Patent Publication Number: US-10779624-B2

Title: Re-usable protective sheath for portable electronic devices

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to protective cases. More specifically, the present invention relates to protective cases comprising an adjustable multi-component sheath which provides protection primarily in the high risk damage areas of portable electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable electronic devices such as smart-phones have become an essential commodity for everyday life. An ever increasing amount of sophisticated technology is assembled into smaller packages creating higher value products for consumers. 
     However, with increasing utility and usage, these devices are subjected to potential damage due to mis-handling, dropping, etc., requiring the need for scratch and shock protection of these increasingly expensive devices. In particular, this need for protection of these devices is most acute in the corners of the device which are easily damaged and transfer mechanical shock to the rest of the device, and also the screen. 
     Furthermore, a suitable form of device protection must allow fast and direct access to the input &amp; outputs media of the device (e.g. jacks and buttons). 
     In addition, the protective cover must be slim and minimalist, thereby not increasing the bulk and weight to the devices which are designed to be portable, handheld and stored in the pocket. Moreover, with the wide proliferation and rapid model changeover of devices such as smart-phone (e.g. Apple iPhone and Samsung Android series), the protective cover should be ideally re-usable across a broad range of devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an adjustable multi-component sheath which provides protection primarily in the high risk damage areas of portable electronic devices, i.e., the corners. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a plurality of portable electronics devices to which the invention has been successfully applied. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates another view of the aforementioned electronic devices. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the adjustment directions which the invention must accommodate, that being the length (A), width (B), and depth (C) of the portable electronic device. 
         FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of the invention, comprising a two-component sheath comprised of a plurality of sub-components. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention where 2-pieces of the thin flexible protective sheath are connected in the middle of the device. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention where the 2-pieces of the thin flexible protective sheath are connected in the middle of the device using a hindge and release button mechanism. 
         FIGS. 7-8  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention where the 2-pieces of the thin flexible protective sheath are connected in the middle of the device. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exploded or expanded view of the present invention of the previous embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     In the following description, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Referring to the figure, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a multi-component sheath to protect portable electronics devices. The present invention provides coarse adjustment in height-direction or y-direction. A region enabling connection between the upper piece and lower piece allowing significant extension of the mechanism along the longest axis of the portable electronic device. 
     An additional fine adjustment in both height-direction or y-direction and width or y-direction is also possible. Minor expansion of the pieces in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the portable electronic device, due to intrinsic elongation and stretch characteristics of the sheath material (e.g. polymer or rubber). 
     The present invention provides minimalist coverage of the portable electronic device on the back and sides. The present invention provides protection mostly in the corners. The present invention results in a minimal increase in overall thickness of the portable electronic device. The thickness of the material comprising the mechanism is less than 2 mm. Finally, the device allows full access to all input/output connections and buttons of the device. 
       FIG. 1  shows portable electronics devices to which the invention has been successfully applied, namely: SONY XPERIA Z3, MOTO X, LG G3, APPLE IPHONE 6, HTC ONE M9, SAMSUNG GALAXY S7, APPLE IPHONE 6-PLUS &amp; GOOGLE NEXUS. 
       FIG. 2  shows another view of the aforementioned electronic devices and the required adjustment directions. 
       FIG. 3  shows the adjustment directions which the invention must accommodate, that being the length (A), width (B), and depth (C) of the portable electronic device. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the component parts of one embodiment of the present invention. The components parts are an upper part  100  and a lower part  101 , each comprised of a stretch/rubber frame comprised of a stretch rubber end section  102  and  103  and a diagonal stretch section  104  and  105  and a protection/rubber over-mold  108  and  109  that extends around the ends and corners of an electronic device and partially down a back surface  110 . Each part also has a fitting lock  107  on the opposing end of the protection/rubber over-mold  102  and  103  that extends around the ends and corners of an electronic device. These opposing ends  102  and  103  are designed to secure or lock the two parts together at the fitting lock  107 . In  FIG. 4 , the fitting lock  7  is shown where one part end is comprised of a plurality of holes  106  and the other a plurality of protrusions  108  that interlock and are adjustable. 
       FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of the invention, comprising a two-component sheath  100  and  101  comprised of the following sub-components: a stretchable member between the corners  102  and  103 , stretchable members  104  and  105  connecting the corners to the center region of each sheath, and a fitting lock  107  between each component. 
     The invention consists of a multi-component, expandable sheath comprised of a nominally stretchable material, such as rubber or polymer of moderate elongation, providing protection of electronic devices, mostly in the corners while allowing access to buttons, jacks, camera and other input/output means of the device. The two part expandable sheath is typically made of two components which are connected through an adjustable interlock mechanism which allows for large expansion of the two part sheath system in one direction of the electronic device. The protection of the corners of the device may incorporate rubber or polymeric reinforcement for additional shock and vibration protection. 
     The invention is designed to be used on a wide range of electronic devices, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . The present invention has been successfully employed on an extremely wide range of manufacturer makes and model such as: SONY XPERIA Z3, MOTO X, LG G3, APPLE IPHONE 6, HTC ONE M9, SAMSUNG GALAXY S7, APPLE IPHONE 6-PLUS &amp; GOOGLE NEXUS. 
       FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of the invention. The two pieces  111  and  112  of the thin flexible protective sheath are connected in the middle of the device  113 . In this embodiment, the fitting lock is comprised of a substantially circular slot  115  on one part  116  while the opposing part  117  has an oblong pull tab  118 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the internal components of the fitting lock, where the part with the pull tab also has a substantially rectangular section  119  with a number of angled serrations  120 . The angled serrations  120  fit in to corresponding angled serrations  121  on the opposing part  116 . Their angular nature allows them to be pulled in to decrease the size of the device, while not being able to release or extend. One or more release buttons  122  are provided whereby squeezing the two sides of the opposing part  116  results in a deformation of the interior serrations  121  or channels and allows the parts  117  and  116  to extend away from each other. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , metal bars  123  comprise the frame of each of the two body parts  117  and  116 . The metal bar frames  123  connect to molded corners  124  that are secured around the corners of an electronic device. On the opposing end of the metal bar frames, they are attached to a circular hinge  125 . Rubber tension controls  126  can be secured to the metal bar frames  123  to help in fitment and securement to an electronic device. 
       FIGS. 7-8  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention where the two pieces of the thin flexible protective sheath  127  and  128  are connected in the middle of the device  129 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the metal bars have been replaced by a fabric material, which could be leather, nylon, or any other fabric. In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , the body parts of the device  130  and  131  are made from a plastic or rubber. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an exploded or expanded view of the present invention of the previous embodiment. Here the present invention  132  is shown in one embodiment, separated from an electronic mobile device  133 , such as a rectangular smart phone. 
     Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.