Abstract:
A protective case for a smartphone has a planar portion of the length and width of the smartphone, an upper portion shaped to capture a smartphone leaving a touchcreen of unobstructed, the upper portion enabled to fasten to the planar portion, an opening into the planar portion, the opening having an axis at right angles to the plane of the planar portion on a side opposite the upper portion, pairing circuitry enclosed in the protective case for wirelessly pairing with the smartphone, a power source enclosed in the planar portion for powering circuitry and mechanisms in the protective case, a locking mechanism in the planar portion proximate the opening, enabled to engage to an anchor pin inserted into the opening, and circuitry enabled to accept an unlock command via wireless communication from a smartphone executing a security application, the command causing the locking mechanism to release from an anchor pin.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is in the technical area of smartphones, and pertains more particularly to devices and methods for securely docking a smartphone to another physical body. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Smartphones and carrier wallets and cradles are very well known in the art, and afford some security to carrying a smartphone and having ready access for use. The security level of conventional carrying apparatus, however, leaves a lot to be desired, and thieves everywhere continue to target smartphones for theft. One of the problems is that a conventional carrying device for carrying a smartphone attached to a belt, for example, is not difficult to remove from the belt. What is clearly needed is a very secure way to lock smartphones and carriers to personal items or other anchors, which will be very difficult to release. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one embodiment of the present invention a protective case for a smartphone is provided, comprising a planar portion of about the length and width of the smartphone, an upper portion shaped to capture the smartphone around a periphery, leaving a touchcreen of the smartphone unobstructed, the upper portion enabled to fasten securely to the planar portion, securely capturing the smartphone, an opening into the planar portion, the opening having an axis at right angles to the plane of the planar portion on a side opposite the upper portion, wireless pairing circuitry enclosed in the protective case for wirelessly pairing with the smartphone, a power source enclosed in the planar portion for powering circuitry and mechanisms in the protective case, a locking mechanism implemented in the planar portion proximate the opening, enabled to engage to an anchor pin inserted into the opening, and circuitry enabled to accept an unlock command via wireless communication from a smartphone executing a security application, the command causing the locking mechanism to release from an anchor pin. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment the locking mechanism comprises at least one locking pin urged toward the opening by a spring element in a direction parallel to the plane of the planar portion, such that an anchor pin entering the opening causes the locking pin to retract against the spring element until a groove in the anchor pin is encountered, at which point the spring element urges the locking pin into the groove, locking the anchor pin to the planar portion of the protective case. Also in one embodiment the protective case comprises two locking pins urged from opposite sides toward the opening by two respective spring elements. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment the at least one locking pin translates in a bore having an axis parallel to the plane of the planar portion, the locking pin has a ferromagnetic element, and an electromagnet proximate the bore, when activated, causes the locking pin to retract, releasing the anchor pin. Also in one embodiment the protective case further comprises a switching element at a closed end of the opening, such that an anchor pin fully inserted into the opening operates the switching element, sending a command to a paired smartphone to execute the security application. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the invention a protective case and smartphone assembly is provided, comprising a planar portion of the protective case of about the length and width of the smartphone, an upper portion capturing the smartphone around a periphery, leaving a touchcreen of the smartphone unobstructed, the upper portion fastening securely to the planar portion, securely capturing the smartphone, an opening into the planar portion, the opening having an axis at right angles to the plane of the planar portion on a side opposite the upper portion, pairing circuitry enclosed in the protective case for wirelessly pairing with the smartphone, a power source enclosed in the planar portion for powering circuitry and mechanisms in the protective case, a locking mechanism implemented in the planar portion proximate the opening, enabled to engage to an anchor pin inserted into the opening, and circuitry enabled to accept an unlock command via wireless communication from the smartphone executing a security application, the command causing the locking mechanism to release from an anchor pin. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the assembly the locking mechanism comprises at least one locking pin urged toward the opening by a spring element in a direction parallel to the plane of the planar portion, such that an anchor pin entering the opening causes the locking pin to retract against the spring element until a groove in the anchor pin is encountered, at which point the spring element urges the locking pin into the groove, locking the anchor pin to the planar portion of the protective case. Also in one embodiment there are two locking pins urged from opposite sides toward the opening by two respective spring elements. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment the at least one locking pin translates in a bore having an axis parallel to the plane of the planar portion, the locking pin has a ferromagnetic element, and an electromagnet proximate the bore, when activated, causes the locking pin to retract, releasing the anchor pin. Also in one embodiment the protective case further comprises a switching element at a closed end of the opening, such that an anchor pin fully inserted into the opening operates the switching element, sending a command to a paired smartphone to execute the security application. 
