Anti-slip electronic device sleeve

A fabric-based electronic device sleeve with a stiff directional nap lining the interior of a pocket. The directional nap (or plush) of the fabric is oriented to permit easy slidable insertion of an electronic device into the sleeve's pocket, with static friction forces between the directional nap and the device preventing the device from slipping out on its own or falling from the sleeve when held in a downward direction. As a user removes the electronic device from the sleeve, a gentle pull upon pinching the device between thumb and index finger overcomes the static friction forces between the device and the directional nap lining to permit easy removal and access.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to protective fabric-based covers for communication devices, and more particularly to an open sleeve having opposing internal layers of material with a stiff directional nap capable of engaging the smooth faces and contours of an electronic device to keep the device from falling out of the sleeve even when the open sleeve is held in a downward direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Users of small electronic devices, such as cellular phones, smart phones, tablet computers, and the like, need to protect the devices when not in use. The users also need to access the devices quickly, such as when a telephone rings, or a text message is sent to the device, and the user needs to remove the device from the sleeve to answer the call or read a message.

A typical sleeve design for these small electronic devices includes a fabric-based sleeve into which the device is slidably inserted. Most of these sleeve designs include a flap over the sleeve opening, secured by hook and loop fastener or other fasteners to safely retain the device within the sleeve. These flaps and other fasteners take time to open and close, and impede access to the device.

Consequently, whereas sleeves have been developed to provide protection for small, hand-held electronic devices, these sleeves exhibit one or more drawbacks that make them unsuitable. The drawbacks include: 1) fasteners over, around, or across the sleeve opening to retain the device within the sleeve; and, 2) open sleeve designs that do nothing to retain the electronic device within the sleeve when the sleeve is tipped or turned in a downward direction, thereby allowing the device to fall out of the sleeve and suffer damage.

Accordingly, there is an as of yet unmet need in the art for an electronic device protective sleeve that: 1) does not include a fastener over, around, or across the sleeve opening that impedes access to the device; and, 2) does not permit the device to fall out of the sleeve when the sleeve is tipped or turned in a generally downward direction.

THE INVENTION

Summary of the Invention

The inventive Anti-Slip Electronic Device Sleeve of this application protects electronic communication devices having a defined shape and generally smooth external contoured faces and edges. The sleeve comprises a top margin defining a first slot opening on a first end, a closed base margin on an opposing second end, and side walls generally spanning the first and second ends, said walls having an internal defined length. The sleeve is constructed primarily of one or more fabrics, said fabrics comprising a first external layer of material and a second internal layer of material. A maximum width of the slot opening, a maximum depth of the slot opening, and the internal defined length of the side walls generally conform to the defined shape of the device and define a pocket shaped for slidable insertion and removal of the device from within the pocket. The second internal layer of the material comprises a stiff, directional nap capable of engaging the smooth contoured faces and edges of the device inserted within the sleeve when the sleeve is held in a downward direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example, not by way of limitation of the scope, equivalents or principles of the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention.

In this regard, the invention is illustrated in the several figures, and is of sufficient complexity that the many parts, interrelationships, and sub-combinations thereof simply cannot be fully illustrated in a single patent-type drawing. For clarity and conciseness, several of the diagrams show in schematic, or omit, parts that are not essential in that diagram to a description of a particular feature, aspect or principle of the invention being disclosed. Thus, the best mode embodiment of one feature may be shown in one diagram, and the best mode of another feature will be called out in another diagram.

Anti-Slip Electronic Device Sleeve

In general terms, the Anti-Slip Electronic Device Sleeve comprises fabric with a stiff directional nap (similar to natural or synthetic sealskin) lining the interior of a pocket. The directional nap (or plush) of the fabric is oriented in such a way that it allows an item, such as a cell phone or other small electronic device, to slide easily into the sleeve or pocket, but be less inclined to slip out. As a user removes the electronic device from the sleeve, pinching the device (e.g., cell phone) between thumb and index finger substantially disengages the napped material from the surface of the device and overcomes the static friction between the device and the stiff directional nap to permit easy removal from the sleeve.

FIG. 1shows the inventive Anti-Slip Electronic Device Sleeve2containing an exemplary electronic device22held by a user24in a downward direction (arrow “D”) with electronic device22retained within the open sleeve2. Referring toFIG. 1, the sleeve2comprises top margin4having an open first end8defining a slot opening6, and an opposing, closed second end12. Fabric16external walls of the sleeve span the first and second ends8/12and extend between opposing side walls14/14′.

The internal fabric layers18have a stiff directional nap, as further described in connection withFIGS. 2-3C, infra. The width20of the slot opening6generally conforms to the width of the device22slidably inserted within the sleeve2. When the sleeve2is held in a downward direction (arrow “D”), the device22does not fall out of the sleeve2; rather, the stiff directional nap18engages the smooth contours of the device22to retain the device22in position within the sleeve2.

Referring again toFIG. 1, the sleeve2is constructed to conform to the shape of any desired electronic device22, including without limitation, cell phones, smart phones, media players, tablet computers, and the like.

