Abstract:
A protective case for a mobile device has a body removably disposed on the mobile device and a movable lens cover disposed on the body proximate to the first camera lens. The movable lens cover includes a first lens occlusion section and a first sensor access section. The movable lens cover can have at least two positions in relation to the mobile device. A fully exposed position exposes both the first camera lens and the at least one sensor of the mobile device, and a first partially occluded position disposes the first lens occlusion section over the first camera lens preventing light from reaching the first camera lens and disposes the first sensor access section over the at least one sensor allowing the at least one sensor to receive the input.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/947,970, filed Mar. 4, 2014 and further claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/974,952, filed Apr. 3, 2014 and is a Continuation of Design Application Serial No. 29/483,897, filed Apr. 3, 2014. All of the applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to mobile device cases and selectively occluding the lenses thereon. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Regular mobile device cases leave the camera exposed at all times. Prior art devices keep the camera lens covered until the user wants to expose it for use along with the sensors. When the camera cover is in the closed position, light and other inputs are prevented from getting to the cameras image sensor. Prior art covers obstruct the device&#39;s other sensors (such as the proximity or ambient light sensors) and in some cases, the flash. 
         [0004]    Prior art camera lens covers for cell-phone case include U.S. Pat. No. 8,764,319. The &#39;319 patent is specifically for cell-phones, it does not apply to tablet computers, laptops, or other mobile devices. The detachable camera cover plugs into the devices earphone jack but does not leave openings for the other sensors on the device (such as the proximity and light sensors). 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,893 is, again, specifically for cell-phones, it does not apply to tablet computers, laptops, or other mobile devices. The &#39;893 patent requires a specific shape of the lens covers. Further, this activates the camera when exposed, requiring interaction with the devices software and hardware. 
         [0006]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0212059 and Korean Patent Application No. 2006-0022640 both are directed to a lens protecting apparatus for cellular phone camera. They are specifically for cell-phones, it does not apply to tablet computers, laptops, or other mobile devices. Both require electricity in order to operate and interaction with the devices software and hardware. 
         [0007]    German Utility Model No. DE202005004366 is a leaning pad for mobile telephone or a digital camera. The lens is cleaned by a non-abrasive woven cloth backed by a pad but it needs to be tied to the device with a piece of yarn. 
         [0008]    Chinese Patent No CN 102364375 is a standalone lens cleaning cap for mobile cameras. However, it does not leave openings for the other sensors on the device, such as the proximity and light sensors. 
         [0009]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0170844 is directed to a camera wiper. However, this invention is specifically a water-tight housing for a camera, it does not occlude the camera&#39;s lens for protection. 
         [0010]    Thus, there is a need in the art for a camera cover for electronic devices that can occlude the lens itself but leave the remaining sensors unobstructed to retain the full functionality of the electronic device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    An example of a protective case for a mobile device has a front face, a rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges, a first camera lens, and at least one sensor receiving an input. The protective case can include a body removably disposed on the mobile device and covering at least a portion of at least one of the front face, the rear face, the top, bottom and two side edges of the mobile device and a movable lens cover disposed on the body proximate to the first camera lens. The movable lens cover includes a first lens occlusion section and a first sensor access section. The movable lens cover can have at least two positions in relation to the mobile device. A fully exposed position exposes both the first camera lens and the at least one sensor, and a first partially occluded position disposes the first lens occlusion section over the first camera lens preventing light from reaching the first camera lens and disposes the first sensor access section over the at least one sensor allowing the at least one sensor to receive the input. 
         [0012]    Another example of the protective case has the mobile device with a second camera lens and at least one second sensor proximate the second camera lens. The movable lens cover can further include a second lens occlusion section and a second sensor access section. Then, the fully exposed position further exposes the second camera lens and the at least one second sensor, and the first partially occluded position further disposes the second lens occlusion section over the second camera lens preventing light from reaching the second camera lens and disposes the second sensor access section over the at least one second sensor allowing the sensor to receive inputs. 
