Abstract:
A portable digital media player case includes a jacket for holding a portable digital media player. A mounting is connected to the jacket. A flap has a window formed therein for attachment of a clip through the window to the mounting. A cover pivots on the flap between a closed position and an open position for covering and uncovering the jacket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a case for a portable digital media player.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Portable digital media players, such as the Apple ipod, have become indispensable items for large segments of the population. Therefore, the desire is to be able to use the portable digital media player during various activities, such as walking, jogging, working out, driving an automobile or riding a bicycle, etc. The portable digital media player also should be protected from shock. Accordingly, there is a need for a versatile mounting and protective case.  
         [0005]     One such case produced by Marware is formed of neoprene and has a large opening for the display screen and click wheel and a flip-top which will flip closed if released when holding the case upright. Another neoprene case produced by Incase has separate openings for the display screen and click wheel and a zipper closure. The case fits loosely around the ipod and does not follow the contour thereof.  
         [0006]     A case which is manufactured by Speck is formed of KRATON® and has a dimpled exterior and an opening for various ports on the ipod. Silicone rubber cases made by iSkin, Xtreme Mac and Elecom fit tightly over the ipod and have separate openings for the display screen and the click wheel. The Elecom case has a winder projection at the side for winding an earbud headphone cord.  
         [0007]     None of the prior art cases provide the option of wearing or mounting the portable digital media player with only a protective jacket or with a cover fully protecting the portable digital media player and none pivot open from the side.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a portable digital media player case, which overcomes the herein afore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which can be used both with and without a cover.  
         [0009]     With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a portable digital media player case. The case comprises a jacket for holding a portable digital media player. A mounting is connected to the jacket for attachment of a clip. A flap has a window formed therein for optional attachment of the clip through the window to the mounting. A cover pivots on the flap between a closed position and an open position for covering and uncovering the jacket. Thus, a convertible case is provided which can be used with or without a cover. The case has a cover covering the jacket containing the portable digital media player. However, since the mounting is disposed on the jacket, it can be used without the cover.  
         [0010]     In accordance with another feature of the invention, the jacket has surfaces including a rear surface with the mounting and a front surface with a window for accessing components of the portable digital media player, such as a display screen and a click wheel of an Apple iPod. The cover has a concave inner surface covering all of the surfaces except the rear surface, in the closed position. Therefore, the jacket is mounted at the rear, leaving the front accessible for operating components of the portable digital media player.  
         [0011]     In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the jacket has an opening formed therein for accessing a component of the portable digital media player, and the cover has a cutout portion exposing the opening in the closed position. It is therefore possible to insert a plug for earbud headphones through the opening and the cutout portion. Of course, any number or location of openings, slots or windows are possible in the jacket with corresponding cutout portions in the cover, depending on the type and generation of the portable digital media player being used.  
         [0012]     In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the jacket is formed of neoprene, the cover is formed of PVC and the flap is formed of rubber. The jacket material makes it possible to fit tightly around the portable digital media player, the cover material permits it to retain its shape and the flap material provides the necessary flexibility.  
         [0013]     In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the clip is a belt clip or is connected to an arm band. Thus, the case can be worn or used by a user of the device in different ways.  
         [0014]     In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the cover is hinged to the flap and has an edge with an encompassing bead. The cover therefore has flexibility and rigidity where needed.  
         [0015]     In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the cover has relatively longer sides and relatively shorter top and bottom. The cover pivots on the flap between the closed position and the open position at one of the relatively longer sides. Since the cover opens horizontally, it will not flip closed if released when mounting or holding the case upright. This is especially convenient when operating the portable digital media player with one hand.  
         [0016]     Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the claims which are appended hereto.  
         [0017]     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a portable digital media player case, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown.  
         [0018]     Various modifications and structural changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.  
