WO2016001415A1

WO2016001415A1 - A case

Info

Publication number: WO2016001415A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/065224
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Clark
Original assignee: Computer Luggage Co Ltd
Priority date: 2014-07-04
Filing date: 2015-07-03
Publication date: 2016-01-07
Also published as: GB201511682D0; GB2527941A

Abstract

A portable electronic device case (10), the case having a customisable area (15, 20) with a wipeable surface upon which ink can be eraseably deposited.

Description

A CASE

The present invention relates generally to cases and particularly to cases for portable electronic devices. It is well known to provide protective cases for portable electronic devices to guard against, for example, impact damage.

The present invention seeks to provide improvements in or relating to portable electronic device cases. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable electronic device case, the case having a customisable area with a wipeable and/or cleanable surface upon which ink can be eraseably deposited.

The term "case" means any protective element provided for a portable electronic device. The case may cover part or all of the device.

The portable electronic device may be, for example, a portable telephone, a computer, a laptop computer, a gaming device, a handheld console or a tablet. The case may therefore be formed, for example, as a mobile phone case/cover, a laptop bag or sleeve, or a tablet case, folio, bag or sleeve.

The wipeable area may extend over substantially the entirety of the case. Alternatively the wipeable area may extend over only part of the case, for example exterior and/or interior (in use) surfaces.

The case may be formed at least partly from a fabric material (for example a writeable fabric). Alternatively or additionally the case may be formed at least partly from a plastics material.

The wipeable surface may be formed as a layer or coating. Alternatively or additionally the wipeable surface may be the material from which the case is formed. Examples of materials from which cases may be formed are:

1. PVC coated canvas

2. PVC coated polyester

3. Polyurethane

In some embodiments the materials used for a case, for example a children's' tablet case, are:

1. Outer fabric = 600D 100% polyester with PVC backing and the coating is also PVC.

2. Lining = 35% polyester 65% PU.

I Some embodiments allow the user to personalise a product by writing or colouring in with erasable pen, such as a felt tip pen.

Some embodiments allow the user to write or colour the case (using pens which may be supplied with the case, or which may be separately available). In some embodiments the pen ink can erased or wiped off, for example with a damp cloth.

The wipeable area may include permanent markings, pictures, drawings, symbols and other indicia which are intended to be used as part of the process of decorating the case. For example a non-erasable (for example indelible or present under a layer or coating) line drawing with spaces within which colour can be applied.

The present invention also provides a tablet folio comprising a case as described herein. For example, a children-themed tablet folio may be provided (for example to suit a 7 inch or 10 inch device).

The present invention also provides a protective element for a portable electronic device, the element comprising a personalisable, wipe clean exterior surface upon which non-permanent ink can be deposited. The present invention also provides a case, folio or element as described herein in combination with one or more pens for depositing ink thereon. The case, folio or element may be provided with means for holding the pen/s.

The present invention also provides a portable electronic device case, the case having a wipeable surface upon which ink can be eraseably deposited.

The present invention also provides a portable electronic device case, the case having a wipeable surface upon which ink can be eraseably deposited. The present invention also provides case, the case having a cleanable surface upon which ink can be deposited.

The present invention also provides laptop case, the case having a cleanable surface upon which ink can be deposited.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

The present invention is more particularly shown and described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I A is a perspective view of a tablet folio case formed according to an embodiment of the present invention and shown in a closed, folded position; Figure I B is a perspective view of the case of Figure I A shown in an open, unfolded position;

Figure I C shows a character forming part of the case of Figures I A and I B;

Figure 2A is a perspective view of a tablet folio case formed according to an embodiment of the present invention and shown in a closed, folded position;

Figure 2B is a perspective view of the case of Figure 2A shown in an open, unfolded position;

Figure 2C shows a character forming part of the case of Figures 2A and 2B;

Figure 3A is a perspective view of a case formed according to a further embodiment and shown in a closed position;

Figure 3B is a front view of the case of Figure 3A;

Figure 3C is a rear view of the case of Figure 3A;

Figure 4A is a perspective view of a case formed according to a further embodiment and shown in a closed position;

Figure 4B is a front view of the case of Figure 4A; Figure 4C is a rear view of the case of Figure 4A; Figure 5A is a front view of a case formed according to an alternative embodiment; Figure 5B is a rear view of the case of Figure 5A;

Figure 5C is a plan view of the case of Figure 5A shown in an unfolded position; Figure 6A is a front view of a case formed according to an alternative embodiment; Figure 6B is a rear view of the case of Figure 6A; Figure 6C is a plan view of the case of Figure 6A shown in an unfolded position;

Figure 7A is a front view of a case formed according to an alternative embodiment; Figure 7B is a rear view of the case of Figure 7A;

Figure 7C is a plan view of the case of Figure 7A shown in an unfolded position; Figure 8A is a front view of a case formed according to an alternative embodiment; Figure 8B is a rear view of the case of Figure 8A;

Figure 8C is a plan view of the case of Figure 8A shown in an unfolded position; Figure 9A is a front view of a case formed according to an alternative embodiment;

Figure 9B is a rear view of the case of Figure 9A;

Figure 9C is a plan view of the case of Figure 9A shown in an unfolded position; Figure I OA is a front view of a case formed according to an alternative embodiment; Figure 10B is a rear view of the case of Figure I OA; and

Figure I OC is a plan view of the case of Figure I OA shown in an unfolded position.

Example embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles "a," "an," and "the" are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Referring first to Figures I A to I C there is shown a folio case for a portable electronic device generally indicated 10.

