Patent Publication Number: US-2011065486-A1

Title: Ergonomic hard case for communication device

Description:
1. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The instant nonprovisional patent application contains subject matter disclosed in provisional patent application No. 61/188,821, filed on Aug. 13, 2008, for a ERGONOMIC HARD CASE FOR COMMUNICATION DEVICE, and incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hard case commonly used for the storage and protection of a portable communication device. Also, the present invention is ergonomic in design and easily usable with one hand. The system incorporates one-handed holding means, specifically a finger hole system and a grooved rubber gripping pad. Additionally, the disclosed hard case has the ability to hold a communication device in a tilted manner for easy use. 
     B. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous innovations showing hard cases for communication devices are shown in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
     (1) U.S. Pat. No. 7,180,451 to Silzer, Jr.
 
both of which can be made of rubber or some other elastic material for absorbing shock when the PDA is in use in the field. The PDA can also have an antenna which is also part of the peripheral bumper or that is inset to minimize damage to the antenna. The antenna receives signals from a remote location, such as a global positioning so that the PDA can display useful information to the user. In a golf context, this could be the distance from the user to a golf hole. The casing of the PDA can also be made of ballistic nylon so that handles for carrying the PDA can be easily sewn onto the housing and so that the housing can further resist any shock from the environment. If the case of the PDA is hard, there can be sockets provided where the handle can be easily attached or detached using a pair of nuts. A lanyard may be provided in lieu of a handle to allow the user to easily transport the PDA. Furthermore, the PDA may have a retractable stand that allows the user to set the PDA on the ground and still be able to see the monitor while the user engages in another activity, thereby facilitating access to the information by the user.
 
(2) U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,580 to Lu et al.
 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,580 issued to Lu et al. on Jan. 10, 2006 teaches an auto-released hinge for a mobile phone, which has a barrel with two open ends. The barrel has a first flange formed inside the barrel. A first spiral slot is defined in the first flange. Two stop slots are defined in the barrel and two second spiral slots are defined between the respective stop slots and the first flange. A pintle is rotatably received in the barrel, and has a first end extending out from the barrel and a second flange formed adjacent a second end of the pintle. A protrusion is formed at an outer periphery of the pintle and received in the first spiral slot. Two ridges are formed adjacent the second flange and respectively blocked in the stop slots. A resilient member is provided outside the second end of the pintle. A fastener is positioned in the barrel to fasten the pintle and the resilient member. 
     (3) United States Patent Application Publication Number 2005/0210173 to Kehoe et al. 
     United States Patent Application Publication Number 2005/0210173 published to Kehoe et al. on Sep. 22, 2005 teaches an adapter unit for a personal digital assistant. More specifically, an adapter unit that has a handle grip.
 
