Protective carrying case for a portable electronic device

• US 8,167,127 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hsu-Sheng Yu
• Original Assignee: Marware Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Edward, Piedra, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Fidei, David
• Application Number:
  US12/751,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20100243516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/305, 224/666, 224/669, 224/930, 224/269
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A casing for a portable electronic device, such as an MP3 player, a cell phone, a smart phone, or a PDA, is formed with two or more sleeves that may be placed onto the electronic device and together form a closed encasement for the electronic device. The encasement is formed to enable operative access to the electronic device while the sleeves are connected to form the closed encasement. A back panel of the encasement is removable so that it may be exchanged for an alternative panel. That is, a first back panel may simply be a planar panel that only forms an integral backwall part of the closed encasement and a second back panel may be provided with a belt clip or belt loop, or the like. The different removable back panels may thus be exchanged to provide the device for mutually different functions of the casing.

Claims

1. A function-convertible casing for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of sleeves to be placed onto the electronic device and together forming a closed encasement for the electronic device when said sleeves are placed on the electronic device, each of said sleeves being formed with a respective opening in a backwall thereof, said opening in each of said sleeves together forming a backwall opening of the casing when said sleeves are assembled to form the closed encasement;

at least one of said sleeves being formed to enable operative access to the electronic device while said sleeves are connected to form said closed encasement; and

a plurality of removable back panels each being formed to completely close said backwall opening, said plurality of removable back panels including a substantially planar first back panel forming an integral backwall part of said closed encasement and a second back panel carrying an attachment device for carrying said encasement with the electronic device disposed therein, wherein said plurality of removable back panels may be exchanged with each other to provide the device for mutually different functions of the casing.

2. The casing according to claim 1, wherein said removable back panel and said sleeves are formed with snap connections holding said sleeves in place on the electronic device to maintain the closed encasement.

3. The casing according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of sleeves are formed with snap connections enabling said sleeves to engage with one another in a position when said sleeves are assembled to form the closed encasement.

4. The casing according to claim 1, wherein said openings in said sleeves are formed with an undercut forming a slide track and said back panel is formed with a marginal slide bulge configured to slidably engage in said slide track.