US20120182678A1

US20120182678A1 - Protective case for electronic devices

Info

Publication number: US20120182678A1
Application number: US13/349,559
Authority: US
Inventors: Da-chung Wu; Wei-Chieh Lee
Original assignee: Esoterism Co Ltd
Current assignee: Esoterism Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-01-14
Filing date: 2012-01-12
Publication date: 2012-07-19
Also published as: TWM411760U; US9161611B2; US20130113229A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a protective case for electronic mobile communication devices in which nips an electronic device in position through an accommodation space formed by combining a first frame with a second frame. When combining the electronic mobile communication device with the protective case according to the invention, the electronic mobile communication device is only required to lean against the first frame and the second frame, and no scratches occur during the combination. Meanwhile, when the device in combination with the invention is placed on a desktop, the electronic mobile communication device can be kept at a distance from the desktop, thereby protecting the surface of the electronic device from being abraded by the desktop.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protective case for electronic mobile communication devices; in particular, it relates to a protective case for encapsulating the edge of the electronic mobile communication device.
2. Description of Related Art
Thanks to convenience brought by touch screens, the keyboard of various portable electronic mobile communication devices now can be replaced so that such portable electronic mobile communication devices become thinner and slimmer and can be easily carried; examples thereof can be found in currently very popular touch panel notebook computers or touch screen mobile phones and mobile communication devices.
However, in use, its surface may be easily abraded by the desktop or normal usage; although this usually will not affect the functions of the electronic mobile communication devices priced probably up to hundreds or thousands of dollars, such abrasions are still annoying to most in terms of aesthetics.
At present, a type of protective envelop is available which is made from either leather materials or clothes encapsulated with hard boards, thus allowing envelopment of greater area for portable electronic mobile communication devices, so as to prevent direct contact with the desktop. But its drawbacks may include increased weight and volume for carrying by hand, accordingly causing inconvenience in portability.
Alternatively, a type of frame 90 as shown in FIG. 1 can be used, which comprises a “Π”-shaped stick 91 and a lateral stick 92, with both ends of the lateral stick 92 being attached to the “Π”-shaped stick 91 by means of a locking element 93 thereby nipping the electronic mobile communication device between the “Π”-shaped stick 91 and the lateral stick 92. Herein the method for installing the electronic mobile communication device therein needs to first slide the electronic mobile communication device into the “Π”-shaped stick 91 and then to lock up the lateral stick 92 to the corresponding position; whereas, since the thickness of this frame 90 must be completely the same as or slightly less than the thickness of the electronic mobile communication device to achieve the protective objective provided by fixed nipping feature, frictions in between inevitably cause damages to the surface of the electronic mobile communication device. Furthermore, based on currently available manufacture processes, after formation of the “Π”-shaped stick 91, its opening may slightly shrink inward which may lead to even greater abrasions on the electronic mobile communication device slithering therein thus undesirably resulting in deeper scratches on the case of the electronic mobile communication device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With regards to the issues set forth hereinbefore, the present invention provides a protective case for electronic mobile communication devices, such that no scratches will be created in combining the electronic mobile communication device with the protective case according to the present invention. When the electronic mobile communication device is flatly placed on a desktop, the electronic mobile communication device can be kept at a distance from it, thereby preventing the surface of the electronic mobile communication device case from being scratched due to frictions with the desktop. In addition, since the present invention wraps around merely the periphery of the electronic mobile communication device, the increased weight can be significantly reduced in comparison with conventional leather-made protective envelops, thus causing less burdens for carrying.
The present invention comprises a first frame and a second frame. Herein the first frame includes a first stick body and a first positioning device. The first stick body is formed with a rounded corner, and the two ends of the first stick body are respectively defined as a first end and a second end. The first positioning device is arranged along the inner side of the first stick body, with both ends are respectively located at the first end and the second end. The second frame includes a second stick body and a second positioning device. The second stick body is formed with a rounded corner, and the two ends of the second stick body are respectively defined as a third end and a fourth end. The second positioning device is arranged along the inner side of the second stick body with both ends are respectively located at the third end and the fourth end. The first end and the fourth end are connected by at least a first locking unit and the second end and the third end are connected by at least a second locking unit, such that the first stick body and the second stick body are adapted for being closed to constitute an accommodation space.
Since the first stick body and the second stick body are not “Π”-shaped, upon mounting an electronic mobile communication device therein, therefore, the surface of the electronic mobile communication device will not be abraded. Furthermore, when placed on a desktop, the surface of the electronic mobile communication device case is not in direct contact with the desktop, thus scratches due to frictions with the desktop can be effectively prevented.
Besides, the present invention further allows the first stick body and the second stick body to have the same length and rounded corner such that, in process, only one type of casting mold is required to fabricate; and along with secondary machining processes to form the positioning device (e.g., by CNC or other machining technologies). Compared with aforementioned conventional protective case, the manufacture cost of the present invention can be effectively reduced (seeing that above-said conventional protective case needs to prepare two types of casting molds).
In accordance with the previously described advantages, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be disclosed in the following texts to facilitate better understanding of the present invention. In order to further the understanding regarding the present invention, the following embodiments are provided along with illustrations to facilitate the disclosure of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective assembly view of a prior art protective case;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view for a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective assembly view for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in combination with an electronic mobile communication device;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in combination with an electronic mobile communication device when placed on a desktop;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective diagram for a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, allowing convenient alteration of rounded corner position;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic assembly view for the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, allowing convenient alteration of rounded corner position;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view for the assembly structure in a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows an exploded view for the structure of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 shows a view for the buckle according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a perspective view and an assembly view of a protective case for electronic mobile communication devices in accordance with the invention are respectively shown.
