Abstract:
The present invention relates to a waterproof flip phone case having a sealing member, at least two waterproof enclosures, and a hinging member that provide a waterproof environment for a phone, specifically a flip phone. In one embodiment of the invention, the sealing member includes at least one locking mechanism that is operable to engage and disengage the sealing member to allow insertion of a flip phone into the case when the member is not engaged and prevents water from entering the enclosures when the member is engaged.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed toward a substantially impermeable phone case. More specifically, the present invention is able to accommodate either a non-flip phone or a flip phone that has a hinge, and which allows use in inclement weather on or during boating or outdoor activities. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Cellular phones have been experiencing increasing demand over the past decade. As the use of cellular phones has increased dramatically, so has the desire to use them in any location without restriction. It is well known that water, sand or other foreign debris does not mix well with electronics, including the electronics of a cellular phone. Current products exist that protect phones from water by having an enclosed plastic case that is sealable, and therefore, waterproof. This enables the user to have their phone with them when they are enjoying water sports or in any other environment where water might be present without jeopardizing the phone. 
   Previous products have addressed these basic problems. Specifically, Dry Paks and Gunzi Aqua Pacs by Kwik Tek are both products that provide a waterproof case for traditional non-flip phones. These products generally include a sealing member, locking mechanisms and an enclosure member. The drawback of these present products, however, is that they are only applicable with a traditional non-flip phone. Non-flip phones are phones that do not have any folding mechanism, any hinging mechanisms, or any variation thereof. Although existing products provide a reasonable solution for this certain type of phone, they do no provide a good waterproof solution for a phone with any moving parts, especially a flip phone. 
   A problem with these known devices is that they do not provide adequate means to operate a flip phone. A flip phone is not able to open once it is inserted in these known devices. Another option is to have the phone opened and then insert it into these devices. However, doing so subjects the flip phone to undue stresses that could potentially damage the flip phone. Doing this could also lead to an unwanted call being sent or overusing the phone battery because the flip phone must always be in the open position 
   A second drawback to the existing designs of these devices is that they do not provide a means for housing the antenna of phones. Antennae are a very fragile part of the phone. Especially in flip phones the antennae do not perform well under high stresses. Known devices constrain the antenna of the phone and therefore have been known to damage the antennas as well as other parts of the flip phones. 
   A further drawback of the existing devices is that they are not operable with any style of phone. Rather, they are designed for a single phone and thus if someone wants to upgrade their phone, they must buy a new waterproof case for that phone. This is an unnecessary burden on consumers who may want to switch their phone without switching all accessories that they owned for their previous phone. 
   It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a waterproof flip phone case that is operable to use with any type of phone, either flip or non-flip. It is a further aspect of the invention to provide use of a phone without damaging any components of the phone while it is inside the case, and thus provide a sealable, substantially impermeable, flexible case with a transparent material that allows use of the phone while it is secured within the enclosure. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a substantially waterproof flip phone device and methods of providing a waterproof enclosure for a flip phone. The selectively waterproof flip phone case generally includes a sealing member, locking mechanisms to engage and disengage the sealing member, a top enclosure, a bottom enclosure, and a hinge member. The sealing member provides access to the enclosures by disengaging and opening. The locking mechanisms can be a thumbnut, screws, clamps, or any other selective locking mechanism known in the art. Also the sealing member in one embodiment is a pair of gaskets that can be pressed together to create a fluid tight seal. However, the sealing member can also be a tooth locking arrangement, a hook and loop substantially waterproof seal or any form of watertight seal. 
   Once the sealing member is opened a flip phone may be placed inside the enclosure. The phone can be either a conventional non-flip phone or a flip phone that incorporates a hinge and multiple parts. When the phone is inside the case, the sealing member may be engaged by the locking mechanisms. Once engaged, the phone is inside a waterproof container and is thus safe to use underneath, or in the presence of water, or any other adverse environmental condition, which would otherwise pose a serious threat to the electronics of the phone. 
   In one instance of the invention, the hinge member connects the top enclosure and bottom enclosure providing a continuous waterproof case from the closed end of the top enclosure to the engaged sealing member. The hinge member allows a flip phone to be operated in both the open and closed position without damaging any part of the phone. For example, the user inserts a flip phone into the enclosures wherein a back portion of the phone goes inside one of the enclosures and the face of the phone goes inside the other enclosure. The hinge member that connects the front and back enclosures thus allows for the opening and closing motion of the flip phone while the phone is inside the waterproof case. The hinging member can be any one of a rigid hinge, a flexible hinge, a flexible material, a flexible continuation of the top and bottom enclosures or any variation thereof known in the art. 
   In one embodiment, the phone also includes an antenna pocket which facilitates the use of the phone without damaging the antenna. The antenna pocket can be placed anywhere on the case where an antenna of a phone might exist. For instance, with flip phones where the antenna is near the hinge of the phone, the antenna pocket would be placed near the hinge member of the case. The antenna pocket provides a space where the antenna of a phone can be extended while the phone is positioned within the case. 
   A further embodiment of the invention includes an interlocking member. The interlocking member is operable to connect the top enclosure and bottom enclosure when the case is in a closed state. The interlocking member can be a hook and loop material, magnets, snaps, a button, clasps, hooks or any other interconnecting means known in the art. The interlocking member ensures that while the phone is inside the case it does not open until it is desired. This helps ensure that the flip phone remains in the closed position and no undesired calls are made and the phone battery is not overused. 
   These and other benefits and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and description of the drawings, as well as a detailed description of those drawings and the inventions disclosed herein. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the closed waterproof flip phone case; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the flipped-open waterproof flip phone case; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of one embodiment of the waterproof flip phone case with flip phone inside; and 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of one embodiment of the flipped-open waterproof flip phone case and flip phone inside. 
   

