Abstract:
A protective apparatus for a portable device is disclosed. The protective apparatus generally includes a case and a jacket. The case is configured for accommodating the portable device and the jacket is configured for receiving the case. The protective apparatus not only can reduce the damage come from a sudden and violate collision to the portable device, but also can supply a whole protection for the portable device without interfering the operation to the portable device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a protective apparatus, particularly to a protective apparatus for a portable device. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    As portable devices become as smaller and as tinier, protecting these small, tiny, multi-functioned, sophisticated portable devices has become a subject itself to electronic designers. Generally, not only does present portable devices have a liquid crystal display for displaying images, but also have input keys for entering information. The portable devices are further fitted with interfaces for communicating with peripheral equipment. 
         [0005]    Present protective mediums typically consist of a case and a cover for portable devices. When using a portable device with protective medium, a user has to take the portable devices out of the protective medium first before using the portable device. Some protective mediums prefer to mount a transparent membrane on an opening excavated in the cover for displaying the information displayed on the LCD (liquid crystal display), but such a configuration undermines a sturdiness of the protective medium. 
         [0006]    The U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,864, entitled “Protective case for touch screen device”, issued on Nov. 11, 2003, discloses such a protective case of a portable device. The case includes a rigid case and an aperture in the case. A flexible membrane mounts in the aperture for protecting the touch screen of the portable device. 
         [0007]    However the present protective case has two disadvantages, first of all, the protective case lacks a shock-absorbing element. Second of all, the user cannot touch the input keys directly when operating the portable device. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it would be advantageous if the protective case provides a shock-absorbing element for limiting harsh collisions. And it would be better if the protective case provides the user a genuine touch sense when operating the portable device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known protective case now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a protective apparatus make up the shortcomings of present case. 
         [0010]    To attain this, the protective apparatus generally includes a case and a jacket. The case is configured for accommodating the portable device and the jacket is configured for receiving the case. 
         [0011]    A primary object of the present invention is to reduce the damage come from a sudden and violate collision to the portable device. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective apparatus can provide a whole protection for the portable device accommodated therein without interfering the operation to the portable device. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a solid view of a portable device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention including a case and a jacket; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the case of  FIG. 1  in an explode state; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the case of  FIG. 1  in a close state; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the case of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the case of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the jacket; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the jacket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a solid view of a protective apparatus  1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The protective apparatus  1  includes a sturdy case  2  and an elastic jacket  3 . The case  2  is configured for accommodating a portable device and the jacket  3  is used for receiving the case  2 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are perspective views of the case  2  in an exploded view and in a closed state respectively.  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  are a top view and a front view of the case respectively. The case comprises a cover  21  and a holder  22  which secures each other tightly to form a vessel for accommodating a portable device. In the preferred embodiment, the case  2  is designed for accommodating a portable device that is in a predetermined structure. The case  2  is made of a sturdy, scratch resistant material so as to limit damage from any collisions the case sustains. 
         [0022]    Referring to the cover  21 , at least an area of a top panel  211  of the cover  21  is constructed with transparent materials, this is done so that information displayed on a screen of the portable device is viewable through the transparent material. In addition, the case  2  defines one or more cover openings according to a shape and a position of the operational keys of the portable device when accommodated in the case  2 , thus, allowing the operational keys to be accessible through the cover openings when the portable device is accommodated in the case  2 . For example, in the preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the case  2  defines a cover opening  24  in a circular form towards an end of the top panel  211  so as to allow the operational keys to be directly accessible. 
         [0023]    Referring to the holder  22  in  FIG. 2 , a soft pad  23  is disposed on a base panel of the holder  22 . The pad  23  is made of flexible material to dampen any impacts between the portable device and the case  2 . The pad  23  further constricts the portable device within the case  2 . 
         [0024]    The case  2  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) defines a peripheral opening  26  in one panel of the case  2  for interfaces of the portable device to be accessible. The peripheral opening  26  allows peripherals to connect to the interfaces of the portable device without removing the portable device out of the case  2 . In the preferred embodiment, a half-circular top opening defined on a front panel  212  of the cover  21  is aligned with a half-circular bottom opening defined on a front panel  222  of the holder  22 , thereby collaboratively forming the peripheral opening  26  that is an oval form when the case  2  is in a closed state. A half-circular top rim  217  and a half-circular bottom rim  227  extend along an edge of the half-circular top opening and the half-circular bottom opening respectively. 
         [0025]    The case  2  further includes a flange  25  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) formed along a middle position of the left panel, the rear panel, and the right panel of the case  2 . The flange  25  is formed by a cover rim  216  of the cover  21  and a holder rim  226  of the holder  22  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The cover rim  216  extends along from an outer edge of the three panels (namely a right panel  213 , a rear panel  214 , and a left panel  215 ) of the cover  21  and ends of the rim  226  connect to ends of the rim  227  correspondingly. The holder rim  226  is extends from the edge of the three panels (namely a right panel  223 , a rear panel  224 , and a left panel  225 ) of the holder  22  and ends of the holder rim  226  connect to ends of the rim  227  correspondingly. Furthermore, when a state of the case  2  is the closed state, a bottom surface of the rim  216  is aligned and in contact with an upper surface of the rim  217 . 
         [0026]    The cover  21  and the holder  22  are fastened together with at least a latch. The latch may adopt any latching structures as long as a position of the cover  21  and the holder  22  are secured together. In the preferred embodiment the latch consists of two striking members  228  and two keeper members  218 . The keeper members  218  are defined on opposite sides of the cover  21  (i.e., the right surface and the left surface) correspondingly. Each of The keeper members  218  defines a recess  210  on the cover rim  216  further defining a groove  219 . The striking members  228  are disposed on opposite sides of the holder  22  (i.e., the right surface and the left surface) correspondingly. Each of The striking members  228  defines an extension  220  on the holder rim  226  further defining a bolt  229 . The extension  220  extends from a top surface of the holder rim  226  corresponding to the recess  210  of the keeper member  218 , and the bolts  229  protrudes out of the extensions  220  corresponding with the groove  219  of the cover rim  216 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  illustrate structural specifications of the jacket  3 . The jacket  4  composes of wear-resisting materials. The jacket  3  defines a peripheral opening  36  corresponding to a size and a shape of the peripheral opening  26  of the case  2 . The jacket  3  further defines a groove  35  excavated on the interior wall of the left side, rear side and right side to be inserted with the flange  25  of the case  2  correspondingly. 
         [0028]    The following steps illustrate how to assemble the protective apparatus  1  accommodating the portable device in. Firstly, insert the portable device into the holder  22  and then close the cover  21  Secondly, sleeve the jacket  3  onto the case  2 ; thirdly, connect an earphone connecting wire to the interface of the portable device through the peripheral opening  36  of the jacket  3  and the peripheral opening  26  of the case  2 . After the portable device is accommodated in the protective apparatus  1 , the portable device is controllable by operating the operation keys exposed by the cover opening  24  on the top panel  211 . The information displayed by the portable device is viewable via the transparent area of the case  2 . Sound can be listened from outputting by the portable device by using an earphone. 
         [0029]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.