US20120043247A1 - Portable electronic device protector - Google Patents

Abstract

A protector for portable electronic devices is disclosed, including a portfolio-style protective cover.

Description

• This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 12/860,808 filed Aug. 20, 2010, the priority of which is claimed pursuant to 35 USC 120.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The development of devices incorporating electronic devices has been explosive over the past decade, resulting in many new genres of battery-powered products such as so-called “smart phones,” electronic readers, and, more recently, the Apple iPad®. All such devices are relatively lightweight and portable, owing to the miniaturization of electronic components and circuitry. One shortcoming of such small scale is that the circuitry is relatively fragile and so subject to damage by, for example, impact with a hard surface caused by dropping and/or exposure to moisture. There is therefore a need in the art for protection of such devices from such damage. This need is met by the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• According to the present invention, there is provided a protector for portable electronic devices that has a number of unique and useful features that protect such devices from damage and provide support for operating such devices from a desktop or similar flat surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary cover of the invention opened to receive an electronic device P such as an Apple iPad®.
• FIG. 2 is a sectional taken through the plane2-2 ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the outside of the cover shown inFIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 1 with the electronic device P inserted into the cover and the top of the cover partially open.
• FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 1 closed and secured over the electronic device.
• FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 1 with the electronic device P inserted into the cover and the top of the cover folded back and secured to the bottom of the cover.
• FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the arrangement shown inFIG. 6 illustrating the utility of a hand strap secured to the inside of the top of the cover.
• FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 1 with the electronic device P inserted into the cover and the top folded back on itself to tuck into a flap on the outside of the bottom of the cover, so as to create a stand for the electronic device P.
• FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention shown attached to the rear of electronic device P (shown in phantom).
• FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the invention affixed to a portfolio.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Referring to the drawings, wherein the same numerals generally refer to the same elements, there is shown acover1 designed to accept an electronic device P, the cover comprising afoldable portfolio10 having atop10a, abottom10b, and aspine10c. The top10aandbottom10bpreferably comprise a three-ply lamination of asoft layer11 such as felt on the inside of the portfolio that is in contact with the electronic device P, a durableoutside layer12 such as leather, and astiff middle layer13 to provide structural support to the top and bottom of the cover.Spine10cpreferably comprises only twoplies11 and12 so as to maintain flexibility on opening and closing.Portfolio10 is preferably provided withlongitudinal creases14,15 and16 to further facilitate flexing, withcrease16 being created by a discontinuity inmiddle layer13.
• A prominent feature ofcover1 is a four-legged frame that may be in a variety of configurations such as in an O-shape20 as seen inFIG. 1, anX-shape30 as seen inFIG. 9, awebbed X-shape40 as seen inFIG. 10 or as fourdiscrete legs22 as seen inFIG. 11. With respect to theframes20,30 and40 it should be understood that he same may be used free standing alone independently of any cover or portfolio, or may be incorporated into a cover or portfolio by securing the same to, for example, abottom10b, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 9. As to the frame embodiment shown inFIG. 11, the same requireslegs22 to be affixed to a substantially planar and rectangular base such asbottom10b.
• Frame20 is provided with fourlegs22 integral withframe20 extending radially outwardly and oriented in an X-shaped configuration relative to each other.Legs22 terminate in fourresilient lugs24 with two pairs of lugs diametrically opposed to each other, the lugs being in an arcuate shape so as to capture the four corners of electronic device P. A preferred material forlugs24 is silicone rubber. Whenframe20,30 or40 is secured to a cover such as shown inFIG. 1, lugs24 hold device P securely in place againstbottom10b.Lugs24 also serve to absorb shock in the event the electronic device P is struck or dropped onto a hard surface, whetherframe20,30 or40 is incorporated into a portfolio or not.
• Top10ais preferably provided at its corners with reversibleelastic straps40 that may be secured tobottom10bat corresponding corners to securecover1 in a closed or open position, best seen inFIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. Preferably suchreversible straps40 are attached tobottom10bby sewing their ends betweenlayers11 and12. Top10ais further provided with anelastic handle strap30 on itsinside surface11, which may be deployed by the user to maintain a secure grip on the cover and device P so as to decrease the likelihood of dropping the same.
• Finally,bottom10bis preferably provided with aflap50 designed to capture the outside edge oftop10awhen the same is folded back on itself alongcrease16 at an angle θ of about 90° so as to create an easel or stand for the entire arrangement, best seen inFIG. 8.
• Thus, the protector of the invention may be secured to any of a wide variety of portable, generally rectangular electronic devices, including, without limitation, “smart phones,” e-readers, e-planners, e-calendars, and e-tablets such as the Apple iPad® to protect the device while maintaining easy access to the device by the user.
• The terms and expressions which have been employed in this specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims (14)

What is claimed is:

1. A protector for generally rectangular electronic devices comprising:

(a) a four-legged frame;

(b) the four legs of said frame oriented in an X-shaped configuration relative to each other; and

(c) resilient corner-engaging arcuate lugs integral with each of said four legs.

2. The protector ofclaim 1 wherein said frame is X-shaped with said legs intersecting each other.

3. The protector ofclaim 2 wherein said frame is webbed where said legs intersect with each other.

4. The protector ofclaim 1 wherein said frame is O-shaped with said legs oriented radially outwardly therefrom.

5. The protector ofclaim 4 wherein said O-shaped frame is generally rectangular

6. The protector of any ofclaims 2-5 incorporated into a foldable portfolio.

7. The protector ofclaim 6 wherein said portfolio has a top and a bottom with corners on said top and said bottom.

8. The protector ofclaim 7 wherein said top and said bottom comprise three plies of (i) a soft inside layer; (ii) a durable outside layer; and (iii) a stiff middle layer.

9. protector ofclaim 8 further comprising reversible elastic straps secured to the corners of said top and said bottom.

10. The protector ofclaim 9 further comprising an elastic strap secured to the inside of said top.

11. The protector ofclaim 10 further comprising a flap on the outside of said bottom.

12. The protector ofclaim 11 further comprising a hinge integral with said top that permits said top to be partially opened to an angle of about 90° relative to the remainder of said top and to engage said flap.

13. A protector for generally rectangular electronic devices comprising

(a) a four legs, each with a resilient, corner-engaging arcuate lug integral therewith; and

(b) said four legs secured to a planar generally rectangular base.

14. The protector ofclaim 13 incorporated into a foldable portfolio.

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