   The following components and numbers associated thereto are shown in the drawings and provided here for ease of reference: 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               # 
               Component 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               Waterproof flip phone case 
             
             
               12 
               Sealing member 
             
             
               14 
               Locking mechanism 
             
             
               16 
               Top enclosure 
             
             
               18 
               Bottom enclosure 
             
             
               20 
               Interconnection means 
             
             
               22 
               Hinging mechanism 
             
             
               24 
               Antenna pocket 
             
             
               26 
               Hole in the sealing member 
             
             
               30 
               Flip phone 
             
             
               32 
               Antenna 
             
             
               34 
               Flip phone back 
             
             
               36 
               Flip phone face 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   While the present invention has been illustrated by description of preferred embodiments, and while the illustrated versions have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the inventors to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the pending claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon reading this detailed description. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to these specific details, respective apparatus and methods, and illustrated samples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventor&#39;s general inventive concepts. 
   Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a waterproof flip phone case  10 . In one embodiment, the flip phone case  10  includes a sealing member  12  and a locking mechanism or locking mechanisms  14 . The locking mechanisms  14  operate to engage and disengage the sealing member  12  so that water, sand, or other foreign objects are not allowed to enter the waterproof flip phone case  10  when the sealing member  12  is engaged. The locking mechanisms  14  can be a thumbnut, screws, clamps or any other locking mechanism known in the art. Although locking mechanisms are shown, it may not be necessary to utilize them if a self-locking sealing member  12  is used. In one embodiment, the sealing member  12  is a pair of gaskets on oppositely facing clips. The clips are brought together and pressed to form a watertight seal on the open end of the case  10 . The locking mechanisms  14  act to secure the seal, but there exist other sealing mechanisms that could easily substitute for the sealing member  12  depicted that do not require a locking mechanism. 
   There is also provided a top enclosure  16 , and a bottom enclosure  18 . The bottom enclosure  18  is generally connected to the top enclosure  16  by a hinging mechanism  22 . The top enclosure  16  and bottom enclosure  18  are made of a flexible, substantially waterproof material in a preferred embodiment. Also, the hinging mechanism  22  can be a continuation of the top enclosure  16  and bottom enclosure  18  with a minimal surface relief on one side of the hinging mechanism  22 . The surface relief accommodates the folding of the top enclosure  16  over the bottom enclosure  18 . In another embodiment, the hinging mechanism  22  could be a set of rigid hinges connecting the top enclosure  16  and the bottom enclosure  18 . Another embodiment would have the hinging mechanism  22  simply be a continuation of the top and bottom enclosures  16  and  18  respectively but made of a slightly more flexible material that would allow for the folding motion of the flip phone. These and other arrangements of the hinge will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art after reading this description. The hinging mechanism  22  provides a means of folding the top enclosure  16  over the bottom enclosure  18  to facilitate the folding of a flip phone  30 . The hinging mechanism  22  is also able to provide a continuous opening between the top and bottom enclosures, while allowing a flip phone to open and close as it is designed to. The top enclosure  16  and bottom enclosure  18 , along with the hinging mechanism  22 , provide an enclosed environment for any phone that is placed inside the case  10  when the sealing member  12  is engaged. 
