Protective carrying case and method for making same

• US 5,816,459 A
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Armistead, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Application Number:
  US08/968,179
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 224/660, 224/666, 224/667, 224/668, 224/669, 224/676, 224/677, 224/678, 224/679, 224/235, 224/236, 224/246, 224/250, 224/930, D 3/218, D 3/230, D 3/243, D 3/263, D 3/265, D 3/266, D 3/267, 206/305, 206/320, 206/5, 206/523, 206/594, 206/316.1, 206/316.2, 206/316.3
• US Class Current: 224/246
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A protective carrying case for portable electronic equipment and method for making same wherein the case comprises a rigid, impact-resistant outer shell and a resilient, deformable inner shell to provide enhanced protection to the electronic equipment. The case includes a locking spring steel clip for securely attaching the case to the pant or belt of a person. The case is further equipped with an elastic strap which secures the equipment within the case, preventing inadvertent dislodging and possible damage to the equipment.

Claims

1. A protective case for carrying a handheld portable cellular phone, said phone having a main body portion and a top antenna portion, said case being conformed substantially to said body portion of said phone and comprising:

a housing defined by a base, a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels and an open top portion that surround and enclose said main body portion and expose said top antenna portion of said phone, said side panels being formed with recesses extending downwardly from said open top portion to permit a user to easily grasp and remove said phone from said case, and said housing having an outer shell formed of a rigid, impact-resistant material to protect said phone from direct impact and an inner shell formed of a resilient, deformable material to cushion said phone;

an elastic strap extending across said open top portion of said housing for securing said phone within said housing, a fixed end of said strap being fixedly secured at a fixed interface to said rear panel, and a detachable end of said strap being detachably secured at a detachable interface to said front panel; and

attachment means for securing said housing to a person.

2. A case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed interface comprises first upper and lower facings surrounding and securing said fixed end of said strap, and a fastener which fastens said first upper and lower facings and said fixed end of said strap to said rear panel of said housing.

3. A case as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detachable interface comprises second upper and lower facings surrounding and securing said detachable end of said strap, and a snap which comprises a base portion fixedly attached to said front panel of said housing and a cap portion fixedly attached to said second upper and lower facings.

4. A case as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second upper and lower facings are comprised of leather and are sewn together.

5. A case as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fastener comprises at least one post and cap rivet.

6. A case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises a clip formed of a strong material which is resistant to permanent deformation.

7. A case as claimed in claim 6, wherein said attachment means further comprises an interface having first and second apertures which is fixedly attached to said rear panel of said housing, and said clip comprises a stationery section disposed between said interface and said rear panel;

a lip extending from one end of said stationery section and protruding through said second aperture;

a curve portion extending from an opposite end of said stationery section through said first aperture;

a spring section extending from said curve portion and overlying said interface; and

a locking section formed at an end of said spring section opposite said curve portion which engages said lip.

8. A case as claimed in claim 7, wherein said clip is formed of tempered spring steel, and said interface is formed of leather.

9. A case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer shell is formed of polypropylene plastic.

10. A case as claimed in claim 9, wherein said inner shell is formed of ethylene vinyl acetate foam.

11. A case as claimed in claim 10, wherein a layer of polyadhesive glue is disposed between said inner shell and said outer shell.

12. A case as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between said inner shell and said phone to permit easy placement of said phone in, and removal of said phone from, said housing.

13. A case as claimed in claim 12, wherein said gap has a width of 0.5 to 4.0 millimeters.