FIG. 2shows a cross-sectional, exploded, partial view of the inventive Anti-Slip Electronic Device Sleeve2showing enlarged (not drawn to scale) internal opposing layers of material18with a stiff directional nap28. As shown inFIG. 2, the depth32of the pocket opening34is configured to generally conform to the depth of the device22(shown inFIG. 1) inserted therein for a snug fit. The stiff directional nap28is angled at an approximate 45 degree angle from the base material18. The angle of the nap28permits quick slidable insertion of the device22(shown inFIG. 1) into the sleeve's pocket34. The device glides easily into the pocket34. However, upon positioning of the pocket34in a downward direction, as shown inFIG. 1, a portion of the stiff directional nap28is inclined against the nap's natural or fixed direction, in a greater than 45 degree angle against the sides of the device22, thereby retaining the device within the sleeve2against the force of gravity. In other words, the angle of the directional nap28allows the device22to glide into the pocket34with minimal resistance, and thereafter prevents the device22from falling out of the pocket34. The material18is preferably lint brush or directional nap fabric, and is typically constructed from a polyester/cotton mix, but may be any suitable or desired types of material with a stiff directional nap or combinations thereof, including without limitation, a molded or formed plastic.

FIGS. 3A-3Cshow cross-sectional, exploded (not drawn to scale), partial views of the inventive Anti-Slip Electronic Device Sleeve2.FIG. 3Ashows an exemplary electronic device22being slidably inserted within a pocket34defined by layers of opposing material18with a stiff directional nap28. Referring toFIG. 3A, additional resilient foam layers26are laminated to the back side of the external fabric16/16′ and inserted between the material18having a stiff directional nap28, on the one hand, and the external fabric16/16′, on the other hand. The foam26is compressed (see arrows “F”) by the device22as it is slidably inserted within the pocket34. The resilient qualities of the compressed foam26in turn cause the foam to push against the material with a stiff directional nap18, thereby providing contact friction forces “F” between the directional nap28, on the one hand, and the external smooth faces of the device22, on the other hand. The foam26compression helps provide a snug, but not overly-tight, fit for the electronic device22retained within the pocket34.

FIG. 3Bshows an exemplary electronic device22at an initial moment of removal from the pocket34. As shown inFIG. 3B, the directional nap28is forced or inclined to a greater than 45 degree angle when engaged against the device22in a removal direction. The directional nap28pushes against the smooth faces of the device22, in part due to the opposing friction forces (“F”) generated by the compressed foam layers26.

FIG. 3Cshows an alternate embodiment for the material18with a stiff directional nap comprising coated directional nap30. As shown inFIG. 3C, the directional nap30may be treated or coated with one or more friction-enhancing materials to attain a better grip on the smooth device22. The coating may be applied to one side of the nap30(such as the side of the nap that comes into contact with the device22), or both sides of the nap, as suitable or desired. The coating may be polyurethane-based or any other suitable or desired coating material or layers of materials that increase the static friction forces between the directional nap, on the one hand, and the smooth external contours of the device, on the other hand.

In use, as described in connection withFIG. 1, supra, the device2is manually slid into the slot opening6at the first end8of the sleeve2. When the sleeve2is turned upside down, the stiff directional nap18engages the smooth contours and smooth faces of the device22and retains the device22within the sleeve2. The device22does not fall out the opening6at the top of the sleeve8when the sleeve2containing the device22is held upside down, even when the sleeve2is gently shaken along a vertical axis in a downward direction.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 3B, to remove the device22from within the sleeve2, a user24may insert a thumb and index finger of one hand to pinch the device22and commence pulling the device22out of the slot opening6. The slight pulling action overcomes the friction forces between the directional nap28and the faces of the device22and permits easy, slidable removal of the device22out of the sleeve2. In addition to the pinching action, or alternately, to remove the device22from within the sleeve2, a user24may pinch the side margins14/14′ of the sleeve2to physically separate the nap28from the device22, and thereby overcome the static friction forces.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

It is clear that the inventive Anti-Slip Electronic Device Sleeve of this application has wide applicability to the electronic industry, namely to provide a protective sleeve for electronic devices that allows for quick and easy access to the device, while simultaneously ensuring the safety of the device when the sleeve is held in a downward direction. With the growth in use of hand-held personal electronic devices, there is an increasing need for sleeves that combine quick access with device protection.

It should be understood that various modifications within the scope of this invention can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit thereof and without undue experimentation. For example, the sleeve may incorporate additional features such as attachment rings, key rings, carabiner clips, attachment clips, spring clips, belt clips, and the like. Any suitable or desired material may be used in lieu of the fabric-based external layers, including durable, hard materials. External pockets, external zippered pockets, and the like may be added to the external layers. The shape of the sleeve may conform to any suitable or desired size or shape of internal device. The slot opening may incorporate tabs, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, or any other closure mechanisms as desired. Multiple layers of internal foam of different types may be utilized; alternately, a clamp or bracket of spring steel, rigid plastic or similar material may be used to maintain engagement of the napped surface and the device. Directional nap of differing lengths and thicknesses may be utilized, and/or the internal layer may comprise select strips or other partial portions of material with a stiff directional nap as opposed to continuous, uninterrupted nap. The sleeve may be sewn to or otherwise adhered to another carrying item, such as a purse or laptop case, as opposed to being hand-held, thus creating an integrated pocket rather than a separate pouch/case. This invention is therefore to be defined as broadly as the prior art will permit, and in view of the specification if need be, including a full range of current and future equivalents thereof.