WO2008078087A1 - Removable protective guard for portable electronics device - Google Patents
Removable protective guard for portable electronics device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2008078087A1 WO2008078087A1 PCT/GB2007/004928 GB2007004928W WO2008078087A1 WO 2008078087 A1 WO2008078087 A1 WO 2008078087A1 GB 2007004928 W GB2007004928 W GB 2007004928W WO 2008078087 A1 WO2008078087 A1 WO 2008078087A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- guard
- protective guard
- removable protective
- removable
- periphery
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
- H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
- H01H9/0214—Hand-held casings
- H01H9/0235—Hand-held casings specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
- H01H9/0242—Protective enclosures; Cushioning means
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
- H04M1/0279—Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
- H04M1/0283—Improving the user comfort or ergonomics for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/18—Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment
- H04M1/185—Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/18—Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an accessory for a portable electronics device and more particularly to a removable protective guard therefor, mainly for protecting vulnerable corners or edges of the device.
- Such devices are designed and manufactured to be as light as possible and generally have components and casings made from plastics materials. Such materials are not particularly durable and there is a risk of damage to the casing when the device is dropped. Such damage is generally but not exclusively to one or more corner regions of the casing, which may result in a mark on the surface or a split in the casing. If the device is dropped and a corner of its casing lands on a particularly hard material such as a paving slab, there is a risk of the shock being transferred to the interior components or a screen of the device, resulting in the device becoming inoperable. Since such devices are expensive, this is clearly undesirable.
- casings on some portable electronic devices may be made from metal. This increases the weight and cost of the device and may not offer substantial protection against contact with a particularly hard surface. In any event a metal casing may still be scratched or scuffed if dropped.
- Drop prevention measures include accessories such as wristbands or belt attachments. Such measures are rarely used by a user of the device, possibly for reasons of comfort or convenience. It is from a consideration of portable electronic devices, drawbacks associated therewith, and previous attempts at a solution, that has led to the development of the present invention.
- a removable protective guard useful for protecting the periphery of a portable electronic device casing comprising a guard of resiliently deformable material and capable of defining a substantially rectangular shape adapted in use removably to fit around a periphery of the device casing and thereby protect from damage the corners and/or edges of said device casing
- the present invention also extends to combinations of the protective guard and the electronic device, when assembled together or when in kit form suitable for assembly.
- one or more corner pieces of the protective guard is (are) adapted in use to form an interlock with a corner of the case. Conveniently this may be achieved by integrally formed protruding lips in the vicinity of the guard intended for its corners.
- the protective guard is of a smaller peripheral size than the periphery If the intended electronic device case and so must be stretched to fit around its periphery. This helps retain the guard in position.
- a removable protective guard as defined above for a portable electronic device removably fitted around a periphery of a casing for a portable electronics device.
- the electronic device is a mobile phone, most preferably such phones as have a rigid, fixed construction and so do not flip or slide to operate.
- Figure 1 is a plan view from above or below of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 2 shows a side orientation of an embodiment of the present invention
- Figure 3 shows an end orientation of an embodiment of the present invention
- Figure 4 shows an isometric orientation of an embodiment of the present invention
- Figure 5 shows an orientation of the present invention from Figure 4 in use with a portable electronics device
- Figures 6 to 31 show further orientations of embodiment of the present invention in combination with a variety of mobile phones in differing shapes and sizes;
- Figure 32 shows a variety of markings which can be applied to embodiments of the present invention.
- the present invention comprises a protective resiliently flexible guard such as a comer guard 10 made of a resiliently deformable material which may be conveniently and cheaply manufactured in any colour and/or have a design applied to its exterior surface 11 (shown in Figure 32).
- the material of the corner guard 10 defines a peripheral shape complementary with the periphery of a portable electronics device 20 (shown in Figure 5) but is preferably slightly smaller so that it must be stretched along axis A in order to fit onto the device 20. It can be seen that the guard
- 10 has corner arrangements 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D in the nature of integrally formed protuberances in the form of oppositely spaced lips formed from the same material.
- the spaced apart projecting lips are formed so as to form an interlock with complementary corners (not shown) of the portable electronic device 20. This arrangement is best seen in Figure 4, where it can be seen that corner arrangements
- the guard 10 does not cover functional parts of the front or rear of the device 20 or adversely interfere with operability of the device 20 when fitted. Its use is therefore not a drawback in the way a belt clip or wrist band may be.