(4) U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,221 to Minami et al.
 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,221 issued to Minami et al. on May 3, 2005 teaches a folding device containing a stationary part, a movable part disposed to be rotatable in flip-up (unfolding) and flip-down (folding) directions, a force-applying section disposed between the two parts, which urges the movable part in either direction according to a state of the movable part, a reversing section for allowing the force-applying section to change a direction of urging of the movable part into the flip-up (unfolding) direction when the movable part is in a folded state, and an actuator for operating the reversing section. Pressing the actuator being in the folded state allows the reversing section to switch the direction of urging of the movable part into flip-up (unfolding) direction. The stationary and the movable housings are connected to the stationary and the movable parts of the folding device, respectively. The structures can provide a folding device equipped with a simple one-hand flipping-up (unfolding), and electronic equipment using the device. 
     (5) U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,435 to Kehoe et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,435 issued to Kehoe et al. on Jan. 4, 2005 teaches an adapter unit for a personal digital assistant. More specifically, an adapter unit that has a handle grip. 
     (6) U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,813 to Salvato et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,813 issued to Salvato et al. on Nov. 23, 2004 teaches an adapter unit for a personal digital assistant. 
     (7) United States Patent Application Publication Number 2003/0089832 to Gold. United States Patent Application Publication Number 2003/0089832 published to Gold on May 15, 2003 teaches a multi-functional articulated device with an adjustable set of rotationally locking leaves, which can provide a PDA or other handheld device with a hand-carrying ability that creates a more secure grip on the PDA while still allowing use of the hand for other tasks. The device is attachable to a pocket, a belt, or waistband, further has a surface stand up ability for multi-person viewing of the handheld device, also incorporates a paper handling capability for users that require the ability to input data into their handheld device while still holding paper documents, further allows the user to place a nametag or business card on the device in such a way as to create a breast pocket personal identification methodology for meetings and conventions, further allows the user to display the screen of their handheld device in such a way as to create an electronic breast pocket personal display methodology for meetings, conventions, marketing, and sales purposes, further allows the user to place their handheld device down on dirty or wet surfaces without affecting the handheld device, further creates multiple configurations that can hold handheld devices above desk level so that additional components like keyboards and power cables can be easily attached, further allows the user to display a handheld device in a portrait or landscape-viewing mode, further allows the user mount a handheld device on a vehicle dashboard, and further allows the user to attach additional accessories to amplify the users ability to see the screen of the handheld device attached to the invention.
 
(8) U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,423 to Ross et al.
 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,423 issued to Ross et al. on Jan. 18, 2000 teaches a bracing system that protects and secures the internal components of a mobile communication system. The bracing system includes an upper housing including a shock resistant material. The upper housing includes a monitor cavity, elevated portions surrounding the monitor cavity and formed in the upper housing, and elastomer sections disposed on the elevated portions. In addition, the upper housing includes a breakage resistant transparent material placed on the elastomer sections and in conformity with the monitor cavity, a display monitor being protected by the breakage resistant material, and a shock absorbing material disposed around the peripheries of the breakage resistant transparent material and the display monitor. The shock absorbing material is mounted to at least one of the breakage resistant transparent material and the display monitor. The upper housing also includes a mounting bracket biasing the display monitor to the upper housing and the breakage resistant material, and mounted to the upper housing, an integral keyboard formed of a water resistant material including elevated keys and mounting holes arranged around the periphery and between selected keys, and a first printed circuit board including switches selectively activated in response to depression of the elevated keys and mounted to the upper housing through the mounting holes in the integral keyboard. 
     (9) U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,953 to Ross et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,953 issued to Ross et al. on Jan. 14, 1997 teaches a mobile satellite system including a satellite communication switching office having a satellite antenna for receiving/transmitting a satellite message via a satellite from/to a vehicle using a mobile communication system, a satellite interface system, and a fleet management system including a central controller. The mobile communication system includes a housing having a shock resistant material. The housing includes end bumpers of an elastomeric material for absorbing shock experienced by the housing. The end bumpers each include recessed handles on an upper surface of the mobile communicator system and ribbed protruded finger grips on a bottom surface of the mobile communication system. The mobile communication system also includes an input device for inputting data. The input device includes a keyboard including a rubber/carbon membrane and mounted in the housing a first seal to prevent fluid from entering the mobile communication system between the input device and the housing. The mobile communication system also includes a central processing unit disposed in the housing that receives either data from the input device or sensor data received from the mobile sensing station. The central processing unit also outputs satellite data to the satellite interface system for transmission to the satellite. The mobile communication system further includes a display monitor including tempered glass having the ability to withstand. 
     3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to encase and protect a communication device.
         Another object of the present invention is to allow the one-handed use of a communication device.   Another object of the present invention is a communication device hard case that allows for the tilted table-top use of the enclosed communication device.       

    
    
     
       4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The figures on the drawing are briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention in the in-use position; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged diagrammatic side elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW  2  in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged diagrammatic back elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW  3  in  FIG. 2  of the present invention in the non-use position. 
     
