Abstract:
A portable electronic device case assembly is provided that includes a device mount, a device case, and a retractable tether therebetween. The device mount is a body-worn support that includes a receptacle for supporting the device case, a battery power supply, and a tether spool. The device case is a support for a handheld electronic device that is adapted to fit within the interior of the device mount. The tether is supported on the tether spool and is used to connect the device mount to the device case. When the device case is supported within the device mount, an electrical connector couples to the portable electronic device in order to power the battery thereof. Several embodiments are disclosed, including a device mount with a pivotable electrical connector, a two-part device mount to assist receiving the device case, as well as various connection methods between the device case and device mount.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/138,737 filed on Mar. 26, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to protective cases for portable electronic devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a protective case assembly that includes a body-worn device mount, a device case, and a retractable tether therebetween. The device mount supports a retractable tether spool to prevent the device case from falling, and a battery power supply to charge the electronic device supported within the case when the case is coupled to the device mount. 
         [0004]    Smartphones and other electronic devices are now ubiquitous in modern life. These devices provide communication capabilities and convenient access to information. Their use is so prevalent that users handle and interrogate their smartphones on a regular basis, whereby the device is used consistently throughout the day. This frequent handling can lead to mishandling. It is common for smartphones and other electronic devices to be dropped, which can result in damage to the device. 
         [0005]    Most solutions to this problem involve a protective case around the chassis of the device. However, device cases are not completely reliable for protecting the integrity of the device, and particularly the screen of the device. High energy contact with a hard surface can still cause damage to the device, resulting in repair or replacement expenses. The present invention provides an improved electronic device case that involves a device mount and a device case. The device case supports the electronic device, while the device mount is body-worn. A tether therebetween ensures the device will not be dropped on the floor while in use. 
         [0006]    In addition, the tether of the assembly prevents snatch-and-grab theft while handling the device. That is, the tether prevents someone from swiping a user&#39;s device from his or her hands and stealing the same. The assembly of the present invention also provides a charging feature, which can be used to charge the battery of the device using a power supply within the interior of the device mount. When the device case is received within the device mount, an electrical connector couples to the electronic device and charges the batter thereof. Since the battery is disposed on the device mount, the battery size and weight does not affect the handling of the electronic device because the device case and the device mount are separable when the user engages the electronic device. Overall, the present invention provides a new, multi-function device case assembly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The following summary is intended solely for the benefit of the reader and is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present invention provides a new portable electronic device case assembly that can be utilized for protecting a portable electronic device and charging the device. 
         [0008]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable electronic device case assembly that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device case assembly that comprises a device mount, a device case, and a retractable tether therebetween. The device mount is body-worn, while the device case supports and surrounds a portable electronic device. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the device mount has a substantially rectangular shape with upstanding sidewalls, an open front surface, an interior surface, and a rear wall. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the device case comprises a substantially rectangular shape. The upstanding sidewalls, interior surface, and open front surface of the device mount form a receptacle adapted to receive the device case therein. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the tether extends between a lower end of the device mount and a lower end of the device case. The tether is supported on a retractable spool within an enclosure disposed within the device mount, the enclosure being disposed between the interior surface and the rear wall of the device mount. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly further comprising a battery power supply disposed within the device mount and an electrical connector. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the electrical connector is adapted to couple to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is supported by the device case and when the device case is positioned within the device mount. 
         [0015]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the connector is electrically connected to the battery power supply of the device mount and the electrical connecter is disposed along the lower end of the device mount. 
         [0016]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the retractable spool further comprises a spool and a return spring to bias the spool. The return spring biases the spool so the tether is tensioned and biased to return on the spool. Additionally, the spool may further comprise a ratchet and pawl mechanism to operably lock the spool in a static state when the tether is extended. 
         [0017]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly in which the battery power supply is disposed between the interior surface and the rear wall of the device mount. 
         [0018]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the device mount has an upper half and a lower half. The upper half and lower half are removably connected along a line of connection to facilitate placement of the device case within the receptacle of the device mount and to facilitate connection of the portable electronic device to the electrical connector. 
         [0019]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the electrical connector is pivotably mounted along the lower end of the device mount to facilitate connection of the portable electronic device to the electrical connector when the device case is positioned within the receptacle of the device mount. 
         [0020]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the device mount further comprises lateral tabs along the upstanding sidewalls thereof. The lateral tabs extend inward along the open front surface of the device mount and are adapted to be positioned over the device case, securing the device case within the receptacle of the device mount when the device case is positioned therein. 
         [0021]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device case assembly wherein the device mount further comprises hook and loop fastener material along the interior surface thereof. The device case further comprises corresponding hook and loop fastener material along a rear wall of the device case. The hook and loop material of the device mount and the hook and loop material of the device case are adapted to align and connect when the device case is positioned within the receptacle of the device mount. 
