Patent Publication Number: US-10763688-B1

Title: Mobile telephone case facilitating wireless charging

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present Non-Provisional patent application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) to a prior filed Provisional patent application, namely, that having Ser. No. 62/628,605 filed on Feb. 9, 2018, the content of which is being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to a protective case or housing for a mobile phone which is structured to facilitate the wireless charging of the mobile phone, while the mobile phone is still disposed within the protective case. Accordingly, the inconvenience of detachment or removal of the protective case from the mobile phone is eliminated, when the wireless charging thereof is required or desired. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     The use of mobile telephones in modern-day society has become ubiquitous. Similarly, different casings, housings, etc. are frequently utilized to at least partially enclose the mobile phone for purposes of protection. Such protection is often deemed necessary due in part to the expense of many mobile phones and the fact that such mobile phones are carried on or by an individual on a frequent, if not almost constant basis. 
     As is also well known, the periodic recharging of the batteries of mobile phones is a requirement in order to maintain efficient the operative and communicative capabilities of the phone. The recharging procedure for the mobile phone commonly involves the interconnection of the mobile phone to a power source utilizing a charging cable or the like. As such, the charging cable may be connected at one end directly to the mobile phone, such as by the utilization of a USB connector. The opposite end of the charging cable is connected to a conventional AC power outlet or alternatively to a computer, processor, etc. 
     However, more recently mobile phones have been developed which have wireless charging capabilities. Accordingly, recharging the batteries of the mobile phone is accomplished by placing the mobile phone in direct engagement or contact with a wireless recharging unit. Further by way of example, a mobile phone having wireless charging capabilities may be placed directly on a flat or other appropriately configured platform or surface. In such a position, the rear surface or other appropriate portion of the mobile phone is disposed within an appropriate and/or predetermined induction range of the transmitting coil of the wireless recharging unit. However, when the mobile phone is disposed within a conventional protective case or housing the rear surface thereof is typically covered or enclosed. Accordingly, many conventional or known protective cases for mobile phones require a removal of the case or housing from the mobile phone in order to adequately expose the rear surface and associated recharging coil of the mobile phone to the transmitting coil of the wireless recharging unit 
     Therefore, there is a need in the related art of mobile phones, especially of the type having wireless recharging capabilities, for a mobile telephone case which overcomes the disadvantages and problems associated with adequate protection of the mobile phone, while concurrently facilitating the wireless recharging thereof. In more specific terms, there is a need for a protective case, housing, etc. for a mobile phone which does not require its removal or detachment, while the mobile phone is being wirelessly recharged. Further, such a preferred and proposed protective case or housing should be structured and configured to provide meaningful protection of the mobile phone, while concurrently allowing the wireless recharging thereof. Further, the structure, configuration, dimension, etc. of the protective case should be adaptable and/or capable of being structurally modified for use with different mobile phones, while facilitating their wireless recharging by any one of a plurality of different, but substantially conventional, wireless recharging units. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a mobile phone with a protective case of the present invention disposed thereon. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , including an access segment disposed in a closed orientation. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  with the access segment disposed in an open orientation. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of yet another embodiment of the mobile telephone case of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of yet another preferred embodiment of the mobile telephone case of the present invention incorporating a protective rear panel movable into an open orientation. 
         FIG. 6  is yet another preferred embodiment of the mobile telephone case of the present invention incorporating an access segment associated with the protective rear panel. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view in schematic form of a mobile phone having at least one embodiment of the mobile telephone case of the present invention, disposed thereon concurrently to being wirelessly recharged by a conventional recharging unit. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevation view of one longitudinal side of a preferred embodiment of the mobile telephone case of the present invention mounted on a mobile phone. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view in schematic form of a mobile phone having the embodiment of the mobile telephone case, as represented in  FIG. 6  disposed thereon and concurrently being wirelessly recharged by a conventional recharging unit. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view in schematic form of a mobile phone having one additional embodiment of the mobile telephone case of the present invention disposed thereon and concurrently being wirelessly recharged by a conventional wireless recharging unit. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As represented in the accompanying Figures, the present invention is directed to a protective mobile telephone case generally indicated as  10  mounted on a mobile phone, generally indicated as  100 . It is further emphasized herein that while the mobile telephone case  10  is capable of being used with a variety of different mobile telephones, the mobile telephone  100  is structured to include wireless recharging capabilities. Therefore, the various operative and structural features of the mobile telephone case  10  facilitate a wireless recharging thereof, as schematically represented in at least  FIGS. 7-10 , concurrently to the mobile telephone case  10  being maintained in its protective orientation on the mobile telephone  100 . 
     Accordingly, the mobile telephone case  10  comprises a housing generally indicated as  12  including a perimeter frame  14  and a rear protective panel  16 . The perimeter frame  14  is disposed in surrounding, enclosing relation to the exterior periphery/perimeter of the mobile phone  100  on a substantially continuous basis, as represented throughout the Figures. Also, the perimeter frame  14  includes an open front face or surface  15 . As a result of this open configuration, and with primary reference to  FIG. 1 , the perimeter frame  14  and the open front face  15  is dimensioned and configured to provide both physical and visual access to the front face or surface of the mobile phone  100  specifically including, but not limited to, the display screen  102 . As such, the display screen  102  may be viewed and the various operative features of the mobile phone  100  may be utilized and/or actuated by touching, voice actuation, etc. as is commonly practiced. 