   In a particular embodiment, there is also provided an interconnection means  20  which may be a hook and loop material, magnets, snaps, clasps, hooks, a button, or any other interconnection means known in the art. This interconnection means  20  prevents the phone case  10  from being opened unless the user desires the phone  30  to be open. Basically, the interconnection means  20  maintains the closed state of the flip phone  30  and case  10  automatically, until it is desired to open the phone  30 . 
   In one embodiment, an antenna pocket  24  is provided. The antenna pocket  24  is operably connected to the top enclosure  16  and/or the bottom enclosure  18  near the hinging mechanism  22 . The antenna pocket is situated to receive an antenna of either a flip phone or a non-flip phone. The antenna pocket  24  provides a means of enclosing the entire phone  30  and its antenna  32  within the waterproof enclosure  10 . The antenna pocket  24  also allows the user to pull out the antenna of any phone and have it in the antenna pocket  24  so that it is not subjected to unnecessary stresses that could lead to breakage or damage of the antenna of a phone. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a waterproof phone case  10  is depicted in its open state. As shown, the top enclosure  16  and the bottom enclosure  18  are connected by the hinging mechanism  22 . The antenna pocket  24  is also depicted that provides for use of the antenna  32  within the phone enclosure. There is also shown both portions of the locking mechanisms  14 . Additionally, the interconnection means  20  are shown to be disconnected so the case  10  is positioned in the flipped-open state. 
   As can be viewed in  FIG. 3 , a phone  30  can be inserted into the top  16  and bottom  18  enclosures. The antenna pocket  24  provides adequate space for the antenna of a flip phone  32 . In one embodiment, a flip phone  30  may be provided and the front flip phone face  36  can be inserted into the top enclosure  16  and the flip phone back  34  can be inserted into the bottom enclosure  18 . There is also shown in  FIG. 3  a hole in the sealing member  26  that can be used to either hold or carry the flip phone case  10 . A lanyard, belt hook, rope, string, or any other fastener may be used to run through or used with this hole in the sealing member  26  to enable the user of the flip phone case  10  to carry their phone  30  and flip phone case  10  without use of their hands. 
   With respect to  FIG. 4 , a flip phone  30  is shown in the flip phone case  10  in an opened position. The phone front base  36  is inside the top enclosure  16  and the phone&#39;s back  34  is shown in the bottom enclosure  18 . However, the flip phone back and flip phone face could be inserted in the opposite enclosures. Mainly, the flip phone face  36  can be used in the bottom enclosure  18  and the flip phone back  34  could be placed in the top enclosure  16 . It is not necessary to have the phone  30  oriented in any one direction within the case  10 , even though there exist preferred orientations of the phone  30 . 
   It is not necessary to use a flip phone case in the waterproof flip phone case  10 . Rather, one aspect of the invention provides that the enclosure accommodates flip phones, non-flip phones or any other object that is desired to be kept away from water, sand, or other adverse materials. 
   A further embodiment of the invention uses a material for the enclosures  16  and  18 , hinging mechanism  22 , and antenna pocket  24  that is substantially impermeable to water but still allows the transmission of sound and light. The material is generally transparent so that a user can view the phone  30  while it is in the case  10 . Additionally, the user can use the phone to make a call while the phone is within the case and any sound from the speaker can be heard. Further, the receiver can pick up any sound that is made by the user. 
   The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing description, for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all the features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention. 
   Moreover, the description of the invention has included descriptions of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claims, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.