Abstract:
A protective apparatus for a portable device is disclosed. The protective apparatus generally includes a main case configured for accommodating the portable device; an accessory case configured for accommodating accessories of the portable device; and a protective jacket including a main jacket and an accessory jacket, wherein the main jacket is configured for receiving the main case, and the accessory jacket is configured for receiving the accessory case; and a strap configured for joining the main jacket and the accessory jacket together. The protective apparatus not only can reduce the damage come from a sudden and violate collision to the portable device, but also provide a whole protection for the portable device without interfering the operation to the portable device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to a protective apparatus, particularly to a protective apparatus for a portable device and corresponding accessories. 
   2. Related Art 
   As the market trend of portable devices become smaller and tinier, protecting these small, tiny, multi-functioned, sophisticated portable devices has become a subject itself to electronics designers. Generally, not only does current portable devices have a liquid crystal display for displaying images and input keys for entering information, but are also fitted with interfaces for communicating with peripheral equipments, such as earpieces and cords. 
   Present protective mediums typically consist of a case and a cover for portable devices. When using a portable device with protective medium, the portable devices has to be taken out of the protective medium first before using the portable device. Some protective mediums includes a transparent membrane on an opening excavated in the cover for displaying the information displayed on the LCD (liquid crystal display), but such a configuration undermines a sturdiness of the protective medium. 
   The U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,405, entitled “Personal organizer case system”, issued on Mar. 6, 2001, discloses such a protective case for personal organizers. The case includes a base having a floor and two lower walls extending from the floor, a pair of hinge pins attached to opposing sides of the lower wall, a cover having a accessory cover with an open portion on the accessory cover, and a pair of slots receiving the hinges thereby deciding the protective case in an open or close state. The user has to open the cover to operate the input keys of the portable device accommodating in the protective case. 
   However the present protective case has three disadvantages, first of all, the protective case lacks a room for placing accessories of the portable device when the accessories are not in use. Second, the protective case lacks a shock-absorbing element. Lastly, the user has to open the cover before operating the portable device. 
   Accordingly, it would be advantageous if the protective case provides accessories case for placing accessories, a shocking-absorbing element for limiting harsh collisions. And it would be better if the protective case provides the user a genuine touch sense when operating the portable device. 
   SUMMARY 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known protective case now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a protective apparatus make up the shortcomings of present case. 
   To attain this, the present invention generally includes a main case configured for accommodating the portable device; an accessory case configured for accommodating accessories of the portable device; and a protective jacket including a main jacket, an accessory jacket and a strap, wherein the main jacket is configured for receiving the main case, and the accessory jacket is configured for receiving the accessory case; and a strap configured for joining the main jacket and the accessory jacket together. 
   A primary object of the present invention is to provide a protective apparatus with a space for accommodating accessories of the portable device. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective apparatus to reduce the damage come from a sudden and violate collision to the portable device. 
   An additional object of the present invention is to provide a protective apparatus can provide a whole protection for the portable device accommodated therein without interfering the operation to the portable device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a solid view of a protective apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the protective apparatus being in an opened state and including a main case and an accessory case; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the main case of  FIG. 1  in a close state; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the main case of  FIG. 1  in an explode state; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the main case of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the main case of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the accessory case of  FIG. 1  in an opened state; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the accessory case of  FIG. 1  in an explode state; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a protective jacket of  FIG. 1  in an opened state; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the protective jacket of  FIG. 1  in a closed state; and 
       FIG. 10  is a solid view of a protective jacket in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention in an open state. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  is a solid view of a protective apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in an open state. The protective apparatus  1  includes a sturdy main case  2 , a sturdy accessory case  3 , and an elastic protective jacket  4 . The main case  2  is configured for accommodating a portable device, and the accessory case  3  is configured for accommodating accessories of the portable device, such as an earphone cord, peripheral extension cables, and/or earplugs. The protective jacket  4  includes a main jacket  5  and an accessory jacket  6  and a strap configured for joining the main jacket  5  and the accessory jacket  6  together. The main jacket  5  and the accessory jacket  6  are structured for accommodating the main case  2  and the accessory case  3  respectively. 
     FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are perspective views of the main case  2  in a closed state and an exploded view respectively.  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  are a top view and a front view of the main case  2  respectively. The main case  2  includes a cover  21  and a holder  22  which secures each other tightly to form a vessel for accommodating various portable devices. In the first preferred embodiment, the main case  2  is designed for accommodating a portable device that is in a predetermined structure. The main case  2  is made of a sturdy, scratch resistant material so as to limit damage from any collisions the main case  2  sustains. 
   Referring to the cover  21 , at least an area of a top panel  211  of the main case  2  is constructed with transparent materials, thus, information displayed on the screen of the portable device can be viewed through the transparent area. In addition, the main case  2  defines one or more cover openings according to a shape and a position of the operational keys of the portable device when accommodated in the main case  2 , thus, allowing the operational keys to be accessible through the cover openings when the portable device is accommodated in the main case  2 . For example, in the first embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the main case  2  defines a cover opening  24  in a circular form towards an end of the top panel  211  so as to allow the operational keys to be directly accessible. 
   Referring to the holder  22  in  FIG. 3 , a soft pad  23  is disposed on a base panel of the holder  22 . The pad  23  is made of flexible material to dampen any impacts between the portable device and the main case  2 . The pad  23  further constricts the portable device within the main case  2 . 
   The main case  2  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) defines a peripheral opening  26  in one of panels of the main case  2  as an interfaces for the portable device. The peripheral opening  26 , allows the accessories of the portable device to connect to the interfaces of the portable device without removing the portable device out of the main case  2 . In the first preferred embodiment, a half-circular top opening defined on a front panel  212  of the cover  21  is aligned with a bottom half-circular bottom opening defined on a front panel  222  of the holder  22 , thereby collaboratively forming the peripheral opening  26  that is an oval form when the case  2  is in a closed state. A half-circular top rim  217  and a half-circular bottom rim  227  extend out along an edge of the half-circular top opening and the half-circular bottom opening respectively. 
   The main case  2  further includes a flange  25  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) formed along a middle position of the left panel, the rear panel, and the right panel of the main case  2 . The flange  25  composes a cover rim  216  of the cover  21  and a holder rim  226  of the holder  22  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The cover rim  216  extends along from an outer edge of the three panels (namely the right panel  213 , the rear panel  214 , and the left panel  215 ) of the cover  21 ; furthermore, ends of the cover rim  216  connect to ends of the rim  217  correspondingly. The holder rim  226  extends from the edge of the three panels (namely a right panel  223 , a rear panel  224 , and a left panel  225 ) of the holder  22  and ends of the holder rim  226  connect to ends of the rim  227  correspondingly. Furthermore, when a state of the case  2  is in the closed state, a bottom surface of the rim  216  is aligned and in contact with an upper surface of the rim  217 . 
   The cover  21  and the holder  22  are fastened together with at least a latch. The latch may adopt any latching structures as long as a position of the cover  21  and the holder  22  are secured together. In the preferred embodiment the latch consists of two striking members  228  and two keeper members  218 . The keeper members  218  are defined on opposite sides of the cover  21  (i.e., the right surface and the left surface) correspondingly. Each of The keeper members  218  defines a recess  210  on the cover rim  216  further defining a groove  219 . The striking members  228  are disposed on opposite sides of the holder  22  (i.e., the right surface and the left surface) correspondingly. Each of the striking members  228  defines an extension  220  on the holder rim  226  further defining a bolt  229  correspondingly. The extension  220  extends from a top surface of the holder rim  226  corresponding to the recess  210  of the keeper member  218 , and the bolts  229  protrudes out of the extensions  220  corresponding with the groove  219  of the cover rim  216 . 
     FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  illustrate the accessory case  3  in an opened and an explode state respectively according to the first embodiment of the present invention. There is a protruding flange  31  around the middle exterior panels of the accessory case  3 . The accessory case  3  includes a receptacle  32  and an accessory cover  33  pivotably attached on the receptacle  32 . The receptacle  32  is configured for placing the accessories, such as the earphone cord and earplugs, and the accessory cover  33  is configured for concealing the cord placed in the receptacle  32 . 
