Abstract:
The display screen of a handheld device, such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, palmtop computer, or the like, can be protected from physical shock using a protective case with a sliding display screen cover. The protective case includes a main body having an opening positioned to correspond with a position of the display screen of the handheld device. A protective door, for example a roll-top type door, is slidably coupled to the main body, so that the display screen is exposed when the door has been slid open, and covered when the door has been slid closed. The door can be coupled to the body via a track, and can be made of a transparent or semitransparent material to allow viewing of the screen when closed, while still protecting the screen from physical shock.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to protective cases, and more particularly to protective cases having sliding display covers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Most handheld electronic devices for example mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like, have display screens that are vulnerable to minor damage such as a scratched display surface, to more severe damage such as the display screen cracking from accidentally dropping or striking the screen on a door, table edge, or the like. 
         [0003]    Attempts to protect the display screen of such handheld devices range from applying clear protector-sheets to the screen to prevent scratching, to carrying the device in a protective case. Clear sheets used to cover the screen to prevent scratching do very little, if anything, to protect the display screen from physical shocks, such as being dropped onto a hard surface. Likewise, many of the protective cases leave the display screen exposed, and thus also provide limited, if any, protection for the display from physical shock. 
         [0004]    Some cases require the user to remove the device from the case to view the display, while others provide a removable display cover, or a cover designed to be flipped open to expose the display. These cases, however, are not always easy to use. For example, it can be inconvenient to be forced to remove a device from its case before use. Likewise, covers that flip-open tend to be vulnerable to having the cover broken off. Thus, it can be seen that currently available technology for protective cases is less than perfect. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A protective case according to various embodiments of the present disclosure can be used to protect the display screen of a handheld device from physical shock, while still allowing easy access for viewing or entering user input in the case of touch screens. The protective case has a door that slides into open and closed positions to alternately expose or cover an opening in the protective case through which the display screen can be viewed or accessed. In some embodiments, the sliding door can be constructed of a material that is at least semi-transparent, permitting viewing of the display screen, even when the door is closed, while at the same time providing protection from physical shock. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the protective case includes a main body substantially covering a handheld device placed within the protective case. The main body can be used to shield the majority of the handheld device from physical shock. In some embodiments, the main body includes a front side having an opening formed therein, and positioned to correspond to a position of the display screen of the handheld device when the handheld device is positioned within the protective case. The main body can include a track, either formed as part of the main body or connected thereto. The track extends at least partially along at least one side of the opening. Various embodiments also include a flexible door slidably engaging the track, configured to slide along the track into an open position substantially exposing the display screen, and into a closed position substantially covering the display screen and protecting the display screen from physical shock. 
         [0007]    The flexible door can be configured to curl around the side, back, bottom, or top of the handheld device when the door is in the open position. In various embodiments, the door includes ribs arranged in a plane parallel to a surface of the display screen and perpendicular to whichever direction the flexible door slides. The ribs can include lands and grooves formed in a single piece of flexible material, or may include multiple slats coupled side by side in a roll-top configuration. In some embodiments, the lands and grooves can be machined, while other embodiments include lands and grooves molded, pressed, or formed in another suitable manner. 
         [0008]    In various embodiments, the main body includes a cavity extending from an edge of the opening and extending partially into a back portion of the main body. The flexible door can be configured to slide into this cavity, and around at least a portion of the handheld device. In some embodiments, the flexible door is configured to slide over an outer surface of the main body, rather than, or in addition to, sliding within the cavity. 
         [0009]    A case constructed according to some embodiments can be made of a sturdy material, and configured to hold a handheld device having a display screen. The case can include an opening substantially corresponding to a shape and size of the handheld device&#39;s display screen, and through which the display screen can be viewed. Such a device can include a door member slidably coupled to the case and constructed of a rugged material to provide a shock-protecting barrier over the display screen when slid into a closed position, and to expose the display screen to view when slid into an open position. The door member can include multiple rigid or semi-rigid slats connected side by side using bendable joints. The material used to construct the door member can be a translucent, flexible material. 
