Hinged protective cover for portable electronic device

• US 6,819,549 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Hanshew, Christopher J., Lammers-Meis, David
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US10/294,955
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-683, 361/686
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

Protective cover assemblies for portable electronic devices, e.g., Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), are provided. The protective cover assemblies include a substantially planar cover portion and a flexible bridge member pivotally coupled with one another by a pair of brackets. The substantially planar cover portion is rotatable in a dual-pivot arrangement provided by the brackets with respect to the portable electronic device between an open position exposing a display screen, wherein the substantially planar cover portion lies adjacent a back surface of the portable electronic device, and a closed position wherein the display screen is covered and protected. The flexible bridge member may be coupled with the electronic device by engagement of a pair of posts within recesses on a surface of the electronic device. Such recesses are sized and shaped for receiving connection/alignment posts on a storage cradle or the like and are commonly found on electronic devices such as PDAs.

Claims

1. A protective cover assembly for a portable electronic device, the protective cover assembly comprising:

a substantially planar cover portion, wherein the substantially planar cover portion is formed of a single piece of material folded over itself to form a bight at one end thereof; and

a flexible bridge member pivotally coupled with the substantially planar cover portion for spatially offset rotation of the substantially planar cover portion with respect thereto, the flexible bridge member configured for direct engagement with the electronic device,

wherein the flexible bridge member is pivotally coupled for the spatially offset rotation about a first of two spaced pivot points with the substantially planar cover portion by pivotal engagement of the substantially planar cover portion with wire members configured as brackets at opposing ends thereof, the bight of the substantially planar cover portion receiving ends of the wire members.

2. A protective cover assembly for a portable electronic device having a display screen, the protective cover assembly rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the protective cover assembly comprising:

a substantially planar cover portion configured to cover the display screen of the portable electronic device when the protective cover assembly is in the closed position, wherein the substantially planar cover portion is formed of a single piece of material folded over itself to form a bight at one end thereof; and

a flexible bridge member pivotally coupled about two spaced pivot points with the substantially planar cover portion, the flexible bridge member configured for direct engagement with the electronic device,

wherein the flexible bridge member is pivotally coupled about a first of the two spaced pivot points with the substantially planar cover portion by pivotal engagement of the substantially planar cover portion with wire members configured as brackets at opposing ends thereof, the bight of the substantially planar cover portion receiving ends of the wire members.

3. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing including a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of surfaces, wherein at least one of the plurality of surfaces includes a pair of recesses therein; and

a protective cover assembly rotatable between a first position and a second position, the protective cover assembly comprising;

a substantially planar cover portion, configured to be positioned proximate the top surface when the protective cover assembly is in the first position and proximate the bottom surface when the protective cover assembly is in the second position, wherein the substantially planar cover portion is formed of a single piece of material folded over itself to form a bight at one end thereof; and

a flexible bridge member pivotally coupled about two spaced pivot points with the substantially planar cover portion, the flexible bridge member including a pair of posts protruding therefrom engaged in the pair of recesses of the housing,

wherein the flexible bridge member is pivotally coupled about a first of the two spaced pivot points with the substantially planar cover portion by pivotal engagement of the substantially planar cover portion with wire members configured as brackets at opposing ends thereof, the bight of the substantially planar cover portion receiving the ends of the wire members.