The protective case for electronic mobile communication devices comprises a first frame 10 and a second frame 20. The first frame 10 includes a first stick body 11 and a first positioning device 12, in which the first stick body 11 is configured with a rounded corner 111 and the two ends of the first stick body 11 are respectively defined as a first end 112 and a second end 113. The first positioning device 12 is configured along the inner side of the first stick body 11, with both ends being respectively located at the first end 112 and the second end 113. The second frame 20 includes a second stick body 21 and a second positioning device 22, in which the second stick body 21 is configured with a rounded corner 211 and the two ends of the second stick body 21 are respectively defined as a third end 212 and a fourth end 213. The second positioning device 22 is configured along the inner side of the second stick body 21, with both ends being respectively located at the third end 212 and the fourth end 213. Herein, at least a first locking unit 30 is used to attach the entire locking unit, thereby connecting the first end 112 to the fourth end 213, whereas at least a second locking unit 40 is used to attach the entire locking unit, thereby connecting the second end 113 to the third end 212. As such, the first stick body 11 and the second stick body 21 join in a ring-like approach to constitute an accommodation space 50.
Subsequently, referring conjunctively to FIGS. 4 and 5, with the accommodation space 50 formed in ring-like joint by the aforementioned first frame 10 and the second frame 20, the first positioning device 12 and the second first positioning device 22 can nip the electronic mobile communication device E in place to protect the case of the electronic mobile communication device E. Beside, slide actions are not required upon mounting the electronic mobile communication device E but just leaning it directly against the frames such that no scratches can occur when combining the electronic mobile communication device E with the protective case according to the present invention. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, when the electronic mobile communication device E enveloped by the embodiment of the present invention is placed on a desktop, a distance can be kept, thus no chance to generate scratches on the surface of the electronic mobile communication device E case due to frictions with the desktop. Also, since the present invention wraps around simply the periphery of the electronic mobile communication device, the increased weight can be reduced which improves convenience in portability.
Besides, it should be noticed that the number of the aforementioned rounded corner 111, 211 is not limited to one and may vary according to the contour of the mounted electronic mobile communication device.
In this embodiment, a locking unit may include a locking slot, a locking port and a locking element. The actual locking condition thereof can be referred conjunctively to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, wherein the first stick body 11 is further provided with a second locking slot 214 at the outer side of the first end 112, such that the first locking element 30 exemplified as a bolt can be screw-fastened into the first locking port 118 at the fourth end 213 of the second stick body 21 from the second locking slot 214, thereby forming a connection between the first end 112 and the fourth end 213. Analogously, the second stick body 21 is provided with a first locking slot 114 at the outer side of the third end 212, such that the second locking element 40 similarly exemplified as a bolt can be screw-fastened into the second locking port 218 at the second end 113 of the first stick body 11 from the first locking slot 114, thereby forming a connection between the second end 113 and the third end 212.
By means of the first locking slot 114 and the second locking slot 214, it is possible make the first locking element 30 and the second locking element 40 not protrude from the outer side of the first stick body 11 and the second stick body 20, so as to avoid possible cut injuries when a user takes or picks up the device.
In addition, the total length of the first frame 10 and the second frame 20, as well as the positions of the rounded corners 111, 211, can be tailored as symmetric structures in accordance with the contour of the electronic mobile communication device to be mounted therein. In this way, it is required to develop only one set of casting molds for production, thereby saving molding costs. Nevertheless, the manufacture of the first positioning device 12 and the second positioning device 22 still requires secondary machining processes such as CNC and the like.
Also, the first stick body 11 may be formed with at least one through hole 115 and the second stick body 21 may be formed with at least one through hole 215, with each of the through holes 115, 215 being arranged based on the positions of buttons on the electronic mobile communication device E. Hence, it is possible that only the first stick body 11 is formed with the through hole 115 or else only the second stick body 21 is formed with the through hole 215. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in order to enhance the shock absorption capability, shock absorber pads 116, 216 are additionally installed on the inner sides of the rounded corner 111 in the first stick body 11 and the inner side of the rounded corner 211 in the second stick body 21, respectively. What is more, in the present embodiment, the first stick body 11 and the second stick body 21 are both made from metallic material or glass-fiber material, which improves its impact durability and offers an advantage of light weight.
It can be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the positions of the rounded corners and the configuration of the locking units can be modified. According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, positions of the rounded corners 111, 211 may differ from the ones found in the previous embodiment without restricting the implementation of the present invention.
Following this, the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, which, compared with the first embodiment, essentially features a major difference in the fastening structure for connecting the first frame 10 to the second frame 20. As shown, the first end 112 is concavely configured with a first recess 112A, while the fourth end 213 is configured with a first bump 213A. The first bump 213A can be inserted into the first recess 112A, such that the first locking element 30 can be screw-fastened into the first bump 213A from the first end 112 through the first locking port 118 in the first recess 112A, thereby forming a connection between the first end 112 and the fourth end 213. Similarly, the third end 212 is concavely configured with a second recess 212A and the second end 113 is configured with a second bump 113A. The second bump 113A can be inserted into the second recess 212A, such that the second locking element 40 can be screw-fastened into the second bump 113A from the third end 212 through the second locking port 218 in the second recess 212A, thereby forming a connection between the second end 113 and the third end 212. Such an approach uses the structural feature for preliminary position alignment, thereby facilitating lock-in process of the locking unit.
It can be appreciated that such combinations among each of the corresponding ends may vary, in which the first locking unit can be exemplified as a joint device and the second locking unit may be a buckle. As shown by the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 11, it is possible to connect the first end 112 of the first frame 10 to the fourth end 213 of the second frame 20 through a joint device 217, such that the first frame 10 can rotate in pivot relatively to the second frame 20. Meanwhile, the other end of the first frame 10, i.e., the second end 113 as shown, is provided with a buckle 117 for clip connection to the third end 212 of the second frame 20 such that, when the second frame 20 and the first frame 10 together form a ring-like closure, it is possible to connect them in lock, thereby achieving the joint of the first frame 10 and the second frame 20. Suppose a user needs to disassemble or install the protective case of the electronic mobile communication device, the disassembly or installation process can be very simple.
In summary, the present invention provides several advantages that no scratches occur during combination of the electronic mobile communication device with the protective case, scrapes generated due to frictions between the electronic mobile communication device and the desktop can be avoided, and less additional weight enables improved portability. The appended drawings depict simply certain embodiments of the present invention, and the range of derived applications for the present invention can be comprehensive; furthermore, with its simple structure, production efficiency can be greatly elevated in order to save manufacture costs, which is beneficial for industrial utilization. It should be also noticed that all modifications or substitutions conveniently made based on the technical principles of the present invention are considered to be encompassed by the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A protective case for an electronic mobile communication device, comprising:

