Smartphone privacy device

Abstract

A smartphone privacy device that attaches to a back side of a smartphone and does not inhibit smartphone operation. The privacy device employs a first hinged flap to obscure the front bottom microphone. A second hinged flap obscures the front top microphone and front facing camera. And a sliding shield obscures the rear top microphone and rear facing camera. The device allows selective openings of the flaps and shield. The smartphone privacy device erases any concern that a microphone or camera on a smartphone is listening or watching the user without the user's knowledge.

Claims

1. A privacy device for a smartphone having a front face with a lower front microphone, an upper front microphone, a first camera, and a back face having an upper back microphone and a second camera, said front face spaced apart from said back face by an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; the privacy device comprising: a body member for covering said back face, said body member having an upper end wall securable to the smartphone upper edge, a lower end wall securable to the smartphone lower edge, a first side wall securable to the smartphone first side edge, and a second side wall securable to the smartphone second side edge, a first flap hingedly secured to said lower end wall, said first flap constructed and arranged to rotate between a closed position for obscuring the lower front microphone of the smartphone, and an open position for conventional use of the lower front microphone; a second flap hingedly secured to said upper end wall, said second flap constructed and arranged to rotate between a closed position for obscuring the upper front microphone and first camera, and an open position permitting the conventional use of the upper front microphone and first camera; and a shield slidably secured to said body member, said shield constructed and arranged to slide within a track between a closed position for obscuring the upper back microphone and second camera, and an open position permitting the conventional use of the upper back microphone and second camera; wherein said flaps and shield are selectively closed and opened to provide privacy from someone listening through the microphones or watching through the cameras.

2. The privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 1 wherein said first flap includes an aperture to provide access to a lightning port while said first flap is in a closed position.

3. The privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 1 wherein said first flap is L-shaped having an inner wall and an outer wall, said inner wall including a silicone rubber gasket to obscure the lower front microphone when said flap is in a closed position.

4. The privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 1 wherein said second flap is L-shaped having an inner wall and an outer wall, said inner wall including a silicone rubber gasket to obscure the upper front microphone and first camera when said flap is in a closed position.

5. The privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 1 wherein said shield is defined by an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface including a silicone rubber gasket to obscure the upper rear microphone and rear camera when said plate is in a closed position.

6. The privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 5 wherein said body member includes a track for receipt of said shield.

7. The privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 5 wherein said outer surface of said shield includes a grip member for ease of sliding said shield between the open and closed position.

8. The privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 1 wherein an inner surface of said body member is lined with a rubber lining.

9. The privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 1 wherein said rubber lining is constructed and arranged to allow operation of push button controls placed on the side edges of the smartphone.

10. A privacy device for a smartphone having a front face with a lower front microphone, an upper front microphone, a first camera, and a back face having an upper back microphone and a second camera, said front face spaced apart from said back face by an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, the privacy device comprising: a body member for covering said back face, said body member having an upper end wall securable to the smartphone upper edge, a lower end wall securable to the smartphone lower edge, a first side wall securable to the smartphone first side edge, and a second side wall securable to the smartphone second side edge, a first flap hingedly secured to said lower end wall, said first flap having an L-shape constructed and arranged to rotate between a closed position for positioning a gasket over the lower front microphone of the smartphone, and an open position for conventional use of the lower front microphone; a second flap hingedly secured to said upper end wall, said second flap having an L-shape constructed and arranged to rotate between a closed position for positioning a gasket over the upper front microphone and first camera, and an open position permitting the conventional use of the upper front microphone and first camera; and a shield slidably secured to said body member, said shield constructed and arranged to slide between a closed position for positioning a gasket over the upper back microphone and second camera, and an open position permitting the conventional use of the upper back microphone and second camera; wherein said covers are selectively moved between the closed and open positions to provide privacy from someone listening through the microphones or watching through the cameras.

11. The privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 10 wherein said gasket is constructed from silicone rubber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a top plane view of the smartphone privacy case coupled to a smartphone;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a top plane view of the smartphone privacy case illustrated in FIG. 1 with the lower and upper flaps open;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a top plane view of the smartphone privacy case illustrated in FIG. 1 with the smartphone removed;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a lower end view with the lower flap closed;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a lower end view with the lower flap open;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a lower end view with the lower flap open and rear camera shield closed; and

[0026] FIG. 7 is a top plane view of the upper end with the lower flap closed and the rear camera shield closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] A detailed embodiment of the instant invention is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0028] Referring now to the figures, depicted is a privacy device 10 for a smartphone 100. In one embodiment, the smartphone is an iPhone having a multi-touch display 102 with application icons 104. A home button 106 is located along the bottom of the display face 102, with a bottom edge 108 that includes a first microphone 110, a first speaker 112, and a lightning port 114. An upper section 116 of the display 102 includes a second microphone 118 and a face time camera 120. The rear surface 125 of the smartphone includes an upper section 122 having cameras 124, a second microphone 127 and a lighting element 126. It is noted that while a particular smartphone is being illustrated, the privacy device 10 can be configured to hold any style smartphone having a flat face wherein speakers, microphones and cameras may be in different locations, but the teachings of this invention apply.

