Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a protective secondary enclosure apparatus with modular face protective options for use with a mobile phone, iPhone, smart device, personal handheld unit, or the like. The protective secondary enclosure apparatus provides environmental protection from scratches, bumps, and the like. The modularity of the protective secondary enclosure apparatus enables different levels of environmental protection and different designs to enhance the fashion appeal of the device being protected.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/112,632 filed Nov. 7, 2008. The content of this prior patent application is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Consumer electronic devices exist such as mobile phones, iPhones, smart devices, and personal handheld units. These consumer electronic devices are provided with a primary enclosure to protect electronic components. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present disclosure provides a protective secondary enclosure apparatus with modular face protective options for use with handheld devices such as a mobile phone, iPhone, smart device, or personal handheld unit. The apparatus provides environmental protection from scratches, bumps, and the like. The modularity of the apparatus enables different levels of environmental protection and different designs to enhance the fashion appeal of the device being protected. 
         [0004]    The required elements of the apparatus include an enclosure base and a bezel ring surrounding the top surface of the enclosure base. The enclosure base may be made of plastic, wood, metal, silicone, non-woven cloth, or the like. The bezel ring may be made of plastic, metal, wood, silicone, santoprene, rubber, or the like. 
         [0005]    The enclosure base and bezel ring are available in different designs. Due to the modularity of the protective secondary enclosure, the different designs are interchangeable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the protective secondary enclosure apparatus. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section view of a method of inserting a handheld device into an enclosure base. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows an isometric view of a method of inserting a handheld device into an enclosure base. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of a protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a handheld device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a folding flap for a modular face protective option. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-section view of a protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a handheld device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of a protective secondary enclosure apparatus with an installed handheld device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows an isometric view of a lens which forms a folding flap in conjunction with a hinge attached to a bezel ring. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of a lens which forms a folding flap in conjunction with a hinge attached to a bezel ring. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows an isometric view of a lens which is integrated with a bezel ring. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of a lens which is integrated with a bezel ring. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  shows an isometric view of a removable lens which may be removed or held in place with a bezel ring. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional view of a removable lens which may be removed or held in place with a bezel ring. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  shows an isometric view of a removable lens which may be removed or held in place with a slotted bezel ring. 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional view of a removable lens which may be removed or held in place with a slotted bezel ring. 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  shows modular configurations where the functional and aesthetic features may be changed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  shows an exploded view of the protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a 2-section base. 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  shows an isometric view of the protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a 2-section base. 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  shows a cross-section side view of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands protecting a handheld device. 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  shows a cross-section side view of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands not protecting a handheld device. 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  shows a cross-section side view of the protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a 2-section base. 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  shows a cross-section front view with of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands shortly after being removed from the face of the handheld device. 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  shows a cross-section front view with of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands after being moved to the side of the handheld device. 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  shows a cross-section front view with of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands after being moved under the handheld device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    Primary enclosures are provided with handheld devices such as mobile phones, iPhones, smart devices, and personal handheld units. The enclosures provide some environmental protection for the devices. 
         [0031]    In many cases, additional environmental protection is desirable for a handheld device. A secondary enclosure may provide the additional protection. However, all the protective features of the secondary enclosure may not be necessary or desirable. Furthermore, the secondary enclosure may detract from the aesthetic appeal of the handheld device in its primary enclosure. 
         [0032]    The present disclosure details a secondary enclosure apparatus for handheld devices which is modular in nature. The modularity of the apparatus enables the handheld device user to choose which protective features to retain. 
         [0033]    An unexpected benefit is that the modularity of the apparatus gives the handheld device user many aesthetic feature choices. Various combinations of the enclosure base, bezel ring, and lens may be used to create a customized look for the handheld device user. 
         [0034]    The required elements of the apparatus include an enclosure base and a bezel ring surrounding the top surface of the enclosure base. The enclosure base may be made of plastic, wood, metal, silicone, non-woven cloth, or the like. The enclosure base holds the handheld device. The enclosure base may either be made of one piece or two pieces designed to fit together. 
         [0035]    The bezel ring may be made of plastic, metal, wood, silicone, santoprene, rubber, or the like. For the purposes of this disclosure, a bezel ring is defined as a grooved ring which is attached to the top edge of the enclosure base. The bezel ring may be used to hold a lens in place. The bezel ring also serves to hold the handheld device in place once it is seated in the enclosure base. 
         [0036]    Additional embodiments of the system may incorporate optional element(s). One possible embodiment includes a lens which protects the face of the handheld device. The lens may be integrated with the bezel ring, form a folding flap in conjunction with a hinge attached to the bezel ring, be removable and held in place with a slotted bezel ring, or be a removable lens with integrated flexible bands. The lens may be made of clear plastic, Lexan™, glass, or the like. The lens may have cut-outs to enable the use of a microphone, speaker, and the like. 
         [0037]    Another optional element is a strap lanyard. The strap lanyard enables the handheld device to be held around the wrist or a similar hands-free method. The strap lanyard further enables the handheld device to be tied to an object. The strap lanyard may be made of rope, nylon, rubber, or the like. 