The case 10 comprises a generally rectangular front cover 15 and a generally rectangular rear cover 20. The covers 15, 20 are joined together along a spine 25 which allows them to hinge with respect to each other. A personal electronic device, for example a tablet or book reader is retained on or by the inner face 21 of the rear cover 20. The front cover folds so as to cover the device in use.

The front cover 15 is designed to allow it to fold along a hinge line 16 toward the rear face 22 of the rear cover 20 so that it can be utilised as a portion of a stand to allow the device to be elevated for viewing and/or typing, as shown in Figure I B.

The front and rear covers can be joined by a clasp 30 or the like to hold the case in a closed position (Figure I A). In this embodiment the case is formed from a fabric material coated with a plastics material (such as PVC).

The fabric material of at least one of: the inner and/or outer face of the front cover; the inner and/or outer face of the rear cover; the spine; the clasp; is provided with a design, picture, drawing or the like. In this embodiment a giraffe print 35 is used, together with a speech bubble graphic 40. The coating over the design means that it is possible to draw or colour onto the case, for example using the design as inspiration. Subsequently the ink or the like can be erased and re-applied. In this embodiment, for example, the giraffe might be black and white to allow coloured ink to be applied; and the speech bubble may include a space to indicate the name of the user.

To apply ink one or more pens may be provided, such as a marker pen, fineliner, marking pen, felt-tip marker, felt-tip pen, flow, marker or texta, sketch pen. For example a pen which has its own ink- source, and usually a tip made of porous, pressed fibres such as felt. The ink is eraseably depositable onto the case.

Figures 2A to 2C show a case I 10 formed according to an alternative embodiment. The case I 10 is very similar to the case 10. In this embodiment the case is formed as follows: I . Outer fabric = 600D 100% polyester with PVC backing and the coating is also PVC.

2. Lining = 35% polyester 65% PU.

Figures 3A to 3C show a case 210 formed according to an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment the rear face 222 of the rear cover 220 is provided with three pen holders 245a, 245b, 245c for receiving pens 250a, 250b, 250c.

The inner face 221 of the rear cover 220 is provided with retaining straps 255 at each corner for retaining a device.

The front face 217 of the front cover 215 includes designs and markings which can be coloured in. For example, the characters 235 can be coloured in and a message can be written in the speech bubble 240. The case is formed from, or covered/coated with wipe clean material so that ink can be eraseably deposited.

Figures 4A to 4C show a case 310 formed according to a further embodiment. The case 310 is similar to the case 210, although it has different designs provided on or beneath a wipeable/cleanable surface.

Figures 5A to 5C show a case 410 formed according to a further embodiment.

The case 410 is similar to the case 310. In this embodiment the dinosaur characters are already coloured (for example green). The whole case can be drawn on but the focus of this case is the speech bubble 440 on the front face 417 of the front cover 415 and the frame 442 on the rear face 422 of the rear cover 420 for other doodles and writing. Figures 6A to 6C show a case 510 formed according to a further embodiment.

In this embodiment the dinosaur characters 535 are left white (the colour of the underlying material which is overlayed with a wipeable and clear/transparent coating) for colouring, as are the pebbles etc. The whole case is a scenic view with simple mountain shapes and sky. These are deliberately kept simplistic to allow for further creative drawing, writing and colouring. The speech bubble 540 and frame 542 are also provided for further specific imaginative drawing/writing.

Figures 7A to 7C show a case 610 formed according to a further embodiment. The case is similar to the case 510.

Figures 8A to 8C show a case 710 formed according to a further embodiment. The case 710 is similar to the case 610. In this embodiment the different elements of the scene are left white so they can be coloured in; plus a speech bubble and frames are provided for imaginative doodling, colouring and writing. The base colour is a yellow/white polka dot with aesthetic benefits, product differentiation and it also encourages a structured level of pen use for practicality and mess control. Figures 9A to 9C show a case 810 formed according to a further embodiment. The case 810 is similar to the case 710.

In this embodiment a car racing tablet case design is made up of two race cars with numbers and graphics already on them. This provides a number of graphic elements that can be coloured in, whilst being on a traditional racing style colour background of red. On the rear face 817 of the rear cover a blank flag provides a place to draw or make notes, or add a name; whilst a speed dial with no needle means the user can draw in a needle to choose a speed to be displayed.

Figures I OA to I OC show a case 910 formed according to a further embodiment. The case 910 is similar to the case 810. The case 910 is provided with a re-colourable aquatic scene.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device case, the case having a customisable area with a wipeable surface upon which ink can be eraseably deposited.

2. A case as claimed in claim I , in which the area extends over substantially the entirety of the case.

3. A case as claimed in claim I , in which the area extends over only part of the case.

4. A case as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the case is formed at least partly from a fabric material.

5. A case as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the case is formed at least partly from a plastics material.

6. A case as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the wipeable surface is formed as a layer or coating. 7. A case as claimed in any of claims I to 5, in which the wipeable surface is the material from which the case is formed.

8. A case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

9. A tablet folio comprising a case as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. A protective element for a portable electronic device, the element comprising a personalisable, wipe clean exterior surface upon which non-permenant ink can be deposited. I I . A portable electronic device case, the case having a wipeable surface upon which ink can be eraseably deposited.

12. A portable electronic device case, the case having a wipeable surface upon which ink can be eraseably deposited.

13. A case, the case having a cleanable surface upon which ink can be deposited.

14. A case, folio or element as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with one or more pens for depositing ink thereon.