         [0011]    In yet another aspect of the invention an anchor object is provided, comprising a substantially planar portion, and a cylindrical anchor pin securely attached to the planar portion, the anchor pin having a major diameter, an axis at a right angle to the plane of the planar portion, a rounded end away from the planar portion, and a groove having a minor diameter less than the major diameter, the groove implemented to provide a locking element. In one embodiment the planar portion has substantially the length and width of a smartphone, comprises clips around a periphery enabled to capture and hold a smartphone, and guide loops on a side opposite the clips to engage a user&#39;s belt. In another embodiment the planar portion has substantially the length and width of a smartphone, comprises clips around a periphery enabled to capture and hold a smartphone, an extended element in the plane of the planar portion enabling connection to a lanyard, and an opening through the planar portion providing unobstructed visual access for a camera lens and flash of a smartphone. In yet another embodiment the planar portion forms a pocket to hold a smartphone, and there are secondary pockets for cash and credit cards. In still another embodiment the substantially planar portion is a disk with the anchor pin mounted about in the center of the disk. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIGS. 1   a, b  and  c  is an elevation view of the back, edge and front of a familiar smartphone. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the smartphone of  FIG. 1  including a protective case. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of the smartphone and case of  FIG. 2 , including a flexible bumper covering. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view of a smartphone and protective case in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of an anchor pin  51  securely attached to an anchor object in an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a plan view from above of a locking apparatus in an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the locking pin of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a view from above of the locking apparatus of  FIG. 6  showing the apparatus unlocked. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9   a - 9   d  illustrates a process of joining and locking a protective cover and smartphone assembly in an embodiment of the invention to an anchor pin. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10   a  illustrates a front view of an anchor object for locking a protective cover and smartphone assembly to a user&#39;s belt. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10   b  shows a backside of the object of  FIG. 10   a , illustrating guide loops for a user&#39;s belt. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  illustrates an anchor object for use with a lanyard in an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  illustrates an anchor object for use with clothing or other material in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  illustrates a wallet anchor object in an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]      FIGS. 1   a, b  and  c  illustrate an elevation view of the back, edge and front of a familiar smartphone  101 . This example illustrates a Samsung Galaxy S III™ cellular telephone, but this is meant to represent all of the many sorts and models of cellular telephones that are currently available.  FIG. 1   a  is an elevation view of the back  102  of this representative smartphone  101 , showing a flash illuminator  104  for photography, a camera lens  105 , a speaker  106 , a power/reset/lock key  109 , a volume key  108 , and various indicia identifying the make a model of the smartphone.  FIG. 1   b  is a side view of smartphone  101  illustrating the volume key  108  and the front edge  103  and back edge  102 .  FIG. 1   c  is an elevation view of the front  103  of smartphone  101 , showing the keys  108  and  109  previously described a microphone bar  110  and a “home” key  107 . 
         [0027]    Smartphone  101  as described above is exemplary of many such phones which have similar I/O interfaces and functions. In providing a carrier or case for such a smartphone it is important that the microphone be unobstructed, the camera lens and the flash are unobstructed, and that the face of the phone, which is in most cases a touch screen for input and graphical output, be presented to the user in a manner that the features may be used. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the smartphone of  FIG. 1  including a hard-plastic protective case  201 . The protective case is not a requirement to carry and use the smartphone, but users typically opt for such a case to protect the usually-expensive devices. Referring back to  FIGS. 1   a, b  and  c , attention is drawn to the touch-screen face of the smartphone, to the buttons on the front and edges, and to the flash, camera lens and speaker on the back. 
         [0029]    Protective case  20 , typically fashioned of hard plastic material, is substantially open in the front, so the touch screen and the front buttons are accessible to use the smartphone. The protective case curves over the outer periphery of the front of the smartphone, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Buttons  108  and  109  are seen in this view as dotted (hidden). 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of smartphone  101  and protective case  201  taken along section line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , at about the center of the telephone vertically, and includes a rubber (or rubberlike) bumper sleeve  303  which in many instances is used to stretch over the hard-plastic protective case, to add shock protection in the case the smartphone might be dropped or banged against some object. 
         [0031]    Hard plastic protective case  201  in this example is made in two pieces, being a front piece  301  that registers over the front of the smartphone around the outer edges, and a back piece  302  that substantially covers the back of the smartphone, except for openings that are provided for the flash device, the camera lens and the speaker (openings not shown). Thickness “t” of the back piece over the back of the smartphone is typically of the order of one-eighth of an inch, but may be different in different models of protective covers for different makes and models of telephones. 