         [0010]    Various embodiments include at least one slot engaging the rugged door member and guiding movement of the door member during opening and closing, and the door member can be configured to rest substantially within the slot when the door member is in an open position. The door member may include at least one tab matingly engaging a track on the case. 
         [0011]    Various embodiments include a sliding display cover for a portable device. Some such sliding display covers include a collection of narrow slats arranged side by side and movably coupled to adjacent narrow slats, and a means for coupling the collection of narrow slats to a protective cover including an opening substantially corresponding to a display screen of a portable device, wherein the display cover substantially covers the opening in a closed position, and curls around at least a portion of the portable device in an open position. 
         [0012]    The collection of narrow slats can include lands on a unitary piece of material; and the lands can be movably coupled to adjacent lands by grooves cut out of the unitary piece of material to form the lands. The means for coupling to a protective cover can include one or more tabs configured to slidably mate with a track in the protective cover. The means for coupling can include an extension of the sliding display cover configured to remain within a slot of the protective cover regardless of whether the sliding display is in an open or closed position. 
         [0013]    A method according to various embodiments can include placing an electronic device within a protective case having a roll-top display cover configured to protect a screen of the electronic device from physical shock when the roll-top display cover is in a closed position, and sliding the roll-top display cover from the closed position into an open position, in which the screen is substantially exposed. The method can also include aligning the screen of the electronic device with an opening in a main body of the protective case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Aspects of this disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a protective case holding a portable electronic device and having a sliding display cover in an open position, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a protective case holding a portable electronic device, and having a sliding display cover in a closed position, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a protective case holding a portable electronic device, and having a sliding display cover in a partially open position, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a roll-top display cover slidably mounted in a track, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a roll-top display cover, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an exploded side view of portion A of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a method according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0023]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a protective case  100  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is shown with a sliding display screen cover is illustrated and discussed. Protective case  100  includes a case body  103  having various an openings  105 ,  109 , and  113 , and hand grips  115 . Case body  103  can be constructed of various different materials to protect an electronic device enclosed within case body  103  from physical shock due to accidentally bumping, dropping or striking protective case  100 . For example, in some embodiments, case body  103  can be constructed of a substantially rigid plastic, rubber, metal, metal alloy, or other material, that can be selected to provide various degrees and types of protection, and to achieve a desired size profile. Various materials and finishes can also be used to make protective case  100  easier to grip, easier to slide in and out of a pocket or purse, or to achieve another desired tactile characteristic. In some embodiments, a flexible rubber or rubber-like material can be used. In some embodiments protective case  100  also provides moisture resistance or insulation. 
         [0024]    Case body  103  can be constructed of a single piece of material, or can constructed in multiple different segments that can be snapped, clasped, glued, or otherwise joined to form the entire case body  103 . For example, in some embodiments, case body  103  can be a unitary piece of relatively flexible material that can be temporarily stretched or deformed to allow insertion of an electronic device through opening  109  or another opening (not illustrated). In other embodiments, one or more rigid or semi-rigid portions of case body  103  can be disassembled to allow insertion of an electronic device, then reassembled around the inserted device. 
         [0025]    In at least one embodiment, case body  103  includes openings  105 ,  109 , and  113  that are specifically configured for use with a particular electronic device. For example, opening  105  can be configured to correspond to the position of a speaker in a mobile telephone, opening  113  can be used to accommodate a pushbutton or other user input device, and opening  109  can be sized and positioned to accommodate a display screen of an electronic device, such an iPhone, a Droid, or another similar device. In various embodiments, case body  103  can be constructed or modified to include additional or fewer openings to accommodate various features of various different handheld or portable electronic devices. For example, case body  103  can include an opening in the back of case body  103  (not illustrated) to accommodate a camera included on an electronic device. In some embodiments, only the exact number of openings needed for use with a particular electronic device are included in case body  103 , while other embodiments can be generically constructed for use with multiple different electronic devices, and may therefore include some openings not used for any one particular device. 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , protective case  100  includes an opening  109  sized and positioned for use in conjunction with an electronic device having a display screen and positioned within case body  103 . Opening  109  can, in some embodiments, be covered with a substantially clear material. This clear material can be rigid or flexible, and of any desired thickness. However, in at least one embodiment, the clear material is constructed to be thin enough to permit user interaction with a touch screen display included on the electronic device. In other embodiments, opening  109  is left uncovered to facilitate access to the display screen of the electronic device. 