    
    
     5. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
     A. General 
     
         
           10  ergonomic hard case of present invention for communication device  12   
           12  communication device 
       
    
     B. Overall Configuration of the Ergonomic Hard Case  10   
     
         
           14  body for being held in hand  24  of user  22  and for cradling communication device  12  therein so as to allow user  22  to utilize communication device  12   
           16  cover for protecting communication device  12   
           18  apparatus for holding fingers  20  of user  22  utilizing ergonomic hard case  10  so as to eliminate chance of communication device  10  falling out of hand  24  of user  22  during use 
           20  fingers of user  22   
           22  user 
           24  hand of user  22   
       
    
     C. Specific Configuration of the Apparatus  18   
     
         
           26  pair of wings of apparatus  18   
           28  rear face of body  14   
           30  recess in rear face  28  of body  14   
           32  pins of pair of wings  26  of apparatus  18   
           34  finger-receiving through bores in pair of wings  26  of apparatus  18  for receiving tips of fingers  20  of user  22  during use 
           36  free edges of pair of wings  26  of apparatus  18   
           38  indentations in free edges  36  of pair of wings  26  of apparatus  18  for accommodating fingers  20  of the user  22   
           40  belt clip of body  14  for clipping body  14  to belt  42  of user  22   
           42  belt of user  22   
       
    
     6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A. General 
     Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , which is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention in the in-use position, the ergonomic hard case of the present invention is shown generally at  10  for a communication device  12 . 
     B. The Overall Configuration of the Ergonomic Hard Case  10   
     The ergonomic hard case  10  comprises a body  14 , a cover  16 , and apparatus  18  for holding the fingers  20  of a user  22  utilizing the ergonomic hard case  10 . The body  12  is for being held in a hand  24  of the user  22  and for cradling the communication device  12  therein so as to allow the user  22  to utilize the communication device  12 . The cover  16  is pivotally mounted to the body  14  and is for protecting the communication device  12 . The apparatus  18  is pivotally mounted to the body  14  and is for holding the fingers  20  of a user  22  utilizing the communication device  12  so as to eliminate a chance of the communication device  10  falling out of the hand  24  of the user  22  during use. 
     C. The Specific Configuration of the Apparatus  18   
     The specific configuration of the apparatus  18  can best be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which are, respectively, an enlarged diagrammatic side elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW  2  in  FIG. 1 , and an enlarged diagrammatic back elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW  3  in  FIG. 2  of the present invention in the non-use position, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The apparatus  18  comprises a pair of wings  26 . The pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  are pivotally mounted to a rear face  28  of the body  14 , and as such, have an extended position ( FIG. 2 ) where they extend generally normally outwardly from the rear face  28  of the body  14  and a retracted position ( FIG. 3 ) where they lie flat in the rear face  28  of the body  14 . 
     The rear face  28  of the body  14  has a recess  30  therein. The recess  30  in the rear face  28  of the body  14  allows the pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  to lie unobtrusively flush with the rear face  28  of the body  14  when in the retracted position ( FIG. 3 ). 
     The pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  are pivotally mounted to the rear face  28  of the body  14  by pins  32 . The pins  32  of the pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  pivotally engage in the rear face  28  of the body  14  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     The pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  contain finger-receiving through bores  34 . The finger-receiving through bores  34  in the pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  are for receiving the tips of fingers  20  of the user  22  during use. 
     The finger-receiving through bores  34  of the pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  are graduated for accommodating the different sizes of the tips of the fingers  20  of the user  22 . 
     The pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  further have free edges  36 . The free edges  36  of the pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  contain indentations  38 . The indentations  38  in the free edges  36  of the pair of wings  26  of the apparatus  18  are for accommodating the fingers  20  of the user  22 . 
     The body  14  further has a belt clip  40 . The belt clip  40  of the body  14  is for clipping the body  14  to a belt  42  of the user  22  ( FIG. 2 ).