         [0013]    A further example to the above has a second partially occluded position disposing the second lens occlusion section over the second camera lens preventing light from reaching the second camera lens and disposing the second sensor access section over the at least one second sensor allowing the sensor to receive inputs. In this example, the second partially occluded position exposes both the first camera lens and the at least one sensor. 
         [0014]    Additionally, the movable lens cover can have a third partially occluded position, fully occluding the first and second camera lens, and exposing the at least one sensor and the at least one second sensor. This can be by disposing the first lens occlusion section over the first camera lens preventing light from reaching the first camera lens and the second lens occlusion section over the second camera lens preventing light from reaching the second camera lens. Then disposing the first sensor access section over the at least one sensor allowing the sensor to receive inputs and the second sensor access section over the at least one second sensor allowing the least one second sensor to receive inputs. 
         [0015]    The movable lens cover can also have a fully occluded position, fully occluding the first camera lens, the second camera lens, the at least one sensor and the at least one second sensor for any of the above examples. 
         [0016]    The protective case can have a camera-exposing cutout provided at an edge of the body exposing at least the first camera lens of the mobile device, and then the first partially occluded position disposes the movable lens cover over at least a portion of the camera-exposing cutout. Also, include can be a second camera-exposing cutout provided at an edge of the body exposing at least the second camera lens of the mobile device. Then the first partially occluded position can dispose the movable lens cover over at least a portion of the first and the second camera-exposing cutouts. 
         [0017]    The movable lens cover of the protective case, in an example, can have a first lens cleaner disposed on the first lens occlusion section wiping the first camera lens when the first lens occlusion section is disposed over the first camera lens. The movable lens cover, in a further example, has a second lens cleaner disposed on the second lens occlusion section wiping the second camera lens when the second lens occlusion section is disposed over the second camera lens. 
         [0018]    Another example of a movable lens cover is for a mobile device having a body, a first camera lens, and at least one sensor receiving an input, which in some examples is a tablet or laptop. The movable lens cover has a movable lens cover disposing section to movably and removably dispose the movable lens cover on the body proximate to the first camera lens, a first lens occlusion section, and a first sensor access section. The movable lens cover has at least two positions in relation to the mobile device, a fully exposed position exposes both the first camera lens and the at least one sensor, and a first partially occluded position disposes the first lens occlusion section over the first camera lens preventing light from reaching the first camera lens and disposes the first sensor access section over the at least one sensor allowing the at least one sensor to receive the input. 
         [0019]    As above, the movable lens cover has a fully occluded position, fully occluding the first camera lens, and the at least one sensor. Additional examples have a first lens cleaner disposed on the first lens occlusion section wiping the first camera lens when the first lens occlusion section is disposed over the first camera lens. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The above and further aspects of this invention are further discussed with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles of the invention. The figures depict one or more implementations of the inventive devices, by way of example only, not by way of limitation. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a rear, front, top, bottom and left side view of an example of a case of the present invention when fully assembled and put onto the mobile device. The movable camera cover is in the open position. When open, the cover exposes the camera so that the cameras image sensor can take photos. The alternate sensors on the device remain exposed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front and rear perspective views, in close-up, of an example of the mobile device case with the movable camera cover in the open position. The camera cover is open in this drawing. The top of the drawing shows the devices rear camera. The top of the drawing shows the devices front-facing camera. When open, the cover exposes the camera so that the cameras image sensor can take photos. The alternate sensors on the device remain exposed. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front and rear perspective views, in close-up, of a mobile device case with the movable camera cover in the closed position. The camera cover is closed in this drawing. The top of the drawing shows the devices rear camera. The top of the drawing shows the devices front-facing camera. When closed, the cover completely covers the cameras image sensor so that it cannot capture images other than the back of the cover. All the camera will see is black because the mobile device privacy case prevents light from getting to the cameras sensor. The alternate sensors on the device remain exposed. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom left side prospective view of an example of the interior of the camera cover that makes contact with the device camera lens. In this instance, the shaded area is coated with a fabric material that can clean the lens of the camera. