Protective case for portable electronic apparatus

• US 6,313,982 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hino, Mariko
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US09/402,622
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 150/154, 150/165, 174/17.05, 174/17.06, 174/50.5, 174/50.51, 174/52.1, 206/305, 206/320, 206/521, 206/592, 206/701, 361/600, 361/679, 361/728, 361/730, 361/752, 361/807, 361/809, 361/814
• US Class Current: 361/679.08
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/002 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer

Abstract

Disclosed is a protective case for protecting a portable electronic device against moisture and dust so that the device can be carried anywhere. The protective case has an upper case and a lower case which, by being abutted against each other, form a closed space in a interior of which the portable electronic device (100) is capable of being accommodated. Provided in at least one of the cases is a through-hole at a position opposing an operating element of the portable electronic device accommodated inside the space. The through-hole is closed by a closure member (167) comprising an elastic material and having a push-button (165) that is capable of pushing the operating element of the portable electronic device from the outside. Furthermore, the abutting portion of each case is sealed by a sealing member comprising an elastic material, whereby moisture and dust are positively prevented from penetrating the interior.

Claims

1. A removable protective case for accommodating a portable electronic device therein, said portable electronic device having at least one operating element, comprising:

a) an upper case and a lower case with a closed spaced formed therebetween when said upper and lower cases are in abutment,

b) a sealing member provided in said upper case for sealing the closed spaced when said upper and lower cases are in abutment, and

c) an engagement portion on one end of said protective case and a fastening portion on the opposite end of said protective case, said engagement and fastening portions provided for holding the upper and lower cases in abutment,

d) said upper case having at least one through-hole for accessing said at least one operating element through said upper case, said at least one through-hole being sealed by a closure member to prevent penetration and contamination of said closed space during abutment of said upper and lower cases.

2. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one through-hole is aligned with said at least one operating element for operation of said operating element through said at least one through-hole.

3. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closure member is formed from an elastic material.

4. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sealing member is formed from an elastic material.

5. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one push button provided on said closure member, said push button adapted for engagement with said operating element on said portable electronic device through said at least one through-hole.

6. A protective case in accordance with claim 2, further comprising at least one push button provided on said closure member, said push button adapted for engagement with said operating element on said portable electronic device through said at least one through-hole.

7. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said engagement portion further comprises an engagement ring on one of said upper or lower cases and an engagement finger on the other of said upper or lower cases, said engagement finger adapted for insertion into said engagement ring.

8. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fastening portion further comprises a fastener receiving piece on one of said upper or lower cases and a fastener insertion piece on the other of said upper or lower cases, said fastener receiving piece adapted for passage of a fastener therethrough, and said fastener insertion piece adapted for receiving said fastener therein.

9. A protective case in accordance with claim 8, wherein said fastener is a threaded fastener.

10. A protective case in accordance with claim 9, wherein said threaded fastener has a head portion with a linear groove formed thereon, said linear groove dimensioned to receive a coin to facilitate rotation of said fastener.

11. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closure member and said sealing member are integrally formed as a continuum.

12. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, where said sealing member is provided along the perimeter of said upper case and is sandwiched between said upper and lower cases during abutment of such cases.

13. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is further provided with a display section, and the section of the protective case opposite the display section when the portable electronic device is contained therein is further shaped to act as a concave lens to allow for viewing of the display section through the protective case in a magnified form.

14. A protective case in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said upper and lower cases is made from a transparent material.

15. A protective case in accordance with claim 14, wherein said transparent material comprises a transparent synthetic resin.

16. A protective case in accordance with claim 15, wherein said transparent synthetic resin is polymethyl methacrylate.

17. A protective case in accordance with claim 15, wherein said transparent synthetic resin is polycarbonate.

18. A protective case for accommodating a portable electronic device therein, said portable electronic device having at least one side with at least one operating element, comprising:

a) an upper case and a lower case with an interior formed therebetween when said upper and lower cases are in abutment, said interior dimensioned to accommodate said portable electronic device therein, with said upper case positioned adjacent said at least one side of said portable electronic device having said at least one operating element,

b) a resilient sealing member disposed between said upper and lower cases for sealing the interior when said upper and lower cases are in abutment,

c) said upper case having at least one through-hole for accessing said at least one operating element through said upper case, said at least one through-hole being sealed by an elastic closure member to prevent penetration and contamination of said interior during abutment of said upper and lower cases, said closure member having at least one push button adapted for engagement with said at least one operating element on said portable electronic device.

