Protection case for electronic device and electronic device including the same

• US 9,442,519 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shin, Chang-bong, Lee, Kyu-suk, Lee, Seung-heon
• Primary Examiner(s): Haughton, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US14/546,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20150169010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.21, 361/679.26, 361/679.27, 36167955-67958, 4555751-5754
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A protection case and an electronic device using the same are provided. The protection case includes a base cover in which an electronic device including a main display is accommodated, a flip cover, which includes an auxiliary display on a front surface portion of the flip cover, and a connection portion, which connects the flip cover to the base cover. When the main display is covered with the flip cover, the flip cover is converted to a closed position. When the main display is exposed, the flip cover is converted to an opened position. When the flip cover is in the closed position and the auxiliary display is hidden, the auxiliary display is converted to a first position, and when the flip cover is in the closed position and the auxiliary display is exposed, the auxiliary display is converted to a second position.

Claims

1. A protection case for an electronic device, comprising:

a base cover in which an electronic device including a main display is accommodated;

a flip cover, which includes an auxiliary display on a front surface portion of the flip cover; and

a connection portion, which connects the flip cover to the base cover, such that

the flip cover is converted to;

a closed position where the main display is covered with the flip cover,

an opened position where the main display is exposed,

a first position where the main display is covered with the flip cover and the auxiliary display is hidden inside, and

a second position where the main display is covered with the flip cover and the auxiliary display is exposed to the outside,

wherein the connection portion comprises;

a first end portion connected to the base cover, and

a second end portion extended from the first end portion and connected to a center portion of a rear surface portion of the flip cover, and

wherein the flip cover is pivotably connected to the second end portion to be moved to the first position and the second position.

2. The protection case of claim 1, wherein a depression portion is formed in the rear surface portion, and the second end portion is connected to the depression portion.

3. The protection case of claim 2, wherein the depression portion has a depth that is greater than or equal to a thickness of a portion of the connection portion that overlaps the flip cover.

4. The protection case of claim 1, wherein the connection portion further comprises:

a first connection portion that is extended from the first end portion and is foldable; and

a second connection portion that is extended from the second end portion and is connected to the first connection portion and overlaps the flip cover.

5. The protection case of claim 4, wherein when the flip cover is located at the first position or the second position, the second connection portion is adhered to the flip cover via a magnetic force.

6. The protection case of claim 4, wherein the second connection portion includes a plurality of segment members which are pivotably connected to one another, and

wherein when the flip cover is located at the first position, the plurality of segment members are at a position where the segment members are adhered to the flip cover via a magnetic force or are at a position where the segment members support the flip cover at a predetermined inclination angle.

7. The protection case of claim 6, wherein edges of the flip cover and the base cover that are adjacent to the connection portion are adhered to each other via the magnetic force.

8. The protection case of claim 4, further comprising a position detecting unit which detects at which of the first position and the second position the flip cover is located.

9. The protection case of claim 8, wherein the position detecting unit comprises:

a magnet disposed on the second connection portion; and

first and second magnetic sensors disposed on the flip cover so as to be spaced apart from each other with the center portion disposed between the first and second magnetic sensors.

10. The protection case of claim 1, wherein the base cover is a battery cover of the electronic device.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a main body including a main display;

a battery cover which accommodates the main body such that the main display is exposed;

a flip cover including an auxiliary display on a front surface portion of the flip cover; and

a connection portion which connects the flip cover to the battery cover, such that the flip cover is converted to;

a closed position where the main display is covered with the flip cover,

an opened position where the main display is exposed,

a first position where the main display is covered with the flip cover and the auxiliary display is hidden inside, and

a second position where the main display is covered with the flip cover and the auxiliary display is exposed to the outside,

wherein the connection portion comprises;

a first end portion connected to the battery cover, and

a second end portion extended from the first end portion and connected to a center portion of a rear surface portion of the flip cover, and

wherein the flip cover is pivotably connected to the second end portion to be moved to the first position and the second position.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein a depression portion is formed in the rear surface portion,

the second end portion is connected to the depression portion, and

the depression portion has a depth that is greater than or equal to a thickness of a portion of the connection portion that overlaps the flip cover.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the connection portion further comprises:

a first connection portion that is extended from the first end portion and is foldable; and

a second connection portion that is extended from the second end portion and is connected to the first connection portion and overlaps the flip cover.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein when the flip cover is located at the first position or the second position, the second connection portion is adhered to the flip cover via a magnetic force.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the second connection portion includes a plurality of segment members that are pivotably connected to one another, and

wherein the plurality of segment members are at a position where the segment members are adhered to the flip cover via the magnetic force or are at a position where the segment members support the flip cover at a predetermined inclination angle.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein edges of the flip cover and the battery cover that are adjacent to the connection portion are adhered to each other via the magnetic force.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a position detecting unit which detects at which of the first position and the second position the flip cover is located.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the position detecting unit comprises:

first and second magnets that are asymmetrically disposed on the flip cover with respect to the center portion; and

first and second magnetic sensors that are disposed on the main body and detect the first and second magnets, respectively, at the first position and the second position.