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top, right, prospective view of an example of the interior of the camera cover that makes contact with the devices camera. In this instance, a flexible material such as rubber is molded onto the cover. This operates similar to a car&#39;s windshield wiper to clean debris from the camera&#39;s lens. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate a front, a rear left prospective and rear view, respectively, of an example of the case as a 2-piece unit. The exterior is a protective material, such as rubber, to provide protection to the device. The camera cover apparatus is comprised of a single unit that can cover two cameras (front and rear) when the user slides it into the “on” position. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  8 A, and  8 B illustrate an example of the case as a 3-piece unit.  FIGS. 7A and 8A  illustrate the invention in the “open” position, for the front and rear cameras, respectively.  FIGS. 7B and 8B  illustrate the invention in the “closed” position, for the front and rear cameras, respectively. The exterior is a protective material, such as rubber, to provide protection to the device. In this instance, the camera cover apparatus is comprised of 2 pieces—one cover for the front camera, another for the rear camera. One camera is located near the top-center of the front of the device, the second is located closer the middle-center of the devices back side. The camera cover apparatus is comprised of a single unit that can cover two cameras (front and rear) when the user slides it into the “on” position. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate an example of the case for a laptop computer with a single camera. The camera cover occludes the devices camera while leaving the light sensor (located to the left of the camera in this case) exposed.  FIG. 9B  is the magnified view of the cover in both the “open” and “closed” position. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 10A-10E  illustrate from and rear views of an example of the movable camera cover for a mobile phone. The cover has openings for the camera, the sensors, the phone speaker, and the flash on both the front and rear of the device. When in the open position, the camera, sensors, speaker, and flash are not occluded. When in the closed position, the camera is completely occluded, but the remaining elements are not. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    A mobile device  100  has a front face, and a rear face. Some mobile devices  100  have a camera  102 , a lens  104 , sensors  108 , a microphone  122 , a speaker  124 , and a flash  120 . A speaker  124  is an output device which allows the mobile device  100  to create sound. For example, a phone (not illustrated) may have a speaker  124  for the user to hear phone calls. A microphone  122  is an input device which allows the mobile device  100  to capture sound. For example, a phone (not illustrated) may have a microphone  122  for the user to speak into when making a phone call. A camera  102  requires a lens  104  to capture images. 
         [0031]    Mobile devices  100  as used herein can be any device that a user caries on their person or is readily transportable. These include cellular telephones, smart phones, tablet computers, laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart watches, smart glasses, or any other device that may have a camera lens. 
         [0032]    Mobile devices  100  often require the use of sensors  108 . Sensors  108  translate information from the physical environment into electronic data (not illustrated). This data is used by the devices&#39;  100  software (not illustrated). For example, a tablet computer (not illustrated) may have a light sensor  109  next to the camera  102 . This allows the device  100  to take images with the proper exposure. Many other types of sensors  108  exist that detect sound, light, proximity, gravity, weight, electrical current, taste, odor, temperature, and many other environmental characteristics. A flash  120  is a light emitting apparatus which can increase brightness for photos. Some mobile devices  100  allow the user to keep the flash  120  always on, like a flash light, to see in dark spaces. 
         [0033]    The present examples of the invention relates to mobile devices  100  that have one or more cameras  102 . A case  110  is comprised of a body  112 , which is a protective material that covers part or all of a mobile device  100 . The body  112  leaves the camera  102  exposed. The body  112  can be made of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, rubber, plastic, or fabric. The body  112  can be made of more than one piece. For example, a hard plastic body  112  may have front and rear pieces which snap together. The body  112  may also be made of one piece of flexible material (rubber, for example), which stretches around the mobile device  100  and fits tightly around it to protect key parts of the mobile device  100 . 
         [0034]    An example of the invention has a case  110 , which is comprised of a body  112 , which has an opening  114  for a camera  102 . On the case can be disposed a movable lens cover  216 , which may have one or more openings  218  for the devices sensors  108 . In one embodiment, the movable lens cover  216  has openings for the camera  102 , the flash, the speaker  122 , and the sensors  108  ( FIGS. 10A-10E ). When the movable lens cover  216  is in the closed position ( FIG. 3 ), the camera  102  is completely covered, but the sensors  108  are not covered. When the movable lens cover  216  is in the open position ( FIG. 1 ), the camera  102  is not obstructed, and the sensors  108  are not covered. 
