Soft enclosure for data storage device

Abstract

A soft enclosure for an external data storage device or other electronic devices in their storage, carrying and operating mode comprises a soft outside enclosure and a soft inside enclosure. The soft outside enclosure is made of a durable fabric, polymeric or leather material. The soft outside enclosure is easily opened and closed with a variety of means such as zipper or velcrel without tool. To ease the quick interconnect with a variety of data storage devices having an equivalent electrical interface, the soft enclosure comprises two compartments wherein a physically flexible mechanical connector interchanger is disposed inside a first compartment separated from a second compartment enclosing the data storage device. Additional expansion compartments can also be integrated onto the soft enclosure for the direct connection of additional electronic modules or other accessories to the data storage device.

What is claimed are:  
     
         1 . A durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure for the storage, carrying and operation of a device for external data storage, comprising: 
 a soft inside enclosure disposed in snug and all-around fitting contact with the enclosed device with the soft inside enclosure being made of a soft, shock absorbing and reasonably heat dissipating material;    a soft outside enclosure disposed in snug and all-around fitting contact with the enclosed inside enclosure with the outside soft layer being made of a durable, dirt-proof, and reasonably heat dissipating material;    the soft outside enclosure further comprising a number of all-around enclosing surfaces and a device cover having a means for opening or closing for easy opening or closing of the device cover and for the replacement or repair of the enclosed device without using any tool; and    the external surfaces of said soft inside enclosure being press fitted within or fastened to their respective fitting surfaces of said soft outside enclosure.    
     
     
         2 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 1  further comprises a mechanical connector interchanger disposed and snugly fit inside the soft enclosure with means of covering, accessing and separately replacing the mechanical connector interchanger and the enclosed device.  
     
     
         3 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 2  wherein the mechanical connector interchanger further comprises: 
 a host side standard connector capable of being electrically hooked up to an external electronic device working cooperatively with the device enclosed within the soft enclosure;  
 a storage device interface connector capable of being electrically hooked up to the device enclosed within the soft enclosure wherein said storage device interface connector may be in a variety of electrically equivalent but mechanically different interface configuration as determined by the type of the device;  
 a connector interchanger body having a set of printed circuit traces whereby the electrical signals of the host side standard connector are properly rerouted to the electrical signals of the storage device interface connector; and  
 a ribbon cable having its first end electrically hooked up to said host side standard connector through said connector interchanger body and its second end electrically hooked up to said storage device interface connector to enable connection of the device with the same host side standard connector thereby simplifying the task of mechanical hook up of an external electronic device working cooperatively with the enclosed device within the soft enclosure.  
 
     
     
         4 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 3  wherein the ribbon cable further enables a significant range of relative movement between the enclosed device and the mechanical connector interchanger without disturbing the related electrical connections.  
     
     
         5 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 2  wherein the means of covering, accessing and separately replacing the mechanical connector interchanger and the enclosed device comprises a first compartment disposed to enclose and restrain the mechanical connector interchanger and a second compartment disposed to enclose and restrain the device.  
     
     
         6 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 1  wherein said soft, shock absorbing and reasonably heat dissipating material is further porous.  
     
     
         7 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 6  wherein said soft, shock absorbing and reasonably heat dissipating material is further of low dimensional precision and of low memory effect under prolonged compression.  
     
     
         8 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 1  wherein said durable, dirt-proof, and reasonably heat dissipating material is further porous.  
     
     
         9 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 8  wherein said durable, dirt-proof, and reasonably heat dissipating material is further cosmetically pleasing.  
     
     
         10 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 9  wherein said durable, dirt-proof, and reasonably heat dissipating material is further of low dimensional precision.  
     
     
         11 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 1  wherein one or both of said soft inside enclosure and the soft outside enclosure are further made to be fire retardation.  
     
     
         12 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 1  wherein one or both of said soft inside enclosure and the soft outside enclosure are further made to shield against radio frequency interference for reliable data transfer to and from the enclosed device.  
     
     
         13 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 1  wherein one or both of said soft inside enclosure and the soft outside enclosure are further made to prevent build up of static electricity for good ESD protection.  
     
     
         14 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 1  wherein said soft inside enclosure and the soft outside enclosure are made of materials selected from the group consisting of sponge, polymeric foam, porous rubber, durable colored fabrics, fabrics made of nylon, fabrics made of polyester, fabrics made of polyimide, a woven structure of polymeric fabrics and tiny metal wires, colored decorative canvas, leather, and decorative leather with small venting holes or slots on its wall.  
     
     
         15 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the means for opening or closing the device cover is a velcrel, a zipper or a button structure.  
     
     
         16 . The durable, shock-proof and dirt-proof soft enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the soft enclosure further comprises a number of additionally integrated expansion compartments for the inclusion and direct connection of electronic modules or other accessories to the enclosed device.