     In cooperation therewith, the rear protective panel  16  is disposed in overlying, covering relation to the rear surface or face  104  of the mobile phone  100 , as represented in at least  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As also represented throughout the Figures, at least a portion of the protective rear panel  16  may be disposed between an open orientation, as represented in at least  FIGS. 3, 5 and 6  and a closed orientation, as represented in at least  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Further, when in the closed orientation, the protective rear panel  16  is disposed in substantially covering and protecting relation to the rear surface  104  of the mobile phone  100 . 
     In contrast to the closed orientation, the open orientation of the protective rear panel  16  results in at least a portion of the rear face or surface  104  of the mobile phone  100  being accessible, at least for purposes of wireless recharging. As indicated above, the mobile phone  100  is of the type which includes wireless recharging capabilities. Therefore, a wireless recharging unit and or recharging coil  106 , associated with the mobile phone  100 , is schematically represented in at least  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In typical fashion, the wireless recharging section or coil  106  associated with the mobile phone  100  is accessible for wireless recharging by placing the rear surface  104  within a predetermined or appropriate induction range relative to the wireless transmitter coil or circuitry  110  of the wireless recharging transmitter unit  112 , as schematically represented in at least  FIG. 7 . As indicated, the wireless recharging unit  112  may include a variety of conventional and/or commercially available recharging units and may be powered by a plug  114  connectable to a conventional electrical power supply/output. 
     Additional features of one or more preferred embodiments of the mobile telephone case  10  of the present invention include the rear protective panel  16  having an access segment generally indicated as  20 , wherein the access segment  20  is capable of being selectively moved or disposed between the closed orientation of  FIG. 2  and the open orientation of  FIG. 3 . Moreover, the disposition of the access segment  20  between the open and closed orientations is determinative of at least a portion of the rear protective panel  16  being at least partially moved or disposed between the closed and open orientations, as set forth above. 
     Yet additional structural features of the mobile telephone case  10 , including the housing  12  is the inclusion of a storage compartment generally indicated as  22  and/or  22 ′. The storage compartment  22 / 22 ′ is disposed, dimensioned and configured to efficiently store one or more objects such as, but not limited to, one or more credit cards  23 , money, in the form of paper bills or coin and/or a variety of other appropriately configured and dimensioned objects. As represented in the different structural features of the embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the storage compartment  22  may be located on or at least partially within the rear protective panel  16 . Further, the storage compartment  22  may be readily accessible by disposing the access segment  20  in the open orientation, as represented in  FIG. 3 . In contrast, the storage compartment  22 ′ may be mounted on the access segment  22 ′ and/or on the rear protective panel  16 , but be readily accessible for insertion or removal of the contents  23 , while the access segment  20  and or rear protective panel  16  remains in the closed orientation, as in  FIG. 4 . 
     With primary reference to  FIG. 5  one embodiment of the mobile telephone housing  10  includes the entire rear protective panel  16  being movable into an open orientation, from a closed orientation, thereby rendering substantially the entire rear surface or face  104  of the mobile phone  100  visually and physically accessible. As such, the recharging section  106  of the mobile telephone  10  will be clearly exposed and accessible for wireless charging, as represented schematically in  FIG. 7 . In at least one embodiment, the rear protective panel  16  is pivotally connected by a hinge or appropriate connecting structure  28 . Therefore, the rear protective panel  16  is selectively movable, at least partially separable and otherwise disposable between the open and closed orientations by movement of the protective roof panel  16  relative to the remainder of the perimeter frame  14 , by virtue of the hinge or other appropriate connecting structure  28 . 
     Further, the hinge or movable connecting structure  28  may be configured to facilitate disposition or movable separation of the rear protective panel  16  into the open orientation, as represented in  FIG. 5 . Moreover, the hinge or connecting structure  28  may be further structured to allow and/or facilitate disposition of the rear protective panel  16  in complete overlapping relation to the front or open face  15  of the perimeter frame  14  as represented in  FIG. 10 . Such a “wraparound” orientation of the protective panel  16  in the open orientation, also provides a clear visual and physical access to the entirety of the rear surface  104  of the mobile phone  100 . 
     With primary reference to  FIG. 6 , the embodiment of the mobile telephone case  10  is structured to include the access segment  20 . As described with reference to the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the access segment  20  is selectively movable between an open orientation and a closed orientation, which in turn defines the open and closed orientation of the rear protective panel  16 . Therefore, when the access segment  20  is in the open orientation, as represented in  FIG. 6 , the recharging section or receiving coil  106  of the mobile telephone  100  is physically exposed for disposition on or in direct engagement with the wireless recharging unit  112 . In the recharging position, schematically represented in  FIG. 9 , the recharging coil or section  106  of the mobile phone  100  is disposed within the inductive range of the transmitting coil  110  of the wireless recharging unit  112 , as schematically represented in  FIG. 7 . 
     Yet additional structural features which may be included in the various preferred embodiments of the mobile telephone case  10  is appropriate apertures or openings  30  for disposition in operative relation to the camera lens, lighting facilities, etc. generally indicated as  40 . 
     Also, one or more closure structures may be mounted on the housing  12  and/or perimeter casing  14 , as at  50 . The latch structures  50  may be used to maintain the access segment  20  and/or the rear protective panel  16  in the closed orientation, as should be apparent. Further, the closure structure  50  may be in the form of a frictional snap closure; a magnetic contact closure; a latch closure; etc. In each of these possible structural embodiments, the latch closure  50  is structured to removably maintain the panel  16  and or the access segment  20  in the closed orientation and may be activated to release the rear protective panel  16  and or access segment  22  by an appropriately structured exterior actuator. 
     Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.