Patent Publication Number: US-2005127123-A1

Title: Carrier for a portable electronic device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
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     DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX  
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     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to the field of carrying cases and more specifically to carrier for a Portable Electronic Device.  
      The invention relates generally to the field of carrying cases and particularly to an electronic music or computing device carrying case. Cases for protecting and carrying objects have been in existence for hundreds of years. Cases have been designed to be worn by the user thereby allowing he user to fee his hands for other tasks than carrying the case. Such designs may have a shoulder strap, belt clip or the like to allow the user to carry the device hands free. In recent years many more devices with varying purposes have emerged. This growing trend and reduction in size has made it more important to keep your device close by for spontaneous use. As more and more products and quality of products are being marketed its become more and more pleasing to display brand names and model numbers to distinguish our personal choice in products and models. Brand names and models have become more and more fashionable. Such brand of importance is Apple logo and specification is the 20 GB showing the size of the hard drive and the serial number for security reasons. The more convenient it is to bring devices with you the more important it is to have fast access to them. Included in this group of devices are PDAs and music players, MP3 players and personal recorders. One such brand of MP3 player is I-pod manufactured by Apple computers. Other music Players and PDA devices share features like calendars, clock and full computing functions. Cell phones, PDA&#39;s and Music players continue to adapt common features such as power docking outlets, Headset output and smaller more user friendly menus and options. Also some manufactures add components like FM transmitters, amplified audio devices, and high speed downloading options and cables. These options are used more frequently and double up on purpose. Its very common to be charging your battery and downloading at the same time. That is just one other reason your device carrier has to be open in that region to have fast unrestricted access. It has become more and more important to be able to access all the ports and features of the device with the least amount of effort. In the case of Apple&#39;s I-Pod one touch of the controls will change your settings skip a song or shut off the player so its very important to be able to lightly touch a button to stop music when you need to hear. The user cant afford to stop remove the player from the case then hit the button. Cases for music players and other electronic devices are available including some versions that use belt clips that the user can carry his or her device in a hands free fashion. Most if not all require both hands to remove the device from the case.  
      A number of various carrying cases have been provided in the prior art, U.S. Pat No 2002/0153400 for example shows a carrying case with ID flap and device in fixed upright position. Shows carrying lanyard in the permanent mounted top center position. U.S. Pat No. 2001/0040109 shows a wearable computer apparatus enclosed zippered case. U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,240 shows a case for a pager with different compartments. Des. Nos. 416,132, 435,963, 435,722, 427,429 show a case for a cell phone. All are illustrative of such prior art. While these units show variations in the art., there exists a need for a case that allows the carrying of electronic devices that allows the user to Flip the position of device, features and plugs relative to the user.  
      However, no existing electronic device case or carrier allows the user to read the screen and settings and then flip the device so the face is toward his person protecting the device. There are no other cases that allow the device to be removed and replaced without opening or unzipping the case. There is no other case that allows the user to lift the device from his chest and read the text in the right position with out opening a cover or compartment. There is no case or carrier that allows you to show the logo through the case in a right side up to viewer position allowing you to show off your personal choice of brand and product model. There is no other product that allows fast easy security check of serial number and product inscriptions. There is no other case that allows full use of all functions ports and buttons with out removing the device or part of the case.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary object of the invention is To allow the user to carry Electronic Devices in close proximity and easy to reach.  
      Another object of the invention is allow device to be in the correct position as to be easily read.  
      Another object of the invention is To allow device to be removed from said and replaced again at will.  
      A further object of the invention is To allow the user to flip the device so face surface is changed 180 degrees as to allow protection of the face of device and privacy of personal settings.  
      Yet another object of the invention is So the said will show the companies name, brand and size upright and forward while the device is in the flipped position.  
      Still yet another object of the invention is To allow user to wear around neck, on arm or with belt clip.  
      Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.  
      In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed Carrier for a Portable Electronic Device comprising: a method for removal and replacement or permanent mounting, A means to flip the device without removing the said device from Carrier, a way to protect the device from scratch type damage, a means to stop the carrier and device from sliding off of a surface, easy one handed use, and a fashionable away to see through the carrier to determine distinguishable marks of device.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is the perspective view of the carrier for a music player device of the present invention being worn around the neck of a user.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective back view of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective front view of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of front of the invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a top view of back of the invention.  
       FIG. 7  end view of of the invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the invention in the forward position.  
       FIG. 9  is the perspective view of the invention being worn by a user in the flipped or protected position.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure of manner.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1  generally depicts a carrier  1  or present invention with a potable electronic device mounted and worn on an individual in the reverse or protected position. Turning now to the drawing in  FIG. 2  we see a perspective view of the electronic device carrier case of the present invention the carrier  1  is made of resilient material such as plastic or the like or non resilient material such as aluminum or the like. We see a embodiment of the invention. In the present form that shows the device installed and in the flipped or the reverse position. It is a feature of the invention to protect the device from scratch and the like type damage in this position. It is also the purpose of the invention to allow to change from one position to the other at the users choice.  FIG. 3  is the perspective view of the invention in the forward position. It is also a feature of the invention to make the screen and controls easy to read when lifted in this position.  
       FIG. 4-7  shows the main embodiment of the invention showing a array of primary and preferred recessed mounting surfaces  7  and secondary mounting surface  9 . By using hook  11  and loop materials or the like the device  10  can be removed and replaced. In keeping with the invention the user can choose to mount the device  10  permanently with 3M adhesive dots or the like and still have access to screen, buttons, ports or features of the device  10 . Shown are cut through features  8  to allow the user and others to see the brand name and other important markings on the device  10 . Also shown are rubber feet  6  like features that allow the carrier  1  to sit on a surface without sliding or scratching the carrier.  
       FIG. 8   9  Show the perspective view of invention with installed device  10  using neck strap around the neck of the user. For the purpose of illustration the views of the invention shows the appearance of the forward position and the flipped or protected position. It is a feature of the invention to allow the user to use the device  10  and carrier  1  in the best to read position, then tilt both the carrier  1  and device  10  either inward or outward and cause the clips  4  to travel to the opposite end of the rails  2  and allow both to be flipped in to the opposite position. It is the feature of the invention to allow the change of pivotally position of device  10  with one hand. It is part of the invention to give the user optimum use and access, and not block or hide inerrant features and style of the device  10 , allowing easy and quick recognition distinguishable marks of device  10 .  
      While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.