         [0019]     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic, front-elevational view of a portable digital media player case according to the invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a top-plan view of the case of the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a bottom-plan view of the case of the invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a left side-elevational view of the case of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a right side-elevational view of the case of the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a rear-elevational view of the case of the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is an exploded front and right side-perspective view of the case of the invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a rear-perspective view of the case of the invention with a mounting flap in an open position;  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is a rear-perspective view of the case of the invention with the mounting flap in a closed position and a belt clip before mounting;  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  is a rear-perspective view of the case of the invention with the mounting flap in the closed position and the belt clip after mounting;  
         [0030]      FIG. 11  is a side-perspective view of the case of the invention having an arm band and a cover in an open position;  
         [0031]      FIG. 12  is a front-elevational view of the case of the invention with the arm band and with the cover in a closed position; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the arm band with a mounting clip. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is seen a portable digital media player case  1  having a cover  2 . It can be seen especially clearly in  FIGS. 2-6  that the cover  2  has an encompassing bead  3  at an outer edge thereof.  FIG. 3  shows that the cover  3  has a cutout portion  4 , which is also encompassed by the bead  3 .  FIG. 3  and especially  FIG. 6  additionally show that a jacket  21  is disposed in the cover  2 . The jacket  21  holds a portable digital media player. The cutout portion  4  provides access to an opening  20  in the jacket  21  which in turn provides access to a port of the portable digital media player. A flap  10  attached to the cover  2  of the case  1  is shown in a closed position in  FIG. 6 . The flap  10  has a window  11 , through which a mounting  30  for a belt clip can be seen. The mounting  30  is attached to a rear surface of the jacket  21 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  shows the case  1  and the jacket  21  in an exploded view. The jacket  21  has a window  22  formed in a front surface thereof providing access to components of the portable digital media player to be placed in the case, for example a display screen and a click wheel of an Apple iPod. The window  22  may be covered by a material, such as clear or translucent plastic. The jacket  21  also has a non-illustrated opening and tuck-in closure at the bottom for insertion and removal of the portable digital media player. The closure also provides access to a dock connector port which may be located at the bottom of the portable digital media player, without removing the jacket.  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates the flap  10  in an open position. The flap can be pivoted on the cover  2  between the closed position shown in  FIG. 6  and the open position shown in  FIG. 8  by virtue of a live hinge.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show that the window  11  in the flap  10  allows a belt clip  31  to be attached to the mounting  30  on the jacket  21  through the window  11 . The belt clip  31  has an outer arm  32  and an inner arm  33  pivoted about a pin  34  having a non-illustrated spring for biasing the arms together to grip a belt. Therefore, the jacket  21  along with the cover  2  can be attached to a non-illustrated belt. However, the belt clip  31  can also be attached to the mounting  30  without using the cover  2 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  illustrates the case  1  mounted on an arm band  40  through the use of a non-illustrated arm band clip. The cover  2  is in the open position so that the jacket  21  can been seen as well.  FIG. 12  shows the case  1  on the arm band  40 , but with the cover  2  in the closed position. The cover  2  has relatively longer sides and relatively shorter top and bottom, and the cover  2  pivots on the flap  10  between the closed position and the open position at one of the relatively longer sides. When the case is attached to a belt with the belt clip or mounted to any surface, such as in an automobile or on a bicycle, the cover pivots in the same way as it does on the arm band in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , that is at a long side as seen in  FIG. 12 . Since the cover opens horizontally, it will not flip closed if released when holding the case upright. In both figures, a plug  35  is inserted in the opening  20 , which cannot be seen in the figures. A cord  36  connects the plug  35  to non-illustrated earbuds.  FIG. 13  shows the arm band  40  with a mounting clip  41  to be latched to the mounting  30 .  
         [0037]     Thus, a case is provided which is convertible between use with the jacket alone mounted on a belt or an arm band, and use with the cover attached to the jacket through the window. The jacket may be formed of soft neoprene whereas the cover may be formed of a PVC material which is more rigid than the jacket. The flap may be formed of rubber and the clip and mounting of hard plastic and/or metal. The arm band may also be formed of neoprene with a hook and eye closure  42 , such as VELCRO®. The various clips and mounting are manufactured by Krusell under the designation MULTIDAPT®.