WO2015071775A1

WO2015071775A1 - Protective casing for a mobile phone

Info

Publication number: WO2015071775A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/059038
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabrizio TURELLI
Original assignee: HTP Srl
Current assignee: HTP Srl
Priority date: 2013-11-14
Filing date: 2014-02-17
Publication date: 2015-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-14
Also published as: EP3068255A1

Abstract

A protective casing (1) for a mobile phone (500). The casing (1) comprises a protective frame (10) suitable to protect at least partially the rims (510) of said mobile phone (500). In addition, the protective casing (1) comprises at least one support portion (100) hinged to the protective frame (10) movable between a rest position in which it lies along said protective frame (10) without projecting beyond it, and a support position in which it projects from the protective frame (10) and wherein the protective frame is suitable to be placed in a raised position in relation to a support surface on which it is laid, so as to support the mobile phone (500) in such raised position.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"PROTECTIVE CASING FOR A MOBILE PHONE"

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective casing for a mobile phone for example a smartphone provided with a touch screen.

[0002] In particular, said protective casing is suitable to protect the mobile phone it is placed on, for example from scratches or impact.. However, the protective casing which the present invention relates to is also suitable to provide a support for the mobile phone.

[0003] In other words, the protective casing which the present invention relates to as well as protecting the mobile phone is suitable to support it in a predefined position on a support surface.

[0004] In the prior art protective casings for mobile phones of different forms and types of embodiment are known of. Generally, said protective casings house the mobile phone within them so. as to protect it in case of impact or falls.

[0005] A specific requirement of casings for mobile phones is therefore that of satisfying the above needs for protection, avoiding a considerable increase in the dimensions of the mobile phone but remaining as close as possible to the form and dimensions of said mobile phone.

[0006] For some applications moreover the need is felt for the mobile phone fitted with a casing to also be suitable to "stand" on a support surface, ^' in a raised position from said surface, that is to say in a substantially vertical position, and to be kept in such position over time.

[0007] Such requirement must -however be achieved in such a way that the protective casing retains its limited dimensions, indicatively slightly larger than the dimensions of the mobile phone.

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is thus that of providing a protective casing which satisfies the above requirements; in other words, the protective casing which the present invention relates to is suitable to protect the mobile phone, while maintaining limited dimensions, and is suitable to keep the mobile phone "standing" on a support surface.

[0009] Such purpose is achieved by a protective casing as claimed in claim 1. The dependent claims show preferred embodiment variants entailing further advantageous aspects .

[0010] The object of the present invention is described below in detail, with the help of the appended drawings, wherein:

[0011] - figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of the protective casing according to one embodiment; [0012] - figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d respectively show a vertical cross-section view, a view from below, a transversal cross-section view of a portion, and a front view of the protective casing in figure 1;

[0013] -figures 3a, 3b and 3c respectively show a schematic vertical cross-section view, a schematic view from below and a schematic front view of the protective casing according to a further embodiment;

[0014] -figure 4 is a perspective view in separate parts of the casing which the present invention relates to in a preferred embodiment;

[0015] - figures 5a and 5b respectively show two enlarged views of the support portions of the casing as shown in figure 4;

[0016] - figure 6 shows an enlarged cross-section view of the blocking means of the support portion of the casing as shown in figure 4.

[0017] With reference to the aforementioned drawings, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a protective casing for a mobile phone 500, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0018] The mobile phone 500 has a front 550, for example provided with a touch screen 555, a back 520, for example provided with a camera 522, and lateral rims 510 which define the perimeter of the phone, on which specific keys, such as volume adjustment, are preferably present.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment the protective casing 1 comprises a protective frame 10 suitable to protect at least partially the rims 510 of the mobile phone 500.

[0020] In other words, the protective frame 10 is suitable to surround the mobile phone 500 around its perimeter in such a way as to protect the rims and corners thereof, preferably entirely. Embodiments may however be provided for in which the protective frame 10 has one or more apertures, so that at said aperture portions said rims 510 are free; preferably at said apertures the mobile phone 500 has special inputs for connection to power supply cables or peripheral devices.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment the protective frame 10 is of such a width as to overlook said rims 510. In other words, the width of the protective frame 10 is substantially such as to permit the housing of the mobile phone 500 while keeping the dimensions as limited as possible.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the protective casing 1 further comprises at least one support portion 100 hinged to the protective frame 10 suitable to support the mobile phone 500 placed on a support surface.

[0023] Preferably, in fact, the support portion 100 is suitable to be placed in a rest position in which it lies along said protective casing 10 and a support position in which it extends from the protective frame 10 and in which the mobile phone 500 is suitable to be supported in a raised position, for example inclined, on the support surface on which it is laid.

