Protective sleeve for portable electronic devices

[0001] This application is related to a co-pending U.S. patent applications, application Ser. No. 12/106,334, both entitled “PROTECTIVE SLEEVE FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES”, wherein the inventor is Lone-Wen Tai and Jun Dai. Such applications have the same assignee as the present application and have been concurrently filed herewith. The disclosures of the above identified applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to protective sleeves and, more particularly to a protective sleeve for portable electronic devices.

[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0005] Portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, media players, or personal digital assistants (PDAs) are very popular and widely used. A variety of protective sleeves for protecting the portable electronic devices are also popularly used, these includes shock-proof packages, silica gel sleeves, colored plastic sleeves, leather sleeves, and so on. Although the protective sleeves can protect the portable electronic devices from shock or abrasion, they do have disadvantages.

[0006] For example, before using the portable electronic devices, it has to be taken out of the shock-proof package or the leather sleeve. Thus, it is an inconvenient to use the shock-proof package or the leather sleeve. Furthermore, once removed from the protective device, the portable electronic devices are no longer protected. Thus, the shock-proof package or the leather sleeve is useless when the phone is in use. Similarly, it is an inconvenient to place silica gel sleeve or colored plastic sleeve over the portable electronic device. In addition, the silica gel sleeve or the colored plastic sleeve must include an opening to expose a screen of the portable electronic devices, such that the silica gel sleeve or the colored plastic sleeve cannot fully protect the portable electronic devices.

[0007] What is needed, therefore, is a new protective sleeve that overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages.

[0008] In one aspect, a protective sleeve for a portable electronic device includes a sleeve frame, a cover, two connecting members, and a locking member. The sleeve frame includes four connecting sidewalls cooperatively defining a space for receiving the portable electronic device. The sleeve frame further defines a mounting portion at the sidewall. The cover includes two retaining portions disposed on an edge. The connecting members are configured for pivotally/rotably attaching an end of the cover to the frame via the retaining portions and the mounting portion. The locking member is configured for latching and releasing, and thereby opening and closing the cover to the frame at another end of the cover opposite to the mounting portion.

[0009] When the locking member is latched, the cover covers the screen and keyboard of the mobile phone completely. When the locking member is released, the cover can be flipped opened via elastic force of the connecting member.

[0010] Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred embodiments of the present protective sleeve for portable electronic devices, in detail.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a protective sleeve 100 for a portable electronic device of a first preferred embodiment is shown. The protective sleeve 100 includes a sleeve frame 10, a cover 11, two connecting members 12, and a locking member 13. The sleeve frame 10 includes four connecting sidewalls 101 consisting of a first sidewall 101a, second sidewall 191b, top sidewall 101c, and a bottom sidewall 101d, cooperatively defining a space 102 for receiving the mobile phone. Latitudinal medial cross-sections of each of the sidewalls 101, are substantially C-shaped. The sleeve frame 10 further defines a mounting portion 103 at the top sidewall 101c. The mounting portion 103 is substantially a tubular structure. The bottom sidewall 101d defines a mounting groove 104 (see FIG. 4) on a side opposite to the mounting portion 103 and an engaging hole 105 (see FIG. 4) communicating with the mounting groove 104.

[0022] The cover 11 is a transparent plate that can be made of transparent plastic or glass. The cover 11 includes two retaining portions 110 disposed separately on an edge of the cover 11. Both of the retaining portions 110 are substantially tubular structures. The two retaining portions 110 define a space between them for receiving the mounting portion 103.

[0023] The connecting members 12 are configured for pivotally/rotatably attaching an end of the cover 11 to the frame 10 via the retaining portions 110 and the mounting portion 103. The locking member 13 is configured for latching and releasing, and thereby opening and closing the cover 11 to the frame 10 at another end of the cover 10 opposite to the mounting portion 103.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, each of the connecting members 12 includes a fixing portion 121, a torsion portion 122, a torsion spring 123 and a rotary shaft 124. Both the fixing portion 121 and the torsion portion 122 are substantially cylindrical. An end of the fixing portion 121 and an end of the torsion portion 122 both define a shaft hole 120 correspondingly. Ends of the rotary shaft 124 are rotatably retained in the shaft holes 120 of the fixing portion 121 and the torsion portion 122 correspondingly. The torsion spring 123 is coiled around a middle portion of the rotary shaft 124, and two ends of the torsion spring 123 are fixed to the end of the fixing portion 121 and the end of the torsion portion 122 respectively. In assembly, the two connecting members 12 are mirror images of each other. The fixing portion 121 of each connecting member 12 is assembled into the mounting portion 103, and the torsion portion 122 of each connecting member 12 is assembled into the retaining portion 110. Thus, the sleeve frame 10 and the cover 11 are rotatably attached together. When the cover 11 is latched to the sleeve frame 10 via the locking member 13, the torsion spring 123 is at a resiliently deformed state. When the locking member 13 is released, the cover 11 would be flipped opened via resilient force of the torsion spring 123.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 4, the locking member 13 includes a first latching hook 131, a second latching hook 132 and a compression spring 133. The first latching hook 131 extends downward from a bottom surface of an end of the cover 11 corresponding to the mounting groove 104. The second latching hook 132 is mounted into the mounting groove 104 of the sleeve frame 10. The first latching hook 131 is configured to be insertable into the engaging hole 105 and engagable with the second latching hook 132. The second latching hook 132 is substantially L-shaped and an end of the second latching hook 132 is exposed to an outer surface of the sleeve frame 10. An end of the compression spring 133 is fixed on a side surface of the second latching hook 132, another end of the compression spring 133 is fixed on a side surface of the mounting groove 104. When the exposed end of the second latching hook 132 is pressed towards the mounting groove 104, the second latching hook 132 will push against and compress the compression spring 133. Thus, the second latching hook 132 can be detached from the first latching hook 131, and the locking member 13 can be released.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4 again, the sleeve frame 10 further includes two through holes 106 defined in the bottom sidewall 101d of the sleeve frame 10 corresponding to an earphone jack and a charger socket, respectively, of the mobile phone. As such, the earphone or the charger can be used when the mobile phone is in the space of the sleeve frame 10. The cover 11 further includes a reflection reducing coating (not shown) deposited on an inner surface of a portion of the cover 11 corresponding to a screen of the mobile phone. As such, the transparency of the cover 11 is increased due to the reflection reducing coating. The cover 11 also includes a plurality of through holes 113 defined in portions of the cover 11 corresponding to a speaker and a microphone, of the mobile phone. As such, the speaker and the microphone can be used when the mobile phone is inside the sleeve frame 10.

