Abstract:
A protective cover for a portable electronic device, which is configured for supporting the device and for storing an earphone and cable, includes a casing body, a winding portion, a limiting plate, and a support plate. The device is received in a receiving portion in the casing body and the winding portion protrudes out of one side of the casing body spaced apart from the receiving portion, the winding portion being able to accept the cable of the earphone wound onto it. The limiting plate covers one side of the winding portion spaced apart from the casing body and defining an opening. The support plate covers the opening of the limiting plate and is rotatably coupled to the limiting plate. A ring-shaped accommodating space is defined between the limiting plate and the casing body for receiving the cable of the earphone wound onto the winding portion.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject matter herein generally relates to protective covers, and particularly, to a protective cover for a portable electronic device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A protective cover can receive a portable electronic device, thus providing support and protection to the portable electronic device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a protective cover. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the protective cover shown in  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another angle. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the protective cover shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of the protective cover shown in  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another angle. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the protective cover taken along line V-V of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the protective cover taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the protective cover of  FIG. 1  in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0012]    A definition that applies throughout this disclosure will now be presented. The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
         [0013]    The present disclosure is described in relation to a protective cover configured for receiving a portable electronic device and an earphone. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a protective cover  100  including a casing body  20 . The protective cover  100  can be configured for receiving a portable electronic device (not shown). The portable electronic device can be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone or a tablet computer. In this embodiment, the portable electronic device can be a mobile phone. The casing body  20  can have a shape similar to that of the portable electronic device, and a back surface and four side surfaces of the mobile phone can be closely attached to the casing body  20 , thus the mobile phone can be received in the casing body  20 . 
         [0015]    The mobile phone can be equipped with an earphone  200 . The earphone  200  can include two ear plugs  230 , two ear plug columns  250 , an earphone jack  260 , and a cable  280 . Each of the ear plugs  230  can be coupled to one end of the ear plug column  250  and connected to one end of the cable  280 . The ear plug jack  260  is coupled to the other end of the cable  280 . The ear plug jack  260  can be coupled to the mobile phone. 
         [0016]    The casing  20  can define two earphone receiving holes  2253  configured for receiving the two ear plugs  230 . The casing body  20  can include a first clamping portion  82  configured for clamping the earphone jack  260  and two second clamping portions  84  configured for clamping the ear plugs  250 . Each of the first clamping portion  82  and the two second clamping portions  84  can include two elastic arms  824  facing each other, to clamp an object. The first clamping portion  82  can be arranged at one end of the bottom plate  223  spaced apart from the earphone receiving holes  2253 , and the two second clamping portions  84  can be arranged near the two earphone receiving holes  2253 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5  illustrate that the casing body  20  can include a main body  22  and an embedded member  24 . The main body  22  can include a bottom plate  223  and four side plates  225  extending from edges of the bottom plate  223 . The bottom plate  223  and the four side plates  225  cooperatively form a receiving space  227  configured for receiving the mobile phone. In at least one embodiment, the bottom plate  223  can be substantially rectangular and can define a through hole  2232  and a latching groove  2235 . The through hole  2232  can be defined at about the central portion of the bottom plate  223 , and the latching groove  2235  can be recessed on a surface of the bottom plate  223  toward the receiving portion  227  and in communication with the through hole  2232 . The side plates  225  can be a first side plate  2252 , a second side plate  2254 , a third side plate  2256 , and a fourth side plate  2258 . The first side plate  2252  can be parallel to the third side plate  2256 , and the second side plate  2254  can be parallel to the fourth side plate  2258 . A width of the first side plate  2252  can be larger than a width of the third side plate  2256 . 
         [0018]    One side of the embedded member  24  toward the receiving portion  227  can define a pin receiving groove  242  configured for receiving a pin  300 . The embedded member  24  can further define two first grooves  244  at opposing sides of the pin receiving groove  242 , thus the pin  300  can be easily taken out from the pin receiving groove  242 . One side of the first side plate  2252  toward the receiving portion  227  can define a smart card receiving groove  2255 . The first side plate  2252  can further define two second grooves  2257  at opposing sides of the smart card receiving groove  2257 , thus a standby smart card  400  can be easily taken out from the smart card receiving groove  2255 . In at least one embodiment, the smart card  400  is a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. In other embodiments, the smart card  400  can be a memory card. When user need to connect the standby smart card  400  with the mobile phone, user can take the smart card  400  out from the smart card receiving groove  2255  using the pin  300 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5  illustrate that the embedded member  24  can be partially received in the latching groove  2235 . The embedded member  24  can include a winding portion  40 . The winding portion  40  can protrude out of the side of the embedded member  24  spaced apart from the receiving portion  227 . The winding portion  40  can include a first linear portion  42 , a second linear portion  44 , and two connecting portions  46 . The first linear portion  42 , the second linear portion  44 , and the two connecting portions  46  can cooperatively form a mounting portion  48 . In at least one embodiment, the first winding portion  40  can be integrally formed with the embedded member  24 . The protective cover  100  can further include a limiting plate  62 . The limiting plate  62  can be substantially rectangular. The limiting plate  62  can cover one side of the winding portion  40  spaced apart from the casing body  20 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5  illustrate that one side of the limiting plate  62  toward the winding portion  40  can include a protruding portion  64  and five clamping portions  66 . The protruding portion  64  can be substantially rectangular and formed at a central portion of the limiting plate  62 , to be received in the mounting portion  48 . One side of the protruding portion spaced apart from the limiting plate  62  can be adhesively attached to the embedded member  24 , thereby the limiting plate  62  can cover the first linear portion  42  and the second linear portion  44 . In at least one embodiment, the clamping portions  66  can be clasps, and the five clamping portions  66  can be arranged around the protruding portion  64 . Each of the first linear portion  42 , the second linear portion  44 , and the two connecting portions  46  can define a latching hole  423 , and each clamping portion  66  can be latched into a latching hole  423 . In other embodiments, the number of latching portions  66  can be two, three, four, or more than five. 
