Protective cover for an electronic device

• US 8,944,614 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: XDEV Incorporated
• Original Assignee: XDEV Incorporated
• Inventors: Parrill, Matthew B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Thomas K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lei, Jie
• Application Number:
  US13/457,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20120275025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 359/507, 359/511, 359/513, 361/679.02, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.09, 361/679.26, 206/37, 206/320, 206/576, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 359/511
• 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 11/38 Camera cases, e.g. of ever-ready type
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/16 Housings; Caps; Mountings; Supports, e.g. with counterweight
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

A protective cover for an electronic device includes a front casing and a rear removably coupled to the front casing to substantially enclose the electronic device therein. The rear casing includes a plurality of mounting slots in spaced relation thereon, each mounting slot configured to receive a mounting clip to attach the cover with electronic device to an external article. The rear casing includes an aperture which aligns with a camera lens of the electronic device within the cover. The cover includes a lens assembly removably attached in the aperture of the rear casing to extend the viewing capabilities of the camera lens.

Claims

1. A protective cover for an electronic device, the electronic device including ports, actuation buttons and a camera lens on a surface thereof, the cover comprising:

a front casing,

an elastomeric boot configured for placement around a portion of the electronic device so as to serve as a water-resistant and dust-resistant barrier to protect the ports and selected ones of the actuations buttons, the boot including an aperture therein which aligns with the camera lens of the electronic device in the boot,

a rear casing removably coupled to the front casing so as to substantially enclose the boot with electronic device therebetween, the rear casing including a generally circular lens holder that is integrally formed as part of the rear casing, the lens holder having a circular wall portion protruding outward from an outer surface of the rear casing so as to define a recessed corner aperture therein which extends back into the lens holder and which aligns with the boot aperture and the camera lens, the recessed corner aperture including a circular o-ring attached therein, the protruding wall portion of the lens holder having a plurality of external threads around an outer surface thereof, and

a lens assembly removably attached within the recessed corner aperture of the lens holder to extend the viewing capabilities of the camera lens of the electronic device enclosed within the protective cover, wherein the lens assembly includes a lens, a rear portion of which is captured in the recessed corner aperture of the lens holder and sealed by the o-ring, and includes a circular, removable lens cap for the lens, the lens cap having internal threads which are configured to engage the external threads on the protruding wall portion of the lens holder.

2. The cover of claim 1, the electronic device further including a touch screen, the cover further including a protective film beneath the front casing to enable use of the touch screen within the cover.

3. The cover of claim 1, wherein the front casing further includes mesh screening having waterproof and dust proof properties affixed on an interior surface thereof to seal microphone and speakers on the electronic device.

4. The cover of claim 1, wherein the rear casing includes at least two distinct mounting points in spaced relation, each mounting point configured to receive a mounting clip.

5. The cover of claim 4, wherein each mounting point comprises a channel in the rear casing that is overlain by a plate so as to form a slot for receiving a foot of a mounting clip, each plate having a cutout therein for access to release the foot from the slot.

6. The cover of claim 5, wherein each foot includes a flexible tongue with a catch on an underside thereof that snap-fit engages to the cutout of a corresponding plate when the foot of the clip is inserted into a corresponding slot.

7. The cover of claim 1, wherein

the actuation buttons of the electronic device include at least a power button and volume control buttons and the ports include at least a mini-jack port for headphone use and a charger port, and

the boot includes control pads which seal the power and volume control buttons while permitting use thereof with the electronic device enclosed in the cover, a pivotable flap that seals the mini-jack port but permits use thereof with the electronic device enclosed in the cover, and a hinged insert that seals the charger port within the cover and permits charging once the boot with electronic device is removed from the cover.

8. The cover of claim 1, further comprising a loop attached at a corner thereto.

9. The cover of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is embodied as a smart phone.

10. The cover of claim 1, further comprising a kickstand pivotable in a direction outward from the rear casing to support the cover thereon.

