Abstract:
A casing attachment for a mobile electronic device is configured for mounting the attachment on the casing of the mobile electronic device and includes an atomizing unit having an atomizer and a liquid container for atomizing liquids.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to extending the capabilities of mobile electronic devices to store and carry liquids in protective casings for use in various fields of application, It relates to mobile electronic devices like mobile phones, mobile music and video players and the like. 
         [0002]    Relatively often people get into situations when they are missing little volumes of several liquids/fragrances which could significantly help them to feel more comfortable in different moments of their lifes. This relates to liquid substances in several forms, such as perfumes, deodorants, disinfectants (i.e. hand sanitizers), insect repellents, aftershaves, bad breath or dry mouth remedies, visage refreshment water, OC spray (also known as pepper spray, used for self-defense) etc. 
         [0003]    In many cases people do not want to carry bags or clutches when being in clubs or dancing venues or having dates or outdoor activities. The only things they usually keep in their pockets are keys, a wallet and a mobile phone or any other mobile device. So people have to compromise between “agility” and habitual things that create a feeling of comfort. 
         [0004]    Thus, an object underlying the invention is to create an arrangement enabling a person to carry along different items allowing an increase in the functionality and a simplification of the use of the items to be carried along in a manner which is as simple as possible and with the least possible material requirements. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to the invention this object is achieved by a casing attachment for a mobile electronic device comprising mounting structure (device) for its mounting onto the casing of a mobile electronic device as well as an atomizing unit having an atomizer and a liquid container for atomizing liquid. This allows having the most required liquids at hand every time and everywhere in the same way as the permanent companions of daily life such as mobile phones or other electronic devices. These devices exist in various shapes and for different purposes, for example MP3 players, mobile phones, smartphones, netbooks, tablet computers, and are nowadays available for people of all ages and gender practically anytime, anywhere. 
         [0006]    The omnipresence of the modern mobile electronic devices makes them also a viable and always available means for carrying along substances needed for daily care, such that a person taking along the mobile electronic device has to carry a minimum of items, since the above-described comfort or health critical liquids are embedded in the mobile device, such as for example mobile phones, smartphones, netbooks, MP3 players and others. 
         [0007]    The liquid containers according to the invention can be used in the form of units for one use or as rechargeable reloading units containing the liquid. 
         [0008]    The term “liquids” generally means liquids with any variety of density. In the case of a mobile phone the reloading units could be provided in the form of cartridges held on the back of the device above the battery, i.e. on the side facing away from the display, and the content of which is sprayed with an integrated atomizer. Chargers for the reloading units can be provided in the form of “docking” bottles or containers into which the liquid containers can be inserted for reloading by sliding or pushing them into a slot and reloading them by manual intervention. Shopping centers might offer the use of automatic docking stations where the liquid containers can be recharged with different varieties of liquids. 
         [0009]    A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the casing attachment is equipped with a receiver for receiving and releasably accommodating the atomizing unit. This allows replacing the liquid container together with the atomizer by a new liquid container and atomizer after the liquid in the liquid container has been consumed. 
         [0010]    A further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides that the mounting device for attachment of the casing is a snapping slip-on fastener having elastic gripping elements which conform in form with at least a part of the casing of the mobile electronic device, which allows a releasable fixing of the casing attachment on the casing of the mobile electronic device. 
         [0011]    It is particularly advantageous if the number and the arrangement of the elastic gripping elements correspond to the number and arrangement of the casing corners of the mobile electronic device, wherein the casing corners can be at least partially encompassed by the elastic gripping elements. This allows a particularly simple and compact construction of the casing attachment with a reliable mounting by the abovementioned snapping slip-on fastener. A further advantage of this embodiment consists in the fact that the casing attachment can be used for each already existing casing without the necessity of further measures to be taken with regard to the casing of the mobile electronic device. 
         [0012]    The present invention is particularly advantageous if the casing attachment is used for a mobile phone, because this is an item which is most frequently carried along. 
         [0013]    It is convenient that the casing attachment according to the invention comprises at least one constructional element allowing the actuation of the mobile electronic device when the casing attachment is mounted on the mobile electronic device. In the case of a mobile phone, a preferred constructional element forms an opening, the position of which, in its condition mounted on the mobile phone, corresponds to the position of a lens integrated into the mobile phone. Further openings or cutouts on the casing attachment can allow free access to further control elements of the mobile phone. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the atomizer and the liquid container are separate parts which are detachably connected to each other. 
