DEVICE CASE WITH OPTICAL LENSES

• US 20090181729A1
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Inventors: Griffin, Paul P. JR., Reynolds, David M.
• Application Number:
  US12/348,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20090181729A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A carrying case for a portable electronic device such as a digital music player or mobile telephone having a digital camera includes a lens for modifying an optical input of the digital camera. The lens is positioned on the carrying case to correspond to a location of an input lens of the digital camera when the device is held within the case such that the camera can be used when the device is held by the carrying case. A plurality of lens of preferably mounted on a rotating disc so that a user can select a particular lens having a desired optical effect. Alternatively, a socket can be used to selectively mount a desired lens from a set of lenses. An illuminating LED may also be included on the case exterior to provide a flash for the camera.

Claims

1. A carrying case for a portable electronic device having a digital camera, said carrying case comprising:

a lens for modifying an optical input of said digital camera wherein said lens is positioned on said carrying case to correspond to a location of an input lens of said digital camera when said device is held within said case and said digital camera can be used when said device is held by said carrying case.

2. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein said portable electronic device comprises a digital music player or mobile telephone.

3. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein said lens further comprises a plurality of lens that can be selectively positioned to correspond to a location of said input lens.

4. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein said input lens is one of a wide-angle, close up, fish eye or telephoto lens.

5. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein said lens is removably attached to said carrying case through a threaded socket.

6. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein said lens is removably attached to said carrying case through a magnetic connector.

7. The carrying case of claim 6 wherein said carrying case further comprises an illumination light.

8. The carrying case of claim 1 further comprising grasping portions for securing said carrying case to said device.

9. A case for an electronic device having a camera, said case comprising:

a lens for modifying an optical reception of said camera when said electronic device is positioned in said case.

10. The case of claim 9 wherein said lens is mounted on a rotating disc having a plurality of lenses and wherein a lens for modifying said optical reception of said camera can be selected by rotating said disc.

11. The case of claim 9 wherein said lens further comprises a set of lenses that can be removably attached to a threaded socket on said case.

12. The case of claim 9 wherein said lens further comprises a set of lenses that can be removably attached to said case through a magnetic connector on said case.

13. The case of claim 9 wherein said lens is one of a wide angle, telephoto or fish eye lens.

14. The case of claim 9 wherein said lens is a compound lens.

15. A case for a mobile telephone having a touch screen on a front face of said mobile telephone and a camera on a back face of said mobile telephone, said case comprising:

a back portion having grasping portions attached thereto for removably securing said back portion to said mobile telephone without touching said touch screen;

a rotating disc having a close up optical lens positioned thereon wherein said rotating disc is positioned on said back portion such that it can be rotated to align said close up optical lens with said camera on said back face of said mobile telephone when said mobile telephone is held in said grasping portions such that an optical input of said camera is altered and said camera produces a close up image.

16. The case of claim 15 further comprising an illumination light for said camera.

17. The case of claim 15 wherein said rotating disc further comprises one of a non-refracting lens, telephoto or fish eye lens.

18. The case of claim 15 further comprising a clip for mounting said case.

19. The case of claim 18 wherein said clip swivels to form a stand for said mobile telephone.

20. The case of claim 15 further comprising an opening positioned such that a power supply can be coupled to said mobile telephone when said mobile telephone is secured to said case.