Protective mask of mobile phone

• US 10,097,676 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BelAir Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gregory Kim
• Inventors: Peng, Kuan-Lin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh
• Application Number:
  US13/094,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,723 Days
• Field of Search: 455 901, 455 903, 455348, 455349, 45543301, 45543311, 455451, 455550, 4555501, 4555751
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective mask of mobile phone comprising an upper cover body and a lower cover body. The upper and lower cover bodies can be joined with a front and a rear phone housing of a mobile phone, respectively, to effectively prevent abrasion of the mobile phone due to carelessness of a user, thereby preventing ill-favored scars on the mobile phone. Therefore, the deterioration of the quality of the mobile phone and the fall of its value can be avoided. Moreover, trend and fashion of the mobile phone can be achieved without the need of replacing the mobile phone. Therefore, waste of money can be avoided, and economic burden to the user can be lessened.

Claims

1. A protective mask molded for frictional retention to an exterior housing of a mobile phone having user input and output interfaces, and internal components including circuitry and a battery, wherein the exterior housing completely encloses the circuitry and the battery when the mobile phone is fully assembled and ready for use, the exterior housing having an exterior shape formed by a back surface, and at least portions of opposed side surfaces, the protective mask comprising:

an integrally-formed mask body molded and contoured to conform and frictionally-fit tightly against the exterior shape of the exterior housing;

an inner surface of the integrally-formed mask body defining an interior space of the integrally-formed mask body and conforming to and in substantially continuous surface-to-surface contact with the exterior shape of the exterior housing, with no substantial space between the inner surface of the integrally-formed mask body and the exterior shape of the exterior housing;

at least one opening defined by the integrally-formed mask body permitting user access to at least the user input and output interfaces; and

at least one retainer having an extension protruding laterally inward from the integrally-formed mask body and toward and into the integrally-formed mask body interior space, wherein the at least one retainer is retained to the exterior housing at an exterior housing edge when the mask is coupled to the mobile communication device, the at least one retainer participating in retaining the integrally-formed mask body to the mobile communication device.

2. The protective mask of claim 1, wherein the integrally-formed mask body further includes indicia selected from the group consisting of text, graphic elements and combinations thereof.

3. The protective mask of claim 1, wherein the integrally-formed mask body includes at least one feature opening to permit access to at least one feature of the mobile phone.

4. The protective mask of claim 1, wherein the integrally-formed mask body includes a socket opening corresponding to a socket of the mobile phone and permitting a user to plug a power supply into the socket to charge the mobile phone.

5. A protective mask molded for frictional retention to an exterior housing of, and adapted to be coupled to, a mobile communication device having internal components including circuitry and a battery, wherein the exterior housing completely encloses the circuitry and battery when the mobile communication device is fully assembled and ready for use, and wherein the exterior housing has an exterior shape including a back face and at least portions of opposed side surfaces, the protective mask comprising:

an integrally-formed mask body molded and contoured to conform and frictionally fit to the exterior shape of the exterior housing;

an inner surface of the integrally-formed mask body defining an interior space of the integrally-formed mask body and conforming to and in substantially continuous surface-to-surface contact with the exterior shape of the exterior housing in overlying and protecting relationship, without a substantial gap between the inner surface of the integrally-formed mask body and the exterior shape of the exterior housing, the integrally-formed mask body defining an opening enabling the mask to be placed over the exterior shape in overlying and protecting relationship; and

at least one retainer having an extension protruding laterally inward from the integrally-formed mask body and toward and into the integrally-formed mask body interior space, wherein the at least one retainer is retained to the exterior housing at an exterior housing edge when the mask is coupled to the mobile communication device, the at least one retainer participating in retaining the integrally-formed mask body to the mobile communication device.

6. The protective mask of claim 5, wherein the mobile communication device includes a socket for battery charging and the integrally-formed mask body defines at least a battery-charging socket opening permitting a power supply to be connected to the socket.

7. The protective mask of claim 5, wherein the mobile communication device includes an earphone-connection socket and the integrally-formed mask body defines at least one earphone-connection socket opening permitting an earphone to be connected to the earphone-connection socket.

8. A mask for attachment to a hand-held mobile phone, the mobile phone having user input and output interfaces, internal components including circuitry and a battery, and an exterior housing completely enclosing the circuitry and battery when the mobile phone is fully assembled and ready for use, the exterior housing including a first face, a second face and opposed side surfaces there between, the mask comprising:

an integrally-formed mask body molded to conform to a shape of the exterior housing; and

inner and outer surfaces, the surfaces defining at least one opening in the integrally-formed mask body providing access to at least one of the user input and output interfaces, the integrally-formed mask body being configured such that, when the mask is attached to the mobile phone, the integrally-formed mask body is coextensive with, contours to and overlies the opposed side surfaces, with substantially no space between the mask body and the opposed side surfaces; and

at least one retainer having an extension protruding laterally inward from the integrally-formed mask body and toward and into the integrally-formed mask body interior space, wherein the at least one retainer is retained to the exterior housing at an exterior housing edge when the mask is coupled to the mobile communication device, the at least one retainer participating in retaining the integrally-formed mask body to the mobile communication device.

9. A protective mask molded for frictional retention to an exterior housing of a fully assembled mobile communication device having user input and output interfaces, the mobile communication device further having internal components including circuitry and a battery completely enclosed by the exterior housing, and the exterior housing having an exterior shape formed by a back surface and at least portions of opposed side surfaces, the protective mask comprising:

an inner surface closely conforming to the exterior shape of the exterior housing and in substantially continuous surface-to-surface contact with the exterior shape of the exterior housing, with substantially no space between the inner surface of the protective mask and the exterior shape when the protective mask is retained to the exterior housing, the protective mask being molded, integrally formed, contoured and sized to fit tightly against the exterior shape of the exterior housing, thereby providing retention of the protective mask to the exterior housing;

at least one opening defined by the protective mask permitting user access to at least the user input and output interfaces; and

at least one retainer having an extension protruding laterally inward from the integrally-formed mask body and toward and into the integrally-formed mask body interior space, wherein the at least one retainer is retained to the exterior housing at an exterior housing edge when the mask is coupled to the mobile communication device, the at least one retainer participating in retaining the integrally-formed mask body to the mobile communication device.

10. The protective mask of claim 9, wherein the protective mask further includes indicia selected from the group consisting of text, graphic elements and combinations thereof.

11. The protective mask of claim 9, wherein the protective mask includes at least one feature opening to permit access to at least one feature of the mobile communication device.

12. The protective mask of claim 9, wherein the protective mask includes a socket opening corresponding to a socket of the mobile communication device, permitting a user to plug a power supply into the socket to charge the mobile communication device.