of the body of the user of the device.

In particular, in an alternative configuration of the device 30 not shown in the figures, the bracelet 31 is long enough to be fastened around the neck of a user of the smartphone 1, ie it is long enough to act as a necklace. In this alternative configuration, the device according to the invention therefore allows the smartphone 1 to be connected to the neck of a user thereof.

In addition to this, the device 30 can be used to allow the creation of a connection between the smartphone 1 and an object carried by a user thereof, such as for example the handle of a bag.

Based on the description provided for a preferred embodiment example, it is obvious that some changes can be introduced by the person skilled in the art without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (9)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1. Device (10, 20, 30) for allowing a connection to be made between a mobile electronic device (1) and a user of said device (1), said device (10, 20, 30) comprising: • a housing (11) for said apparatus (1), said housing (11) being connectable to said apparatus (1); • at least one element (12) comprising at least one through hole (14); • means (15, 21) for connecting said perforated element (12) to said housing (11), said device (10, 20, 30) being characterized in that said connection means (15, 21) are connection means between a first portion (13) of said housing and a second portion (18) of said perforated element (12 ), said connection means (15, 21) being suitable for allowing a rotation of said perforated element (12) with respect to said housing (11) around at least a first axis of rotation passing through said first portion (13) and second portion ( 18). 2. Device (30) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one longitudinal element (31) having a first end (32) and a second end (33) mutually connectable and disconnectable, said longitudinal element (31) crossing said hole (14) of said perforated element (12) so as to be chained to said perforated element (12) when said first and second ends (32, 33) are mutually connected. Device (30) according to claim 2, characterized in that said longitudinal element (31) has a length such that said longitudinal element (31) can be rolled up at least once around a wrist of said user when said first and second ends (32, 33) are mutually connected. 4. Device (30) according to claim 3, characterized in that said length of said longitudinal element (31) is such that said longitudinal element (31) can be rolled up at least once around the neck of said user when said first and second ends (32, 33) are reciprocally connected. 5. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said connection means comprise a pin (15) having a third end (16) and a fourth end (19), said pin (15) being integrally connected to said first portion (13) of said housing (11) at said third end (16), said pin (15) being rotatably coupled to said second portion (18) of said perforated element (12) at said fourth end ( 19). 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said connection means comprise a pin having a third end and a fourth end, said pin being rotatably coupled to said first portion (13) of said housing (11) in correspondence with said third end, said pin being integrally connected to said second portion (18) of said perforated element (12) at said fourth end. 7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said connection means comprise a pin having a third end and a fourth end, said pin being rotatably coupled to said first portion (13) of said housing (11) in correspondence with said third end, said pin being coupled rotoidally to said second portion (18) of said perforated element (12) at said fourth end. 8. Device (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that said connection means comprise a ball joint (22, 23) suitable for allowing a rotation of said perforated element (12) with respect to said housing (11) around at least a second axis of rotation orthogonal to said first axis of rotation. 9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said perforated element comprises at least two mutually connectable and disconnectable ends to allow the arrangement of an object in such a way that said object passes through said through hole of said perforated element.