MULTI-FUNCTION CASE FOR PORTABLE DIGITAL MEDIA DEVICE

• US 20090084705A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Netalog Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Justiss, Nathaniel B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,302,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/724
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0508 Portable audio devices, e.g. walkman, discman, radio, MP3 player, headphones
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt

Abstract

A protective case or mounting device for a portable digital media device includes a first and a second snap fit cavity adapted to receive and selectively retain a first and a second protrusion element, respectively, associated with any of various accessory mounting or position retention elements. Connection between respective protrusions and snap fit cavities is made by depressible insertion. A portable digital media device may thus be removably engaged to various positioning elements without requiring the device to be removed from a protective case.

Claims

1. A mounting device adapted to maintain a portable digital media device in a desired position or mounting arrangement, the mounting device comprising:

an engagement element adapted to engage said portable digital media device;

a first snap fit cavity associated with said engagement element, said first snap fit cavity being dimensioned to receive and selectively retain a first protrusion element depressibly insertable into said first snap fit cavity; and

a second snap fit cavity associated with said engagement element, said second snap fit cavity being adapted to receive and selectively retain a second protrusion element depressibly insertable into said second snap fit cavity.

2. The mounting device of claim 1, characterized by any of the following:

(a) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is integrally formed in or on said engagement element;

(b) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is defined by at least one surface comprising a slip-resistant material;

(c) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is defined by at least one surface comprising a pliable, flexible, or elastic material;

(d) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity has a substantially circular opening;

(e) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is adapted to receive and retain a headphone earbud operable with said portable digital media device;

(f) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is defined by a threadless surface;

(g) said engagement element is embodied in a protective case comprising any of a non-rigid covering material and a pliable covering material adapted to cover at least a portion of said portable digital media device;

(h) said engagement element is embodied in a multi-part protective case adapted to house said portable digital media device therein, said case comprising a first case portion and a second case portion adapted to mate with the first case portion, with at least one of the first case portion and the second case portion comprising a substantially non-pliable material;

(i) said engagement element comprises (i) a sew-in panel or adhered panel having formed therein or thereon said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity, and (ii) a soft covering material sewn or adhered over at least a portion of said sew-in panel or adhered panel, wherein said soft covering material comprises any of fabric, animal skin, polymeric material, and synthetic rubber material.

3. The mounting device of claim 1, further comprising a position retention element having associated therewith said first protrusion element and said second protrusion element, wherein said position retention element is adapted to maintain said engagement element and portable digital media device engaged thereto in a desired position or mounting arrangement.

4. The mounting device of claim 3, wherein said position retention element comprises any of a belt clip, an armband, a clamp, a louver vent clip, a hinged or foldable stand, an adhesive mount, a hook-and-loop fabric mount, and a suction cup mount.

5. The mounting device of claim 3, wherein each of said first protrusion element and said second protrusion element comprises a slip-resistant material.

6. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said portable digital media device comprises any of (i) a digital audio storage and playback device;

(ii) a digital video storage and playback device;

(iii) a digital image storage and playback device;

(iv) a portable telephone; and

(v) a personal digital assistant device.

7. A mounting device adapted to maintain in a desired position or mounting arrangement a portable digital media device having (a) an engagement element adapted to engage said portable digital media device, (b) a first snap fit cavity associated with said engagement element, and (c) a second snap fit cavity associated with said engagement element, the mounting device comprising:

a position retention element;

a first protrusion element associated with said position retention element, the first protrusion element being shaped and dimensioned for depressible insertion into and selective retention by the first snap fit cavity; and

a second protrusion element associated with said position retention element, the second protrusion element being shaped and dimensioned for depressible insertion into and selective retention by the second snap fit cavity.

8. The mounting device of claim 7, wherein said position retention element comprises any of a belt clip, an armband, a clamp, a louver vent clip, a hinged or foldable stand, an adhesive mount, a hook-and-loop fabric mount, and a suction cup mount.

9. The mounting device of claim 7, further comprising said engagement element, said first snap fit cavity associated with said engagement element, and said second snap fit cavity associated with said engagement element.