19. A protective case in accordance with claim 18, wherein said at least one through-hole is positioned opposite said at least one operating element for push button operation of said operating element through said protective case.

20. A protective case in accordance with claim 18, further comprising an engagement portion on one end of said protective case, said engagement portion further comprising an engagement ring on one of said upper or lower cases and an engagement finger on the other of said upper or lower cases, said engagement finger adapted for insertion into said engagement ring.

21. A protective case in accordance with claim 20, further comprising a fastening portion on the end of said protective case opposite said engagement portion, said fastening portion further comprising a fastener receiving piece on one of said upper or lower cases and a fastener insertion piece on the other of said upper or lower cases, said fastener receiving piece adapted for passage of a fastener therethrough, and said fastener insertion piece adapted for receiving said fastener therein.

22. A protective case in accordance with claim 21, wherein said fastener is a threaded fastener having a head portion with a linear groove formed thereon, said linear groove dimensioned to receive a coin to facilitate rotation of said fastener.

23. A protective case in accordance with claim 18, wherein said closure member and said sealing member are integrally formed as a continuum.

24. A protective case in accordance with claim 23, where said sealing member is provided along the perimeter of said upper case and is sandwiched between said upper and lower cases during abutment of such cases.

25. A protective case in accordance with claim 18, wherein the portable electronic device is further provided with a display section, and the section of the protective case opposite the display section when the portable electronic device is contained therein is further shaped to act as a concave lens to allow for viewing of the display section through the protective case in a magnified form.

26. A protective case in accordance with claim 18, wherein at least one of said upper and lower cases is made from a transparent material.

27. A protective case in accordance with claim 26, wherein said transparent material comprises a transparent synthetic resin.

28. A protective case in accordance with claim 27, wherein said transparent synthetic resin is selected from the group of polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate.

29. A protective case for accommodating a portable electronic device therein, said portable electronic device having a plurality of operating elements and a display section, comprising:

a) an upper case and a lower case with an interior space defined by the abutment of said upper and lower cases, said interior space dimensioned to receive and enclose said portable electronic device,

b) said portable electronic device arranged within said interior space such that the upper case is positioned opposite the operating elements and the display section during the abutment of said upper and lower cases,

c) an elastic sealing member provided along the perimeter of said upper case for sealing the interior space during the abutment of said upper and lower cases, and

d) an engagement portion on one end of said protective case and a fastening portion on the opposite end of said protective case, said engagement and fastening portions provided for holding the upper and lower cases in abutment,

e) said upper case having a plurality of through-holes for accessing said operating elements, said through-holes arranged for alignment with the operating elements of said portable electronic device,

f) said plurality of through-holes sealed by an elastic closure member integrally formed as a continuum with said sealing member,

g) said closure member provided with push buttons arranged for pressing engagement with said operating elements, said push buttons arranged on said closure member within said through-holes, said push buttons further seated on resilient pieces that enable movement of said push buttons into engagement with said operating elements.

30. A protective case in accordance with claim 29, wherein said engagement portion further comprises an engagement ring on one of said upper or lower cases and an engagement finger on the other of said upper or lower cases, said engagement finger adapted for insertion into said engagement ring.

31. A protective case in accordance with claim 30, wherein said fastening portion further comprises a fastener receiving piece on one of said upper or lower cases and a fastener insertion piece on the other of said upper or lower cases, said fastener receiving piece adapted for passage of a threaded fastener therethrough, and said fastener insertion piece adapted for receiving said threaded fastener therein.

32. A protective case in accordance with claim 31, wherein said threaded fastener has a head portion with a linear groove formed thereon, said linear groove dimensioned to receive a coin to facilitate rotation of said fastener.

33. A protective case in accordance with claim 29, wherein the section of said protective case opposite the display section when the portable electronic device is contained therein is further shaped to act as a concave lens to allow for viewing of the display section through the protective case in a magnified form.

34. A protective case in accordance with claim 29, wherein the upper and lower cases are made from a transparent material.

35. A protective case in accordance with claim 34, wherein said transparent material comprises a transparent synthetic resin.

36. A protective case in accordance with claim 35, wherein said transparent synthetic resin is polymethyl methacrylate.

37. A protective case in accordance with claim 35, wherein said transparent synthetic resin is polycarbonate.