Abstract:
Described is a protective device and system for a mobile computing device. The system comprises a rigid cage and a protective boot. The rigid cage is shaped to protect an attachment point of a mobile device receiving a removable connector. The rigid cage is shaped to receive the attachment point and the removable connector. The protective boot is shaped to receive the rigid cage and a portion of the mobile device. The portion of the mobile device includes the attachment point.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to protective devices and systems for mobile computing devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The use of mobile computing devices is prevalent in modern society. Such devices are commonly used for both personal and business tasks. Depending on its size, a mobile device may be carried in the user&#39;s hand, stored in a pocket, or attached to the user in another manner, such as by a wrist strap or belt clip. 
         [0003]    Many mobile devices contain sophisticated and fragile electronic components. In addition, mobile devices may also include jacks and/or connectors for peripheral devices such as head phones and earpieces. These connectors between the mobile device and the peripheral devices are also fragile. Such components or connectors can be damaged if a mobile device is dropped, and repair can be both expensive and time-consuming. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a protective device and system for a mobile computing device. The system comprises a rigid cage and a protective boot. The rigid cage is shaped to protect an attachment point of a mobile device receiving a removable connector. The rigid cage is shaped to receive the attachment point and the removable connector. The protective boot is shaped to receive the rigid cage and a portion of the mobile device. The portion of the mobile device includes the attachment point. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a mobile device according to the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of a protective boot according to the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of a rigid cage according to the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary embodiment of a binding element according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary embodiment of a cable and overmolded strain relief according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  shows a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of the mobile device and attached cable, overmolded strain relief and binding element according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  shows a second view of an exemplary embodiment of the mobile device and attached cable, overmolded strain relief and binding element according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary embodiment of the mobile device and attached cable, overmolded strain relief, binding element, rigid cage and protective boot according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The present invention relates to a boot that provides improved protection for a mobile computing device, including protection of attached peripheral devices and the user of the mobile devices. 
         [0014]    The present invention is described with reference to an exemplary mobile computing device. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be applied to any mobile computing device. In addition, the terms mobile computing device and/or mobile device will be used throughout this description to refer to any type of device that is mobile and includes a processor. Examples of mobile devices include, mobile phones, handheld computers, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), MP3 player, bar code reader, optical reader, digital camera, two way pager, etc. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a mobile device  100  having a first end  110  and a second end  112 . The mobile device also includes a display  102 , a keypad  104 , a jack  106  and an outer housing  108 . The display  102  may be any screen that provides visual output to the user. The user may accomplish manual input through the keypad  104 . The jack  106  may be sized and shaped to receive a plug, such as, but not limited to, an audio plug. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of a protective boot  120 . The protective boot may be, for example, molded using a low durometer rubber to be resiliently flexible. The boot  120  is sized and shaped to fit tightly over the first end  110  of the mobile device  100  and not dislodge inadvertently, but so that the mobile device  100  can also be removed and reinserted if the user desires. Those skilled in the art will understand that the protective boot  120  may be manufactured in different manners or made of different materials to accomplish the described function of the protective boot. In addition, the protective boot  120  is not limited to receiving the first end  110  of the mobile device  100 , but may be sized and shaped to receive any portion of the mobile device  100 , such as the second end  112  or any other portion thereof. That is, the protective boot  120  may be made of any material that allows the protective boot to be placed over a portion of the mobile device  100  and protects the mobile device  100 . 
         [0017]    Because the exemplary protective boot  120  will be placed over a portion of the mobile device  100  that includes the jack  106 , the protective boot  120  may include a first portion  122  which is sized and shaped to partially surround the jack  106  of the mobile device  100 . The boot  120  may also include a second portion  124  and vias  126  through which components of the first end  110  of the mobile device  100  may be accessed if desired. For example, the mobile device  100  may include a bar code reader or laser scanner having an access window in the first end  110 . The larger via  126  of the protective boot  120  may be sized so that the window of the scanner is protected, but not covered by the protective boot  120 . Thus, the scanner or reader may be continued to be used properly even with the protective boot  120  in place. Again, those skilled in the art will understand that the protective boot  120  may be sized and shaped to accommodate any features of the mobile device  100 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of a rigid cage  130 . In the exemplary embodiment, the rigid cage  130  is insert molded into the protective boot  120 . However, those skilled in the art will understand that the rigid cage  130  may be a separate component that is not joined to the protective boot  120 . The rigid cage  130  may be made of a material that is more rigid than the protective boot, for example, a rigid plastic. In the exemplary embodiment, the rigid cage  130  is designed to provide extra protection to the jack  106  portion of the mobile device  100 . The jack  106  portion may be more fragile than other elements of the first end  112  because the jack  106  will receive a plug of a peripheral device (e.g., an earpiece). Thus, the profile of the mobile device  100  with a plug connected to the jack  106  is an especially fragile area. Therefore, additional protection in this fragile area may be appropriate. Thus, when the rigid cage  130  is molded into the protective boot  120  and the combination is placed over the first end  112 , the rigidity of the cage  130  in combination with the protective boot  120  offers increased protection in the area of the jack  106 . 