[0029] The privacy device 10 has a front face 12 and a rear face 125 bounded by U-shaped lower edge or side wall 16 and a U-shaped upper edge or side wall 18 forming a body member. The lower edge 16 is constructed and arranged to frictionally secure the smartphone 100 against the front face 12. A first side edge 21 is shaped to allow access to the left side edge of the smartphone, which in one embodiment holds the volume buttons, and a second side edge 23 to allow access to the right side of the smartphone, which in one embodiment holds the on/off button.

[0030] A lower flap 20 having an L-shape employs a hinge member 22 allowing rotatable attachment to the lower edge 16, wherein the lower flap 20 will overlay a lower portion of the smartphone display 102. The lower flap 20 has an aperture 24 to allow access to the lightning port 114 when the lower flap 20 is placed in a closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. An inner surface 26 of the lower flap 20 includes a first gasket 30 formed of a soft rubber, preferably silicon, that seals the first microphone 110 when the lower flap 20 is in a closed position. A second gasket 32, also formed of the soft rubber, seals the first speaker 112 when the lower flap 20 is in a closed position. Access to the lightning port is possible when the lower flap 20 is placed in an open position; or through the aperture 24 when the lower flap 20 is placed in a closed position. In one embodiment, the hinge member 22 consists of a hinge pin 40 that extends from the lower side wall 16 through an opening formed in the lower flap 20. When the lower flap 20 is rotated into an open position, an individual can use the communication ports on the lower end in the customary manner. When the lower flap 20 is rotated into a closed position, the communication ports, namely the microphone 110 and speaker 112, are sealed by the gaskets 30 and 32. Should an individual accidentally trigger the communications port, any sound produced through speaker 112 will be muffled by the gasket 32. Similarly, sound will be muffled through the gasket 30 to the microphone 110. It should be noted that the gaskets can be made of various materials to provide a muffling effect, silicon rubber being the preferred embodiment.

[0031] An upper flap 50 having an L-shape employs a hinge member 52 allowing rotatable attachment to the upper side wall 18, wherein one side wall of the upper flap 50 will overlay an upper portion of the smartphone display face 102. The upper flap 50 is placed in a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1, and an open position in FIG. 2. An inner surface 54 of the upper flap 50 includes a gasket 56 formed of a soft rubber, preferably silicon, that seals the second receiver 118 when the upper flap 50 is in a closed position. The upper flap 50 is sized to cover the face time camera 120 when the flap 50 is in a closed position. In one embodiment, the hinge member 52 consists of a hinge pin 58 that extends through a receptacle extending from the upper side wall 18 through an opening formed in the upper flap 50. When the upper flap 50 is rotated into an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an individual can use the communication ports on the upper end in the customary manner. Face time is made possible through the camera 120 and second microphone 118. When the upper flap 50 is rotated into a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication ports, namely the face time camera 120 and microphone 118, are sealed by the gasket 56. Should an individual be hacked, the blockage of the camera 120 will protect the privacy of the smartphone user.

[0032] A shield 70 is slidably secured between the front face 12 and the rear face 14 of the privacy device 10. The shield 70 has a bracket 72 that slides within a track 74, allowing the shield 70 to move from a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 8 to an open position illustrated in FIG. 7. A grip member 76 allows for fingertip movement of the shield 70. When the shield 70 is in a closed position, the cameras 124, lighting element 126, and microphone 127 are blocked. In one embodiment a gasket member 78 may be used to conceal the microphone 127 on the rear face 125 of the smartphone 100. When the shield 70 is in an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the rear facing cameras 124 and microphone 127 can be used in the ordinary manner. Further, the lighting element 126 may be used for photos or emergency lighting.

[0033] For additional sound buffering and protection of the smartphone from damage, a silicone rubber lining 80 that fits within the body member to provide a sound deadening of speaker produced sounds that may travel through the rear of the smartphone may be utilized. The lining 80 side walls 82 and 84 are flexible to allow operation of the smartphone volume controls and on/off control. A first side edge 21 of the device 10 is shaped to allow access to the left side edge of the smartphone 100 and is covered by the side wall 82; and a second side edge 23 allows access to the right side of the smartphone 100.

[0034] Selectively opening and closing the lower flap 20, upper flap 50 and shield 70 provides privacy by inhibiting someone listening through the microphones or watching through the cameras.

[0035] The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

[0036] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.