Abstract:
An insulating cover for a mobile device is disclosed. The cover includes an opening in its back wall to allow ambient air to interact with an exothermic pack to provide sufficient heat to the mobile device such that it will function properly in a cold environment. The opening is preferably provided with a mesh pocket to secure the exothermic pack in proximity to the mobile device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to article casings and, more specifically, to a mobile device heater jacket comprising an elastomeric or polymeric cover serving as receptacle receiving an exothermic device therein that will provide heat to keep the temperature sensitive components operational, including battery, electronics and display screen, which are adversely affected by cold weather to the point of the mobile device shutting down while being used in cold weather. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    There are other phone casings which provide for phone heat retention. While these casings may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
         [0005]    It is thus desirable to provide a selectively mountable and dismountable stretchable jacket for a mobile device serving as receptacle for a heat packet to keep the mobile phone operational during use in cold weather. 
         [0006]    It is further desirable to provide the mobile device stretchable jacket with a lanyard providing tether means for attaching the jacketed mobile device to the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is well known that batteries, regardless of size, have operational issues in cold weather, which can create problems extending from the inconvenient, when wanting to take photos of winter activities and the mobile device dies to the catastrophic when caught in a life threatening winter weather event and the mobile device dies. 
         [0008]    One of the most advantageous enhancements of the mobile communications wireless network is the ability to dial 911 or similar service whereby emergency service operators are provided with the 911 originator&#39;s phone number and cell site transmitting the call or the latitude and longitude if using a location-capable wireless phone and therefore the need for mobile devices to work in extreme cold weather is the primary impetus of the present invention. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides a simple means for holding a user provided activateable exothermic device to a mobile device for the purpose of providing heat to maintain the operational state of the mobile device in extreme cold through the elastomeric/polymeric jacket holding a provided exothermic device against the mobile device. 
         [0010]    A primary object of the present invention is to provide an elastomeric and/or polymeric jacket for a mobile device serving as receptacle for placement within of a user provided exothermic device that will be held against said mobile device. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable jacket for a mobile device comprising a stretchable elastomeric or polymeric sheet material having an elastic border fixedly attached approximate the edge of the sheet material so that the jacket in use extends from the back across the top and sides to the front of the mobile device without covering the mobile device display. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable jacket for a mobile device comprising a stretchable elastomeric or polymeric sheet material having a hem with an elastic cord within extending exteriorly to a length so that the mobile device stretchable jacket can be worn around the neck. 
         [0013]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable jacket for a mobile device comprising a stretchable elastomeric or polymeric sheet material having a hem with an elastic cord within extending exteriorly to a length terminating in a fastener whereby the mobile device stretchable jacket can be releasably fastened to a user desired article, such as apparel. 
         [0014]    An additional object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable jacket for a mobile device where a user can easily position a user provided exothermic device between the mobile device housing and said jacket thereby providing heat to keep the temperature sensitive phone components operational, including battery, electronics and display screen, which are adversely affected by cold weather. 
         [0015]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable jacket for a mobile device comprising a stretchable elastomeric or polymeric sheet material having an aperture within the back wall of the stretchable jacket with a mesh screen fixedly attached over said aperture providing ambient air access to the jacket interior. 
         [0016]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable jacket for a mobile device where a user can easily position an air activated exothermic device between the mobile device housing and the mobile device jacket with the jacket screen providing said air activated exothermic device with a source of ambient air. 
         [0017]    A still yet further of the present invention is to provide a stretchable jacket for a mobile device having an interior receptacle formed by fixedly attaching screen mesh material approximately over the jacket screen on three sides with the fourth side providing receptacle for inserting a user provided exothermic device. 
         [0018]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable jacket for a mobile device comprising a stretchable elastomeric or polymeric sheet material having a camera lens aperture within the back wall of the stretchable jacket allowing the user to take pictures without removing the mobile device jacket. 
         [0019]    Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
         [0020]    The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a mobile device jacket comprising an elastomeric or polymeric cover serving as receptacle for holding a user provided exothermic device therein that will provide heat to keep the temperature sensitive components operational, including battery, electronics and display screen, which are adversely affected by cold weather to the point of the mobile device shutting down while being used in cold weather. 
         [0021]    The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
         [0022]    The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
       [0023]    Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the use of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
     10  mobile device     12  stretchable elastomeric jacket     14  exothermic heat pack     16  mesh pocket     18  lanyard     20  stretchable elastic material     21  elastomeric band     22  receptacle opening for mobile device     24  back wall     26  camera lens aperture     28  front side     30  interior receiving area     32  screen or pocket opening     34  elastic lanyard     36  first jacket side     38  second jacket side     40  bottom jacket side     42  top jacket side   
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0042]    In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
           [0043]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of prior art. 
           [0044]      FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the mobile device jacket for a heater. 
           [0045]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a mobile device, stretchable jacket for a heater and exothermic device. 
           [0046]      FIG. 4  is an illustrative back view of the mobile device stretchable jacket in use. 
           [0047]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the stretchable jacket for mobile devices. 
           [0048]      FIG. 6  is another front view of the stretchable jacket for mobile devices. 
           [0049]      FIG. 7  is an illustrative view of the mobile device jacket mountable to a mobile device. 
           [0050]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a mobile device with the mobile device jacket mounted thereon. 
