Waterproof flip phone case

• US 7,496,195 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kwik Tek Incorporated (Aqua-Leisure Recreation LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kwik Tek Incorporated (Aqua-Leisure Recreation LLC)
• Inventors: Kramer, Aaron F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/172,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20070019804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.13, 379/451, 379/452, 379/454, 379/437, 379/440, 206/294, 243/03, 455/575.8
• US Class Current: 379/437
• 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 13/005 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a waterproof flip phone case having a sealing member, at least two waterproof enclosures, and a hinging member that provide a waterproof environment for a phone, specifically a flip phone. In one embodiment of the invention, the sealing member includes at least one locking mechanism that is operable to engage and disengage the sealing member to allow insertion of a flip phone into the case when the member is not engaged and prevents water from entering the enclosures when the member is engaged.

Claims

1. A substantially waterproof case adapted for use with a folding phone having a face and a back, comprising:

a first enclosure that is adapted to receive the face having an upper end and a lower end;

a second enclosure that is adapted to receive the back having an upper end and a lower end wherein said upper end of said second enclosure is operably interconnected to said lower end of said first enclosure;

a sealing member interconnected to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, said sealing member includes a pair of gaskets on opposing facing clips that are brought together to from a seal, and at least one locking mechanism which is employed to maintain said clips in a sealed configuration; and

a hinging mechanism positioned between said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein said first enclosure and said second enclosure are rotatably interconnected, and wherein a space is provided within said hanging mechanism, wherein a portion of the folding phone is adapted to reside in said space.

2. The case of claim 1, further comprising a third enclosure interconnected to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein said third enclosure is adapted for receiving an antenna of the folding phone.

3. The case of claim 2, wherein said third enclosure is in continuous open communication with at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure.

4. The case of claim 1, further comprising an interconnection means attached to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein said interconnection is at least one of a hook and loop material, a magnet, a hook, a clasp, a button, and a snap, wherein said interconnection means can selectively interconnect said first enclosure and said second enclosure.

5. The case of claim 1, wherein said first enclosure and said second enclosure are made of a flexible, substantially impermeable material.

6. The case of claim 1, wherein said first enclosure and said second enclosure are made of a transparent, audio passive, and waterproof material.

7. A combination of a substantially waterproof foldable phone case and foldable phone, comprising:

a foldable phone;

a first enclosure made of a flexible, substantially impermeable material;

a second enclosure made of a flexible, substantially impermeable material, wherein said second enclosure is hingedly interconnected to said first enclosure;

a sealing member, wherein when said sealing member is selectively engaged, the phone case is substantially impermeable to a fluid, said sealing member including a pair of gaskets on opposing facing clips that are brought together to from a seal, and at least one locking mechanism is employed to maintain said clips in a sealed configuration; and

wherein said case is adapted to receive said phone within said first enclosure and said second enclosure.

8. The case of claim 7, further comprising a third enclosure interconnected to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure;

wherein said third enclosure is adapted to receive an antenna of said foldable phone.

9. The case of claim 8, wherein said third enclosure is in continuous open connection between at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure.

10. The case of claim 7, further comprising at least one locking mechanism interconnected to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein said sealing member is selectively engaged and disengaged by said at least one locking mechanism.

11. The case of claim 7, further comprising an interconnection means attached to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein said interconnection means is at least one of a hook and loop material, a magnet, a hook, a clasp, a button, and a snap, and wherein said interconnection means can selectively interconnect said first enclosure and said second enclosure.

12. The case of claim 7, further comprising a hinging means interconnected to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein said hinging means provides continuous open communication between said first enclosure and said second enclosure.

13. The case of claim 7, wherein said first enclosure and said second enclosure are made of a transparent, audio passive, and waterproof material.

14. A substantially waterproof case adapted to receive a folding phone comprising:

a first enclosure;

a second enclosure operably interconnected to said first enclosure;

a third enclosure operably interconnected to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein said third enclosure is adapted to receive an antenna of the folding phone; and

a selectively opening sealing means interconnected to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein when said sealing means is engaged it is substantially impermeable to a fluid, said sealing means includes a pair of gaskets on opposing facing clips that are brought together to from a seal, and at least one locking mechanism is employed to maintain said clips in a sealed configuration.

15. The case of claim 14, further comprising an interconnection means attached to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein said interconnection means is at least one of a hook and loop material, a magnet, a hook, a clasp, a button, and a snap.

16. The case of claim 15, wherein said interconnection means is operable in a first state of said case to maintain said first state, and wherein said interconnection means is not operable in a second state of said case.

17. The case of claim 14, further comprising at least one locking mechanism interconnected to at least one of said first enclosure and skid second enclosure, wherein said sealing member is operably engaged and disengaged by said at least one locking mechanism.

18. The case of claim 14, further comprising a hinging means interconnected to at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure, wherein said hinging means is at least one of a flexible material and a rigid hinge and wherein said hinging means provides continuous open communication between said first enclosure and said second enclosure.

19. The case of claim 14, wherein said first enclosure, and said second enclosure are made of a transparent, audio passive, and waterproof material.