         [0021]    The limiting plate  62  can be larger than the mounting portion  48 , thereby the limiting plate  62 , the winding portion  40 , and the main body  22  can cooperatively form a ring-shaped accommodating space  70 . The accommodating space  70  can be configured for receiving the cable  280  around the winding portion  40 . After the cable  280  is wound on the winding portion  40 , the cable  90  can be received in the accommodating space  70 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6  illustrate that the limiting plate  62  can define an opening  622 . In at least one embodiment, the opening  622  extends from a portion adjacent to the second linear portion  44  to an outer edge of the limiting plate  62 . The protective cover  100  can further include a support plate  90  covering the opening  622 . One side of the support plate  90  spaced apart from the first linear portion  42  can be rotatably connected to the limiting plate  62 . The limiting plate  62  can further include two mounting shafts  624 . The limiting plate  62  can protrude from the bottom of the opening  622  of the limiting plate  62  and positioned near the second linear portion  44 . One side of the support plate  90  spaced apart from the first linear portion  42  can include two pivoting portions  92  corresponding to the two mounting shafts  624 . Each mounting shaft  624  can be rotatably received in a pivoting portion  92 , thereby the support plate  90  can be rotatably connected to the limiting plate  62 . 
         [0023]    In at least one embodiment, one side of the support plate  90  can include a clasp  94  protruding toward the first linear portion  42 , and one side of the first linear portion  42  toward the second linear portion  44  can define a locking groove  425  coupling to the clasp  94 . The locking groove  425  can be defined spaced from the latching hole  423 . The clasp  94  can be snapped into the latching hole  423 , thus the support plate  90  will not rotate relative to the mounting shaft  624 . 
         [0024]    In at least one embodiment, the embedded member  24 , the first linear portion  42 , the second linear portion  44 , the two connecting portion  46 , and the limiting plate  62  can be made of polycarbonate plastic, providing a protective cover  100  with high strength. The main body  22  can be made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thus the protective cover  100  can have good impact-resistance. The embedded member  24 , the first linear portion  42 , the second linear portion  44 , the two connecting portions  46 , and the main body  22  can be made by a two-shot molding process. 
         [0025]    In assembling the protective cover  100 , the protruding portion  64  of the limiting plate  62  can be attached to the main body  22 , and the limiting plate  62  can cover the first linear portion  42  and the second linear portion  44 . Then, the support plate  90  can be rotatably connected to the limiting plate  62 . 
         [0026]    In an initial state, the support plate  90  can be coupled to the limiting plate  62  by the clasp  94 . In use, the mobile phone can be received in the receiving portion  227 . When the earphone  200  is not in use, the two earphone jack  260  can be clamped by the first clamping portion  82 , the cable  280  can be wound to the first linear portion  42  and the second linear portion  44 , and the two ear plugs  230  can be received in the earphone receiving holes  2253 . 
         [0027]    The support plate  90  can be pulled by user, thus the clasp  94  can be taken out from the locking groove  425 , and the support plate  90  can rotate a predetermined angle relative to the limiting plate  62 .  FIG. 7  illustrates that the support plate  90  can be inclined to the limiting plate  62 , thus the casing body  20  (with the portable electronic device inside) can be supported by the support plate  90 , and the protective cover  100  can be placed on a desk. 
         [0028]    The limiting plate  62 , the winding portion  40 , and the casing body  20  of the protective cover  100  can cooperatively form a ring-shaped accommodating space  70  configured for receiving the cable  280 . As the support plate  90  is rotatably connected to the limiting plate  62 , the support plate  90  and the casing body  20  can support the electronic device at a predetermined angle. 
         [0029]    In other embodiments, the limiting plate  62  can be integrally formed with the first linear portion  42  and the second linear portion  44 , or mounted on the first linear portion  42  and the second linear portion  44 . 
         [0030]    In other embodiments, the embedded member  24  can be omitted, and the first linear portion  42  and the second linear portion  44  can protrude from the bottom plate  223 . 
         [0031]    In other embodiments, the second connecting portions  46  can be omitted, and the first linear portion, the second linear portion  44 , and the limiting plate  62  can also cooperatively form a ring-shaped space  70 . 
         [0032]    The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a protective cover. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.