[0027] In this embodiment, the sleeve frame 10 is integrally formed by embed-molding technology. The four sidewalls 101 of the sleeve frame 10 are made of plastic materials reinforced by rigid materials, except that at least two opposite corners 1012 of the four sidewalls 101 are only made of plastic materials. Thus, the sleeve frame 10 can resiliently deform at the corners 1012. It is convenient to place the sleeve frame 10 over the mobile phone, and the sleeve frame 10 can accommodate mobile phones having different sizes. In addition, preferably, corners of the sleeve frame 10 and the cover 11 are rounded. Thus, the protective sleeve 100 for portable electronic device has a good appearance.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, a sleeve frame 20 of a protective sleeve in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The sleeve frame 20 is similar as principle to the sleeve frame 10 of the first embodiment. However, the sleeve frame 20 further includes a slit 202 defined in a first sidewall 201a of the sleeve frame 20. The slit 202 runs through the first sidewall 201a of the sleeve frame 20, such that the first sidewall 201a of the sleeve frame 20 is divided into two parts. The sleeve frame 20 is made of rigid materials with a certain elasticity. In use, the sleeve frame 20 is placed over the mobile phone by pulling the slit 202 wider, and the slit 202 would recover, thereby the sleeve frame 20 receiving the mobile phone tightly.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, a sleeve frame 30 of a protective sleeve in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The sleeve frame 30 is similar as principle to the sleeve frame 10 of the first embodiment. However, the sleeve frame 30 includes a first frame 301 and a second frame 302. A pair of latching pins 3011 are formed on two ends of the first frame 301 and the second frame 302 defines a pair of latching holes 3021 adjacent its two ends. The pair of the latching pins 3011 of the first frame 301 are engaged into the pair of latching holes 3021 of the second frame 302. Thus, the first frame 301 and the second frame 302 are connected with each other to form the sleeve frame 30.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 7, a protective sleeve 400 in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The protective sleeve 400 is similar in principle to the protective sleeve 100 of the first embodiment. However, the protective sleeve 400 includes a connecting member 42 for pivotally/rotatably attaching an end of a cover 41 to a frame 40 via two retaining portions 410 and two mounting portions 403. The connecting member 42 includes an elastic piece 421 and a rotary shaft 422. An end of the elastic piece 421 is fixed on a top sidewall 401c of the sleeve frame 40, and another end of the elastic piece 421 is fixed on an edge of the cover 41 correspondingly. The two mounting portions 403 are positioned adjacent to two ends of the top sidewall 401c respectively. The two retaining portions 410 are formed on the edge of the cover 41. The rotary shaft 422 runs through the mounting portions 403 and the retaining portions 410 for rotatably connected the cover 41 to the sleeve frame 40. When the cover 41 is latched to the sleeve frame 40 via the locking member 43, the elastic piece 421 is at a resiliently deformed state. When the locking member 43 is released, the cover 41 would be flipped opened via resilient force of the elastic piece 421.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 8, a protective sleeve 500 in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The protective sleeve 500 is similar in principle to the protective sleeve 100 of the first embodiment. However, the protective sleeve 500 includes a locking member 53 for latching and releasing, and thereby opening and closing the cover 51 to the frame 50. The locking member 53 includes a tab 531, a first magnetic member 532 and a second magnetic member 533. The tab 531 is disposed on an edge of the cover 51. The first magnetic member 532 is embedded in the tab 531. The second magnetic member 533 is embedded in a bottom sidewall 501d of the sleeve frame 50 corresponding to the first magnetic member 532. The locking member 53 can be latched by a magnetic force produced between the first and second magnetic members 532, 533.

[0032] The protective sleeve frame and the cover covers the screen and keyboard of the mobile phone completely. Thus, the protective sleeve for portable electronic device can fully protect the mobile phone. When an external force is applied to release the locking member, the cover can be flipped opened via a recovery force of the connecting member and reveal the screen and keyboard of the mobile phone. So, it is convenient to use the protective sleeve for the portable electronic device.

[0033] It should be understood that, the cover can also be designed to include two separate covers, for protecting the screen and keyboard of the mobile phone respectively. The cover can further have an interlayer for enclosing photographs, pictures, and so on. The sleeve frame can further have a ring formed at a corner for suspending a decoration, a key, and so on. In addition, the sleeve frame can further include a bottom plate to protect the back of the mobile phone. The bottom plate can define a latch on an outer surface and the latch can be used as a carrying means for the protective sleeve of the portable electronic device.

[0034] It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.