US20130126372A1 - Protective case for portable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective case includes a housing defining a receptacle for accommodating an electronic device including a main body and a display fixed to the main body, a first buffer layer fixed in the receptacle, a cover releasably latched to the housing, and a second buffer layer fixed to the cover. The first buffer layer encloses the main body to protect the main body from damage when the electronic device is accommodated in the receptacle. When the cover is latched to the housing, the second buffer layer, the second buffer layer contacts with and protect the display from damage.

Description

BACKGROUND
• 1. Technical Field
• The exemplary disclosure relates to cases for portable electronic devices, particularly, to a protective case for protecting portable electronic devices.
• 2. Description of Related Art
• Protective cases are used to protect portable electronic devices of many different types and configurations, including but not limited to PDAs, tablet style personal computer (tablet PC), laptop computer, notebook, and personal stereos, thereby the display of the portable electronic device can be protected when not in use. However, typical protective cases can not efficiently prevent the electronic device from damage when the electronic device falls down.
• Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Many aspects of the multifunctional case can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the multifunctional case.
• FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a protective case according to an exemplary embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the protective case ofFIG. 1, and an electronic device is protected by the protective case.
• FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the protective case ofFIG. 2 along the line of IV-IV.
• FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the protective case ofFIG. 3 in a circle of IV.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• FIGS. 1 to 3 show an exemplary embodiment of aprotective case100. Thecase100 is used to receive and protect anelectronic device200 like shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. Thecase100 includes ahousing10, afirst buffer layer20 fixed to thehousing10, acover30 and asecond buffer layer40 fixed to thecover30. Thecover30 is latched to thehousing10 by alatching element50, and asealing element60 is formed between thecover30 and thehousing10 to seal a gap which may be formed between thecover30 and thehousing10. Theelectronic device200 is latched between thefirst buffer layer20 and thesecond buffer layer40. Theelectronic device200 includes amain body210 and adisplay220 mounted on themain body210.
• Thehousing10 includes amain board11, aperipheral wall12 protruding from an peripheral edge of themain board11 and surrounding themain board11, a plurality offirst hooks13. In this exemplary embodiment, the number of thefirst hooks13 is six. Themain board11 and theperipheral wall12 cooperatively enclose areceptacle14 accommodating theelectronic device200.
• Referring toFIG. 4, thefirst buffer layer20 may be made of resin or silicone. Thefirst buffer layer20 has a shape similar to thehousing10, but is slightly smaller than thehousing10. Thefirst buffer layer20 includes amain section21, and aside section22 protruding from and surrounding themain section21. Aflange23 protrudes from an outer surface of theside section22 and surrounding theside section22. Arib231 protrudes from a surface offlange23 facing away from themain section21. Therib231 surrounds themain section21. Thefirst buffer layer20 is received in thereceptacle14 with themain section21 covering themain board11 and theside section22 covering theperipheral wall12. In this exemplary embodiment, thehousing10 and thefirst buffer layer20 are integrally molded together by injection molding method
• Thecover30 is latched to thehousing10 to form acompartment70 accommodating theelectronic device200, to protect theelectronic device200 from damage. Thecover30 includes aninner surface31, agroove32 and a plurality ofsecond hooks33 equal to thefirst hooks13. Thegroove32 has a shape and a size corresponding to therib231. When therib231 is accommodated in thegroove32, therib231 is compressed by thecover30, i.e., therib231 tightly contacts with thecover30, to form thesealing element60 so thecompartment70 is sealed by sealingelement60. Thesecond hooks33 are latched to thesecond hooks33, forming thelatching element50 so thecover30 and thehousing10 are latched together.
• Thesecond buffer layer40 is made of a soft material, such as foam. Thesecond buffer layer40 is fixed (adhered) to theinner surface31 of thecover30.
• Referring toFIG. 3, in use, theelectronic device200 is received in thereceptacle14. At this time, thefirst buffer layer20 contacts with and encloses themain body210, to protect the main board from damage. Eachfirst hook13 is latched with one of thesecond hooks33 to latch thecover30 to thehousing10. Thesecond buffer layer40 contacts with thedisplay220 to reduce shock due to an impact on thedisplay220. Additionally, the sealingelement60 seals thecompartment70 to prevent impurities, such as dust or water, from going into thedisplay220.
• Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (16)

What is claimed is:

1. A protective case used for protecting an electronic device including a main board and a display fixed to the main body, the protective case comprising:

a housing defining a receptacle;

a first buffer layer fixed in the receptacle;

a cover latched to the housing;

a second buffer layer is fixed to the cover.;

wherein the cover and the housing cooperatively form a compartment therebetween to accommodate the electronic device such that the first buffer layer contacts with and protects the main body from damage, the second buffer layer contacts with and protects the display from damage.

2. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein a rib protruding from the first buffer layer and a groove defined in the cover, when the rib is accommodated in the groove, the rib is compressed by the cover to form a sealing element so the compartment is sealed by sealing element.

3. The protective case ofclaim 2, wherein the first buffer layer includes a main section, and a side section protruding from and surrounding the main section; a flange protrudes from an outer surface of the side section and surrounding the side section; the rib protrudes from an surface of flange facing away from the main section.

4. The protective case ofclaim 3, wherein the housing includes a main board, a peripheral wall protruding an peripheral edge of the main board and surrounding the main board; the main board and the peripheral wall cooperatively enclose the receptacle.

5. The protective case ofclaim 4, wherein a plurality of first hooks protruding from peripheral wall, a plurality of second hooks protruding from the cover; each first hook is latched with one of the second hooks to latch the cover to the housing.

6. The protective case ofclaim 5, wherein the cover includes an inner surface and a groove defined in the inner surface; the second buffer layer is fixed to the inner surface and surrounded by the groove.

7. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein the first buffer layer is made of resin or silicone.

8. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein the second buffer layer is made of a foam.

9. A protective case, comprising:

a housing defining a receptacle for accommodating an electronic device including a main body and a display fixed to the main body;

a first buffer layer fixed in the receptacle, the first buffer layer use for enclosing the main body to protect the main body from damage;

a cover releasably latched to the housing;

a second buffer layer fixed to the cover;

wherein when the cover is latched to the housing, the second buffer layer, the second buffer layer contacts with and protect the display from damage.

10. The protective case ofclaim 9, wherein a rib protruding from the first buffer layer and a groove defined in the cover, when the rib is accommodated in the groove, the rib is compressed by the cover to seal a compartment formed between the cover and the housing.

11. The protective case ofclaim 10, wherein the first buffer layer includes a main section, and a side section protruding from and surrounding the main section; a flange protrudes from an outer surface of the side section and surrounding the side section; the rib protrudes from an surface of flange facing away from the main section.

12. The protective case ofclaim 11, wherein the housing includes a main board, a peripheral wall protruding a peripheral edge of the main board and surrounding the main board; the main board and the peripheral wall cooperatively enclose a receptacle.

13. The protective case ofclaim 12, wherein a plurality of first hooks protruding from peripheral wall, a plurality of second hooks protruding from the cover; each first hook is latched with one of the second hooks to latch the cover to the housing.

14. The protective case ofclaim 13, wherein the cover includes an inner surface and a groove defined in the inner surface; the second buffer layer is fixed to the inner surface and surrounded by the groove.

15. The protective case ofclaim 9, wherein the first buffer layer is made of resin or silicone.

16. The protective case ofclaim 9, wherein the second buffer layer is made of foam.

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