APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING A SMART DEVICE

• US 20130155610A1
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schroeder, Steve
• Original Assignee: Schroeder, Steve
• Inventors: Schroeder, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,547,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.58
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A removable pad kit for a smart device, such as an iPhone®, an iPad®, a Samsung Galaxy®, a Samsung Galaxy Tab®, or the like, is disclosed. The removable kit may comprise a removable pad. The removable pad is configured to at least partially cover a home button, or the like, of the smart device to protect the home button and prevent accidental or intentional tapping on the home button.

Claims

1. A child-lock kit to control a user'"'"'s access of a smart device, the kit comprising:

an attachment mechanism for attaching the child-lock kit to the smart device, the smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttons that control operation of the smart device, wherein a user'"'"'s tapping on at least one of the one or more buttons of the smart devices affects content displayed within the display portion of the smart device;

a removable pad connected to the attachment mechanism, the removable pad having a first setting and a second setting, the first setting enabling operation of the one or more buttons by providing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, the second setting preventing operation of the smart device via the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons; and

a toggle mechanism for switching the removable pad between the first setting and the second setting, the toggle mechanism configured such that the second setting is a child-safe state tending to prevent toggling from the second setting to the first setting.

2. The child-lock kit of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism, the removable pad, and the toggle-mechanism are part of a carrying case for the smart device.

3. The child-lock kit of claim 2, wherein the carrying case further includes a connection element, the connection element configured such that the user can selectively attach the removable pad to the connection mechanism, enabling the user to selectively convert the carrying case to the child-lock kit by attachment of the removable pad.

4. The child-lock kit of claim 1, wherein the removable pad is connected to the attachment mechanism such that the removable pad is a flip-up lid hinged to the attachment mechanism, the flip-up lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the flip-up lid is flipped down onto the smart device.

5. The child-lock kit of claim 4, wherein a first end portion of the flip-up lid is a pivot mechanically connected to the attachment mechanism and a second end is configured to toggle between a flip-up state and a flip-down state, the flip-up state allowing physical access to the one or more buttons and the flip-down state preventing physical access to the one or more buttons in the non-display portion of the smart device.

6. The child-lock of claim 5, wherein the flip-up lid, upon operation in a flip-up state, is configured to support the smart device in a substantially upright position.

7. The child-lock kit of claim 3, wherein the removable pad is a sliding lid that is configured to slide relative to the attachment mechanism, the sliding lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the sliding lid is slid onto the smart device.

8. The child-lock kit of claim 3, wherein the removable pad is a rolling lid that is configured to roll relative to the attachment mechanism, the rolling lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the rolling lid is rolled onto the smart device.

9. The child-lock kit of claim 1, wherein the smart device is one of a smart phone or a tablet computing device.

10. A method for child-locking a smart device to control a user'"'"'s access of the smart device, the method comprising:

fitting a removable pad to a carrying case of a smart device, the carrying case for covering at least a portion of the smart device and to prevent damage to the smart device, the smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttons that control operation of the smart device, wherein a user'"'"'s tapping on at least one of the one or more buttons of the smart devices affects content displayed within the display portion of the smart device; and

attaching the removable pad to the carrying case in conjunction with a toggle mechanism, the toggle mechanism for switching the removable pad between a first setting and a second setting relative to the smart device, wherein;

the first setting enables operation of the one or more buttons by providing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons,

the second setting prevents operation of the smart device via the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, and

the toggle mechanism is configured such that the second setting is a child-safe state tending to prevent toggling from the second setting to the first setting.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the removable pad is one of a flip-up lid, or a sliding lid, or a rolling lid.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the smart device is one of a smart phone or a tablet computing device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a connection mechanism to the carrying case to enable the user to selectively attach the removing pad to the carrying case to convert the carrying case to a child-lock kit.

14. A carrying case for a smart device, the carrying case comprising:

a base feature for protecting a rear surface of the smart device;

a front feature coupled to the base feature and configured to cover at least a portion of a front surface of the smart device, the smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttons that control operation of the smart device, wherein a user'"'"'s tapping on at least one of the one or more buttons of the smart devices affects content displayed within the display portion of the smart device;

a removable pad optionally connected to the carrying case by attachment using the connection element; and

a connection element configured such that a given user can selectively attach the removable pad to the connection mechanism, enabling the user to selectively convert the carrying case to a child-lock kit by attachment of the removable pad, the removable pad having a first setting and a second setting, the first setting enabling operation of the one or more buttons by providing access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, the second setting preventing operation of the smart device via the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons.

15. The carrying case of claim 14, further comprising:

a toggle mechanism for switching the removable pad between the first setting and the second setting, the toggle mechanism configured such that the second setting is a child-safe state tending to prevent toggling from the second setting to the first setting.

16. The carrying case of claim 14, wherein the removable pad is connected to the carrying case such that the removable pad is a flip-up lid, the flip-up lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on the home button when the flip-up lid is flipped down onto the smart device.

17. The carrying case of claim 15, wherein a first end portion of the flip-up lid is a pivot mechanically connected to the carrying case and a second end is configured to toggle between a flip-up state and a flip-down state, the flip-up state allowing physical access to the one or more buttons and the flip-down state preventing physical access to the one or more buttons in the non-display portion of the smart device.

18. The carrying case of claim 17, wherein the flip-up lid, upon operation in a flip-up state, is configured to support the smart device in a substantially upright position.

19. The carrying case of claim 14, wherein the removable pad is a sliding lid that is configured to slide relative to the carrying case, the sliding lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the sliding lid is slid onto the smart device.

20. The carrying case of claim 14, wherein the removable pad is a rolling lid that is configured to roll relative to the carrying case, the rolling lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the rolling lid is rolled onto the smart device.