         [0015]    A further object of the invention is a mobile electronic device comprising a casing attachment, embodiments of which are described herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Embodiments of the invention are explained in detail by means of the attached drawings, in which 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of a casing attachment according to the invention comprising an atomizer and a liquid container, 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of a mobile phone and the casing attachment, 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective rear view of the mobile phone of  FIG. 2  with mounted casing attachment, 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective front view of the mobile phone of  FIG. 2  with mounted casing attachment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows in its upper part a planar rectangular casing attachment  1  with a base plate  2  having a generally rectangular form with rounded corners, wherein at the back side of the base plate  2  facing a mobile phone a gripping element  3  extending generally perpendicular to the base plate  2  is provided at each of the four rounded corners. Each gripping element  3  comprises a web portion  40  extending generally perpendicular to the base plate  2 , the cross-section form of the web portion  40  parallel to the base plate  2  generally corresponding to the form of the rounding of the corner of the base plate  2 , and a free edge  42  running parallel to the base plate  2 , from which a gripping protrusion  4  of small height extends inwardly parallel to the base plate  2 . 
         [0022]    Receiving structure (receiver)  9  is positioned on the front side of the base plate  2 , which receiver  9  comprises a rectangular receiving groove  22 , the two longitudinal side walls  22 ,  26  of which run parallel to the side edges  28 ,  30  of the base plate  2  and extend perpendicularly to the base plate  2 . The receiving groove  22  is open at the lower edge  34  of the base plate  2  and is limited at the top by an end wall  32  running perpendicularly to the side edges  28 ,  30  of the base plate  2 . The bottom of the receiving groove  22  is formed by the base plate  2 . 
         [0023]    In the upper, in  FIG. 1  left, corner of the base plate  2  a drop-shaped opening  15  is located, the position of which corresponds to the position of a lens  17  of the mobile phone  10  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0024]    In the lower part of  FIG. 1  a liquid container  7  with atomizer  5  mounted thereon is shown, wherein the liquid container  7  and the atomizer  5  form a substantially cuboid atomizing unit  19  with small height, which can be releasably inserted from below into the receiving groove  22  of the receiving unit  9 . The parallel side edges of the rectangular unit  19  are formed form-fittingly with the side walls  24 ,  26  of the receiver  9 , such that the unit  19  is held in the receiver  9  by tight fit as shown in  FIG. 3 . The atomizer  5 , which is provided with an atomizing device in the form of an atomizing nozzle  36 , is arranged such that its lower edge  38  is flush with the lower edge  34  of the base plate  2 . 
         [0025]    The left part of  FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the back side of the casing attachment  1  facing the mobile phone  10 . The gripping elements  3  are elastically formed such that they are externally bent around the corners  13  of the mobile phone  10 , when the casing attachment  1  is slipped onto the mobile phone  10 , which results in a snapping slip-on fastening between the two parts when the device-facing surface of the base plate  2  contacts the attachment-facing surface of the mobile phone  10 , whereby a reliable hold of the casing attachment  1  on the mobile phone  10  is assured by the gripping protrusions  4  abutting at the side which is facing away from the casing attachment, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The elastic gripping elements  3  have the same rounded form as the rounded edges  13  of the mobile phone  10 , which increases the stiffness of the gripping elements  3  and results in a compact form of the casing attachment with the mobile phone  10  in the mounted condition. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows the front side of the casing attachment  1  in the condition in which it is mounted on the electronic device  10  and in which the unit  19  comprising the liquid container  7  and the atomizer  5  is inserted in the receiving groove  22 . The base plate  2  comprises in its upper area an opening  15  corresponding to a lens  17  of the mobile electronic device  10 . Further constructional elements of the casing attachment  1  allowing access to the control elements of a mobile electronic device  10  are possible. As an example  FIG. 3  shows a recess  20  at the upper edge of the casing attachment  1  allowing access to a button and a connection on the upper side of the mobile electronic device  10 . Alternatively, constructional elements in the form of openings and recesses can be at least partially filled with an elastic material, such as for example rubber, such that the functionality of the control elements, like buttons, is not impaired. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows the casing attachment  1  mounted on the mobile electronic device  10  from the side of the mobile electronic device  10 . By the compact construction and the snapping fit-on fastening of the casing attachment  1 , all control elements of the mobile electronic device  10  remain accessible. 
         [0028]    The device according to the invention works as follows. In an assembled state as shown in  FIG. 3  the atomizer  5  at the unit  19  can be pushed by means of the finger pressure of a user effecting the atomization of the liquid contained in the liquid container  7  by the atomizer  5 , as soon as the liquid exits the nozzle  36 . If the liquid supply in the liquid container  7  is consumed after repeated actuation of the atomizer  5 , the unit  19  can be removed from the receiver  9  by shifting it towards the bottom and can be replaced by a new unit  19  (not shown) or can be again inserted after refilling the liquid container  7  of the unit  19  which has just been removed.