Phone and tablet case

• US 9,992,884 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armani Williams
• Original Assignee: Armani Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Armani
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): WAY, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US14/519,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20150136620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• 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 11/182 Credit card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/06 with illuminating devices
• 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: E05B 37/02 with tumbler discs or rings arranged on a single axis, each disc being adjustable independently of the others
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/005 Locks with means for tracking the location of locked items, e.g. freight containers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details

Abstract

A case for a portable electronic device includes a substantially hollow housing formed of a first section and a second section. The first section is dimensioned and configured to tightly retain the portable electronic device. A hinged connector secures a first portion of the first section to a first portion of the second section and allows access to the portable electronic device when the second section is in an open position. One or more locking mechanisms removably connect a second portion of the first section to a second portion of the second section and prevents access to the portable electronic device when the second section is in a closed and locked position. A locating device is disposed within or attached to the first section.

Claims

1. A case for a portable electronic device having an outer cover comprising:

a substantially hollow housing formed of a first section and a second section;

the first section dimensioned and configured to tightly retain the outer cover of the portable electronic device;

a hinged connector securing a first portion of the first section to a first portion of the second section that allows access to and removal of the portable electronic device when the second section is in an open position;

one or more locking mechanisms removably connecting a second portion of the first section to a second portion of the second section that prevents access to and removal of the portable electronic device when the second section is in a closed and locked position;

a geographic location device disposed within or attached to the first section that is not connected to the portable electronic device, operates independently of the portable electronic device and provides a location of the case even when the portable electronic device is turned off;

a power source disposed within the case that is connected to the one or more locking mechanisms or the geographic location device, is not connected to the portable electronic device, and operates independently of the portable electronic device; and

the case provides a second outer cover for the portable electronic device.

2. The case as recited in claim 1, the first section including a transparent screen protector proximate to a screen of the portable electronic device.

3. The case as recited in claim 1, the first section including an opening proximate to a screen of the portable electronic device.

4. The case as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more openings proximate to one or more connectors, one or more controls or one or more cameras of the portable electronic device.

5. The case as recited in claim 1, the one or more locking mechanisms comprising a combination lock, a keyed lock, a lockable zipper, a keypad lock, a biometric lock or a combination thereof.

6. The case as recited in claim 1, the locating device comprising a passive or active radio identification device, a global navigation satellite system device, a wireless transceiver or a combination thereof.

7. The case as recited in claim 1, the power source comprising a battery, one or more solar cells, an electromagnetic harvesting device or a combination thereof.

8. The case as recited in claim 1, the housing comprising a glow-in-the-dark material.

9. The case as recited in claim 1, the housing comprising a waterproof housing, a shockproof housing, a dustproof housing, a crushproof housing or a combination thereof.

10. The case as recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery charger integrated into the housing.

11. The case as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more compartments attached to or integrated into the first section for money, cards, keys or a combination thereof.

12. The case as recited in claim 1, further comprising the portable electronic device disposed within the case and the portable electronic device comprising a mobile phone, an electronic tablet, a portable computing device or a portable entertainment device.

13. The case as recited in claim 12, further comprising a software application loaded on the portable electronic device that protects communications with the portable electronic device.

14. The case as recited in claim 12, further comprising a software application loaded on the portable electronic device that prevents monitoring of the portable electronic device by unauthorized third party devices.

15. The case as recited in claim 12, further comprising a software application loaded on the portable electronic device that eliminates historical browsing data stored on the portable electronic device.

16. The case as recited in claim 12, further comprising a software application loaded on the portable electronic device that encrypts communications with the portable electronic device.

17. The case as recited in claim 12, further comprising a software application loaded on the portable electronic device that hides or masks an IP address of the portable electronic device.

18. The case as recited in claim 12, further comprising a software application loaded on the portable electronic device that protects location data backup of the portable electronic device and allows authorized remote access to a location of the portable electronic device.

19. The case as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light disposed on the case that lights up whenever notifications are received by the portable electronic device.