- the guard 10 may be stretched or configured so as to fit over a variety of portable electronics devices of different dimensions due to its elastic qualities, and examples of other types of mobile phone to which the guard may be fitted are depicted generally in the views of Figure 6 to 31 inclusive.
- An advantage of the present guard resides in its capacity to bear information, such as advertising material, on its exterior surface and /or be fabricated in specific colours. Examples of the combination of a portable electronics device with a fitted guard, optionally including externally visible information such as advertising material are to be found in Figure 32 (a) to (T) inclusive.
- the guards can be lightweight, resilient, protective, economical and disposable. They can be fabricated, for example, from an elastic, elastomeric or rubber based material.
- the guards are preferably one piece integrally formed items, whereas protrusions if fitted have no discernible join to the main body of the guard.
Abstract
A removable protective guard (10) for use with a portable electronics device (20) is made of resiliently deformable material and defines a shape adapted to fit around a periphery of the device (20). Outer surface (11) of the guard (10) may be suitably decorated. Corner pieces (12A - 12D) of the guard (10) form an interlock with the device (20) and act to retain the guard (10) in position around the device (20). Guard (10) does not interfere with use of device (20) when fitted.
Description
REMOVABLE PROTECTIVE GUARD FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONICS DEVICE
The present invention relates to an accessory for a portable electronics device and more particularly to a removable protective guard therefor, mainly for protecting vulnerable corners or edges of the device.
Use of portable electronics devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, MP3 players and so on is increasingly widespread. Such devices are designed and manufactured to be as light as possible and generally have components and casings made from plastics materials. Such materials are not particularly durable and there is a risk of damage to the casing when the device is dropped. Such damage is generally but not exclusively to one or more corner regions of the casing, which may result in a mark on the surface or a split in the casing. If the device is dropped and a corner of its casing lands on a particularly hard material such as a paving slab, there is a risk of the shock being transferred to the interior components or a screen of the device, resulting in the device becoming inoperable. Since such devices are expensive, this is clearly undesirable.
Attempts to resolve this problem have generally focussed on either strengthening the casing material(s) or on preventing the device from being dropped. For example, casings on some portable electronic devices may be made from metal. This increases the weight and cost of the device and may not offer substantial protection against contact with a particularly hard surface. In any event a metal casing may still be scratched or scuffed if dropped. Drop prevention measures include accessories such as wristbands or belt attachments. Such measures are rarely used by a user of the device, possibly for reasons of comfort or convenience.
It is from a consideration of portable electronic devices, drawbacks associated therewith, and previous attempts at a solution, that has led to the development of the present invention.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a removable protective guard useful for protecting the periphery of a portable electronic device casing, comprising a guard of resiliently deformable material and capable of defining a substantially rectangular shape adapted in use removably to fit around a periphery of the device casing and thereby protect from damage the corners and/or edges of said device casing
The present invention also extends to combinations of the protective guard and the electronic device, when assembled together or when in kit form suitable for assembly.
Serious damage is most often sustained when an unprotected portable electronic device lands on one of its corners (due to the entire weight of the device landing on its smallest surface area) but the present resiliently deformable material of the guard protects from shock better than a metal reinforcement. Since the protective guard is removable it does not matter if it alone is damaged by a drop, although preferred embodiments are substantially damage-resistant.
Preferably one or more corner pieces of the protective guard is (are) adapted in use to form an interlock with a corner of the case. Conveniently this may be achieved by integrally formed protruding lips in the vicinity of the guard intended for its corners.
An advantage of that construction is that the removable guard is less likely to be dislodged by the force of its being dropped, and provides even greater protection in the
corner regims of the device. Such provisions may also help retain the guard in place in normal use of the device.
Preferably the protective guard is of a smaller peripheral size than the periphery If the intended electronic device case and so must be stretched to fit around its periphery. This helps retain the guard in position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided, in combination, a removable protective guard as defined above for a portable electronic device removably fitted around a periphery of a casing for a portable electronics device.
Preferably the electronic device is a mobile phone, most preferably such phones as have a rigid, fixed construction and so do not flip or slide to operate.
In order that the present invention may be more easily understood, reference will now be made by way of non-limiting example to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view from above or below of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a side orientation of an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 shows an end orientation of an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows an isometric orientation of an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 shows an orientation of the present invention from Figure 4 in use with a portable electronics device;
Figures 6 to 31 show further orientations of embodiment of the present invention in combination with a variety of mobile phones in differing shapes and sizes; and
Figure 32 shows a variety of markings which can be applied to embodiments of the present invention.
