Protective device for an electronic device, in particular a zipcase

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device for an electronic device, in particular a zipcase for a smartphone, said protective device comprising: at least one plastic strip (1) having two edges (2) and / or projections (2) which are positioned parallel to one another on a side of the plastic strip (1) and which are designed to receive an electronic device between the edges (2) and / or the projections (2); and wherein the plastic strip (1) is designed to be flexible such that it can be bent around an edge region of the electronic device; and wherein the plastic strip (1) has, at a first end portion, at least one hook structure and / or tooth structure (5) which is provided in the longitudinal extent of the plastic strip; wherein the plastic strip (1) comprises at least one guide (6) at a second end region; and wherein the hook structure and / or tooth structure (5) is designed such that it can be inserted into the guide (6) and engage therewith.

Description

[0001] Protective device for an electronic device, in particular a ZipCase

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a protective device for an electronic device, in particular a ZipCase for a smartphone.

[0004] background

[0005] Protective cases and protective frames for smartphones or tablets are designed to protect such devices, in particular, from fall damage. Protective cases and protective frames usually consist of a specially shaped rectangular shell made of soft plastic, which generally has an opening on one of the large sides. The device can be pushed into the protective case and protective frame through this opening. To achieve this, the protective case and protective frame must be precisely tailored to the respective device, e.g. a smartphone, in order to hold and protect the smartphone securely with a tight fit. Openings for the microphone and speaker must be precisely positioned in the protective case or protective frame so as not to impair the functionality of the smartphone. The production of these protective cases and protective frames therefore requires comparatively complex injection molding tools, which can usually only be used for one device, e.g. a smartphone model.In order to allow magnetic attachment of smartphones with protective cases and frames to chargers, protective cases and frames must also be equipped with an additional metal ring on the closed side so that the closed back of the protective cases and frames does not reduce the magnetic holding force too much.

[0006] Against this background, it has become apparent that there is a further need to be able to provide protection for electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide protection for electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets.

[0007] These and other objects, which will be mentioned upon reading the following description or which may be recognized by a person skilled in the art, are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims develop the central idea of ​​the present invention in a particularly advantageous manner.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a protective device for an electronic device, in particular a ZipCase for a smartphone, comprising: at least one plastic band with two edges and / or projections that are arranged parallel to one another on one side of the plastic band and that are designed to receive an electronic device between the edges and / or the projections; and wherein the plastic band is designed to be flexible enough to be bent around an edge region of the electronic device; and wherein the plastic band has at least one hook and / or tooth structure on a first end section that is provided in the longitudinal extension of the plastic band; wherein the plastic band comprises at least one guide on a second end region; and wherein the hook and / or tooth structure is designed to be insertable into the guide and lockable thereto.

[0010] The term "electronic device" is to be understood broadly in this context and includes, in particular, smartphones, tablets, and the like. The term "plastic band" is also to be understood broadly and includes, in particular, flat structures that are designed to be flexible enough to be bent around an edge area of ​​an electronic device and held in place by the hook and / or tooth structure.

[0011] Preferably, the hook and / or tooth structure and the guide into which the hook and / or tooth structure can be inserted and held are functionally similar to the holding / locking mechanism of a cable tie. The plastic band corresponds to the flexible plastic strip at whose first end is the hook and / or tooth structure, which can be inserted into the guide at the second end and can lock into place with corresponding locking elements in the guide. Unlike conventional protective cases and protective frames, the protective device disclosed here is placed outside the frame of a smartphone and pulled together until the plastic band with its hook and / or tooth structure has tightly wrapped around the frame of the smartphone and is secured to the guide.

[0012] In one embodiment of the protective device, the plastic band further comprises openings configured to provide access to buttons, sensors, microphones and / or speakers of the electronic device.

[0013] The openings can be formed using removable crossbars. Such crossbars can increase the stability of the protective device in the area of ​​the openings. If the crossbars impair the operation of a button or the like, the interfering crossbars can be removed. For example, predetermined breaking points can be provided on the crossbars to make removal easier. Large openings can also be provided that can be used for different electronic devices (e.g., smartphones) by removing only the crossbars necessary for operating the electronic device. This allows the protective device to be adapted to different electronic devices.

[0014] In one embodiment of the protective device, at least one eyelet is provided at one or both ends of the plastic band. Such eyelets can be used for attaching additional elements.

[0015] In one embodiment of the protective device, the protective device is designed as an elongated, flat component.

[0016] In one embodiment of the protective device, the protective device is designed without undercuts when viewed from above. This makes it possible to produce the protective device relatively easily using an injection molding process.

[0017] In one embodiment of the protective device, the protective device comprises a release mechanism configured to move the hook and / or tooth structure out of the guide. Such a release mechanism can be designed, for example, as a pressure element or the like, which, when actuated, releases the engagement of the hook and / or tooth structure with the guide. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to provide release through a specific movement. For example, the plastic band can be pulled mechanically in one direction to cause the hook and / or tooth structure to be released from the guide. In one embodiment of the protective device, the protective device further comprises a zipper element provided along a longitudinal extension of the plastic band and configured to fasten the protective device to a correspondingly designed zipper element.This makes it possible, for example, to attach the protective device with the electronic device to a piece of clothing.

[0018] In one embodiment of the protective device, damping elements are also provided on the plastic band. Such damping elements can, for example, be provided in the form of ribs, which can be designed to be resilient.