         [0032]    Front piece  301  and back piece  302  register and snap together by snap devices (not shown) around the edges. These snap devices, and protective covers of this sort are well-known in the art, and are therefore not shown or described in additional detail. The rubberlike bumper cover  303 , if used, is all one piece, and also has openings for the flash, lens and speaker if the back is covered, but in some instances is open on the back as well as the front, so it acts as a bumper around all four edges. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a cross section of a plastic protective case in an embodiment of the present invention, including unique enhancements to provide secure locking of the case to various other objects and apparatus, such as a desktop, a belt interface, or a lanyard interface, to name just a few of possible anchor points. In this embodiment the back piece  403 , comprising a substantially planar portion of protective cover  401 , has a thickness “t” greater than that thickness for the conventional protective cover  201 . This thickness in one embodiment is about one-quarter of an inch, and provides volume in the planar back piece of the protective cover for a locking apparatus  404  and Bluetooth or other wireless pairing circuitry  406  implemented within the back piece  403  of protective cover  401 . In some alternative embodiments the thickness is less than one-quarter of an inch. No detail of the locking apparatus or the pairing circuitry is shown in this illustration due to limitation of scale. This detail is shown in other drawings described in enabling detail below. An opening  405  is provided from the outside of protective cover  401  through back piece  403  into the region of the locking apparatus  404 . This opening is to receive a shaft or other protrusion of an anchor object or apparatus, details of which are shown and described below in various embodiments. This opening may be round or of other geometric cross section to accommodate shafts or protrusions of other shapes than round. Further a battery  407  provides power for operation of both the locking apparatus and the Bluetooth pairing circuitry. It is known to the inventor that power may also be supplied via solar cell resident on protective cover  401  so that a battery is not needed. Opening  405  in various embodiments does not pass all the way through back piece  403 , and there may be a switching element  408  at the closed end of the opening to sense that an extension entering the opening is, in fact, present and fully extended into the opening to the closed end of the opening. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of an anchor pin  501  securely attached to an anchor object  502 . Attachment to the anchor object may be by any one of a variety of ways, depending at least partly on the nature of the anchor object. The pin may be screwed to the object, welded, soldered, glued or attached in another way. 
         [0035]    Pin  501  in this embodiment is shown considerably magnified to describe detail. Pin  501  in this embodiment has a length “L” of about one-quarter of an inch, and a major diameter “D” of about one-sixteenth inch, a ratio of length to diameter of 4:1. Pin  501  in this embodiment has a circumferential groove  503  of a height “1” of about one-sixteenth inch in this embodiment, and a depth of about 0.016 inch, making minor diameter “d” about one-thirty-second of an inch, or about 0.031 inch. The pin is rounded on the end away from the anchored end, and the reason for this is described below. 
         [0036]    Referring back to  FIG. 4 , pin  501  which may be anchored to a desk, a wall, a belt, and article of clothing, or to any of a variety of other objects, is meant to engage with case  401  through opening  405 , which provides access to a locking apparatus  404 , described in enabling detail below. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a plan view from above of locking apparatus  404  within the back piece of case  401 , with a pin  501  inserted in opening  405 , the pin shown cut off horizontally through the minor diameter “d” of the circumferential groove  503 . Locking apparatus  404  comprises in this embodiment two separate base bodies  608  and  609 , within which bores  602  and  603  are implemented. The diameter of each bore is about 0.063, and the depth of each bore is about 0.312 inch from common face  606 . After boring, the initial portion of a length of about 0.063 of each bore is machined to be square, rather than round. This portion served to house a square portion of each of locking pins  601 , and to guide the locking pins in operation without rotating. 
         [0038]    Two locking pins  601  are used; one inserted into each of bores  602  and  603 . The diameter of locking pins  601  is provided to be a slip fit in the bores  602  and  603 .  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of locking pin  601 , showing a 0.063 diameter round portion of length 0.250, and a square portion 0.063 on a side on one end. The square portion has a semicircular cutout of a 0.016 radius as shown. This square portion is made to fit into groove  503  of pin  501  from each side, and locks pin  501  securely when the locking pins  601  are extended from the bores  602  and  603 . 