Referring to Figure 1, the present invention comprises a protective resiliently flexible guard such as a comer guard 10 made of a resiliently deformable material which may be conveniently and cheaply manufactured in any colour and/or have a design applied to its exterior surface 11 (shown in Figure 32). The material of the corner guard 10 defines a peripheral shape complementary with the periphery of a portable electronics device 20 (shown in Figure 5) but is preferably slightly smaller so that it must be stretched along axis A in order to fit onto the device 20. It can be seen that the guard
10 has corner arrangements 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D in the nature of integrally formed protuberances in the form of oppositely spaced lips formed from the same material.
The spaced apart projecting lips are formed so as to form an interlock with complementary corners (not shown) of the portable electronic device 20. This arrangement is best seen in Figure 4, where it can be seen that corner arrangements
12A - 12D have flanges 13 corresponding to said spaced lips which will in use protrude slightly over the front and back of the device 20. It can be seen from Figure 4 that the
such that when dropped, the guard 10 is less likely to be dislodged. Removal of the guard 10 is effected by stretching along axis A and/or width wise (not shown).
It can be seen at least from Figure 5 that the guard 10 does not cover functional parts of the front or rear of the device 20 or adversely interfere with operability of the device 20 when fitted. Its use is therefore not a drawback in the way a belt clip or wrist band may be.
The guard 10 may be stretched or configured so as to fit over a variety of portable electronics devices of different dimensions due to its elastic qualities, and examples of other types of mobile phone to which the guard may be fitted are depicted generally in the views of Figure 6 to 31 inclusive.
An advantage of the present guard resides in its capacity to bear information, such as advertising material, on its exterior surface and /or be fabricated in specific colours. Examples of the combination of a portable electronics device with a fitted guard, optionally including externally visible information such as advertising material are to be found in Figure 32 (a) to (T) inclusive.
The guards can be lightweight, resilient, protective, economical and disposable. They can be fabricated, for example, from an elastic, elastomeric or rubber based material. The guards are preferably one piece integrally formed items, whereas protrusions if fitted have no discernible join to the main body of the guard.
Claims
1. A removable protective guard useful for protecting the periphery of a portable electronic device casing, comprising a guard of resiliently deformable material and capable of defining a substantially rectangular shape adapted in use removably to fit around a periphery of the device casing and thereby protect from damage the corners and/or edges of said device casing
2. A removable protective guard as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that the removable guard further comprises one or more corner pieces thereof adapted in use to form an interlock with a corner of said case.
3. A removable protective guard as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in that the corner piece comprises a pair of oppositely located spaced apart protruding lips.
4. A removable protective guard as claimed in Claim 3 characterised in that the lips are integrally formed in the guard.
5. A removable protective guard as claimed in any preceding Claim, in combination with a portable electronic device, characterised in that the removable guard is of smaller peripheral size than said case and adapted to be stretchable around said periphery.
6. A removable protective guard as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that the portable electronic device is a mobile phone.
7. The combination of a portable electronics device and a protective guard as defined in any preceding claim when assembled together or in kit-of-parts from.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0625928.7 | 2006-12-23 | ||
GB0625928A GB0625928D0 (en) | 2006-12-23 | 2006-12-23 | Accessory for portable electronics device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2008078087A1 true WO2008078087A1 (en) | 2008-07-03 |
Family
ID=37759069
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2007/004928 WO2008078087A1 (en) | 2006-12-23 | 2007-12-21 | Removable protective guard for portable electronics device |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB0625928D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008078087A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2315223A1 (en) * | 2009-10-22 | 2011-04-27 | Somfy SAS | Flexible annular protection for a remote control |
