Abstract:
A portable digital media player case includes a front surface having at least one viewing window, a rear surface opposite the front surface, side surfaces and top and bottom surfaces. A winder is movable into and out of one of the surfaces, preferably the rear surface, between a closed storage position and an open position for receiving a cord.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a case for accommodating a portable digital media player, such as an Apple iPod.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     The tremendous growth in sales of portable digital media players has led to the development of many accessories which accommodate components of the various devices and generations thereof, such as the Apple iPod. Such accessories include cases which protect the iPod from shock, make it easier to grip and have openings for components of the device, such as to allow a cord of headphone earbuds to be plugged in.  
         [0005]     One such case produced by Marware is formed of neoprene and has a large opening for the display screen and click wheel and a flip-top. Another neoprene case produced by Incase has separate openings for the display screen and click wheel and a zipper closure. Neoprene fits loosely around the iPod and does not follow the contour thereof.  
         [0006]     A case which is manufactured by Speck is formed of KRATON® and has a dimpled exterior and an opening for various ports on the iPod. Silicone rubber cases made by iSkin, Xtreme Mac and Elecom fit tightly over the iPod and have separate openings for the display screen and the click wheel. Such cases are difficult to pull on and off the iPod. The Elecom case has a winder projection at the side for winding an earbud headphone cord. None of those prior art cases is easy to put on and take off the iPod, fits snugly around the iPod, protects the iPod from shock, and yet also provides a winding region for the earbud headphone cord which does not enlarge the dimensions of the case and which is unobtrusive when retracted.  
         [0007]     Several rigid cases are distributed under the names XtremeMac Shieldz, iPod Armor, Contour Showcase, Agent 18 Mini Shock and Macally IceCase. All of those cases are formed of rigid plastic, except for the iPod Armor which is formed of aluminum. None of those cases has a winding location for an earbud headphone cord.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a portable digital media player case, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type, which fits snugly, which protects against shock, which is easy to use and which has a winder for a headphone cord that retracts fully into the case and is unobtrusive when not in use.  
         [0009]     With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a portable digital media player case. The case comprises a front surface having at least one viewing window, a rear surface opposite the front surface, side surfaces and top and bottom surfaces. A winder is movable into and out of one of the surfaces between a closed storage position and an open position for receiving a cord. When retracted, the winder is unobtrusive and virtually disappears into the case.  
         [0010]     In accordance with another feature of the invention, preferably the one surface with the winder is the rear surface. The side of the iPod has no docks, switches or ports, so that it is the preferred location for the winder.  
         [0011]     In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the winder has at least one leg for sliding into and out of at least one channel formed in the rear surface between the closed storage position and the open position. Two legs preferably slide into and out of two channels formed in the rear surface. Although one leg is sufficient, two are more stable and provide a wider winding spool. The legs have prongs for gripping surfaces of the channels and retaining the winder in place. In this way, the mechanism for extending and retracting the winder is also free of protrusions extending beyond the plane of the surface of the case.  
         [0012]     In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the rear surface has a given shape and has a recess formed therein contiguous with the channels. The winder has a handle integral with the legs. The handle has an outer surface contoured to match the given shape. The handle is received in the recess with the outer surface of the handle being flush with the rear surface, when the winder is in the closed storage position. The winder also has a finger grip formed therein. Whether curved or angular, the winder merges completely into the case when in the closed position and is hardly noticeable when being handled during use.  
         [0013]     In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the winder has at least one slot formed therein for receiving the headphone cord when in the open position. This feature prevents the cord from unraveling.  
         [0014]     In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, there are provided front and rear panels forming two half shells. The front panel has the front surface and part of the side surfaces and the rear panel has the rear surface and part of the side surfaces. The front and rear panels are joined at a parting line. The front and rear panels each form part of the bottom surface. An upper panel having the top surface slides in grooves formed in the front and rear panels and has a finger grip formed therein. The two half shells snap together. The upper panel slides open and makes it very easy to put the portable digital media player into the case from the top.  
         [0015]     In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the upper panel has at least one opening formed therein for accessing components of the portable digital media player. At least one of the front and rear panels has at least one opening formed therein at the bottom surface for accessing components of the portable digital media player.  
         [0016]     Naturally, the location of the holes will change to accommodate the particular device to be placed in the case.  
         [0017]     In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, there is provided a mounting disposed at the rear panel for attachment of a belt clip. Such mountings are conventional and are known, for example, from cell phone cases.  
         [0018]     In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, there is provided a cover closing the at least one opening at the bottom surface. The cover is used, in particular, for covering and protecting a docking port.  
         [0019]     In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the front and rear panels are formed of rigid plastic. This material protects the portable digital media player from shock.  
         [0020]     Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0021]     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a portable digital media player case, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.  