         [0022]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the portable electronic device case assembly of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the portable electronic device case assembly of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a two-part embodiment of the device mount. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of the electrical connector of the device mount. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a view of the device case received within the interior of the device mount. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a cross section view of the device mount. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a view of the portable electronic device case assembly of the present invention in a working state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the portable electronic device case assembly of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for supporting a portable electronic device case, tethering the same to the user, and charging the electronic device when the device is not in use. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0032]    The present invention is a multi-use portable electronic device case that tethers a portable electronic device  100  to the user and charges the same while not in use. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the portable electronic device case is an assembly comprising a device mount  10 , a device case  50 , and a tether  80  extending therebetween. Various embodiments are provided for the device mount  10  and device case  50 . The device mount  10  is a body-worn structure having a substantially rectangular shape with upstanding sidewalls  15 , an open front surface  20 , an interior surface  18 , and a rear wall  19 . The upstanding sidewalls  15 , interior surface  18 , and open front surface  20  of the device mount  10  form a receptacle  21  adapted to receive the device case  50 . The receptacle  21  is an open volume sized to receive the device case  50  therein, whereby the device case  50  is supported by the device mount  10  when mounted within the receptacle  21 . 
         [0033]    The device case  50  is a protective case around a portable electronic device that is sized to be received within the receptacle  21  of the device mount  10 . The device case  50  supports a portable electronic device  100 , whereby the device case  50  further comprises a substantially rectangular shape. The device case  50  comprises a plurality of sidewalls that surround the electronic device  100  and retain the same within the interior of the case  50 . Different embodiments are contemplated. In one embodiment, the device case includes lateral sidewalls  55 , a lower wall  56 , and an upper wall  57 . These walls surround the perimeter of the rectangular electronic device  100  and the outer edges of the walls  55 ,  56 ,  57  include an inward ledge that retains the electronic device  100  therein. This secures the chassis of the device  100  while permitting access to the screen thereof through an open upper surface  60  of the device case  50 . Depressible buttons  40  may be provided along the walls to facilitate depressing buttons or switches along the sides of the electronic device, depending on the make and model of the device  100  and the design of the case  50 . 
         [0034]    Extending between the device case  50  and the device mount  10  is an elongated tether  80 . The tether  80  extends between the lower end  16  of the device mount  10  and a lower end  56  of the device case  50 . Within the device mount  10  and referring now to  FIG. 6 , the tether  80  is furthermore supported on a retractable spool  65  within an enclosure  66  disposed within the device mount  10 . The enclosure  66  of the device mount  10  is disposed between the interior surface  18  and the rear wall  19  of the device mount  10 . The spool  65  is retractable and preferably comprises a ratchet and pawl mechanism  67  to operably lock the spool  65  after the tether  80  has been extended a desired amount while the electronic device  100  is in use. The spool  65  then can be unlocked and the spool  65  draws the tether  80  thereonto when the device case  50  and electronic device  100  are re-mounted on the device mount  10 . 
         [0035]    The spool  65  is a rounded member mounted on an axle and is freely rotatable therearound. Biasing the spool  65  is a torsion spring  68  along the axle that biases the spool  65  in the retraction direction. That is, in the direction to draw the tether  80  onto the spool  65  after the tether  80  has been extended. In one embodiment, an additional ratchet and pawl mechanism  67  is utilized in conjunction with the spool  65  to operably lock the spool  65  in a particular state after the tether  80  has been extended. This eliminates tension on the tether  80  after the device case  50  has been withdrawn from the device mount  10 . The ratchet and pawl mechanism  67  can then be released, allowing the torsion spring  68  to bias the spool  65  and draw the tether  80  onto the spool  65  as the device case  50  is mounted on the device mount  10 . The spool  65 , torsion spring  68 , and ratchet and pawl mechanism  67  are mounted within an enclosure  66  along the rear of the device mount  10 . These elements are internally supported within the device mount. The tether  80  extends through an aperture  46  along the base  16  of the device mount. 
         [0036]    In addition to a retractable spool  65 , the device mount  10  further comprises a battery power supply  300  disposed therein. The battery power supply  300  is a rechargeable battery pack that is adapted to recharge the electronic device  100  when the electronic device  100  is positioned in the device case  50 , and the device case  50  is mounted within the device mount  10 . The battery power supply  300  is an equal or larger battery that can charge the battery of the electronic device  100 , thereby extending operational periods between necessary charges. The device mount  10  therefore comprises a connector to connect a charging jack thereto, whereby the jack is connected to a wall outlet or similar power source to recharge the battery power supply  300  therein. 