a first frame, including:

a first stick body, formed with a rounded corner, with two ends thereof being defined as a first end and a second end;

a second frame, including:

a second stick body, formed with a rounded corner, with two ends thereof being defined as a third end and a fourth end;

wherein the first end and the fourth end are connected by at least a first locking unit, and the second end and the third end are connected by at least a second locking unit, such that the first stick body and the second stick body are adapted for being closed to constitute an accommodation space, and the first stick body and the second stick body are each provided with a positioning device at its inner side facing toward the accommodation space.

2. The protective case for an electronic mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first locking unit includes a first locking slot formed at one of the first and the fourth end, a first locking port formed at the other one of the first and the fourth end, and a first locking element for screw connecting the first locking port to the first locking slot.

3. The protective case for electronic mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein the second locking unit includes a second locking slot formed at one of the second and the third end, a second locking port formed at the other one of the second and the third end, and a second locking element for screw connecting the second locking port to the second locking slot.

4. The protective case for electronic mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein the locking unit is a buckle in a clip connection form.

5. The protective case for electronic mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein the first end is concavely formed with a first recess and the fourth end is formed with a first bump, such that the first bump can be inserted into the first recess and a first locking port at the first end can be screw-fastened to the first bump through the first recess, and wherein the third end is concavely formed with a second recess and the second end is formed with a second bump, such that the second bump can be inserted into the second recess and a second locking port at the third end can be screw-fastened to the second bump through the second recess thereby forming a connection.

6. The protective case for electronic mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein the first frame and the second frame are substantially identical in total length, and wherein the first frame and the second frame are substantially identical in location of the rounded corners.

7. The protective case for electronic mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein the first stick body or the second stick body is formed with at least one through hole.

8. The protective case for electronic mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein the first stick body and the second stick body are made from metallic material or glass-fiber material.

9. The protective case for electronic mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein the first stick body and the second stick body are each provided with a shock absorber pad at an inner side of the rounded corner.