Abstract
The present invention relates to a casing for a mobile electronic device, the casing including a dispenser, which includes a spraying unit and a reservoir, wherein the dispenser can be moved from a secure position to at least one dispensing position.
Claims
1. A casing for a mobile electronic device, the casing comprising a first casing part configured to receive and retain a mobile electronic device and a second casing part in which is received and retained dispenser which comprises a spraying unit and a reservoir, wherein the second casing part is configured for movement of the dispenser from a secure position in which the spraying unit cannot be manually actuated to at least one dispensing position in which the spraying unit can be manually activated.
2. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser is configured to be operated mechanically.
3. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the second casing part is configured for release of and reattachment of the dispenser to the second casing part.
4. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the second casing part is configured to receive and releasably retain the dispenser with a snap-fit.
5. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the spraying unit has an actuator and the second casing part is configured so that the actuator is not accessible and/or is locked in the secure position.
6. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the the second casing part further comprises means to secure and/or lock the dispenser in the secure position.
7. The casing according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the casing and dispenser comprises a stop configured to prevent rotation of the dispenser by more than a predetermined maximum angle.
8. The casing according to claim 4, wherein the second casing part is configured to receive and releasably retain the dispenser with a snap-fit.
9. Casing according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the second casing part and the retainer is configured to permit rotation of the dispenser at least 90.
10. The dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir and a spraying unit including a nozzle, wherein the dispenser comprises a connector adapted for releasably connecting the dispenser to a casing for a mobile electronic device, wherein the dispenser is configured to be operated manually to mechanically pump a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the nozzle and to dispense said fluid through the nozzle, wherein the dispenser is a stand-alone dispenser adapted to be operated when released from the casing.
11. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the dispenser has an opening or hole adapted for attaching the dispenser to a key ring.
12. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the dispenser has a transparent portion, comprising at least one of an inspection window and/or and a lens.
13. The dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the opening or hole has a cross-sectional area of at least 50 mm.sup.2.
14. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the connector is adapted for releasably connecting the dispenser to a casing for a mobile electronic device by a snap fit.
15. A kit comprising the dispenser of claim 10 and a casing configured to receive and releasably retain a mobile electronic device and receive the dispenser.
16. The casing according to claim 2, wherein the spraying unit comprises a mechanical pump.
17. The casing according to claim 3, wherein the dispenser is a stand-alone dispenser configured to be operable when released from the casing as well as when retained by the casing.
18. The casing according to claim 7 wherein at least one of the second casing part and the retainer is configured to permit rotation of the dispenser up to 180.
19. The dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the transparent portion has a cross-sectional area of at least 50 mm.sup.2.
20. the dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the snap-fit connector is circular or semi-circular in shape.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of the separate parts of a preferred embodiment of the inventive casing;
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a perspective back view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the dispenser being assembled;
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a perspective front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;
[0040] FIG. 4 shows a perspective front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 with the dispenser being ready to be attached to the casing;
[0041] FIG. 5 shows a perspective front view with the dispenser being attached to the casing and rotated about 90 from its secure position;
[0042] FIG. 6 shows a perspective front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 with the dispenser in the secure position;
[0043] FIG. 7 shows a perspective back view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in combination with an electronic mobile device;
[0044] FIG. 8 shows the casing of FIG. 7 being attached to the electronic mobile device;
[0045] FIG. 9 shows a front view of the casing being attached to the electronic mobile device with the dispenser in the dispensing position; and
[0046] FIG. 10 shows the casing and the mobile electronic device of FIG. 8 while the dispenser is being operated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0047] FIGS. 1-10 show a preferred embodiment of a casing 1 for a mobile electronic device 17, the mobile electronic device 17 being shown in FIGS. 7-10 only. The person skilled in the art will readily understand that the specific shape of the embodiment shown is adapted to the specific mobile electronic device 17 shown in the Figures and that the scope of the present invention is not limited to that specific example.
[0048] FIG. 1 shows the various components of the preferred embodiment in a perspective front view. The casing comprises a casing portion 1 which is adapted for releasably attaching the casing to the mobile electronic device 17 and a dispenser 2. The dispenser comprises a spraying unit 3 and a reservoir (not shown in the Figures). The spraying unit comprises an actuator 3a and a fluid connector 3b, which connects the reservoir with the nozzle 4. The spraying unit 3 is adapted to be mounted in a corresponding receiving portion or recess 7 of the dispenser 2. The dispenser is shown in its assembled state in FIGS. 2 and 3. As will be evident to the skilled person, the actuator 3a of the spraying unit 3 may be pushed upwards in FIG. 3 in order to dispense fluid provided in the reservoir through the nozzle 4. Even though a very specific spraying unit is shown in FIG. 1, the person skilled in the art will readily understand that the present invention is not at all limited to the specific type of spraying unit or even a mechanical spraying unit in general. Rather, any type of spraying unit known in the prior art may be utilized in the context of the present invention. This in particular includes aerosol-based spraying units which are based on a pressurized reservoir comprising a propellant (gas) which ejects a fluid provided in the reservoir if a relief valve is opened by pressing a button or the like.
[0049] The dispenser 2 comprises an opening or hole 8 which corresponds with a respective opening or hole 9 in the casing portion 1. As may be seen, e.g., in FIG. 6, the two holes or openings 8 and 9 are arranged on top of each other once the dispenser is in its secure position or orientation. These holes or openings 8 and 9 are situated such that a camera provided in the mobile electronic device may function normally once the casing is attached to the mobile electronic device. The shape and size of these holes or openings is preferably adjusted to the shape and size as well as the field of view of the camera of the mobile electronic device.