         [0035]    Some devices  100  have more than one camera  102 . Examples of the present invention have the ability to occlude the lens  104  of some or all of those cameras  102  but not the surrounding sensors ( FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 ). Examples of the present invention can cover one or more the mobile device  100  sensors  108 , depending on the position of the movable lens cover  216  or leave them exposed. In the below example, there are 2 positions of the movable lens cover  216 , but the invention can be modified to have multiple positions: 
         [0036]    In position 1, the movable lens cover  216  does not occlude any sensors  108 , cameras  102 , or the flash  120 . In position 2, the movable lens cover  216  occludes the front camera  102   a  but not the rear camera  102   b  and does not occlude the sensors  108  or the flash  120 . In position  3 , the movable lens cover  216  occludes the front  102   a  and rear cameras  102   b  but not the sensors  108  or the flash  120 . In position  4 , the movable lens cover  216  occludes the front  102   a  and rear cameras  102   b , the flash  120 , and not the sensors  108 . In position  5 , the movable lens cover  216  occludes all cameras  102  on the mobile device  100 , the flash  120 , and all sensors  108 . 
         [0037]    The movable lens cover  216  can be one or more pieces. For example, there may be an apparatus that covers the front camera  102   a  and the sensors  108  located on the front of the mobile device  100 , and a second apparatus that covers the rear camera  102   b , flash  120 , and sensors  108  located on the back of the mobile device  100 . Mobile devices are made in a variety of shapes and sizes, this invention can be modified to work on any mobile device  100  by altering the shape and size of the parts. 
         [0038]    The movable lens cover  216  may have an interior lined with a material, such as fabric, which wipes the lens clean of debris, fingerprints, or smudges ( FIG. 4 ). This material can be molded into the movable lens cover  216 , or it may be a separate piece which is adheres to the movable lens cover  216 , allowing the user to replace it. 
         [0039]    The movable lens cover  216  may be fitted with an apparatus  218  that wipes the lens clean of debris, fingerprints, smudges, or liquid. This apparatus  218  can be made of (but is not limited to) material such as rubber and operates similar to a car&#39;s windshield-wiper ( FIG. 5 ). The cleaning apparatus  218  can be molded into the movable lens cover  216 , or it may be a separate piece which locks onto the movable lens cover  216 , allowing the user to replace it. 
         [0040]    The movable lens cover  216  may be fitted with additional lenses  220 . For example, these lenses  220  can be, but are not limited to, telephoto, wide-angle, or macro. The additional lenses  220  work in conjunction with the mobile devices  100  existing camera  102  and lens  104 . This allows the user to get more functionality from the camera  102  on their mobile device  100 . 
         [0041]    If the movable lens cover  216  is fitted with additional lenses  220 , the user may choose to use the additional lens  220  or not. This is done by placing the lens in an area on the movable lens cover  216  that allows the user to choose which setting they want to use based on the position of the cover. For example, in one example of the invention: 
         [0042]    In position  1 , the movable lens cover  216  does not occlude any sensors  108 , cameras  102 , or the flash  120 . In position  2  an additional lens  220  lines up with the rear camera  102   b . The movable lens cover  216  does not occlude any sensors  108  or the flash  120 . In position  3 , the movable lens cover  216  occludes the front  102   a  and rear cameras  102   b , but not the flash  120 , and not the sensors  108 . 
         [0043]    The descriptions contained herein are examples of embodiments of the invention and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention. As described herein, the invention contemplates many variations and modifications of the inventive device camera cover having numerous configurations, and can be constructed of numerous materials. Also, there are many possible variations in the materials and configurations for occluding the camera lens yet still exposing the remaining sensors. These modifications would be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention relates and are intended to be within the scope of the claims which follow.