[0024] Preferably, the support portion 100, in said rest position is suitable not to project from the protective casing 10, in other words the support portion 100 is of such a size as to be contained in the width of the protective frame 10.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the support portion 100 is hinged to the protective frame 10 and is thus suitable to rotate in the aforesaid positions.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment the frame 10 comprises a support cavity 11 suitable to house the support portion 100 positioned in the rest position.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the support portion 100, positioned in the support position is suitable to support the mobile phone 500 in an inclined position, preferably perpendicular in relation to the support surface, extending perpendicularly from the protective frame 10.

[0028] According to a further preferred embodiment, the support portion 100 comprises at least two telescopic elements 111 and 112 suitable to slide on one another in a telescopic manner so that in the rest position the support portion 100 has as compact dimensions as possible, for example being suitable to place itself in the support cavity 11 provided, while in the support position the two telescopic portions 111 and 112 are suitable to extend in length, so as to have a greater support area on the support surface.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the support portion 100 has within it a through aperture 150 so that the portions inside the rim 510 of the mobile phone 500 are accessible from outside. For example, at said through aperture 150 on said rims 510 the mobile phone has one or more command keys, for example to control the volume of the mobile phone 500.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the protective casing 1 comprises two support portions 100.

[0031] Preferably, both said support portions 100 are placed on the same side of the protective frame 10.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the two support portions 100 are hinged to the protective frame 10 respectively next to the corners of the frame 10 (see by way of example figures 2b, 2c and 3b) .

[0033] Preferably, said side of the protective frame 10 is the one of greater dimensions. [0034] Preferably, the side of the protective frame 10 which the support portion 100 is placed on is the longer side.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, the protective casing 1 further comprises a rear portion 15 suitable to protect the back 520 of the mobile phone 500 extending between opposite ends of the protective frame 10.

[0036] In further embodiments, the protective casing 1 also comprises a protective lamina 15' suitable to protect the back 520 of the mobile phone 500 extending between opposite ends of the protective frame 10, or suitable to be fitted to the rear portion 15. Preferably, the protective lamina 15' is in a different material from that of the protective frame 10 for example in carbon.

[0037] Preferably, the rear portion 15 has one or more apertures for example suitable to leave the lens of the camera 522 free. Similarly, the protective lamina 15' also has dedicated apertures.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the support portion 100 ^"comprises a first portion 110 and a second portion 120 hinged in the same point of the protective frame 10 and suitable to rotate in opposite directions when the support portion 100 is placed in said support position.

[0039] Preferably, the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 are suitable to rotate, for example by an angle of 90° in opposite directions, thus positioning themselves at 180° from one another.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the protective frame 10, and the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 also, are suitable to engage each other reciprocally by means of special blocking teeth 101 and 121; in particular, a projecting blocking tooth 101 is present on the protective frame 10, preferably in the cavity 11, suitable to engage the second portion 120 preferably in a blocking cavity 112 present thereon on the surface thereof facing the protective frame 10; in the same way, preferably, the second portion 120 in turn presents a projecting blocking tooth 121, suitable to engage the first portion 110 preferably in a blocking cavity 111 present thereon on the surface thereof facing the second portion 120. This way, when the support portion 100 is placed in the rest position the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 are kept firmly in said position by means of reciprocal engagement.

[0041] According to some embodiments, the protective casing 1, and in particular the protective frame 10 is in plastic or silicone material and derivatives thereof.

[0042] In particular in further embodiments, the support portion 100 is in the same material which the protective frame 10 is made of; in other embodiments, the support portion 100 is instead in a different material, for example stiffer: for example metal, aluminium, moulded sheet metal.

[0043] In some embodiments, the support portion 100 is hinged to the frame 10 by special rivets. In other embodiments, the support portion 100 comprises a specific peg specifically suitable for permitting the attachment of the support portion to the frame 10.

[0044] According to a further preferred embodiment, to permit the attachment of the support portion 100 to the frame 10, the casing 1 comprises special blocking means

200 suitable to block the support portion 100 in its configuration comprising a first portion 110 and a second portion 120; preferably, the blocking means 200 are suitable in fact to permit the rotation of both portions, and are suitable, comprising an elastic member 220, to exert a tightening force suitable to keep the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 in position; preferably to keep them in the rest position or the support position.

[0045] Preferably, the blocking means 200, comprise a base

201 and a head 202 suitable to be reciprocally joined by means of a screw 203 or a rivet; in other words the base 201 is suitable to extend along an axis X-X and presents, along said axis X-X, a threaded hole 211; the head 202 in turn presents a through hole 212, in such a way that the screw 203 passing through the through hole 212 can be screwed into the threaded hole 211 clamping the two components to each other. Preferably, the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 can be fitted onto the base 201 respectively through a first through hole 115 and a second through hole 125, in such a way as to be rotatable around said axis X-X, where the tightening of the screw 203 permits the blocking along the axis X-X thereof .