CN102638954A (en) * | 2012-04-17 | 2012-08-15 | 青岛科而泰环境控制技术有限公司 | Shockproof protective shell of portable electric appliance |
ITGE20110019A1 (en) * | 2011-02-23 | 2012-08-24 | Fabrizio Baroni | SAFETY CONTAINER FOR BOXES OR SIMILAR OR FOR SETS OF ORDERED ITEMS |
WO2013106474A1 (en) * | 2012-01-10 | 2013-07-18 | The Joy Factory, Inc. | Protective casing providing impact absorption and water resistance for portable electronic devices |
US8509865B1 (en) | 2012-11-30 | 2013-08-13 | Superior Communications, Inc. | Mobile device with cushion devices |
USD746801S1 (en) | 2013-09-26 | 2016-01-05 | Superior Communications, Inc. | Case for mobile phone |
JP2018137618A (en) * | 2017-02-22 | 2018-08-30 | エレコム株式会社 | Portable terminal case |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1992007372A1 (en) * | 1990-10-16 | 1992-04-30 | Meliconi S.P.A. | A protective jacket, in particular for remote control units for televisions, video recorders and other instruments for personal and professional use |
EP0652578A1 (en) * | 1993-05-24 | 1995-05-10 | Maier, S. Coop. Ltda. | Protector for remote controls |
GB2312792A (en) * | 1996-04-30 | 1997-11-05 | Osama Elogab | Protective housing foe electronic equipment |
DE20019958U1 (en) * | 2000-11-24 | 2001-02-15 | Hynicad Tech Entpr Co | Protective mask for a mobile phone |
WO2003041288A2 (en) * | 2001-11-03 | 2003-05-15 | Jean Goros | Protective sleeve for small electronic devices |
DE202005004073U1 (en) * | 2005-03-07 | 2005-11-17 | Mikelsons-Roloff, Yves, Dipl.-Ing. | Laptop protector has four shock absorbing corner elements, which are made of impact and shock absorbing material e.g. rubber, silicon and have variable shapes e.g. spherical shape and they are connected with rubber spring |
-
2006
- 2006-12-23 GB GB0625928A patent/GB0625928D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2007
- 2007-12-21 WO PCT/GB2007/004928 patent/WO2008078087A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1992007372A1 (en) * | 1990-10-16 | 1992-04-30 | Meliconi S.P.A. | A protective jacket, in particular for remote control units for televisions, video recorders and other instruments for personal and professional use |
EP0652578A1 (en) * | 1993-05-24 | 1995-05-10 | Maier, S. Coop. Ltda. | Protector for remote controls |
GB2312792A (en) * | 1996-04-30 | 1997-11-05 | Osama Elogab | Protective housing foe electronic equipment |
DE20019958U1 (en) * | 2000-11-24 | 2001-02-15 | Hynicad Tech Entpr Co | Protective mask for a mobile phone |
WO2003041288A2 (en) * | 2001-11-03 | 2003-05-15 | Jean Goros | Protective sleeve for small electronic devices |
DE202005004073U1 (en) * | 2005-03-07 | 2005-11-17 | Mikelsons-Roloff, Yves, Dipl.-Ing. | Laptop protector has four shock absorbing corner elements, which are made of impact and shock absorbing material e.g. rubber, silicon and have variable shapes e.g. spherical shape and they are connected with rubber spring |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2315223A1 (en) * | 2009-10-22 | 2011-04-27 | Somfy SAS | Flexible annular protection for a remote control |
FR2951888A1 (en) * | 2009-10-22 | 2011-04-29 | Somfy Sas | FLEXIBLE ANNUAL PROTECTION OF A REMOTE CONTROL. |
CN102573356A (en) * | 2009-10-22 | 2012-07-11 | Somfy两合公司 | Flexible annular protection for a remote control |
US9030833B2 (en) | 2009-10-22 | 2015-05-12 | Somfy Sas | Flexible annular protection of a remote control |
ITGE20110019A1 (en) * | 2011-02-23 | 2012-08-24 | Fabrizio Baroni | SAFETY CONTAINER FOR BOXES OR SIMILAR OR FOR SETS OF ORDERED ITEMS |
WO2013106474A1 (en) * | 2012-01-10 | 2013-07-18 | The Joy Factory, Inc. | Protective casing providing impact absorption and water resistance for portable electronic devices |
CN102638954A (en) * | 2012-04-17 | 2012-08-15 | 青岛科而泰环境控制技术有限公司 | Shockproof protective shell of portable electric appliance |
WO2013155945A1 (en) * | 2012-04-17 | 2013-10-24 | 青岛科而泰环境控制技术有限公司 | Shock-resistant protective shell of portable appliance |
US8509865B1 (en) | 2012-11-30 | 2013-08-13 | Superior Communications, Inc. | Mobile device with cushion devices |
US8718730B1 (en) | 2012-11-30 | 2014-05-06 | Superior Communications, Inc. | Mobile device case with cushion devices |
USD746801S1 (en) | 2013-09-26 | 2016-01-05 | Superior Communications, Inc. | Case for mobile phone |
JP2018137618A (en) * | 2017-02-22 | 2018-08-30 | エレコム株式会社 | Portable terminal case |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0625928D0 (en) | 2007-02-07 |
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