MOISTURE RESISTANT MOBILE PHONE CASE

Abstract

A phone case made of durable, high grade plastic, aluminum, or similar material in the form of a base and door is disclosed. The door is attached to the base with either an elongate hinge or first and second pins mounted in the base and about which the door pivots from an open to a closed position and back again. The base is designed to receive and seat the phone snugly therein, and is preferably shaped to enclose the phone in a substantially rigid and compact housing that conforms with the shape of the phone. The door preferably pivots from the lower portion of the base about the hinge, and a latching mechanism is positioned at the top of the base's opening to capture and secure the door when closed. The tolerances of the fit between the door and the base are such that moisture will not seep into the case when the door is closed.

Claims

1. A moisture resistant phone case for a phone, comprising: a base having an opening and a cavity sized to receive the phone, the base comprising buttons aligned with buttons the phone for operating the phone while within the case, the base further comprising a hinge along a lower edge and first and second slots along first and second lateral edges, respectively; a door sized to close the opening in the base, the door mounted on the hinge for opening and closing thereabout, the door further comprising first and second guides mounted along the door's first and second lateral edges for receiving a phone therebetween, such that the guides recede into the slots on the base when the door closes; wherein a tolerance of the fit between the door and the base prevents moisture from entering the cavity.

2. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 1, further comprising a key holder within the base, the key holder adapted to retain at least one key therein.

3. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 2, wherein the key holder is a pouch secured to the inside of the base, the pouch including a drawstring to cinch the pouch closed.

4. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 2, wherein the key holder is a pocket that may be closed by a hook and loop fastener arrangement.

5. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 2, wherein the key holder is a pair of straps that cross and fasten to tightly secure the key.

6. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 1, wherein a front surface of the base includes a three dimensional relief.

7. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 1, further comprising a screen for displaying light or images.

8. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 7, wherein the screen is an LED screen that can flash a warning light to motorists while a user is jogging.

9. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 7, wherein the screen is an LED screen that display a repeating pattern of images or lights.

10. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 1, wherein the phone case comes in different sizes to accommodate different phones.

11. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 1, wherein the phone case comes in a smaller size to hold just keys.

12. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 1, wherein the base is attached to an armband.

13. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 12, wherein the arm band includes a plurality of undulating rubber ridges embedded in the arm band to enhance a frictional contact with the user.

14. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 12, wherein the arm band further comprises a rubber peripheral edge bordering an elastic material.

15. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 12, wherein a polymer backing on the case includes a plurality of rubber ridges to enhance a frictional contact between the case and a user.

16. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 15, wherein the plurality of rubber ridges are arranged in groups that emanate from alternate sides of the case.

17. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 15, wherein the polymer backing includes a circumferential ridge.

18. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 1, wherein a front surface of the door includes a transparent window.

19. The moisture resistant phone case of claim 1, wherein the guides include a tab depending therefrom for retaining a phone between the guides.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of the case of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional top view of first and second embodiments of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the case of the present invention worn on a user's arm; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the case and arm band of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a hard shell phone case 10 for a smart phone such as an “iPhone®” or the like. The case 10 is comprised of a base 12 having a soft rubber or polymer backing 14 to cushion the case and a door 16 to open and close the case 10. The base 12 is formed of a hardened plastic, metal, or other suitable material and forms an enclosure for the phone. The base preferably includes buttons 18 that can be depressed to operate buttons 22 on the phone 20, where the location of the buttons 18 (and size and shape of the case) would be specific to a particular phone model. In this way, the phone can be activated and deactivated while within the case. Similarly, the case 10 could include a plastic or transparent window on a front surface 24 through which the phone's screen could be viewed.

[0015] The phone easily slides into a sleeve 26 in the door 16 formed with guides 28 on both sides of the sleeve 26. The guides 28 are rigidly connected to the door 16 and are exposed when the door is open (see FIG. 1), and recede into openings (not shown) in the base 12 when the door 16 is closed. The sleeve 26 cooperates with the door 16 to form a slot where the phone 20 is seated, and can be further complimented with tabs 29 or fingers that hold the phone 20 firmly against the door 16. The door 16 is hinged to the base 12 at a lower edge, where a hinge 13 connects the two components and allows the door to pivot about the hinge 13. The hinge can also be replaced with two pins that connect the door and the base and allow rotation of the door about the pins. It is also possible that the door 16 could be hinged on the side of the case 10 and open laterally rather than vertically as shown.

[0016] Inside the case 10, in a preferred embodiment a key pouch 32 is disposed in the base 12 opposite the sleeve 26 to retain a set of keys. The pouch 32 can be a soft cloth material sewn into or glued to the base 12, and includes an opening that incorporates a drawstring that may be cinched tight to close the opening once the keys are inserted. The drawstring can be released to open the pouch and withdraw the keys at any time once the door 16 is opened. Alternatively, the keys can be secured by a strap arrangement 34 (see FIG. 2) where first and second straps 36 wrap tightly around the keys and are fastened together using a hook and loop fastener arrangement such as VELCRO® or the like. The key holder 32 preferably has a slim profile to prevent the case 10 from being unnecessarily thick, which is found by most users to be undesirable.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the case further includes an arm band 40 that allows the case 10 to be secured to the user's upper arm 42 (FIG. 3). The arm band 40 can be attached on one side of the case 10, and form a loop around the arm while passing through a buckle or loop 45 on the other side of the case. The arm band's distal end may include a hook and loop fastening material 47 that attaches to the outer surface of the arm band 40 to secure the armband and case 10 to the arm 42. In FIG. 4, the arm band 40 has a peripheral rubber edge 48 that borders an elastic material 51 having the ability to stretch and rebound to its original shape. Sewn or glued to the elastic material 51 are a plurality of undulating rubber ridges 53 that provide a tactile surface on the arm band 40 to prevent slipping. Rubber ridges 55 are also preferably affixed to the back of the case 10 to enhance the friction of the case against the user, where the plurality of rubber ridges 55 are arranged in groups that emanate from alternate sides 61,63 of the case 10. A peripheral rubber strip 57 encircles the polymer backing 14 to prevent moisture from seeping behind the case and keep the interface as dry as possible.

[0018] On the outer surface of the door 16 may be a three dimensional expression, such as a face, a logo, or the like. The door may have a reflector that reflects light, or be made with an luminescent coating or paint that allows the image to glow in the dark. The case 10 may also incorporate a small LED clock or alarm (not shown) that can be used as a timer when working out. In yet another preferred embodiment, the case can have a small screen such as an LED screen 44 or other type screen that can display video content, emit light patterns, or operate as a beacon to warn motorists or rescuers in low light conditions.

[0019] The fit of the door to the base is of a tolerance that prevents moisture from passing through the connection. In this manner, the case avoids the inclusion of rubber seals that may wear or fray and need to be replaced. Thus, moisture protection is achieved with a tolerance between the door and the base, which is preferably on the order of 1/32 of an inch or less. This tolerance will prevent moisture from seeping into the case while still maintaining the capability to manufacture the case out of plastic or the like. Machining capabilities are well within this tolerance limit, and thus the invention does not need further barriers to moisture.

[0020] There are many possible combinations and adjustments that can be made to the phone case of the present invention, and the foregoing description is intended to describe one such embodiment. It is to be understood that alterations and refinements are widely understood to one of ordinary skill in the art, and that such alterations and refinements are part of the invention. Thus, the invention should not be limited to those figures and descriptions herein, but rather by a broad interpretation of the concepts described.