Abstract
People carry electronic devices on their person which have cases to protect electronic devices from falls. People also carry a variety of tools on their persons. Existing cases rarely have integrated tools and when they do the utility of the case and the tool are both reduced. The present invention is a protective case for electronic devices which securely stores tools inside the case. The tools are fully removable from the case. The tools are retained in the case by geometric interference between the tool and the case.
Claims
1. A case which protects a mobile electronic device and holds a tool that is fully removable from the case.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 where the tool is held into the case and allowed to be removed and inserted using mechanical interference between the tool and the case.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 where the tool is held in place by the case with no moving parts.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 where the tool is comprised of a knife.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 where the tool is a strap cutter, bottle opener, pry bar, wrench, scissors, pliers, a pen, a ruler, a comb, eating utensils, a multitool or similar tool.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 where the tool slides into and out of the case.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the tool stored in the case.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the tool stored in the case.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the tool partially removed from the case.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the tool fully removed from the case.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a front view with hidden lines showing the tool fully inserted into the case in the storage slot.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a section view looking from the front showing the tool in the storage slot in the case.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a section view looking from the end showing the extrusion of material from the case that provides geometric interference to retain the tool in the case.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a left side view of the case showing the tool in the storage position.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a right side view of the case showing the buttons and openings on the case.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the case showing the tool in the storage position as well as the openings in the case.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present application is for a protective case 100 made of any rigid or semi-rigid material which protects portable electronic devices and stores one or multiple removable tools 101 as shown in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment, the case is made from an injection molded polymer. In other embodiments, the case may be made of wood, leather, or other materials. Examples of portable electronic devices include but are not limited to phones, smart phones, tablets, computers, music players, cameras, global positioning systems (GPS), etc. The case is formed in a way to protect the electronic damage such as falls, impacts, sharp objects. In the preferred embodiment of the case the electronic device is surrounded in part or whole by the case and holds the tool. In other embodiments the case does not protect the portable device and only stores the tool. The tool 101 may be used for one or multiple purposes. In the preferred embodiment, the tool is a knife. In other embodiments the tool may be a strap cutter, bottle opener, pry bar, wrench, scissors, pliers, a pen, a ruler, a comb, eating utensils, a multitool, or other similar tools.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the case 100 has openings 102 and buttons 103 that allow for the full operation of the electronic device that is contained therein. The openings 102 are cutouts in the material that allow the electronic device to function as originally intended. The opening 102 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 allows the camera to operate as designed. Similar openings exist for the switches, speakers, microphone, and power connector.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the tool 101 is safely and securely stored in the case 100 in an internal slot in the case.
[0026] The tool 101 can be removed from the case 100 as shown in FIG. 3 by sliding the tool out of the case.
[0027] In FIG. 4, the tool 101 is shown fully removed from the case 100. The raised portion of the case 104 which provides mechanical interference and retains the blade is also shown. The outer diameter of the raised portion 104 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the circle in the handle of the tool 101. The raised portion of the case 104 thus fits into the circle in the handle of the tool 101 holding it in place. The height of the raised portion of the case 104 is designed such that the tool 101 can be removed when desired but does not slide out when the protective case 101 is held in a vertical orientation. In other embodiments, the raised portion of the case may be shapes other than circular as long as it matches the opening in the tool. In the preferred embodiment, the opening in the tool that mates with the raised portion 104 extends through the full thickness of the tool material. In other embodiments, the tool may have a blind pocket that mates with the raised portion 104 of the case.
[0028] In FIG. 5, the tool 101 is shown using hidden lines where it is inserted into the case and is inserted into the slot 105 in the case 100 which holds the tool. The slot 105 has the same width as the tool to prevent the tool from moving relative to the case once fully inserted. Additionally, the slot 105 allows the tool to be fully inserted into the case regardless of the orientation. Thus, the tool 101 can be rotated 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the tool and inserted into the case 100. The orientation and location of the slot 105 can be adjusted for different electronic devices to avoid interference with the features of the device and to maximize the size of the tool.
[0029] In one embodiment of the mobile device case, the case has material which is removed to fully encompass the tool as shown in FIG. 5. In other embodiments, the protective case 100 may only partially encompass the tool 101 such that more of the tool is visible.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a section view that shows the tool 101 inserted into the slot 105 that houses the tool. In the preferred embodiment, the length of the slot 105 is such that it prevents the tool 101 from being inserted into the case 100 beyond the ideal position.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows the tool is secured in the case using the geometry of the combination of the case and tool with the aid of no additional components. The simplicity of this designs allows for reduced cost and increased reliability. The geometry used to hold the tool into place also allows the tool to be easily removed and reinserted. The raised portion of the case 104 fits into the recess in the tool 101 and prevents the tool from moving when the case 100 is held vertically.
[0032] The tool is held in place by a raised portion of the case 104 which mates with a recess in the tool 101 as shown in the section view in FIG. 7. The raised portion of the case retains the tool but, once pressed, allows the tool to be removed from the case 100 by sliding the tool 101 parallel to the slot 105.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 7, the case 100 can be made in one piece of material. Alternatively, the case can be made from two or more pieces of material joined together mechanically, chemically, or by other means.
[0034] FIG. 8 shows the left side of the case 100 with the tool 101 stored in the case. The button 103 allows the user to control the electronic device stored in the case.
[0035] FIG. 9 shows the right side of the case which has an opening 102 and buttons 103 for operating the electronic device.
[0036] FIG. 10 shows the bottom view of the case 100 with the tool 101 in the storage position. Openings 102 exist in the case to allow the electronic device to work as intended.
