WO2014170722A1

WO2014170722A1 - A casing with mirror for handheld electronic devices with camera function

Info

Publication number: WO2014170722A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/053091
Authority: WO
Inventors: Othmar Bruehwiler
Original assignee: Othmar Bruehwiler
Priority date: 2013-04-19
Filing date: 2013-04-19
Publication date: 2014-10-23

Abstract

The present invention is a casing with mirror for handheld electronic devices with camera function comprising a handheld electronic device casing having a base wall on which a camera opening is provided at a position corresponding to a camera of a handheld electronic device received in the handheld electronic devices casing, and at least a flap disposed on the base wall and pivotable along a hinge axis adjacent to the camera opening between a first position where the flap covers the camera opening and a second position where the flap lays flat on the base wall, wherein a mirror is disposed on one side of the flap which faces the camera opening when the flap is at the first position.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

[0001 ] A casing with mirror for handheld electronic devices with camera function BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] With the expansion of the market of handheld electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablet PCs, e-books, multimedia players, gaming consoles and so forth, there is a growing demand and supply for peripheral items and accessories for handheld electronic devices. In recent years, the revolution of handheld electronic devices has posed a significant impact to society. It changes the lifestyle of people and also modifies the living habit of people. For instance, more people are starting to use the built-in cameras of handheld electronic devices to replace traditional cameras for the sake of convenience. Apart from basic photo taking functions, people now demand more sophisticated functions in cameras in handheld electronic devices. As a result, there is a growing demand for various interesting and user-friendly handheld electronic device applications which allow users to take different kinds of pictures. Despite the fact that many handheld electronic device casings are introduced to the market for protecting the handheld electronic devices from bumps and shocks, there are only a few casings or accessories which help enhance the photo-taking ability of cameras in handheld electronic devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An objective of the present invention is to provide a casing with mirror for handheld electronic devices with camera function which offers user flexibility to take photos / videos of views at different directions / angles. [0004] To attain this, the present invention comprises a handheld electronic device casing having a base wall on which a camera opening is provided at a position corresponding to a camera of a handheld electronic device received in the handheld electronic device casing, and at least a flap disposed on the base wall and pivotable along a hinge axis adjacent to the camera opening between a first position where the flap covers the camera opening and a second position where the flap lays flat on the base wall, wherein a mirror is disposed on one side of the flap which faces the camera opening when the flap is at the first position.

[0005] The hinge axis is disposed horizontally underneath or above the camera opening, or vertically on a right side or a left side to the camera opening.

[0006] The base wall is provided with a recess for receiving the flap when the flap is at the second position so that the flap lays flat with the base wall for ease of storage.

[0007] A cut-off may be provided at the flap for facilitating user to lift up the flap from the recess.

[0008] In one embodiment, the base wall is provided with four holes which form a square surrounding the camera opening; one side of the flap is provided with two hooks at two ends thereof and the two hooks removably extend into two of the four holes so as to serve as the hinge axis.

[0009] The present invention is simple in structure and thus could be applicable to any existing handheld electronic device casing. As the flap is lifted up from the second position to the first position, the mirror enters the field-of-view of the camera of the handheld electronic device and so user could take photos / videos of the views reflected by the mirror; besides, the position and the angle of the flap is easily adjustable, thus offering user flexibility to take photos / videos of views at different directions / angles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present embodiment at a first state of use.

[001 1 ] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present embodiment at a second state of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is described in further details below with reference to preferred embodiment and accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited by the embodiment below.

[0013] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the present embodiment comprises a handheld electronic device casing 1 having a base wall 2 on which a camera opening 3 is provided at a position corresponding to a camera 4 of a handheld electronic device received in the handheld electronic device casing, and a flap 5 disposed on the base wall 2 and pivotable along a hinge axis 6 adjacent to the camera opening 3 between a first position where the flap 5 covers the camera opening 3 and a second position where the flap 5 lays flat on the base wall 2, wherein a mirror is disposed on one side of the flap 5 which faces the camera opening 3 when the flap 5 is at the first position.

[0014] In the present embodiment, the base wall 2 is provided with four holes 71 , 72, 73, 74 which form a square surrounding the camera opening 3; one side of the flap 5 is provided with two hooks at two ends thereof and the two hooks removably extend into two of the four holes 71 , 72, 73, 74 so as to serve as the hinge axis 6. As such, user may freely change the position of the flap 5, such as the position as shown in Figure 1 where the flap 5 pivots along the hinge axis 6 disposed vertically on the right side of the camera opening 3, or the position as shown in Figure 2 where the flap 5 pivots along a hinge axis disposed horizontally underneath the camera opening 3.

[0015] The base wall 2 is provided with a recess 8 for receiving the flap 5 when the flap 5 is changed to the position as shown in Figure 1 and at the second position so that the flap 5 lays flat with the base wall 2 for ease of storage. A cut-off (not shown) may be provided at the flap 5 for facilitating user to lift up the flap 5 from the recess 8.

[0016] The above embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and is not limited by the above embodiment. Any other variation, decoration, substitution, combination or simplification, whether in substance or in principle, not deviated from the spirit of the present invention, is replacement or substitution of equivalent effect and falls within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . A casing with mirror for handheld electronic devices with camera function, comprising

a handheld electronic device casing having a base wall on which a camera opening is provided at a position corresponding to a camera of a handheld electronic device received in the handheld electronic device casing, and

at least a flap disposed on the base wall and pivotable along a hinge axis adjacent to the camera opening between a first position where the flap covers the camera opening and a second position where the flap lays flat on the base wall, wherein a mirror is disposed on one side of the flap which faces the camera opening when the flap is at the first position.

2. The casing with mirror for handheld electronic devices with camera function as in Claim 1 , wherein the hinge axis is disposed horizontally underneath or above the camera opening, or vertically on a right side or a left side to the camera opening.

3. The casing with mirror for handheld electronic devices with camera function as in Claim 1 , wherein the base wall is provided with a recess for receiving the flap when the flap is at the second position so that the flat lays flat with the base wall.

4. The casing with mirror for handheld electronic devices with camera function as in Claim 3, wherein a cut-off is provided at the flap for facilitating user to lift up the flap from the recess.

5. The casing with mirror for handheld electronic devices with camera function as in Claim 1 , wherein the base wall is provided with four holes which form a square surrounding the camera opening; one side of the flap is provided with two hooks at two ends thereof and the two hooks removably extend into the two of the four holes so as to serve as the hinge axis.