US20180042350A1

US20180042350A1 - Casing for a handheld device

Info

Publication number: US20180042350A1
Application number: US15/674,072
Authority: US
Inventors: Lakshman Rajeswaran; Thomas F. Pepe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-08-10
Filing date: 2017-08-10
Publication date: 2018-02-15

Abstract

The present invention discloses a casing of a handheld device for storage of one or more accessories thereof. The casing comprises a front panel defining a cavity with a plurality of walls, a removable back plate defining a receptacle surface with a plurality of walls and a cord housing unit which is clamped at the receptacle surface of the back plate. The plurality of walls of a cavity includes at least one rear wall, where an aperture is formed therein. The removable plate includes an opening which is dimensioned to clamp at the aperture. Further the cord housing unit defining a groove structure formed at the center and extended along the periphery of the housing unit to snugly receive an accessory such as cord and also the groove structure facilities to wound the excess length of the cord cable.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/372,856, titled “Consumer Electronic Accessory with Storage System with Charging Capability” and filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 10, 2016. The specification of the above referenced patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to accessory of portable electronic devices such as, but not limited to, handheld device. In particular, the present invention relates to a casing of a handheld devices with a provision for storing accessories, such as a cord.

B. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, people depends on smart phones to plan and schedule things to run a smooth life. But, one of the concern with smartphones is maintaining it in charged state, specifically during travel. Generally, a simple charger includes an adapter to plugin with the power supply and a cable to connect the smart phone and the adapter. There are varieties of charger but people prefer to carry chargers with compact size such as USB cable which occupies small space to carry and can be simply plugged into a wall plug adapter or a laptop or desktop or a charging terminal in transports. As people only search for charger only when the battery life is low, people are not conscious to carry around charger everywhere they are travelling along with the huge list of things such as keys, wallet, and other objects.
To address the above stated problems, a few products have been developed such as a phone case with a built in retractable USB cable, a case to store mobile as well as a short cord and a case with built in prongs that sticks to the charging socket. These cases do not facilitate to use the cord they have purchased along with their phone. Thus, it is desirable to provide a solution that allows the user to store any type of readily available cords in the market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a casing of a handheld device for storage of one or more accessories thereof.
The casing comprises a front panel defining a cavity with a plurality of walls, a removable back panel defining a receptacle surface with a plurality of wall and a cord housing unit which is clamped at the receptacle surface of the back plate. The cord housing unit defining a groove structure formed at the center and extended along the periphery of the cord housing unit to snugly receive an accessory such as cord and also the groove structure facilities to wound the excess length of the cord cable. The plurality of side walls of the cavity includes at least one rear wall, where an aperture is formed therein and includes at least one side walls. Further, one or more walls of the back panel includes a rear wall portion and a side wall portion. The removable plate includes an opening which is dimensioned to clamp at the aperture. A rim of the side wall portion of the front panel includes a plurality of recess hooks that engages with a plurality of recess formed at a circumferential edge of the aperture in the rear wall of the front panel.
In an embodiment, the casing allows store both cord and the handheld device. In one embodiment, the casing allows to charge by unravelling the cord and connecting one end to the handheld device and other end into the power socket.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a casing with a mobile device and a cord stored therein, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a front view of a cord housing unit without cord in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a front view of a cord housing unit disposed with cord in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a rear view of the casing in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a front panel of a casing according to an embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a casing with back panel in semidetached position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a casing with back panel in detached position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4C is an exploded perspective view of a front panel and back panel of a casing stored with a device and a cord according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the casing in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a rear view of the casing in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a side view of a casing in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a rear view of a casing in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a side view of a front panel of a casing of FIGS. 6A & 6B in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a rear view of a front panel of a casing of FIGS. 6A & 6B in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a side view of a casing according in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8B is a rear view of a casing according in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a side view of a front panel of a casing of FIGS. 8A & 8B in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a rear view of a front panel of a casing of FIGS. 8A & 8B in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a side view of a casing according in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10B is a rear view of a casing according in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a side view of a front panel of a casing of FIGS. 10A & 10B in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11B is a rear view of a front panel of a casing of FIGS. 10A & 10B in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a front panel of a casing comprising a slot in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
The present invention discloses a casing 100 of a handheld device with provisions for storing accessories. Referring to FIG. 1, illustrates the casing 100 with a mobile device and a cord stored therein. The casing 100 comprises a front panel 102 and a back panel 104. The front panel 102 comprises a plurality of side walls 106 (show in FIG. 3B) and a rear wall 108 forming a cavity 122 (shown in FIG. 3B). The cavity 122 is sized and/or shaped to receive a handheld device. The front panel 102 further comprises an aperture 116 formed at the rear wall 108 of the cavity 122. The aperture 116 comprises a plurality of recess 128 formed at an edge of an aperture 116. The back panel 104 may include one or more walls which defines a receptacle surface 120 and a cord housing unit 132. One or more walls of the back panel includes a rear wall portion 110 and a side walls portion 112 (shown in FIGS. 6A & 6B). Further, a rim of the side walls portion 112 includes a plurality of recess hooks 126 that engages with a plurality of recess 128 formed at a circumferential edge of the aperture 116. The back panel 104 is dimensioned to detachably clamp at the aperture 116 of the front panel 102.
