Patent Publication Number: US-2015065206-A1

Title: Locking Rim Cell Phone Case

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of cellular phone cases. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     The basic function of cellular phone cases is to protect the outer shell of such phones from scratches, nicks, and other physical damage. The design of cellular phone cases typically consist of a backing, which is composed of either a hard backing or a soft pliable material (to absorb shock, if dropped), and raised sides that envelop the edges. Joel Rodger&#39;s U.S. design publication No. 671,933, filed Feb. 3, 2013, is entitled Cell Phone Case, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The illustrations display a phone cover, which has the distinct feature of a striated backing. There are also openings to allow for the insertion of plugs and maintain the ability to use the camera without having to remove the case. Another phone case as developed by Becky Kasselman and Frances Ray, U.S. publication number 2011/0294542, filed May 27, 2010, entitled Cell Phone Cover with Integrated Mirror and Flip Shield, consists of a cell phone case that covers the back and the front of the case, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A flip shield is provided on the front of the case to protect the mirror from scratches and damage, whereas, many other cases leave the consumer to find a separate method of protecting the screen. 
     Other auxiliary features have been added to cell phone cases. Some cell phone cases can be used as brass knuckles. Cellular phone cases have progressed far from its basic function and design. Cases are now a method of expressing an individual&#39;s personality, as well as address other needs consumers may desire. Prapanch Soekoro, USD651205, filed on May 6, 2011, entitled Cellphone Case, presents a cellular phone case with an extended area to the right of the case that resembles brass knuckles. The extended portion consists of four circular rings, joined to each other and arches slightly outward. 
     Earphone storage has also been accomplished by cell phone cases. Since smart phones also enable users to listen to music on their cellular device, phone cases have also evolved to adapt to the new features. One example includes John Merenda USD667823, filed on Sep. 25, 2012, entitled Protective Cover, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The cellular phone cover consists of a storage area that houses the ear phones. The ear phones are retractable and thus would not tangle from being stored away arbitrarily in places such as a pocket or a handbag. 
     Sound amplification has also been accomplished by cell phone cases. The wireless capability of cellular phones is disadvantageous to users with hearing handicaps. Since, the transmission can be distorted through the air, the combination of a weak signal and limited hearing creates a situation that frustrates those users. Kwang Oh U.S. Pat. No. 8,412,289, filed on Feb. 23, 2012, entitled Expendable and Collapsible Sound Amplifying Cellular Phone Case, addresses this concern, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Oh&#39;s patent for a cell phone case consists of sound outlet areas that are located on the right and left side of the bottom perimeter. The frame&#39;s interior further comprises of three horizontally placed sectional chambers that decrease in width from top to bottom. 
     It is of the present invention to provide a cell phone case that has an open extended position to provide a reaching pole configuration and a closed position for protecting the cell phone. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cellular phone case includes an insert panel. The insert panel is flat and has an insert panel height with an insert panel width. A locking rim includes four sections, namely a first section, a second section, a third section and a fourth section. The first section is a rigid link, the second section is a rigid link, the third section is a rigid link, and the fourth section is a rigid link. The locking rim includes a hinge mechanism that has an open position that is extended and a closed position for retaining a cell phone. The first section is connected to the second section at a first hinge. The second section is connected to the third section at a second hinge. The third section is connected to the fourth section and a third hinge. The fourth section is connected to the first section at a locking connection. 
     The first hinge, the second hinge, and the third hinge are hinged to rotate in a plane parallel to a plane of the panel insert. The insert panel is made of wood veneer that is generally rectangular and having rounded corners. The insert panel is made of a para-aramid synthetic fiber laminate that is generally rectangular having rounded corners. 
     The cellular phone case preferably also includes a pair of lower protrusions that have a lower protrusion face that is a flat portion formed on a second hinge third section protrusion and on a third hinge third section protrusion. The lower protrusion face can be formed as a second hinge third section protrusion and a third hinge third section protrusion. A pair of lower protrusions may include a pair of lower protrusion inclines that serve as an interface between a data cutout plate and a lower protrusion face, such that the protrusion incline provides an indented surface of the data cutout plate. The data cutout plate is a flat area of the third section. 
     A lower portion of the cell phone case has a slot cutout for providing an aperture to access ports of the cell phone. The slot cutout includes a circular cutout and a data cutout. The data cutout can be formed as a rectangular opening. The circular cutout can be formed as a round opening. The circular cutout can be sized to allow a headphone jack to interface with the access ports of the lower portion of the cell phone. The data cutout can be sized to allow a data connector to interface with the access ports of the lower portion of the cell phone. The data cutout is formed on the data cutout plate. The data cutout plate is a flat area of a lower outside surface of the third section. 
