Abstract:
A color-conversion kit for a mobile electronic device, such as a mobile phone, comprises a front member, a back member, a side strip member, and a bumper member. The front member is adhered to the display side of the mobile electronic device while the back member is adhered to the back of the mobile electronic device. The side strip member is adhered to the sides of the mobile electronic device. The bumper member is applied to the sides of the electronic device over the side strip member. A transparent portion of the bumper member allows viewing of the side strip member even though covered by the bumper member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. The Field of the Present Disclosure 
         [0004]    The present disclosure relates generally to mobile electronic devices, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to accessories for changing the appearance of mobile electronic devices. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0006]    With the proliferation of mobile electronic devices, accessories for the devices have also risen in popularity. Perhaps the most popular accessories for mobile electronic devices include screen protectors and protective cases. The purpose of the screen protectors is primarily to protect the displays of the devices from scratches. In this regard, screen protectors may comprise a thin sheet of transparent material. The primary purpose of the protective cases is to protect the devices from damage caused by impacts. 
         [0007]    Manufacturers typically offer mobile electronic devices in limited color schemes. For example, the popular iPhone, manufactured by Apple Inc., is available in only two color schemes, black and white. Often times, users desire the ability to change the factory color scheme of their electronic devices. While protective cases may provide the ability to change a color of an electronic device, protective cases typically fail to provide a suitable full-color conversion of the electronic device. Some accessories are adapted to replace the original housing of a mobile phone. However, this approach is disfavored since it may void the manufacturer&#39;s warranty. 
         [0008]    Thus, despite the advantages of known mobile electronic device accessories, improvements are still being sought. For example, there exists a need for a cost-effective, full-color conversion kit for mobile electronic devices. The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present disclosure. The present disclosure minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein. 
         [0009]    The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the present disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts the components of a color-conversion kit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts applying a front member to a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts applying a back member to the mobile phone depicted in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts applying a side strip member to the mobile phone depicted in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  depicts applying a bumper member to the mobile phone depicted in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  depicts a color-conversion kit installed on the mobile phone depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure claimed. 
         [0018]    In describing and claiming the present disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below. It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “having,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. 
         [0019]    Applicant has discovered a full-color conversion kit for use with mobile electronic devices. As used herein, the term “mobile electronic device” refers to mobile phones and electronic music players, tablets, and other hand-held mobile electronic devices. Examples of mobile phones include iPhones manufactured by Apple Inc. and the Galaxy S phones manufactured by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Applicant&#39;s full-color conversion kit may be modular and may comprise a front piece, a rear piece, a side strip piece, and a bumper piece. When installed, the Applicant&#39;s kit provides a full-color conversion kit for a mobile electronic device. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted the components of a full-color conversion kit  100  for a mobile electronic device  200  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The kit  100  may comprise a front member  102 , a back member  104 , a side strip member  106 , and a bumper member  108 . In an embodiment, the front member  102  may be formed of a rigid material, such as glass or plastic. The front member  102  may include a transparent portion  110 . The transparent portion  110  may be configured and dimensioned to correspond in size to a display portion on the electronic device  200 . The front member  102  may further include an opaque portion  112 . The opaque portion  112  may extend along the borders of the transparent portion  110 . In an embodiment, the opaque portion  112  may have a desired color. 
         [0021]    The opaque portion  112  of the front member  102  may further comprise a plurality of openings  114 . The openings  114  may allow access to any control buttons of the device  200 . The openings  114  may also ensure that any microphones, speakers, lenses of the device  200  remain unobstructed. The kit  100  may further comprise button covers  116  that are configured and dimensioned to fit over any control buttons of the device  200 . 
         [0022]    A rear surface of the front member  102  may include an adhesive layer for securing it to the front of the device  200 . The adhesive layer may be covered with a thin plastic sheet that is removed just prior to installation. The dimensions of the front member  102  may correspond to the dimensions of the front surface of the device  200 . In an embodiment, a thickness of the front member  102  may be about 1 millimeter. In an embodiment, the thickness of the front member  102  may be less than 1 millimeter. In an embodiment, the thickness of the front member  102  may be more than 1 millimeter. In an embodiment, the front member  102  may have a width of about 5 to 6 millimeters and a height of about 11 to 13 millimeters. 
         [0023]    The back member  104  may be comprised of a flexible and resilient material. A surface of the back member  104  may include an adhesive layer to secure the back member  104  to a backside of the device  200 . The adhesive layer may be covered with a material, such as wax paper, that is removed just prior to installation. The back member  104  may include a cutout  118  for a camera lens or speakers of the device  200 . In an embodiment, the back member  104  may have a desired color. 
         [0024]    The side strip member  106  may be comprised of a flexible and resilient material. A surface of the side strip member  106  may include an adhesive layer to secure the side strip member  106  to a side of the device  200 . The adhesive layer may be covered with a material, such as wax paper, that is removed just prior to installation. The side strip member  106  may include cutouts for buttons, speakers, and plugs extending from, or located in, the side of the device  200 . In an embodiment, the side strip member  106  may have a desired color. 