         [0027]    Protective cover  100  includes a slidable display cover configured to slide over opening  109  to cover the display screen of an electronic device located within case body  103  and protect the display screen from physical shock. The slidable display cover is not visible in  FIG. 1 , because it has been slid into an open position. In some embodiments, the slidable display cover may be partially visible even when it is in a fully open position. 
         [0028]    Referring next to  FIG. 2 , protective cover  200  is illustrated with a display screen cover  210  in a closed, or protective position, covering an opening (not visible) in case body  203 . In various embodiments, display screen cover  210  can be slid open or closed to alternately expose or cover an opening such as opening  109  ( FIG. 1 ). At least one embodiment implements display screen cover  210  in a “roll-top” configuration. For example, when display screen cover  210  is slid from left to right to expose the opening in case body  203 , display screen cover  210  slides around the right edge and around the back of the electronic device held within protective cover  200 . In some embodiments, display screen cover  210  can wrap externally around case body  203 . In other embodiments, display screen cover  210  wraps around the inside of case body  203 . 
         [0029]    Although the examples discussed herein generally describe a display screen cover that wraps around a left or right side of an electronic device, embodiments that slide up or down and wrap around the top or bottom edge of the electronic device are also contemplated, consistent with the configuration of the electronic device placed within the protective case. In yet other embodiments, display screen cover  210  can be an accordion-style door (not illustrated) having lateral elements that fold up on one another as the door is slid into an open position. 
         [0030]    A display screen cover  210  according to various embodiments can be constructed of rigid or semi-rigid materials, which can help to absorb or deflect physical shock from the display of an electronic device when the display screen cover  210  is in a closed position. In some embodiments, display screen cover  210  can be constructed of a transparent, semi-transparent, translucent, or other material that allows viewing of the display screen of an electronic device held within case body  203 , even when display screen cover  210  is in a closed position. In other embodiments, display screen cover is substantially opaque. 
         [0031]    Referring next to  FIG. 3 , protective case  300 , which includes a sliding door  310  partially covering opening  309  in case body  303 , is illustrated. Case body  303  also includes opening  115 , configured to allow access to various connectors included on an electronic device housed within protective case  300 . Although not specifically illustrated, case body  303  may also include various plugs, covers, or the like that can be used to close opening  115  when access to the connectors or ports through opening  115  is not desired. 
         [0032]    Case body  303  also includes seams  322  and  324 , which illustrate points at which various separate portions of case body  303  can be disassembled or assembled. For example, in some embodiments, the bottom portion of case body  303  can be separated from the top portion at seam  324 , thereby facilitating placement of an electronic device therein. In other embodiments, the front and back portions of case body  303  can be separated at seam  322 , and then reassembled after an electronic device has been inserted. In some embodiments case body  303  is the housing provided by the manufacturer of an electronic device, and the sliding door  310  is integral with, or attachable to, the primary housing of the electronic device. Put another way, the electronic and other components of an electronic device, including for example the display screen, can be housed within, or integrated with, protective cover  200 . 
