Standing case for personal digital assistant

• US 6,772,879 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Gem Group, Inc. (Primorus Investments Plc)
• Original Assignee: The Gem Group, Inc. (Primorus Investments Plc)
• Inventors: Domotor, Agnes Csilla
• Primary Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US10/179,594
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 206/305, 206/320, 206/701, 206/576, 206/722, 206/723, 206/45.2, 206/45.23
• US Class Current: 206/45.23
• 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: A45C 2200/15 Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer

Abstract

A case for a personal digital assistant (PDA) that allows the PDA to be elevated in an angled standing position when the case is opened is provided. In this manner, the PDA is presented to the user in an easily accessed orientation without the need to remove the personal digital system from the case or to attach any separate stand or bracket. In an illustrative embodiment, the case includes a base section and a cover that is attached in a hinged manner to the base section. The cover can be folded back to reveal the enclosed PDA screen and buttons. When the cover is rotated back to a predetermined position, at which the base and cover form an acute angle, a securing strap is attached between the base and the cover preventing the base and cover from spreading apart beyond the pre-determined acute angle.

Claims

1. A case for a personal digital assistant having a display screen and a user interface comprising:

a base;

a side edge comprising a rigid material that extends around at least three sides of the base so as to define an interior for receiving the personal digital assistant thereinto, the base and the side edge adapted to hold the personal digital assistant while revealing the display screen and the user interface and allowing the user to operate the personal digital assistant;

a hinged cover adapted to selectively overlay and enclose the interior so as to cover the display screen and the user interface of the personal digital assistant; and

a securing strap attached to the cover and having a first means for interengaging adapted to removably engage a second means for interengaging, the second means for interengaging being located along an outer-facing side of the base, wherein the strap, the first means for interengaging and the second means for interengaging are each constructed and arranged so that the strap secures the cover against the side edge in a closed position when the strap extends around the side edge and along the outer-facing side of the base with the first means for interengaging engaging the second means for interengaging, and wherein the strap, with the first means for interengaging engaging the second means for interengaging secures the cover at a predetermined acute angle when the cover is opened away from the side edge so that the base and the cover define a stand that elevates the electronic device at an angle with respect to a supporting surface.

2. The case as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interior includes a fastener material for interengaging a corresponding piece of fastener material mounted to the personal digital assistant to enable the personal digital assistant to be selectively attached to and removed from the interior.

3. The case as set forth in claim 2, wherein the attachment material comprises a hook and loop fastener material.

4. The case as set forth in claim 1, wherein the side edge includes a pocket for a personal digital assistant stylus.

5. The case as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a pocket that is removably attached to an inner-facing face of the cover and that is moveable mounted to the hinge section.

6. The case as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first and second means for interengaging comprises a male and female snap connector.

7. The case as set forth in claim 4, wherein the base and the cover are rigid members having an outer material covering.

8. A standing case for a personal digital assistant comprising:

a base that defines an interior for mounting the personal digital assistant, the base adapted to hold the personal digital assistant while allowing a user to access the personal digital assistant;

a hinged cover adapted to selectively overlay and enclose the interior;

a securing strap mounted to the hinged cover along a front, opposite a hinge section, the securing strap being constructed and arranged to be secured by a first means for interengaging to a second means for interengaging on an outer face of the base in a closed position and to allow the base and the cover to be secured at a predetermined acute angle with respect to eachother in an opened position with the securing strap secured to the outer-facing face of the base so as to prevent separation beyond the predetermined acute angle of the cover with respect to the base; and

a stylus pocket located on the side edge of the base.

9. The standing case as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a strip of adhesive hook and loop fastener material mounted on the base for interengaging a corresponding piece of fastener material mounted to the personal digital assistant for removably securing the personal digital assistant within the interior.

10. The standing case as set forth in claim 9, further comprising an internal pocket mounted to the hinged section and removably secured to an inner-facing face of the cover.

11. The standing case as set forth in claim 8, wherein the side edge comprises a rigid material that extends around at least three sides of the base, and ending at the hinged section so as to define the interior.