     The cellular phone case preferably also includes a power button plate. The power button plate is a flat indented area between the upper protrusions. The power button plate includes a power button formed as a rigid cap inserted inside a power button opening so that a user pressing the power button can activate a power control of the cell phone. The power button includes a power button stem and a power button flange extending laterally from the power button stem. The power button stem fits through the power button opening by insertion from an inside side of the power button opening and is retained by the power button flange. The power button stem is movable within the power button opening. 
     A flip switch is mounted on the second section in a flip switch opening. The flip switch is formed as a small button. The flip switch is slidingly mounted in a flip switch slot. The flip switch includes a flip switch flange to retain the flip switch within the flip switch slot. A rocker switch is mounted on the second section in a rocker switch opening. The rocker switch includes a rocker switch first portion and a rocker switch second portion. The rocker switch has a rocker switch flange to retain the rocker switch within the rocker switch opening. A pair of upper protrusions are formed on the first section, and a pair of lower protrusions are formed on the third section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front exploded view diagram of the present invention including the front view and side view of the screwdriver. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the panel insert and the side view of the panel insert. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear assembled view of the locking rim. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the locking rim. 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the locking rim. 
         FIG. 6  is a front assembled view of the locking rim. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the locking rim. 
         FIG. 8  is a left side view of the locking rim. 
         FIG. 9  is an outside view, side view, and top view of the rocker switch. 
         FIG. 10  is a front side, left side view and top view of the power button. 
     
    
    
     The following call out list of elements can be useful guide in referencing the callout numbers of the drawings. 
       21  Panel Insert 
       22  Camera Aperture 
       23  Marking 
       31  First Hinge 
       32  Second Hinge 
       33  Third Hinge 
       34  Locking Connection 
       35  First Section 
       36  Second Section 
       37  Third Section 
       38  Fourth Section 
       41  Screwdriver Body 
       42  Screwdriver Shaft 
       43  Screwdriver Opening 
       44  Hexagonal Cross Section 
       51  Second Hinge Third Section Protrusion 
       52  Third Hinge Third Section Protrusion 
       53  Third Hinge Second Section Protrusion 
       54  Second Hinge Fourth Section Protrusion 
       55  First Hinge Second Protrusion 
       56  First Hinge First Section Protrusion 
       57  Locking Connection First Section Protrusion 
       58  Locking Connection Second Section Protrusion 
       61  Slot Cutout 
       62  Circular Cutout 
       63  Data Cutout 
       64  Data Cutout Plate 
       65  Lower Protrusion Face 
       66  Lower Protrusion Incline 
       71  Power Button Plate 
       72  Power Button 
       73  Power Button Stem 
       74  Power Button Flange 
       75  Upper Protrusion Face 
       76  Locking Connection Protrusion Face 
       77  Upper Protrusion Incline 
       81  Flip Switch 
       82  Rocker Switch First Portion 
       83  Rocker Switch Second Portion 
       84  Flip Switch Slot 
       85  Rocker Switch Flange 
       88  Power Button Opening 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The locking rim cell phone case has a rim that surrounds and frames a panel insert  21 . The panel  21  has a camera aperture  22  formed on a portion of the panel insert  21 , such as the top left portion of the panel insert  21 . The panel insert  21  can be made of wood or a synthetic material such as a sheet of plastic, or a laminate of fiberglass, or a laminate of para-aramid synthetic fiber laminate or carbon fiber. Multiple layers of para-aramid synthetic fiber laminate or carbon fiber can be laminated and formed to make the panel insert  21  having a camera aperture  22  and also having a marking  23 . The marking  23  could provide orientation for a user. The panel insert  21  can be made of a five layer laminate having three layers of woven fiber with two layers of epoxy and fiberglass between the three layers of woven fiber. When the panel insert is made of wood, the wood is preferably backed by a sheet of fiberglass or metal. When the panel is made of a synthetic material such as plastic, the panel is preferably a para-aramid synthetic fiber laminate material optionally laminated to a backer such as a fiberglass or metal sheet. 
     The locking rim includes four sections hinged together. A first hinge  31  hinges a first section  35  to a second section  36 . A second hinge  32  hinges a second section  36  to a third section  37 . A third hinge  33  hinges a third section  37  to a fourth section  38 . A locking connection  34  locks the first section  35  to the fourth section  38 . The first section  35  is connected to the second section  36  at a first hinge  31  and the first section  35  is connected to the fourth section  38  at a locking connection  34 . The second section  36  is hinge connected to the first section  35  at the first hinge  31  and the second section  36  is hinge connected to the third section  37  at a second hinge  32 . The third section  37  is hinge connected to the first section  36  at a second hinge  32 , and the third section  37  is hinge connected to the fourth section  38  at the third hinge  33 . The hinge connection preferably has a degree of motion sufficient for releasing a cell phone stored within the locking rim. After the locking rim is secured, the four sections and hinges provide a barrier of protection around the cell phone. The sections of the locking rim can be made of metal or plastic. The panel insert is preferably made of wood or para-aramid synthetic fiber laminate that could be printed with a design or shown with exposed woven fibers, but could also be made of metal or plastic. 