         [0019]    Those skilled in the art will understand that the rigid cage  130  may also be sized and shaped to add additional protection to any component of the mobile device  100 . For example, the mobile device may include a series of jacks and each jack may have a separate rigid cage  130  or a single rigid cage  130  may protect multiple jacks. Thus, a single protective boot  120  may be reinforced with one or more rigid cages  130 . In addition, while the element  130  is termed a rigid cage, it does not need to be in the form of a cage, i.e., a structure having openings. For example, the rigid cage  130  may be in the form of a solid object without any openings. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary embodiment of a binding element  140  according to the present invention. In the exemplary embodiment, a first end  142  of the binding element  140  is affixed to the outer housing  108  of the mobile device  100 . The first end  142  may be affixed to the mobile device  100  by any standard means for affixing components used in the art (e.g., screws, adhesive, locking mechanism, hook and eye fastener, etc.). The binding element  140  may also include a second end  144 . In the exemplary embodiment, the binding element  140  is shaped such that when the first end  142  is affixed to the outer housing  108 , the second end  144  and the outer housing  108  form a substantially closed loop. The function of the binding element  140  will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary embodiment of a overmolded strain relief  150  and cable  160  of the present invention. The cable  160  may include a plug  162  sized to be received by the jack  106  of the mobile device  100 . The interior of the overmolded strain relief  150  is sized to tightly enclose a first portion  164  of the cable  160  in a manner such that the first portion  164  is stationary with respect to the overmolded strain relief  150 . The exterior of the overmolded strain relief  150  is sized and shaped to mate with the second end  144  of the binding element  140 . The cable  160  may also include a second portion  166  located between the first portion  164  and the plug  162 , as well as a third portion  168  located on the opposite side of the first portion  164  from the second portion  166 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary embodiment of the mobile device  100 , the binding element  140 , the overmolded strain relief  150  and the cable  160 . The plug  162  may be inserted into the jack  106  as shown. In the exemplary embodiment, when the binding element  140  is affixed to the mobile device  100 , the second end  144  of the binding element  140  and the outer housing  108  of the mobile device  100  enclose and constrain the movement of the overmolded strain relief  150 . As a result, the movement of the first portion  164  of the cable  160  is also constrained. 
         [0023]    This restriction of movement provides substantial protection to the mobile device  100 , most particularly to the jack  106 . Tension exerted along the third portion  168  of the cable  160  (as can result, for example, if the mobile device  100  is dropped) is absorbed through the first portion  164  of the cable, the second end  144  of the binding element  140 , the first end  142  of the binding element  140 , and into the outer housing  108  of the mobile device  100 . This prevents the tension from instead being absorbed through the second portion  166  of the cable  160 , the plug  162  of the cable  160 , and into the jack  106  of the mobile device  100 . In this way, the combination of the binding element  140  and the overmolded strain relief  150  prevents damage to the jack  106  that might otherwise result from the mobile device  100  being dropped or otherwise damaged from pulling on the cable  160 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows the same exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 6  when viewed from the opposite direction. While the combination of the binding element  140  and the overmolded strain relief  150  are sufficient to prevent damage to the plug  162  and jack  106  because of pulling or tugging on the cable  160 , the plug  162  of the cable  160  and the jack  106  of the mobile device  100  are exposed and remain susceptible to impact damage if the mobile device  100  is dropped. 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary embodiment of the mobile device  100  including all the protective elements described above, e.g., the protective boot  120 , the rigid cage  130 , the binding element  140  (not seen directly in this figure), the overmolded strain relief  150  and the cable  160 , all in the attached position. As described above, in this exemplary embodiment, the binding element  140  and overmolded strain relief  150  prevent damage to the jack  106  of the mobile device  100  caused by tension along the cable  160 . The exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  provides additional protection by the addition of the rigid cage  130  and the protective boot  120 . In this embodiment, the first portion  122  of the boot  120  and the rigid cage  130  are sized and shaped so that they surround the combination of the plug  162  and the jack  106 . The first portion  122  of the protective boot is shaped such that it does not impede the path of the cable  160  from the jack  106  to the binding element  140 . As described above, the rigid cage  130  provides added stiffness to the first portion  122  of the boot  120 . In this manner, the combination of the rigid cage  130  and the protective boot  120  provide impact protection to the plug  162  and the jack  106  if the mobile device  100  is dropped. 
         [0026]    As described above, the protective elements (protective boot, rigid cage, binding element, overmolded strain relief) have been described with reference to the specific embodiment of the mobile device  100  and its described size, shape and features. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the protective elements may be modified to fit and protect any type of mobile device without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0027]    The present invention has been described with reference to the above exemplary embodiment. One skilled in the art would understand that the present invention may also be successfully implemented if modified. Accordingly, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiment without departing from the broadest spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings, accordingly, should be regarded in an illustrative, rather than restrictive, sense.