Referring to FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of the cord housing unit 132 without cord. The casing 100 include a fastening means to clamp a cord housing unit 132 to the receptacle surface 120. The fastening means 136 includes a male fastener and a mating female fastener. The female fastener is formed at the receptacle surface 120 and the male fastener formed at the rear side of the cord housing unit 132. Referring to FIG. 2B is a front view of the cord housing unit 132 disposed with cord in an embodiment of the present invention. The cord housing unit 132 defines an elongated circle structure with a groove structure 130 disposed at the center. The groove structure 130 travels from the center to the periphery of the cord housing unit 132. The groove structure 130 is dimensioned to snugly receive the cord and the excess length of the cord is wound in the groove around the periphery of the cord housing unit 132. The casing 100 allows to charge by unravelling the cord and connecting one end to the handheld device and other end into the power socket. In an embodiment, the groove structure 130 is configured to receive cord or power cables of various size or length onto the cord housing unit 132. In an embodiment, the cord housing unit 132 may vary in size.
Referring to FIG. 3A, the one or more walls which defines a receptacle surface 120 of a back panel 104 includes a rear wall portion 112 and a side walls portion 110. The back panel 104 is detachably attached to the aperture formed in the rear wall 108 of the front panel 102. Referring to FIG. 3B, the front panel 102 receives the handheld device in the cavity 122 through an opening 114. Further, when the back panel 104 is detached from the front panel 106, the rear side of the device positioned in the cavity 122 is exposed through the aperture 116. The casing 100 further includes a plurality of hole 118 in the front panel 102 to expose the inlet ports, such as, charger port, USB port, etc., and the controls of the devices, such as, a volume control, camera button, etc.
Referring to FIG. 4C illustrates an exploded view of case 100 assembly enclosed with the handheld device and the cord. In an embodiment, the cord may be stored in the cord housing unit 132 snapped at the receptacle surface 120 of the back panel 104. In an embodiment, the receptacle surface 120 is accessed through a rim formed at the side wall portion 110 and therefore, the back panel 104 needs to be removed from the front panel 102 in order to access the receptacle surface 120.
Referring to FIGS. 4A & 4B illustrates the process steps for removal of the back panel 104, in an embodiment of the present invention. The back panel 104 is further defined with the plurality of recess hooks 126 provided at the circumferential edge of the panel 104 for engagement with the plurality of recesses 128 provided at the circumferential edge of the aperture 116. In an embodiment, the back panel 104 is configured to be removed by pushing up the bottom portion of the panel 104 which slides in a parallel plane to the front panel 102 facilitating the removal of the back panel 104.
Referring to FIGS. 5A & 5B, in one embodiment of the casing 100 may include a release ledge 134 positioned at the bottom portion of back panel 104 to facilitate to push up the panel 104 thereby allows to detach the back panel 104 from the front panel 102. In one embodiment, the back panel 104 is magnetically attached to the aperture 116 in the rear wall of the front panel 102. The magnets were attached to the interior of the back panel 104 such it is not visible from the exterior side of the back panel 104.
In an embodiment, the back panel 104 configured to clamp into the aperture 116 of the front panel 102 by a snap fit connection. In an embodiment, the back panel 104 configured to clamp into the aperture 116 of the front panel 102 by a slide fit connection structure. In an embodiment, the connection mechanism for engagement of back panel 104 to the aperture 116 of the front panel 102 is not only restricted to the recess hook structure connection, magnetic connection, snap fit connection, slide fit connection described, but could also employ other ways as well.
In one embodiment, the side wall 106 and rear walls 108 of the front panel 102 is includes TPE bumper. In one embodiment, the side wall portion 110 of the back panel 104 includes chamfered edge design.
In one embodiment of the casing 100, the aperture 116 may be wider in size such that the size of the aperture 116 slightly less than the contour of the receiving device in the cavity 122, shown in FIG. 6A through FIG. 7B. Further, the back panel 104 is sized to detachably fixed at the aperture 116 in such way it exposes the camera portion of a mobile device to capture images. In FIGS. 6A & 6B, a side view and rear view of the casing 100 is shown respectively, where the front panel is clamped to the back panel. The aperture 116 exposes a certain amount of the rear side of the handheld device on engaging the front panel 102 with the back panel 104.
In an embodiment, a side view of a front panel 102 of a casing 100 of FIGS. 6A & 6B is shown in FIG. 7A. In one embodiment, a rear view of the front panel 102 of a casing 100 of FIGS. 6A & 6B is shown in FIG. 7B. When the back panel 104 is not engaged with the front panel 102, the aperture 116 exposes the rear side of the handheld device in the cavity 122.
Referring to FIG. 8A through FIG. 9B, in one embodiment of the casing 100, the side wall 106 & side wall portion 110 of the front 102 and back panel 104, respectively, are flat in structure and the chamfer of the front 102 and back panel 104 are arched. Also, the back panel 104 is dome shaped and its profile flows into the arched chamfer of the front panel 102, shown in FIGS. 8A & 8B. In one embodiment, a side view of a front panel of a casing of FIGS. 8A & 8B is shown in FIG. 9A. In one embodiment, a rear view of a front panel of a casing of FIGS. 8A & 8B is shown in FIG. 9B. Further, in this embodiment, the rear wall 108 of the front panel 102 includes an aperture 166 and a camera hole 118 that facilitates to capture image.
Referring to FIG. 10A through FIG. 11B, in one embodiment of the casing 100, the side walls of the front panel is structured to have a rounded profile. Referring to FIGS. 10A & 10B, a side view and rear view of a casing 100 is shown. In an embodiment, a side view of a front panel of a casing 100 of FIGS. 10A & 10B is shown in FIG. 11A. In an embodiment, a rear view of a front panel of a casing 100 of FIGS. 10A & 10B is shown in FIG. 11B.
Referring to FIG. 12, the plurality of side wall 106 of the front panel 102 comprises at least one bottom wall section. In an embodiment, the bottom wall section comprises a slot 138 formed thereon for receiving an electrical outlet such as a USB port or a charging port of an adapter to connect with the handheld device in the cavity 122.
Advantageously, the casing 100 allows to store both cord and the handheld device, frees the number of items that need to keep with in day-to-day life and working in case of emergencies and allows to charge the handheld device without having to carry around the charger as a separate item.
Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the above detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment developed herein, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The foregoing description comprises illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used only in generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A casing for a handheld device, comprising:

a front panel having a cavity with a plurality of walls to receive a handheld device, the plurality of walls includes a rear wall and a side wall, the rear wall of the cavity has an aperture formed therein;

a removable back panel having a receptacle surface with plurality of walls, the back panel is dimensioned to detachably clamp at the aperture, the plurality of walls includes a rear wall portion and a side wall portion; and

a cord housing unit including a groove structure to receive a cord and to wrap around the excess length of the cord.

2. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the cavity is dimensioned to receive the outer surface of the device.

3. The casing according to claim 1, further comprises a fastener structure to clamp cord housing unit at the front receptacle surface.

4. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the front panel include a plurality of holes to expose inlet ports provided on the device.

5. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the back panel further comprising a release ledge disposed at a bottom portion of the rear wall portion of the back panel.

6. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the back panel is magnetically clamped at the aperture via the magnetic structure disposed at an inner side of the back panel.

7. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the back panel is clamped at the aperture via a hook recess structure.

8. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the back panel is clamped at the aperture via a snap fit connection structure.

9. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the back panel is clamped at the aperture via a slide fit connection structure.

10. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the side wall portion of the back panel includes a chamfered edge design.

11. The casing according to claim 1, further configured to expose rear side view of the device through the aperture on detaching the back panel.

12. The casing according to claim 5, wherein the release ledge facilitates to detach the back panel from the aperture.

13. The casing according to claim 1, further comprises a bumper disposed at the rear wall and the side wall of the front panel.