         [0033]    Referring next to  FIG. 4 , a cover and track assembly  400  is illustrated according to various embodiments of the present invention. Cover and track assembly  400  includes sliding display cover  410  and track  420 . Track  420  can be formed a rigid or semi-rigid plastic, metal, metal alloy, rubber-like material, or other material, and is constructed to mate with sliding display cover  410 . In embodiments like those illustrated in  FIG. 4 , track  420  can be mounted to a case body, such as those illustrated and discussed with respect to  FIGS. 1-3 , so that an electronic device can be placed inside of track assembly  400 , so that a display screen of the electronic device (not illustrated) can be alternately covered or exposed as sliding display cover  410  is slid to an open or closed position. Note that as sliding display cover  410  is slid open to expose the display of the electronic device, sliding display cover will wrap around an outside edge of the device, and in some embodiments at least partially around the back of an electronic device placed inside of track assembly  400 . 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, track  420  is formed as an integral part of a protective case, such as those illustrated and discussed in  FIGS. 1-3 . Furthermore, in some such embodiments, track  420  does not extend entirely around an edge of an electronic device placed inside of the protective case. Instead, the track can extend only along an edge of an opening  309  ( FIG. 3 ). In some such embodiments, a device placed inside of the protective case can guide the movement of any portion of sliding display cover  410  that is not current engaging track  420 . Furthermore, in some embodiments track  420  may engage only one side of sliding display cover  410 . 
         [0035]    Various methods and types of engaging mechanisms can be used to connect sliding display cover  410  to track  420 . For example, track  420  may include one or more grooves into which one or more pins of sliding display cover  410  fit. In other embodiments, various rail, bearing, wheel, and continuous or semi-continuous male and female coupling techniques can be used to couple sliding display cover  410  to track  420 . In some embodiments, track  420  may consist essentially of a pin or other protrusion configured to mate with a corresponding receiver connected to, or formed in, sliding display cover  410 . At least one embodiment contemplates that each side of track  420  consists essentially of an upper and lower portion that protrude over and guide individual slats or ribs of sliding display cover  420 . 
         [0036]    Referring next to  FIG. 5 , a display cover  500  according to various embodiments is illustrated. Display cover  500  includes a series horizontal members  510  connected to each other and positioned side by side. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the horizontal members includes a protrusion  516  that can be slidably mated to a track in a protective cover, as discussed in  FIGS. 1-4 . As illustrated, display cover  500  is constructed from a single piece of material by forming lands  512  separated by grooves  514  cut into the material. The illustrated configuration allows display cover  500  to bend or flex when moved along track included in a protective case. 
         [0037]    Referring briefly to  FIG. 6 , an expanded view of an edge of display cover  500  is illustrated. The expanded view shows the lands  512 , grooves  514 , and protrusions  516 . 
         [0038]    Although  FIGS. 5 and 6  specifically illustrate a display cover  500  constructed from a single piece of material, other embodiments of display cover  500  can use individual slats, bars, or the like. In some such embodiments, the slats or bars can be connected by a strapping material, or simply placed next to each other and held in place by an external frame (not illustrated). In yet further embodiments, the display cover can be a unitary door constructed from one or more pieces of material without lands and grooves. Such a door should be flexible enough to bend at least partially around an outside portion of an electronic device when slid along a track included in a protective cover as described herein. 
         [0039]    Referring next to  FIG. 7 , a method  700  according to various embodiments of the present invention will be discussed. At block  703 , an electronic device is placed within a protective cover having a roll-top display cover. The display screen of the electronic device is preferably aligned with an opening in the protective cover, so that sliding the roll-top display cover into a closed position will be able to protect the display screen from physical shock. As illustrated by blocks  705  and  707 , if the cover is closed, a user can slide the roll-top display cover from the closed position to an open position to expose the display screen of the electronic device for use by the user. As illustrated by blocks  709  and  711 , if the user desires to protect the display screen of the electronic device from physical shock, the roll-top display cover can be slid into a closed position. 
         [0040]    As used herein, the terms “electronic device,” “handheld device,” “portable device,” and similar terms are used interchangeably to refer to various different devices that can be carried by person and include a display screen. Examples of electronic devices include, but are not limited to, mobile telephones or other communication devices, televisions, radios, audio visual devices, audio players, timekeeping devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other computing devices. 
         [0041]    Various embodiments of a protective case having a sliding screen cover have been described to a level of detail that will allow one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed invention. Although more than one embodiment has been discussed, other variations and modifications of the disclosed embodiments can be made based on the description provided, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.