         [0037]    In order to charge the electronic device  100  using the battery power supply  300 , the device mount  10  further comprises an electrical connector  200  adapted to couple to the electronic device  100  when the electronic device  100  is supported by the device case  50  and when the device case  50  is positioned within the device mount  10 . The connector  200  is electrically connected to the battery power supply  300  of the device mount  10  and the electrical connecter  200  is disposed along the lower end  16  of the device mount  50 . The type of connector  200  will vary depending on the type of electronic device  100  designed to be carried by the assembly. Several embodiments are provided for securing the device case  50  to the device mount  10  while simultaneously connecting the electronic device  100  to the electrical connector  200 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an embodiment of the device mount  10  in which the device mount  10  comprises a separable upper half  31  and lower half  30 . The upper half  31  and lower half  30  are removably connected along a line of connection  39  to allow the device mount  10  to separate and accommodate placement of the device case  50  within the device mount  10  while connecting the electronic device  100  to the electrical connector  200 . In this embodiment, the two halves operably separate and connect, thereby extending the gap between the upper end  17  and lower end  16  of the device mount. This allows the device case  50  to more easily slide into the open interior of the device mount receptacle  21  and to connect the electronic device  100  to the electrical connector  200 . 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the line of connection  39  between the two halves of the device mount  10  comprises a lap joint. A section  35  of the lower half  30  is overlapped by another section  36  of the upper half  31 , whereafter the inner surface  18  of each half, the sidewalls  15 , and the rear wall are all aligned and planar. This allows the two halves to form a singular receptacle  21 , whereby the inner surfaces of the two halves align and form planar surfaces. Locking tabs  37  may additionally be provided between the two halves to secure the halves in a connected state. As shown in  FIG. 3 , one or more tabs  37  may engages a corresponding tab aperture  38 , while holds the tab captive therein when engaged. The tab  37  can be separated when the user pulls the halves apart with sufficient force to overcome the friction of the joint. In some embodiments, the tab  37  may have a notch or ledge to improve the connection strength of the joint. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown another embodiment of the device mount  10 , whereby the electrical connector  200  is pivotably mounted along the lower end  16  of the device mount  10 . The electrical connector  200  is mounted on a base  205  that is pivotably connected to a pivot pin  206  extending laterally across the lower end  16  of the device mount  10 . This allows the base  205  and electrical connector  200  to pivot outward and outside of the receptacle  21  of the device mount  10 . The pivoted position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , facilitates connection of the portable electronic device  100  to the electrical connector  200  when the device case  50  is positioned within the receptacle  21  of the device mount  10 . The electrical connector  200  remains in electrical connection with the battery power supply  300  within the device mount in its stowed or pivoted position. In any embodiment, the electrical connector is electrically connected to the battery power supply and to any intermediate electronics that control the delivery of electrical power to the electronic device  100 . 
         [0041]    To ensure the device case  50  is retained within the device mount  10 , several embodiments of the device mount  10  and case  50  are provided. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the device mount  10  may further comprise lateral tabs  25  that extend inwards along the upstanding sidewalls  15 . The lateral tabs  25  extend inward along the open front surface  20  of the device mount  10  and inward from the outer edge  26  thereof. The lateral tabs  25  are adapted to be positioned over the device case  50  when the device case  50  is positioned within the receptacle  21  of the device mount  10 . The tabs  26  are sized to allow insertion of the device case  50 , whereby the tabs  25  may flex or the walls  15  of the device mount  10  may flex. Thereafter, the tabs  25  extend over the edges of the device case sidewalls  55  to secure the case therein. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , when the device case  50  is mounted in the device mount  10 , the tether  80  extends from the lower end  16  of the device mount  10  and preferably engages a slot  46  therealong. The slot  46  extends through the lower portion  16  of the device mount  10  such that the tether  80  does not interfere with the placement of the device case  50  therein. The slot  46  allows the tether  80  to extend through an aperture  45  in the lower sidewall  16  of the device mount  10  and connect to the lower sidewall  56  of the device case  50  when the two are connected. 
         [0043]    In addition or in lieu of lateral tabs  25 , the device mount  10  may further comprise hook and loop fastener material  28  along the interior surface  18  thereof as shown in  FIG. 2 . The device case  50  may include corresponding hook and loop fastener material  68  along its rear wall, whereby the hook and loop material  28  of the device mount  10  and the hook and loop material  68  of the device case  50  are adapted to align and connect to one another when the device case  50  is positioned within the receptacle of the device mount  10 . 
         [0044]    Additionally, the device case  50  may further comprise a strap  90  or retainer that extends across the open upper thereof to secure the electronic device  100  within the device case  50 . The strap  90  prevents the electronic device  100  from separating from the device case  50 , whereby the strap  90  may extend laterally across the case  50  and connect to the outer edges  66  thereof. However, it may be preferred that the case sidewalls include an outer lip that extends over the chassis of the electronic device  100  and secures the electronic device within the case  50  without an additional strap element. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the device mount  10  may further comprises a belt clip assembly along the rear wall  19  thereof. The device mount  10  is preferably a body-worn structure, wherefrom the device case  50  can be withdrawn and replaced. The tether  80  extends therebetween and can be used to retract the case  50  into the mount  10  and furthermore prevent the case  50  from falling to the ground while being handled. In one embodiment, the device mount  10  comprises a belt clip comprising a clip arm  160  mounted to a pivot pin  161  and biased in a closed position by a clip spring  162 . The spring  162  acts on one end of clip arm  160 , biasing a longer section of the clip arm  160  on an opposite side of the pivot pin  161 . The clip assembly is useful for mounting the device mount  10  to a belt or body-worn structure. 
         [0046]    It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0047]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.