[0046] The blocking means 200 further comprise an elastic member 220, for example composed of one or more Belleville springs 220 and 221, suitable for being loaded by the action of the screw 203. Preferably, the Belleville spring 220 and 221 is in silicone material or in stiffer material.

[0047] Preferably, the elastic member 220 is sandwiched between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120.

[0048] In other words, the first through hole 115, or the second through hole 125 or both have a radial widening of the first portion 110 or of the second portion 120, or of both, in such a way that when these are facing each other, fitted on the axis X-X, a housing chamber is created for the elastic member 250. [0049] In further embodiments, the support portions 100 are also fitted with special non slip elements so as to ensure the best possible support of the casing.

[0050] Innovatively, the protective casing which the present invention relates to is suitable to satisfy the ^'aforesaid requirements.

[0051] Advantageously, in fact, the protective casing is not only suitable to protect the mobile phone, but also to place itself in a support configuration in which the mobile phone is in a "standing" position, that is · to say raised, for example vertical in relation to the support surface.

[0052] A further advantageous aspect lies, in addition, in that the protective casing which the present invention relates to satisfies such need without increasing its dimensions. The protective casing which the present invention relates to has, in fact, substantially the same dimensions as a protective casing suitable to protect the mobile phone only without keeping it in a preferred position on a support surface. The protective casing which the present invention relates to while maintaining the same dimensions as a casing typical of the prior art, is suitable to fulfil the need to create a stable support for the mobile phone.

[0053] Advantageously by keeping the casing and thus the mobile phone in the "standing" position in relation to the support surface, multiple uses of the mobile phone are made possible, for example acting as a pedestal for its use as a camera with a self-timer.

[0054] Another advantage of the protective casing is found in some embodiments, in which the support portions are suitable to improve the engagement of the protective casing with the support surface to safely maintain the raised position over time.

[0055] Advantageously the casing has characteristics such that the support portion remains in the rest position and cannot easily be moved starting from said position, for example following slight contact therewith. For example, in the rest position the first portion and the second portion are reciprocally engaged; or the elastic member is suitable to create a blocking action such that the two portions are kept in the position which they are placed in manually by the user. Advantageously to move the support portion the user must apply a force to it such as to overcome that of the elastic member and the engagement of the portion with the frame.

[0056] A person skilled in the art may make modifications to the aforementioned embodiments of the protective casing or replace elements with others functionally equivalent so as to satisfy specific requirements. Such modifications or replacements are also contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims .

[0057] In addition, each variant described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be realised independently of the other variants described.

Claims

1. Protective casing (1) for a mobile phone (500) comprising a protective frame (10) suitable to protect at least partially the rims (510) of said mobile phone (500), where the protective casing (1) further comprises at least one support portion (100) hinged to the protective frame (10) movable between a rest position in which it lies along said protective frame (10) without projecting beyond it, and a support position in which it projects from the protective frame (10) and wherein the protective frame is suitable to be placed in a raised position in relation to a support surface on which it is laid, so as to support the mobile phone (500) in such raised position.

2. Protective casing (1) according to claim 1, presenting a rear portion (15) suitable to protect the back of the mobile phone (500) extending between opposite ends of the protective frame (10) .

3. Protective casing (1), according to claim 2, wherein the rear portion (15) has one or more apertures.

4. Protective casing (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the frame (10) comprises a support cavity (11) suitable to house the support portion (100) positioned in the rest position.

5. Protective casing (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the support portion (100), positioned in the support position is suitable to keep the casing (1) , and thus the mobile phone (500), in a position perpendicular to the support surface, extending perpendicular to the protective frame (10) .

6. Protective casing (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the support portion (100) comprises at least two telescopic elements (111; 112) suitable to slide on one another in a telescopic manner so that in the rest position the support portion (100) has as compact dimensions as possible, while in the support position the two telescopic portions (111; 112) are suitable to extend in length.

7. Protective casing (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the support portion (100) has within it a through aperture (150) so that the inner portions of the rim (510) of the mobile phone (500) are accessible from outside .

8. Protective casing (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the protective casing (1) comprises two support portions (100) placed on the same side of the protective frame (10) .

9. Protective casing (1) according to claim 8, wherein the two support portions (100) are hinged to the protective frame (10) respectively near the corners of the frame (10) .

10. Protective casing (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the support portion (100) comprises a first portion (110) and a second portion (120) hinged in the same point of the protective frame (10) and suitable to rotate in opposite directions when the support portion (100) is placed in said support position .

11. Protective casing (1) according to claim 10, comprising blocking means (200) suitable .for blocking the first portion (110) and the second portion (120) to the frame (10) permitting the rotation thereof, wherein the blocking means (200) comprise an elastic member (220) suitable for exerting a tightening force on the first portion (110) and on the second portion (120) .

12. Protective casing (1) according to claim 11, wherein the elastic member (220) is sandwiched between the first portion (110) and the second portion (120) .