           [0051]      FIG. 9  is an optional embodiment of the elastic lanyard for the stretchable mobile device jacket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0052]    The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is an illustrative view of prior art. All major cell phone manufacturers caution users about using the phones in cold temperatures and offer operational temperature guide lines. Many cell phones suffer issues at 23 degree Fahrenheit and become inoperative at 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The present invention over comes this problem by providing a stretchable jacket for mobile devices serving as receptacle for placement within of a user provided exothermic device providing heat to keep the user&#39;s mobile device operational during extreme cold weather. Shown in the Figure are the user U and the mobile device (cell phone) indicated at  10 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , shown is an illustrative view of the mobile device jacket for a heater. Shown is one embodiment of the mobile device jacket  12  having a receptacle opening  22  to accommodate the mobile device  10  and further having a mesh pocket  16  for an exothermic pack  14  to heat the mobile device  10  during cold weather. Preferably, the exothermic device  14  is air activated with the jacket  12  having a mesh screen portion or pocket  16  providing the air activated exothermic device with a source of ambient air. When the jacket  12  with the mesh pocket  16  containing the exothermic device  14  is attached to a mobile device  10 , the heat from the exothermic pack warms the mobile device housing keeping the housing and interior electronics at a higher temperature than the ambient air temperature, e.g. such as extreme cold weather. In other words, the chemical process within a battery producing electricity is slowed as temperature decreases until a point where the battery(s) can no longer provide sufficient current to operate the mobile device. The jacket provides means for holding an exothermic device against the mobile device housing. The mobile device jacket for a heater can also be used on other electronic communication devices such as E-books, tablets, etc. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , shown is an exploded view of a mobile device  10 , stretchable jacket  12  and exothermic device  14 . The stretchable jacket  12  is comprised of a stretchable elastomeric or polymeric sheet material (indicated at  20 ) with a peripheral elastomeric band  21  and having an aperture within the back wall  24  of the stretchable jacket  12  with a mesh screen or pocket  16  fixedly attached over the aperture providing ambient air access to the jacket interior. With this arrangement, a user can easily position an air activated exothermic device  14  between the mobile device housing  10  and the mobile device jacket  12  with the jacket mesh screen or pocket  16  providing the activated exothermic device  14  with a source of ambient air. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , shown is an illustrative back view of the mobile device stretchable jacket  12  in use. Shown is the rear view of the stretchable jacket  12  attached to a mobile device (not seen in this Figure) with the jacket  12  having a camera lens aperture  26  within the back wall of the stretchable jacket allowing the user to take pictures without removing the mobile device from the jacket  12 . Also shown is the mesh screen or pocket  16  that provides the exothermic pack (also not seen in this Figure) with a source of ambient air. It is also envisioned by the present invention that the stretchable mobile device jacket can also be used on other electronic communication devices such as e-book readers, tablet-type computers, and the like. It should be noted that various other apertures, similar to that seen at  26  could be provided in these cases to allow access to a power switch, screen brightness controls, volume controls, or other types of user interfaces. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , shown is a front view of the stretchable jacket for mobile devices. The jacket  12  has a front side indicated at  28  with a peripheral elastomeric band  21 . Located on the front side  28  is the receptacle opening  22  for the mobile device  10  (not shown). An interior view of the stretchable jacket  12  is seen in this Figure showing clearly the interior receiving area  30  bounded by the back wall  24 , the mesh screen or pocket  16 , and the receptacle opening  22 . Note the screen or pocket opening indicated at  32 . It should be emphasized that any number of methods of fixing the exothermic pack to the jacket  12  could be used, as long as exposure to ambient air is provided. It should also be noted that it is contemplated that receptacle opening  22  would be elastic in nature to allow the user to secure the mobile device  10  within the jacket  12  and to hold it in proximity to the exothermic pack  14 . 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , shown is another front view of the stretchable jacket  12  for mobile devices. Shown is an interior view of the stretchable jacket for a mobile device having an interior receiving area  30  formed by fixedly attaching material approximately over said screen on three sides with the fourth side providing a receptacle indicated as a mesh pocket at  16  for inserting a user provided exothermic device  14 . A number of materials could be used for the stretchable elastomeric material  20 . Various rubber/nylon combinations could be used or various fabrics could be utilized, such as spandex. A material such as Aerocel EDPM closed cell sheet insulation would serve for extremely cold environments. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , shown is an illustrative view of the jacket  12  of the present invention in the position to be mounted to a mobile device indicated at  10 . The interior view is again seen of the stretchable jacket  12  having elastomeric band  21  for a mobile device where an exothermic device  14  is positioned within the mesh pocket  16  providing an air activated exothermic device with a source of ambient air. The user provided exothermic device  14  provides heat to maintain the operational state of the mobile device  10  in extreme cold through the elastomeric/polymeric jacket  12  holding the provided exothermic device  14  proximate to the mobile device housing. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , shown is a front view of a mobile device  10  with the mobile device jacket  12  mounted thereon. The mobile device  10  is shown with a user provided exothermic device  14  positioned between the mobile device  10  housing and mobile device jacket  12  thereby providing heat to keep the temperature sensitive mobile device components operational, including battery, electronics and display screen, which are adversely affected by cold weather. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , shown is an optional embodiment of the elastic lanyard for the stretchable mobile device jacket  12 . Shown is a stretchable jacket for a mobile device comprising a stretchable elastomeric or polymeric sheet material  20  having a hem with an elastic cord indicated at  34  forming a lanyard within extending exteriorly to a length so that the mobile device stretchable jacket can be worn around the neck The elastic lanyard  34  extends completely around the periphery of the device  12  internally within the first side  36 , the bottom side  40 , and the second side  38 , emerging on the top side  42  in the embodiment shown in the Figure. 
         [0062]    As has been mentioned above, the exothermic heap source could be any of a wide variety of types. Most common are what are referred to as “hand warmers” and are available at hardware, outdoor, and convenience type stores. These devices come in carious shapes and sizes, so that fitting them to different types of mobile devices (as discussed above) would be readily accomplished. 
         [0063]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
         [0064]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0065]    Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.