         [0025]    The bumper member  106  may include a wall  120  that defines a space  122  for receiving the mobile electronic device  200 . The wall  120  may be constructed of a resilient material in order to provide protective cushioning. The wall  120  may include openings for allowing user access to buttons, speakers, ports, and plugs extending from the sides of the device  200 . The openings in the wall  120  may also provide access to plugs and ports of the electronic device  200 . In addition, the wall  120  may include its own buttons that overlay buttons extending from the sides of the device  200 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2-6 , the method of installing the kit  100  onto the electronic device  200  are shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that the order of the method shown in  FIGS. 2-6  may be varied. That is, it will be appreciated that the installation of the kit  200  need not be performed according to the order shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , and that the scope of the present invention is sufficiently broad to cover the components of the kit  200  being installed onto the electronic device  200  in any order. 
         [0027]    First, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the front member  102  of the kit  100  is installed onto the front or display side of the electronic device  200 . In particular, the button cover  116  may be installed into the button on the front of the device  200 . The front member  102  may then be installed by removing the plastic sheet over the adhesive layer on the underside of the front member  102 . The front member  102  is then aligned over the front of the electronic device  200  and then firmly pressed against the front of the electronic device  200  such that the adhesive layer joins the front member  102  and the electronic device  200  together. 
         [0028]    Second, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the back member  104  is then installed onto the back of the electronic device  200 . In particular, the protective wax paper covering the adhesive layer is removed. The back member  104  is then aligned and pressed firmly, and optionally heated, onto the back of the electronic device  200 , taking care that the openings in the back member  104  are properly aligned with the parts of the electronic device  200  that need to remain uncovered, e.g., the camera lens should not be covered. 
         [0029]    Third, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the side strip member  106  is then installed onto the sides of the electronic device  200 . In particular, the protective wax paper covering the adhesive layer is removed. The side strip member  106  is then aligned and pressed firmly onto the sides of the electronic device  200 , taking care that the openings in the side strip member  106  are properly aligned with the parts of the electronic device  200  that need to remain uncovered, e.g., any buttons, plugs and ports extending from the sides of the electronic device  200  should remain uncovered. 
         [0030]    Last, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the bumper member  108  is installed onto the sides of the electronic device  200  over the side strip member  106 . In this regard, the wall  120  of the bumper member  108  may include a pair of spaced apart opaque portions  124  and  126 . Interposed between the opaque portions  124  and  126  may be a transparent portion  128 . The transparent portion  128  may allow the side strip portion  106  to be viewed through the bumper member  108 . In an embodiment, the transparent portion  128  is absent from the bumper member  108 . The bumper member  108  may slightly deform in order to snugly fit onto the electronic device  200 . That is, the resilient nature of the bumper member  108  may secure it to the electronic device  200 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows the components of the kit  100  fully installed onto the electronic device. It will be appreciated that the components of the kit  100 , namely, the front member  102 , the back member  104 , the side strip member  106 , and the bumper member  108  (except for the transparent portion  128 ) may comprise a color. In an embodiment, each of the components of the kit  100  may comprise the same color. In an embodiment, one or more components comprise a different color or multiple covers. In an embodiment, the components of the kit  100  comprise a pleasing design. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, the kit  100  may include a wipe in a sealed packaged that may be utilized for cleaning the display of the electronic device. In an embodiment, the wipe is an alcohol wipe or a wet wipe. 
         [0033]    It will be appreciated that the structure and apparatus disclosed herein is merely one example of a means for converting a color of a mobile electronic device, and it should be appreciated that any structure, apparatus or system for converting a color of a mobile electronic device which performs functions the same as, or equivalent to, those disclosed herein are intended to fall within the scope of a means for converting a color of a mobile electronic device, including those structures, apparatus or systems for converting a color of a mobile electronic device which are presently known, or which may become available in the future. Anything which functions the same as, or equivalently to, a means for converting a color of a mobile electronic device falls within the scope of this element. 
         [0034]    In accordance with the features and combinations described above, a useful method of converting a color of a mobile electronic device includes the steps of: 
         [0035]    (a) installing a front member onto the display side of the electronic device; 
         [0036]    (b) installing a back member onto the backside of the electronic device; 
         [0037]    (c) installing a side strip member onto the sides of the electronic device; and 
         [0038]    (d) installing a bumper member onto the sides of the electronic device. 
         [0039]    Those having ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate the advantages provided by the features of the present disclosure. For example, it is a feature of the present disclosure to provide a color conversion kit on an electronic device. Another feature of the present disclosure to provide such a color conversion kit having a protective bumper member. It is a further feature of the present disclosure, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide a kit for mobile phones. 
         [0040]    In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description of the Disclosure by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0041]    It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.