         [0039]    Each locking pin  601  is biased toward pin  501  by a spring  604 , such that without pin  501  in opening  405  the locking pins are fully extended and will contact one another. Each locking pin  601  further comprises a ferromagnetic internal component  607 , and an electromagnet coil  605  is built into each of base bodies  608  and  609 , surrounding bores  602  and  603 , such that engaging the electromagnets will cause locking pins  601  to retract from the area of pin  501  against springs  604  to points  610 , the position shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  shows electromagnets  605  disengaged and locking pins  601  thus urged forward by springs  604  to meet at interface  606 , each locking pin at that point fully engaging pin  501  in groove  503 , if in fact pin  501  is fully inserted into opening  405 . In this embodiment extension of the locking pins is by springs  604 , and retraction of the locking pins is by engagement of the electromagnets surrounding bores. In some alternative embodiments extension and retraction may be accomplished both by electromagnet operation. 
         [0041]    It should be apparent that, without a pin  501 , typically joined to some anchor object, inserted in opening  405 , locking pins  601  will be urged forward to contact with the semicircular radii ends forming a circle of about diameter “d” us shown in  FIG. 8 . If, in that circumstance protective case  401  were to be positioned to engage a pin  501 , the rounded end of pin  501  entering opening  405  will urge locking pins  601  to retract against springs  604  until pin  501  is far enough into opening  405  that groove  503  lines up with the square ends of locking pins  601 , at which point the locking pins will snap forward, engaging groove  503  and securely locking protective cover  401  to whatever anchor object is holding pin  501 . This, in one embodiment, is the process of locking smartphone  101  held in protective cover  401  to an anchor object such as a user&#39;s desk, belt, or an article of clothing or lanyard carrier. The action in this embodiment locking the smartphone to an anchor object is fully manual, and requires no electromechanical manipulation. 
         [0042]    Unlocking smartphone  101 , once locked to an anchor object requires retraction of locking pins  601 , which in this embodiment is accomplished by engaging electromagnets  605 .  FIGS. 9   a, b, c  and  d  illustrate a process of locking smartphone  101 , held in case  401  to an anchor object, and subsequently unlocking from the anchor object and taking smartphone  101  away from its anchor. 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 9   a  smartphone  101  is held near a pin  501  mounted to an anchor object  502 . Moving the smartphone and carrying case to the anchor pin  501  in the direction of the arrow, such that opening  405  is engaged over the anchor pin will cause the locking apparatus  404  to engage pin  501  and lock securely, as shown in  FIG. 9   b .  FIG. 9   c  shows the smartphone locked to the anchor object and a software application  901  initiated on the smartphone. App.  901  is provided to enable unlocking from pin  501 . App.  901  is a very simple app. that is initiated by a user touching the touchscreen, stroking the touchscreen or providing some other pre-programmed initialization, such as a series of three taps on the touchscreen, fingerprint recognition or voice recognition. The enabling action may be with the touchscreen or with one of the buttons on the smartphone. Once the app is initialized, there are a variety of ways the locking apparatus may be caused to unlock the smartphone. For example, voice command mode may be initiated, and the user may verbalize a pre-configured voice command to unlock the smartphone. The user may say “unlock”, “release”, “gimme”, “pinnochio”, or any other voice command configured for the purpose, and may use settings for the smartphone to select or enter a different voice command for the purpose. 
         [0044]    Once the command is made, app.  901 , having paired with Bluetooth pairing circuitry  406 , communicates the unlock command to the locking apparatus, which engages electromagnets  605  powered by solar (not shown) or battery  407 , which retracts the locking pins and allows the protective case and smartphone to be removed. In one embodiment the retraction of the locking pins is timed to be on the order of at most a few seconds, after which the electromagnets are released, the locking pins are again urged forward by springs  604 , and the locking apparatus is thus reset to lock again to a pin  501  anywhere the user may choose to dock the smartphone. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments the anchor pin  501  and the locking pins  601  may be configured differently to lock and unlock. In some embodiments the lock to the anchor pin may be accomplished by a different locking mechanism. There needs to be an anchor mechanism that engages with the protective case, another mechanism for engaging and disengaging a lock, and a command sequence. In some embodiments the command may be a manual initiation with an I/O mechanism on the case itself, without an application on the smartphone. 
         [0046]    In the embodiments thus far described there is an opening in the back of the case, near the center, for entry of the anchor pin. Such entry is typically accomplished in these embodiments by moving the smartphone in its protective case to the anchor, the locking mechanism being in the protective case, not in the telephone. 
         [0047]    In some embodiments the opening for receiving the anchor pin may not be in the center of the back of the protective case. It may be at another point on the back of the protective case. Also in some embodiments there may be two or more openings for anchor pins, which also provides for a stable attachment to an anchor such that the smartphone might not rotate about the anchor pin while locked to it. In some embodiments one or more openings with locking mechanism may be implemented in one or more edges of the protective case. 