   From the top view of the accessory case  3 , the receptacle defines a recess  34  at an end of a bottom of the receptacle  32 . In the recess  34 , the receptacle  32  includes a rubber cushion  321  that defines a pair of excavated earplug-holes  322  structured for housing the earplugs. The receptacle  32  defines a pair of swivel slots  338  near the front of the receptacle  32  and a pair of snap slots  334  excavated in the inner wall. The receptacle  32  further includes a pair of support-poles  335  protruding the bottom of the receptacle  32  near the snap slots  334  positioned between the  338  and the  335 . 
   The accessory cover  33  includes a panel  331 , a pair of upper-brackets  332 , and a pair of lower-brackets  336 . The upper-brackets  332  and the lower-brackets  336  extend from the sides of the accessory cover  33  corresponding to the position of the pair of swivel slots  338  and the pair of snap slots  334 . The accessory cover  33  further includes a pair of swivels  337  protruding from the surfaces of the lower-brackets  336  and a pair of protrusions  333  protruding from the surfaces of the upper-brackets  332  corresponding to the position of the pair of swivel slots  338  and the pair of snap slots  334 . 
   By inserting the swivels  337  into the swivel slot  338 , a front side of the accessory cover  32  is pivotably attached onto the receptacle  32 . An upper side of the accessory cover  33  is fastened on the receptacle  32  by snapping the protrusions  333  to the snap slots  334  or is loosened from the receptacle  32  by detaching the protrusions  333  from the snap slots  334 . The two support-poles  335  serve as a supporter to prevent the accessory cover  33  from descending. 
     FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  illustrate the protective jacket  4  of  FIG. 1  in an open state and a close state. The protective jacket  4  composes of wear-resisting materials. The protective jacket  4  includes a main jacket  5 , an accessory jacket  6 , and a strap  7 . In the first preferred embodiment, the strap  7  joins the main jacket  5  and the accessory jacket  6  together. At the corner of the main jacket  4  and the corner of the accessory jacket  6 , the protective jacket  4  has several holes  48 . The holes  48  further strengthen the shock-absorbing properties of the protective apparatus. 
   On the front surface of the main jacket  5 , the main jacket  5  defines an peripheral opening  56  corresponding to a size and a shape of peripheral opening  26  of the main case  2 . The main jacket  5  further defines a groove  55  excavated in an interior wall to be inserted with the flange  25  of the main case  2  correspondingly. The accessory jacket  6  also defines a groove  61  in the interior wall to be inserted with the flange  31  of the accessory case  3  correspondingly. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , a circumferential ring  51  protrudes on a top surface of the main jacket  5  and a circumferential recess  62  is defined on an inner surface of the accessory jacket  6 . When the ring  51  and the recess  62  are joggled together, the protective jacket  4  forms a closed device such as that shown in  FIG. 9 . 
   The following steps illustrate how to assemble the protective apparatus  1  accommodating the portable device in. Firstly, insert the portable device into the holder  22  and then close the cover  21 . Secondly, sleeve the main jacket  5  onto the main case  2  and the accessory jacket  6  onto the accessory case  4 . Thirdly, connect an extension cable of the earphone to an earphone interface of the interfaces of the portable device through the peripheral opening  56  of the main jacket  5  and the peripheral opening  26  of the main case  2 . After the portable device is accommodated in the protective apparatus  1 , the portable device is controllable by operating the operation keys exposed by the cover opening  24  on the top panel  211 . The information displayed by the portable device is viewable via the transparent area of the main case  2 . Sound outputted by the portable device can be listened to by using an earphone. 
   The following steps illustrate how to deposit the accessories in the accessory case  3 . Firstly loosen the protrusions  333  from the snap slots  334  and flip open the accessory cover; secondly, place the earphone cord into the receptacle  32 ; thirdly, close the accessory cover  33  to the accessory case  3 ; fourthly, place the earplugs into the earplug-holes  322 ; lastly, close the accessory case  3  and the main case  2 . 
     FIG. 10  is a solid view of a second preferred embodiment of protective jacket  4 ′ in an opened state. The protective jacket  4 ′ includes a main jacket  5 ′, an accessory jacket  6 ′, and a detachable strap  7 ′. The strap  7  includes a slot  71 ′ and a slice  72 ′. The slice  72 ′ is configured with a slide bar  73 ′ on the side. The slide bar  73 ′ slides into the slot  71 ′ thereby connecting the main jacket  5 ′ and the accessory jacket  6 ′. 
   It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.