         [0038]    Another optional element is a belt clip. The belt clip enables the handheld device to be attached to a belt worn on a person. The belt clip further enables the handheld device to be clipped onto an object. The belt clip may be made of plastic, metal, or the like. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the protective secondary enclosure apparatus. An enclosure base  101  attaches to a bezel ring  102 . An optional strap lanyard  103  may be attached to the enclosure base. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section view of a method of inserting a handheld device  201  into an enclosure base  101 . The handheld device  201  fits into a die-lock section  202  of the enclosure base  101 , enabling the handheld device  201  to snap into place and be held with the force of the die-lock section  202 . The die-lock section  202  exists because the lip of the enclosure base  101  is slightly smaller than the handheld device  201 , or may be created using a separate liner or insert, creating a compression fit. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows an isometric view of a method of inserting a handheld device  201  into an enclosure base  101 . The handheld device  201  snaps into place and is held with the force of the die-lock section  202 . The die-lock section  202  exists because the lip of the enclosure base  101  is slightly smaller than the handheld device  201 , creating a compression fit. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of a protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a handheld device  201 . An enclosure base  101  contains a handheld device  201 . A bezel ring  102  is being lowered onto the enclosure base  101 , where it will be snapped into place. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-section view of a protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a handheld device  201 . The handheld device  201  sits in a die-lock section of the enclosure base  101 . A bezel ring  102  is snapped in place and provides additional force to keep the handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of a protective secondary enclosure apparatus with an installed handheld device  201 . An enclosure base  101  and bezel ring  102  are shown with the installed handheld device  201 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  shows an isometric view of a lens  701  which forms a folding flap in conjunction with a hinge  702  attached to or integrated with a bezel ring  102 . The bezel ring  102  is designed to snap onto an enclosure base  101  to keep a handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of a lens  701  which forms a folding flap in conjunction with a hinge  702  attached to or integrated with a bezel ring  102 . The bezel ring  102  is designed to snap onto an enclosure base  101  to keep a handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  shows an isometric view of a lens which is integrated with a bezel ring  901 . The lens which is integrated with a bezel ring  901  is designed to snap onto an enclosure base  101  to keep a handheld device in place. 
         [0048]      FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of a lens which is integrated with a bezel ring  901 . The lens which is integrated with a bezel ring  901  is designed to snap onto an enclosure base  101  to keep a handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0049]      FIG. 11  shows an isometric view of a removable lens  1101  which may be removed or held in place with a bezel ring  102 . The bezel ring  102  is designed to snap onto an enclosure base  101  to keep a handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional view of a removable lens  1101  which may be removed or held in place with a bezel ring  102 . The bezel ring  102  is designed to snap onto an enclosure base  101  to keep a handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  shows an isometric view of a removable lens  1101  which may be removed or held in place with a slotted bezel ring  1301 . The slotted bezel ring  1301  is designed to snap onto an enclosure base  101  to keep a handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional view of a removable lens  1101  which may be removed or held in place with a slotted bezel ring  1301 . The slotted bezel ring  1301  is designed to snap onto an enclosure base  101  to keep a handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0053]      FIG. 15  shows modular configurations where the functional and/or aesthetic features may be changed. Examples of functional or aesthetic features are material, color, style, function, and the like. 
         [0054]      FIG. 16  shows an exploded view of the protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a 2-section base. The 2-section base has a top base section  1601  and a bottom base section  1602 . The top base section  1601  slides over the top of the handheld device  201  while the bottom base section  1602  slides over the bottom of the handheld device  201 . A bezel ring  102  snaps onto the combined 2-section base to hold the handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0055]      FIG. 17  shows an isometric view of the protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a 2-section base. The  2 -section base has a top base section  1601  and a bottom base section  1602 . The top base section  1601  slides over the top of the handheld device  201  while the bottom base section  1602  slides over the bottom of the handheld device  201 . A bezel ring  102  snaps onto the combined 2-section base to hold the handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0056]      FIG. 18  shows a cross-section side view of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands protecting a handheld device. A handheld device  201  rests in a base  101  and is held in place with a bezel ring  102 . The bezel ring  102  has two flexible bands  1801  attached which are integrated with a removable lens  1802 . The removable lens  1802  with integrated flexible bands  1801  is shown protecting the handheld device  201 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 19  shows a cross-section side view of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands not protecting a handheld device. A handheld device  201  rests in a base  101  and is held in place with a bezel ring  102 . The bezel ring  102  has two flexible bands  1801  attached which are integrated with a removable lens  1802 . The removable lens  1802  with integrated flexible bands  1801  is shown not protecting the handheld device  201 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 20  shows a cross-section side view of the protective secondary enclosure apparatus with a 2-section base. The 2-section base has a top base section  1601  and a bottom base section  1602 . The top base section  1601  slides over the top of the handheld device  201  while the bottom base section  1602  slides over the bottom of the handheld device  201 . A bezel ring  102  snaps onto the combined 2-section base to hold the handheld device  201  in place. 
         [0059]      FIG. 21  shows a cross-section front view with of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands shortly after being removed from the face of the handheld device. A handheld device  201  rests in a base  101  and is held in place with a bezel ring  102 . The bezel ring  102  has two flexible bands  1801  attached which are integrated with a removable lens  1802 .  FIG. 21  shows the removable lens  1802  shortly after being removed from the face of the handheld device  201 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 22  shows a cross-section front view with of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands after being moved to the side of the handheld device. A handheld device  201  rests in a base  101  and is held in place with a bezel ring  102 . The bezel ring  102  has two flexible bands  1801  attached which are integrated with a removable lens  1802 .  FIG. 22  shows the removable lens  1802  after being moved to the side of the handheld device  201 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 23  shows a cross-section front view with of a removable lens with integrated flexible bands after being moved under the handheld device. A handheld device  201  rests in a base  101  and is held in place with a bezel ring  102 . The bezel ring  102  has two flexible bands  1801  attached which are integrated with a removable lens  1802 .  FIG. 23  shows the removable lens  1802  after being moved under the handheld device  201 . 
         [0062]    While these present invention has been described herein with reference to an embodiment and various alternatives thereto, it should be apparent that the invention is not limited to such embodiments. Rather, many variations would be apparent to persons of skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as defined herein and in the claims.