         [0048]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention an opening and a locking mechanism for locking to an anchor pin may be implemented in a smartphone as original equipment, and may be located in any convenient place on the smartphone. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 10   a  and  b  illustrate perspective views of an anchor apparatus  1001  to anchor a smartphone protective case to a user&#39;s belt. Apparatus  1001  comprises a substantially flat anchor plate  1001  with, in this embodiment, four molded clips  1003 , such that a smartphone as shown in  FIGS. 9   a - 9   c  in a protective case such as case  401  may be anchored to a user&#39;s belt  1004 . Anchor apparatus  1001  has an anchor pin  501  securely attached in substantially the center of the apparatus, extending on the side that a protective case would be snapped into the apparatus by clips  1003 .  FIG. 10   b  illustrates the apparatus of  FIG. 10   a  reversed to show the backside, including two guide loops  1005  in this embodiment, with the user&#39;s belt  1004  passed through both loops  1005 . 
         [0050]    A user may position the smartphone in protective case  401 . Case  401  having the opening and locking mechanism described above with reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , over apparatus  1001 , aligned with clips  1003 , and press the protective case into apparatus  1001 . The smartphone in the protective case will be clipped onto the apparatus  1001  by clips  1003 , and anchor pin  501  will enter opening  405 , causing locking pins  601  to retract until groove  503  is reached, at which time the locking pins will snap forward, and the protective case with the smartphone securely held in apparatus  1001  on the user&#39;s belt in a manner that it cannot be removed without the unlock command of the user, as described above. 
         [0051]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an anchor apparatus  1101  for anchoring a smartphone securely held in a protective case according to an embodiment of the present invention to a lanyard  1103  that the user may wear around the user&#39;s neck or body. Anchor apparatus  1101  in this embodiment is quite similar to apparatus  1001  of  FIG. 10   a , with two notable exceptions. Apparatus  1101  has a securely attached anchor pin  501  as described above, for locking to the protective case of the smartphone, and also has an extension  1102  attached or as a contiguous part of the apparatus, specifically for interfacing to a lanyard  1103 . Lanyard  1103  attaches to apparatus  1101  at an opening  1107  in one end of extension  1102 , and has a loop  1104  of a size that a user may put over the user&#39;s head, or another part of the user&#39;s person. Apparatus  1101  further has an opening  1106  through the plane of the apparatus that is positioned so that a smartphone carried in apparatus  1101  will have a clear view for the camera lens and flash of the smartphone. A user wearing the lanyard may the pick up the smartphone without releasing from the anchor device, and take pictures. The smartphone can also be rotated on the lanyard (hanging upside down) so that it can be picked up and viewed with ease by the user. 
         [0052]    In some embodiments apparatus  1101  may be larger, and may have a pocket of the size of the smartphone protective case, with an anchor pin in the pocket, such that the case and smartphone may be fitted into the pocket, where it will lock to the anchor pin. In this embodiment there may also be secondary pockets in the apparatus for such as cash, credit cards and the like, the apparatus serving as a wallet. 
         [0053]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an anchor apparatus  1201  for providing an anchor through a user&#39;s clothing, or through a wall or fabric portion of a variety of anchor objects, such as a wallet or luggage, for example. Anchor apparatus  1201  comprises in this embodiment a disk  1202  with an anchor pin  501  securely fasted substantially in the center of the disk. Anchor pin  501  may be longer than in some other embodiments to account for the thickness of cloth or wall thickness through which the pin may be inserted. A user may pass the pin through an article of clothing, or some other relatively thin structure, such that disk  1202  remains on one side and a smartphone in a protective case according to an embodiment of the invention may be anchored to pin  501  on the opposite side. In some embodiments there may be one or more extensions in the plane of the disk with tabs at a right angle to provide stabilization for a case, such that the case, one anchored, cannot rotate about pin  501 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 13  illustrates a wallet  1303  enabled as an anchor object in an embodiment of the present invention. In one variation the wallet may have an anchor pin as described elsewhere in this specification, the pin integrated with a flap of the wallet, and the enables phone  1302  may anchor to that pin. The pin may be added to a wallet using the anchor device illustrated in  FIG. 12 . In one embodiment the wallet may have a recessed pocket for the telephone. In yet another embodiment the phone may anchor to the wallet inside the folded wallet, either with or without a fitted pocket. It will be apparent to the skilled person that there may be many variations of the embodiments described herein, such as in size, material, details of construction and the like, all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is limited only by the claims that follow.