Protective case with embedded elastic cushion plates

Abstract

The present invention is to provide a protective case embedded with elastic cushion plates and applicable to a portable electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet PC, or e-book reader), which includes a case body made of a first elastic material (e.g., thermoplastic polyurethane) and having four sidewalls and four curved walls each connecting two adjacent sidewalls to jointly form a receiving space, and four elastic cushion plates made of a second elastic material (e.g., silicone) whose hardness is less than that of the first elastic material. Each curved wall is embedded with the elastic cushion plate. Thus, when the portable electronic device is fitted into the receiving space through an opening of the protective case, four corners of the portable electronic device lie against the elastic cushion plates respectively, so as to ensure that the elastic cushion plate can greatly reduces impact of an external force applied to the corner.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a protective case, more particularly to a protective case embedded with elastic cushion plates and applicable to a portable electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet PC, or e-book reader), which includes a case body made of a first elastic material (e.g., thermoplastic polyurethane) and having four sidewalls and four curved walls each connecting two adjacent sidewalls to jointly form a receiving space, and four elastic cushion plates made of a second elastic material (e.g., silicone) whose hardness is less than that of the first elastic material. Each curved wall is embedded with the elastic cushion plate. Thus, when the portable electronic device is fitted into the receiving space through an opening of the protective case, the inner side of each sidewall lies against each side of the portable electronic device, and each curved wall corresponds to each corner of the portable electronic device, such that the four corner...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a protective case for portable electronic devices that includes elastic cushion plates. The case is made of a first elastic material and has four curved walls and four sidewalls that jointly form a receiving space. The elastic cushion plates are made of a second elastic material and are securely fitted in the corresponding curved wall, with the inner side of the case body in contact with the portable electronic device. This results in a better protective effect against impact, as the elastic cushion plates are elastically deformed by the external force and further reduce its impact. The case body can be made transparent and the elastic cushion plates can be provided with various colors to enhance its esthetical appearance.

Problems solved by technology

In consequence, portable electronic devices have shown a decline in production costs and been made increasingly thinner and lighter.

Due to their powerful functions and wide application, the aforesaid portable electronic devices are used more and more frequently by their users and hence stand a progressively greater chance of being worn or scratched by pointed objects or damaged by the impact of an inadvertent drop or collision.

Should any of the foregoing incidents happen to a portable electronic device, a minor damage (e.g., scratches on the screen or on the main body of the portable electronic device) may impair the appearance only, but a major one (e.g., that caused to the circuit board and circuits in the portable electronic device or a cracked or shattered screen) may lead to malfunction.

These protective elements serve mainly to keep a portable electronic device from wear and scratches attributable to contact with a pointed object but are hardly protective against the impact of collision.

In other words, the conventional protective elements for use with a portable electronic device can only prevent superficial damages but fail to provide sufficient protection against collision which may cause severe damage to functionality.

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