     The locking connection  34  may have a screw that opens via a hexagonal drive screwdriver. The hexagonal drive screwdriver preferably includes a screwdriver body  41 , a screwdriver shaft  42 , and a screwdriver opening  43  for handling a portion of the screwdriver. The screwdriver shaft  42  preferably has a hexagonal cross section  44 . The screwdriver is included with the locking rim cell phone case. 
     The hinges have a plurality of protrusions that extend outwardly from the hinge pivot. For example, the second hinge  32  has a second hinge third section protrusion  51 . The second hinge third section protrusion  51  extends downwardly from a left portion of the third section  37 . The third hinge has a third hinge third section protrusion  52  that extends downwardly from a right portion of the third section  27 . The third hinge also has a third hinge second section protrusion  53  that protrudes outwardly from the second section. The second hinge has a second hinge fourth section protrusion  54  that protrudes outwardly from the fourth section. The first hinge has a first hinge second section protrusion  55  that extends outwardly from the second section. The first hinge also has a first hinge first section protrusion  56  that protrudes outwardly from the first section. The locking connection has a locking connection first section protrusion  57  that protrudes outwardly from the first section. The locking connection also has a second protrusion noted as the locking connection second section protrusion  58  which protrudes from the second section. The various protrusions that extend outwardly include a pair of protrusions at each hinge. Since each hinge at each corner of the cell phone case is made of a pair of sections, each section provides a protrusion that is hinged together and a single pivot to join the pair of sections. 
     The lower portion of the cell phone case has a slot cutout  61  for providing an aperture to access portions of the cell phone. The slot cutout  61  may further include a circular cutout  62  and a data cutout  63 . The data cutout  63  can be formed as a rectangular opening. The circular cutout  62  can be formed as a round opening. The circular cutout  62  can be sized to allow a headphone jack to interface with the lower portion of the cell phone. The data cutout  63  can be sized to allow a data or charger connector to interface with the lower portion of the cell phone. The data cutout can be formed on the data cutout plate  64  which is a flat area of a lower outside surface of the third section  37 . The lower protrusions may further include a lower protrusion face  65  that is a flat portion formed on the second hinge third section protrusion  51  and on the third hinge third section protrusion  52 . The lower protrusions include the second hinge third section protrusion  51  and on the third hinge third section protrusion  52 . The lower protrusions may have a lower protrusion incline  66  that serves as an interface between the data cutout plate  64  and the lower protrusion face  65 , such that the protrusion incline  66  provides an indented surface of the data cutout plate  64 . 
     At an upper portion of the cell phone case, a power button plate can be formed between a pair of upper protrusions. The upper protrusions may include the first hinge first section protrusion  56  and the locking connection first section protrusion  57 . The locking connection can be formed as a rigid connection that is screw connected together is a security screw such as a star shaped screw. The upper protrusions may have an upper protrusion face  75  that forms a flat area on both sides of the power button plate  71 . The upper protrusion face  75  connects to the power button plate  71  at an upper protrusion incline  77 . The upper protrusion incline provides an indent of the power button plate  71  inward from an outside surface of the upper protrusion face  75 . The second upper protrusion face can be a locking connection protrusion face  76 . 
     The power button plate is a flat indented area between the upper protrusions. The power button plate  71  preferably further includes a power button  72 . The power button  72  is preferably a rigid cap that is inserted inside a power button opening so that a user pressing the power button  72  can activate the power control of the cell phone. The power button  72  preferably includes a power button stem  73  and a power button flange  74 . The power button stem  73  fits through the power button opening by insertion from an inside side of the power button opening and is retained by the power button flange  74 . The power button stem  73  is movable up and down within the power button opening  88 . 
     A flip switch  81  can be mounted on the second section  36  in a flip switch opening. The flip switch  81  can be formed as a small metal button similar to the configuration of the power button stem. The flip switch  81  is preferably mounted in a flip switch slot  84 . The flip switch  81  can be slid along the flip switch slot  84 . The flip switch  81  preferably includes a flip switch flange to retain the flip switch within the flip switch slot  84 . Adjacent to the flip switch  81  is a rocker switch first portion  82  and a rocker switch second portion  83 . The rocker switch preferably has a rocker switch flange  85  to retain the rocker switch within the rocker switch opening. The rocker switch flange  85  preferably connects the rocker switch portions together which includes the rocker switch first portion  82  and the rocker switch second portion  83 . 
     The locking rim generally provides a raised ridge that protects a surface of the cell phone. Additionally, the protrusions protect the cell phone. The panel insert defines a plane that the locking rim hinges in. The hinges are hinged to rotate in a plane parallel to a plane of the panel insert. The present invention locking rim can be extended to an open extended position such that it can be used as an extending pole such as for a back scratcher where a user can hold one of the sections and use a protrusion end of the distant section to scratch a back. 
     The following claims define the scope of the invention.