11. A protective cover for an electronic device, the electronic device including ports, actuation buttons and a camera lens on a surface thereof, the cover comprising:

a front casing,

a rear casing removably coupled to the front casing so as to substantially enclose the electronic device therebetween in a water-resistant, dust-resistant environment, the rear casing including a plurality of mounting slots in spaced relation thereon, each mounting slot configured to receive a mounting clip therein to attach the cover with electronic device to an external article, the rear casing including a generally circular lens holder that is integrally formed as part of the rear casing, the lens holder having a circular wall portion protruding outward from an outer surface of the rear casing so as to define a recessed corner aperture therein which extends back into the lens holder and which aligns with the camera lens, the recessed corner aperture including a circular o-ring attached therein, the protruding wall portion of the lens holder having a plurality of external threads around an outer surface thereof, and

a lens assembly removably attached within the recessed corner aperture of the rear lens holder to extend the viewing capabilities of the camera lens of the electronic device enclosed within the protective cover, wherein the lens assembly includes a lens, a rear portion of which is captured in the recessed corner aperture of the lens holder and sealed by the o-ring, and includes a circular, removable lens cap for the lens, the lens cap having internal threads which are configured to engage the external threads on the protruding wall portion of the lens holder.

12. The cover of claim 11, wherein the rear casing includes a plurality of channels formed in, and a plurality of plates attached on, an outer surface thereof, each channel in the rear casing outer surface overlain by a plate so as to form a mounting slot, the mounting slots in spaced relation thereto, each mounting slot adapted to receive a foot of a mounting clip, each plate further including a cutout therein for access to release the foot from the formed mounting slot.

13. The cover of claim 12, wherein each foot includes a flexible tongue with a catch on an underside thereof that snap-fit engages to the cutout of a corresponding plate when the foot of the clip is inserted into a corresponding mounting slot.

14. The cover of claim 11, wherein a mounting clip for attachment of the cover with electronic device to any external article has a common foot structure for insertion into the mounting slots on the rear casing.

15. The cover of claim 11, wherein the lens cap is configured to secure multiple lens types therein to modify the viewing angle of the camera lens of the electronic device.

16. The cover of claim 11, the electronic device further including a touch screen, the cover further including a protective film beneath the front casing to enable use of the touch screen within the cover.

17. The cover of claim 11, wherein the front casing further includes mesh screening having waterproof and dust proof properties affixed on an interior surface thereof to seal microphone and speakers on the electronic device.

18. The cover of claim 11, further comprising:

an elastomeric boot configured for placement around a portion of the electronic device so as to serve as a water-resistant and dust-resistant barrier to protect the ports and selected ones of the actuations buttons, the boot including an aperture therein which aligns with the camera lens of the electronic device in the boot and the recessed corner aperture within the lens holder of the rear casing, a substantial portion of the boot with device enclosed within the front and rear casings of the cover.

19. A protective cover for an electronic device, the electronic device including at least ports, actuation buttons and a camera lens on a surface thereof, the cover comprising:

a front casing,

a rear casing removably coupled to the front casing so as to substantially enclose the electronic device therebetween in a water-resistant, dust-proof environment, the rear casing including a generally circular lens holder that is integrally formed as part of the rear casing, the lens holder having a circular wall portion protruding outward from an outer surface of the rear casing so as to define a recessed corner aperture therein which extends back into the lens holder and which aligns with the camera lens, the protruding wall portion of the lens holder having a plurality of external threads around an outer surface thereof, and

a lens cap configured in a generally frusto-conical shape with a larger diameter front circular face, bounded by a vertical overhang portion arranged around a circumference thereof which has threads on an internal surface thereof, the lens cap including a smaller diameter rear base, the threads of the lens cap configured to engage the external threads on the protruding wall portion of the lens holder to secure the lens cap to the lens holder, with the rear base of the lens cap extending into the recessed corner aperture so as to be adjacent the camera lens of the electronic device, the lens cap interior configured to mitigate light pollution from any flash exiting from the electronic device in conjunction with a camera function thereof.

20. The cover of claim 19, wherein the lens cap includes painted interior surfaces functioning as a light tube to mitigate light pollution from a flash imparted by the electronic device.

21. The cover of claim 19, wherein the lens cap includes a lens body secured within the corner aperture and a separate light tube attached within an interior thereof to mitigate light pollution from a flash imparted by the electronic device.

22. The cover of claim 19, further comprising:

an elastomeric boot configured for placement around a portion of the electronic device so as to serve as a water-resistant and dustproof barrier to protect the ports and selected ones of the actuations buttons, the boot including an aperture therein which aligns with the camera lens of the electronic device in the boot and recessed corner aperture in the lens holder of the rear casing.

23. The cover of claim 19, wherein the front casing further includes mesh screening having waterproof and dust proof properties affixed on an interior surface thereof to seal microphone and speakers on the electronic device.

24. The cover of claim 19, wherein the rear casing includes a plurality of mounting slots in spaced relation thereon, each mounting slot configured to receive a mounting clip therein to attach the cover with electronic device to an external article.