[0019] In one embodiment of the protective device, the plastic strip is concavely curved in at least one section. Preferably, the plastic strip is concave in four regions, wherein the four concave regions are provided such that they are located on the long sides of the electronic device in the connected state. This prevents these concave regions from protruding bulgingly from the electronic device when connected to the electronic device, since the concave design provides a type of prestress that presses the concave regions against the edge of the electronic device.

[0020] In one embodiment of the protective device, no edges or projections are provided at the intended bends or corners in the connected state, or the edges or projections can be smaller / reduced. This allows the protective device to be bent more easily around the electronic device.

[0021] Description of preferred embodiments Further features, advantages, and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, the exemplary embodiment, and the figures. In these figures:

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a protective device according to the invention in a bent state;

[0023] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the protective device according to the invention in an unbent state;

[0024] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a protective device according to the invention in a bent state; and

[0025] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the protective device according to the invention in an unbent state.

[0026] The protective device 1 shown in the figures is designed here as a so-called ZipCase 1 for a smartphone (not shown). The ZipCase 1 is designed as a plastic band element 1 with lateral projections 2, which can be tightened around the frame of a smartphone like a type of cable tie. Unlike conventional protective cases and protective frames, the ZipCase 1 is placed outside the frame of a smartphone and tightened until the band element 1 with its projections 2 is tightly wrapped around the frame of the smartphone.

[0027] The large front and back of a smartphone remain largely free. A hook or locking element 6, in conjunction with a hook and / or toothed structure 5 on the strap element 1, locks the ZipCase in the desired position, regardless of whether the smartphone is slightly larger or smaller. Openings 3 in the strap allow access to the smartphone's controls and ports.

[0028] This flexibility allows a ZipCase 1 to be wrapped around a wide variety of smartphones with similar frame contours to protect them from damage. The design of the ZipCase 1 allows for cost-effective production and space-saving storage and shipping. Furthermore, the linear shape of the strap element 1 allows for the attachment of a zipper 7 (see Figures 3 and 4), which also allows the ZipCase 1 to be attached to a piece of clothing.

[0029] As shown in the figures, the ZipCase is designed as a plastic strap 1 with edges on both sides and / or small projections 2 on the sides, which allow the plastic strap 1 to be bent around a smartphone frame and at the same time prevent it from slipping sideways off the frame of a smartphone. The ZipCase 1 further comprises openings 3 of varying sizes in the plastic strap 1 to allow access to buttons, sensors, microphones, and speakers of various smartphones. The ZipCase can comprise eyelets 4 on one or both ends of the plastic strap 1, which allow attachment to another element. The ZipCase 1 comprises a flat, regularly aligned hook structure or serration 5 on at least one end of the plastic strap 1.The ZipCase 1 comprises a guide 6 at at least one end of the plastic strap 1, into which the plastic strap 1 can be inserted and in which a movable hook structure or toothing is located, which can hook into the corresponding hook structure or toothing 5 so that the plastic strap 1 can be inserted but can no longer be pulled out. The ZipCase 1 in its straight, elongated form can be manufactured cost-effectively using an injection molding process, particularly since the ZipCase 1 is preferably provided without undercuts when viewed from above. Preferably, the movable hook structure or toothing can be moved from the outside in the guide 6 in order to release the hook structure or toothing 5 again and to open the plastic strap 1 again.

[0030] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the ZipCase 1 may comprise a zipper 7 on the plastic strap 1, which has been sewn on, for example, in order to fasten the ZipCase 1 to a piece of clothing, for example, by means of a zipper.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as long as it is encompassed by the subject matter of the following claims.

[0032] Additionally, it should be noted that the terms "comprising" and "having" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features.

Claims

CLAIMS Protective device for an electronic device, in particular a ZipCase for a smartphone, comprising: at least one plastic band (1) with two edges (2) and / or projections (2) arranged parallel to each other on one side of the plastic band (1) and configured to receive an electronic device between the edges (2) and / or projections (2); and wherein the plastic band (1) is configured to be flexible enough to bend around an edge region of the electronic device; and wherein the plastic band (1) has at least one hook and / or tooth structure (5) at a first end section, which is provided in the longitudinal extension of the plastic band; wherein the plastic band (1) comprises at least one guide (6) at a second end region; and wherein the hook and / or tooth structure (5) is configured to be inserted into and locked into the guide (6).Protective device for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plastic band (1) further comprises openings (3) configured to provide access to buttons, sensors, microphones and / or speakers of the electronic device. Protective device for an electronic device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one eyelet (4) is provided at one or both end regions of the plastic band (1). Protective device for an electronic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide (6) comprises at least one locking element that can engage with the hook and / or tooth structure (5). Protective device for an electronic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protective device is designed as an elongated, flat component. Protective device for an electronic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protective device is designed without undercuts when viewed from above. Protective device for an electronic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protective device comprises a release mechanism configured to allow the hook and / or tooth structure (5) to be moved out of the guide (6). Protective device for an electronic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protective device further comprises a zipper element (7) provided on a longitudinal extension of the plastic band (1) and configured to attach the protective device (1) to a correspondingly configured zipper element.Protective device for an electronic device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein damping elements are provided on the plastic band, in particular in the form of ribs which are resiliently designed. Protective device for an electronic device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic band is concavely bent in at least one section. Protective device for an electronic device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein no two edges (2) and / or projections (2) are provided at the bends / corners in the connected state.

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