         [0022]     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic, front-elevational view of a portable digital media player case according to the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a top-plan view of the case of the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a bottom-plan view of the case of the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a left side-elevational view of the case of the invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a right side-elevational view of the case of the invention, showing a winder in a closed storage position;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a rear-elevational view of the case of the invention, in which the winder is shown in the closed storage position;  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , in which the winder is shown in an open position;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , in which the winder is shown in the open position;  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , in which the winder is shown in the open position;  
         [0032]      FIG. 10  is a front and right side perspective view of the case of the invention with the winder in the open position and an earbud cord wrapped around the winder;  
         [0033]      FIG. 11  is a rear and right side perspective view of the case of the invention with the winder in the open position and a belt clip attached;  
         [0034]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the case of the invention; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 13  is a rear, top and left-side perspective view of the case of the invention showing a stand at the rear. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]     Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is seen a case  1  for a portable digital media player, such as an Apple iPod. The case  1  has a front panel  2  defining a front surface in which a window  3  for a display screen and a window  4  for a click wheel of the portable digital media player are formed as cutouts. A rear panel  8  of the case, which is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , defines a rear surface that accommodates a winder  9  which will be explained in more detail below. The case may be formed of rigid plastic, a rigid or flexible clear panel may be placed in the window  3 , but the window  4  normally remains an open cutout.  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  shows an upper panel  5  of the case  1  defining an upper surface having an opening  13  for a headphone port and a slot  14  for a hold switch, of the iPod. The upper panel  5  also has a finger grip  6  for removing the panel  5 .  FIG. 3  shows the bottom of the case  1  defining a bottom surface having a cover  15  with a live hinge for covering an opening  29  above a dock connector port of the iPod. It is understood, however, that other openings, covers and/or windows may be formed in the case to accommodate components of any generation iPod or other digital media player.  
         [0038]     It may be seen from the left and right sides of the case which define side surfaces and are respectively illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as well as from  FIGS. 2 and 3  described above, that both the front panel  2  and the rear panel  8  wrap around to the sides and the bottom and are joined at a parting line  7 . The parting line  7  divides the case into two half shells formed of the front panel  2  and the rear panel  8 .  
         [0039]     The winder  9 , which is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  in a closed storage position, is shown in  FIGS. 7, 8  and  9  in an open position. The winder  9  has a finger grip  10  which facilitates sliding the winder from the closed to the open position. The winder  9  has two legs  11 ,  12  with respective forked prongs  13 ,  14 . The legs  11 ,  12  slide in respective channels  15 ,  16  in the rear panel  8  to open and close the winder  9  toward the right side of the case while the prongs grip surfaces in the channels. It is, however, understood that the winder could also open towards the left side or towards any surface not having openings to accommodate components of the digital media player. It is also understood that only one leg and only one channel or more than two legs and more than two channels could be provided.  
         [0040]     The rear panel  8  also has a recess  17  formed therein which is contiguous with the channels  15 ,  16 . The recess  17  receives a handle  18  of the winder  9 . The handle  18  has an outer surface  19  which is contoured to match a given shape of the rear panel  8 , so that when the winder is retracted in the closed storage position, the outer surface  19  of the handle  18  is flush with the rear panel  8 , as is seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 10  discloses that earbud headphones  20  have a plug  21  to be inserted in the opening  13  and a cord  23  to be wrapped around the winder  9  when in the open position. Earbuds  22  on the cord  23  are held in place by inserting the cord  23  into one or two slots  24  formed in the winder  9 .  
         [0042]     As is seen in  FIG. 11 , a belt clip  36  is conventionally removably mounted on the rear panel  8  between the legs  11 ,  12  of the winder  9 . The belt clip  36  has an outer arm  37  and an inner arm  38  pivoted about a pin  39  having a non-illustrated spring for biasing the arms together to grip a belt. A mounting  40  is disposed in the rear panel  8  for attachment of the belt clip  36 , as is seen in  FIG. 9 . The clip and mounting are manufactured by Krusell under the designation MULTIDAPT®.  
         [0043]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the case  1  illustrating how the two panels  2 ,  8  come together at the parting line  7  with prongs  25 ,  26  disposed alongside the panel  5  as seen in  FIG. 3 . It may also be seen that the legs  11 ,  12  of the winder  9  slide into and out of the channels  15 ,  16  along a line  30  and that the upper panel  5  slides along grooves  31 ,  32  in the panels  8 ,  2  along a line  33  for insertion of the portable digital media player.  
         [0044]      FIG. 13  shows an L-shaped stand  41  having a short leg  42  and a long leg  43 . A recess  44  has a shape matching that of the stand  41  so that the stand  41  can be pushed and snapped into the recess  44  for storage or hinged at the top into the position shown for allowing the case to stand at a slight incline, but substantially upright, on a flat surface. A bevel  45  allows the user of the case to lift the stand  41  out of the recess  44  with a finger.  
         [0045]     The invention provides a rigid case for preventing shocks from reaching the digital media player. The case can be easily snapped together at the parting line. The winder  9  may receive the cord  23  in an open position or be stored in a closed position when not in use, so that it is unobtrusive and virtually disappears into the case.