[0050] The dispenser of the present invention can preferably be releasably attached to the casing and thus be used in combination with the casing and as a stand-alone dispenser adapted to be operated when released from the casing. In the preferred embodiment shown in the Figures, the dispenser 2 and the casing 1 can be releasably connected to each other by a circular snap joint 11, 14 shown in FIG. 2. The circular snap joint comprises a circular through hole 11 in the casing portion 1 of the casing (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and a circular protrusion 14 (see FIG. 2) having an undercut which is adapted to engage with the edge of the through hole 11. Thus, the dispenser 2 may be releasably attached to the casing portion 1 by pressing the circular protrusion 14 through the through hole 11 to achieve a snap-fit. For this purpose, it is preferred that the material of the circular protrusion 14 is elastic to allow for repeated releasing and reattaching of the dispenser to the casing. Of course, the circular protrusion 14 may be replace by a ring-shaped protrusion 14, said protruding ring comprising an undercut for engagement with the circular through hole 11.
[0051] The use of a circular or ring-shaped snap joint not only provides a convenient releasable connection between the dispenser and the casing, but also allows for rotation of the dispenser 2 with respect to the casing (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Said rotation is further guided and stabilized by means of a guiding groove 10 provided in the casing which engages with the edges and/or corners 2a during rotation of the dispenser 2. While the shown embodiment only comprises two such edges 2a on the side comprising the spraying unit 3, an additional protrusion or edge may be provided at the opposite side of the dispenser 2 in order to engage with the guiding groove in the position shown in FIG. 9. Alternatively, said opposite side of the dispenser may be sufficiently thin so as to allow the corners of the dispenser to engage with the guiding groove 10. Once attached to the casing 1, the dispenser 2 may preferably be rotated about 180 in total as shown in the sequence of FIGS. 6, 5 and 9.
[0052] The rotational movement is further stabilized and/or guided by a combination of a pin or bolt 15 provided on the same side/surface of the dispenser 2 as the circular or ring-shaped protrusion 14 (see FIG. 2) and a semi-circular groove or notch 12 which, in this embodiment, extends entirely through the thickness of the casing 1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). During rotation of the dispenser 2 with respect to the casing 1, the pin 15 of the dispenser 2 moves along the groove 12 and thus further stabilizes and guides the rotation. More importantly, the combination of pin 15 and groove 12 provides a stop for the rotational movement once the pin 15 abuts either of the two ends of the groove 12. This ensures a maximum angle of rotation of 180 in the shown example. In other words, the dispenser can be moved from its secure position shown in FIG. 6 by rotation of 180 to its dispensing position shown in FIG. 9. In both the secure position and the dispensing position, the pin 15 of the dispenser 2 abuts either of the two ends of the groove 12. The dispenser is secured in both these position due to slight protrusions 13 provided in the groove 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). These protrusions 13 increase the friction when the user tries to move the dispenser 2 away from either the secure or the dispensing position. Accordingly, an inadvertent movement of the dispenser may be prevented.
[0053] Providing movement from a secure position to a dispensing position by means of rotation only is particularly advantageous, because it allows for a space efficient transformation from one state to the other without changing the appearance of the entire device substantially. Moreover, there is less likelihood that the dispenser be inadvertently rotated in the correct direction rather than simply moved translationally. As shown in FIG. 6, rotation of the entire dispenser allows for simply blocking access to the actuator 3a of the spraying unit 3. The particularly preferred use of a ring-shaped snap joint or any other circular releasable connector provides for a synergistic effect, because two functions may be provided with one and the same element, namely releasably attaching the dispenser to the casing on the one hand and allowing for rotation of the dispenser with respect to the casing on the other hand.
[0054] However, the present invention is not limited to the specific features shown in the Figures. The pin 15 and groove 12 are optional and the mechanical connection between casing and dispenser may be provided by any other releasable connection means. Similarly, the groove 10 and the specific shape of the dispenser 2 are optional features. Other embodiments may allow for more or less rotation than 180 and the dispensing position need not necessarily be that shown in FIG. 9, but could also be provided in the position shown in FIG. 5. Finally, the change from secure position to dispensing position need not be performed by means of rotation, but may also be achieved by a simple translation or a combination of translation and rotation.
[0055] The casing 1 is adapted to be releasably attached to a mobile electronic device 17 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). In the embodiment shown in the Figures, said releasable mechanical connection may be achieved by means of an edge of the casing which comprises an undercut 18 (see FIG. 7) which is adapted to snap onto or around the edges of the mobile electronic device 17 as shown in FIG. 8. While the preferred embodiment shown in the Figures comprises such an undercut at each of the four corners of the casing 1, such mounting elements or undercuts 18 may also be provided, e.g., along substantially the entire edge of the casing 1 except of three recesses 16a, 16b and 16c (see FIG. 2), which are provided to allow access to certain buttons of the electronic mobile device 17 (not shown). In order to allow for the casing to releasably snap onto the mobile electronic device 17 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is preferred that the material of the casing 1 or at least the edges thereof is/are elastic.
[0056] Once the dispenser 2 is attached to the casing 1 and the casing 1 is attached to the mobile electronic device 17, the dispenser 2 may be rotated around 180 into its dispensing position as shown in FIG. 9 and fluid may be ejected from the nozzle 4 of the spraying unit 3 by pushing the actuator 3a of the spraying unit 3 as indicated in FIG. 10.