10. The mounting device of claim 9, wherein said engagement element is embodied in a protective case adapted to cover at least a portion of said portable digital media device, wherein said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity are associated with said case.

11. The mounting device of claim 9, characterized by any of the following:

(a) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is integrally formed in or on said engagement element;

(b) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is defined by at least one surface comprising a slip-resistant material, and each of said first protrusion element and said second protrusion element comprises a slip-resistant material;

(c) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is defined by at least one surface comprising a pliable, flexible, or elastic material, and each of said first protrusion element and said second protrusion element comprises a pliable, flexible, or elastic material;

(d) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity has a substantially circular opening;

(e) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is adapted to receive and retain a headphone earbud operable with said portable digital media device;

(f) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is defined by a threadless surface;

(g) said engagement element is embodied in a protective case comprising any of a non-rigid covering material and a pliable covering material adapted to cover at least a portion of said portable digital media device;

(h) said engagement element is embodied in a multi-part protective case adapted to house said portable digital media device therein, said case comprising a first case portion and a second case portion adapted to mate with the first case portion, with at least one of the first case portion and the second case portion comprising a substantially non-pliable material;

(i) said engagement element comprises (i) a sew-in panel or adhered panel having formed therein or thereon said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity, and (ii) a soft covering material sewn or adhered over at least a portion of said sew-in panel or adhered panel, wherein said soft covering material comprises any of fabric, animal skin, polymeric material, and synthetic rubber material.

12. A case for a portable digital media device, the case comprising:

an engagement element adapted to cover at least a portion of the portable digital media device, said engagement element defining an opening or window to permit viewing of a display associated with said portable digital media device;

a first snap fit cavity disposed in or on said engagement element and dimensioned to receive and selectively retain a first protrusion element depressibly insertable into said first snap fit cavity, said first snap fit cavity being defined by at least one surface comprising a slip-resistant material; and

a second snap fit cavity disposed in or on said engagement element and dimensioned to receive and selectively retain a second protrusion element depressibly insertable into said second snap fit cavity, said second snap fit cavity being defined by at least one surface comprising a slip-resistant material.

13. The case of claim 12, characterized by any of the following:

(a) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity has a substantially circular opening;

(b) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is adapted to receive and retain a headphone earbud operable with said portable digital media device;

(c) each of said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity is defined by a threadless surface;

(d) said engagement element comprises any of a non-rigid covering material and a pliable covering material adapted to cover at least a portion of said portable digital media device;

(e) said engagement element comprises a multi-part protective case, said case comprising a first case portion and a second case portion adapted to matably engage said first case portion, with at least one of the first case portion and the second case portion comprising a substantially non-pliable material; and

(f) said engagement element comprises (i) a sew-in panel or adhered panel having formed therein or thereon said first snap fit cavity and said second snap fit cavity, and (ii) and a soft covering material sewn or adhered over at least a portion of said sew-in panel or adhered panel, wherein said soft covering material comprises any of fabric, animal skin, polymeric material, and synthetic rubber material.

14. A kit comprising the case of claim 13 and a position retention element having associated therewith said first protrusion element and said second protrusion element, wherein said position retention element is adapted to maintain said engagement element and portable digital media device engaged thereto in a desired position or mounting arrangement.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein said position retention element comprises any of a belt clip, an armband, a clamp, a louver vent clip, a hinged or foldable stand, an adhesive mount, a hook-and-loop fabric mount, and a suction cup mount.

16. A method for positioning or mounting a portable digital media device, the method comprising:

engaging said portable digital media device to an engagement element having associated therewith a first snap fit cavity and a second snap fit cavity, said first snap fit cavity being dimensioned to receive and selectively retain a first protrusion element, and said second snap fit cavity being dimensioned to receive and selectively retain a second protrusion element;

manipulating a position retention element into a desired position or mounting arrangement, said position retention element having associated therewith said first protrusion element and said second protrusion element;

registering (a) the first protrusion element with the first snap fit cavity, and (b) the second protrusion element with the second snap-fit cavity; and

depressing any of the engagement element and the position retention element against the other to effectuate insertion of the first protrusion element into the first snap fit cavity, and insertion of the second protrusion element into the second snap fit cavity.