Pouch with integrated stand

[0001] This invention relates to pouch with an integrated stand and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to such a pouch for use with an electronic device.

[0002] Electronic devices such as, for example, media players are often used with a pouch to protect the device, and assist in carrying the device. When the device is to be used it is normally placed on a separate stand, rested against a book or the like, quite often causing user dissatisfaction.

[0003] In accordance with the first aspect there is provides a pouch with an integrated stand for releasably holding therein an electronic device. The pouch comprises a body having a longitudinally extending upper strap and a longitudinally extending lower strap. There is a side at each end of the pouch extending between the upper strap and the lower strap; and a rear wall extending between the sides. A cover is hingedly connected to the rear wall and is moveable between a first position closing the pouch, and a plurality of open positions. The plurality of open positions may comprise a first open position wherein the cover supports the body in a first orientation, and a second open position wherein the cover supports the body in a second orientation. The sides may be of reduced depth compared to sides of the electronic device to create an opening through which access may be had to controls of the electronic device on the sides of the electronic device when the cover is in the first position.

[0004] The cover may comprise a minor portion hingedly connected to the rear wall, and a major portion in a fixed relationship relative to the minor position. The fixed relationship may be perpendicular.

[0005] The rear wall may be of a height greater than a height of the electronic device.

[0006] The pouch may further comprise a latch, the comprising a first part on the minor portion and a second part on the rear wall for releasably retaining the cover in the first orientation.

[0007] The pouch may further comprise a catch, the catch comprising a first part on the major portion and a second part on the lower straps for releasably retaining the cover in the first position.

[0008] The pouch may further comprise a base with an opening at each end of the base. The base, the lower strap and the rear wall may comprise a receptacle into which the electronic device is releasably receivable.

[0017] To refer to the drawings, there is shown a pouch 10 for releasably holding therein an electronic device 12 such as, for example, a media player.

[0018] The pouch 10 has a body 14 and a cover 16 hingedly attached to or integral with body 14. The body 14 has a open top 18 through which electronic device 12 can be placed in pouch 10. Upper 20 and lower 22 longitudinally extending straps are used to releasably hold device 12 in pouch 10. Straps 20, 22 are spaced apart, generally parallel and substantially co-planar. Extending between upper strap 20 and lower strap 22 are sides 24 at each end of pouch 10. Sides 24 are of reduced depth to form a gap 56 between straps 20, 22. Straps 20, 22 and sides 24 are such that all necessary controls 26 or sides 28 device 12 are accessible through gaps 56 even when cover 16 is closed; and controls 30 and screen/display 32 of device 12 on front 34 of device 12 are accessible when cover 16 is open. As such sides 24 are of less depth that sides 28 of device 12.

[0019] The cover 16 has a main portion 38 and a minor portion 40, and can move relative to body 14 about the hinge line 36. The cover 16 can be placed in a first open position as shown in FIG. 1 with minor portion 40 against rear wall 42 of the body 14, or in a second open position with major portion 38 lying flat on a surface (not shown) and with portion 40 angled relative to rear wall 42. The major portion 38 is perpendicular to minor portion 40, and minor portion is hingedly connected to rear wall 42 at the upper edge of rear wall 42 along hinge line 36. In the first open position the body 14 is at an angle to the surface of about 60°, and in the second open position the body is at an angle to the surface of about 25°. In the second open position, the angle between minor portion 40 and rear wall 42 will be about 65°.

[0020] The body 14 has a base 44 (FIG. 5) with openings 46 at each end thereof to enable a digit (finger or thumb) of a user to pass therethrough to provide the initial phase of removing device 12 from pouch 10. The straps 20, 22 and sides 24 have a relatively tight, but releasable, hold on device 12 so the openings 46 are of assistance in the removal.

[0021] The rear wall 42, and/or straps 20, 22, may extend above and beyond device 12 to provide some protection for device 12 if pouch 10 dropped when device 12 is in the pouch 10.

[0022] Rear wall 42 preferably has an insert plate 48 extending for the majority of the height of rear wall 42, and the majority of the width of rear wall 42. Plate 48 is made of, or contains, a magnetic metal to act as a shield for any magnetically sensitive mechanism in device 12 such as, for example, a disk drive.

[0023] The cover 16 preferably has an inset of a stiffening material 50 such as for example, cardboard, plastics or the like. Alternatively, cover 16 may be made of a relatively stiff material.

[0024] Rear wall 42 and minor portion 40 each have part of a releasably securable latch 48, 50 respectively. These may be “Velcro”, press-stud, magnets, magnets and a steel plate, and so forth. When latch components 48, 50 are engaged, the cover 16 is in the position of FIGS. 2 and 3. The latch may comprise a magnet 48 in minor portion 40 and the second part 50 may be plate 48 if plate 48 is of, or contains, a magnetic material. If either or both of the latch positions 48, 50 are magnetic, plate 48 is or contains a magnetic material such as, for example, steel. For example, plate 48 may be a steel pate, or an epoxy or plastics material encasing a fine steel mesh, or may be a fine but relatively stiff steel mesh.

[0025] Similarly, lower strap 22 and major portion 38 have corresponding catch components 52, 54 that may be “Velcro”, press stud, magnets, magnet and steel plate, or the like. This serves to keep cover closed when in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

[0026] If the latch component 50 is a magnet, it may also be used in a third open position to releasably attach the pouch 10 to a magnetic material such as, for example, a magnetic white board 60 (FIG. 7). Due to the relatively rigid nature of major portion 38 and minor portion 40, the minor portion 40 is relatively co-planar with rear wall 42. Major portion 38 extends outwardly and generally perpendicular to board 60. It therefore acts as a shield or cover for display 32 to reduce unwanted reflection. Major portion 38 may also act as a shelf on which may be placed such things as marker pens, and the like.

[0027] Therefore, the cover 16 has a number of preset positions relative to body 14:

• • [0028] (1) closed, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6;
  • [0029] (2) open in the first open position and being used as a support for body 14 in a first orientation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, with minor portion 40 against rear wall 42;
  • [0030] (3) open in the second open position and being used as a support for body 14 in a second orientation as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, with major portion 38 on a surface (not shown) and minor portion 40 angled away rear wall 42; and being perpendicularly to the surface;
  • [0031] (4) open in the third open position and being releasbly attached to a magnetic surface as shown in FIG. 7, minor portion 40 and rear wall 12 being co-planar; and
  • [0032] (5) fully open in a fourth open position and not being used as support body 14 as body 14 rests on rear wall 42 or base 44.

[0033] The pouch 10 is preferably made of materials such as leather, vinyl, and the like.

[0034] Preferably, the distance between straps 20, 22 is the same as or slightly greater than the height of display/screen 32. By not having vertical straps, controls 30 on front 34 are accessible wherever cover 16 is open. By sides 24 being a reduced depth compared to sides 28 of device 12, there is a gap 56 between sides 24 and cover 16 when cover 16 is closed. This enables access to controls 26 (including earphone/headphone ports) so device 12 can be used as, for example, an audio player (e.g. MP3 or MP4 player) when cover 16 is closed.

[0035] The combination of rear wall 42, lower strap 22, and base 44 forms a receptacle in which device 12 sits whenever in the pouch 10.

[0036] Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology that many variations or modifications in details of design or construction may be made without departing from the present invention.