Protective Case With Sliding Display Cover

Abstract

The display screen of a handheld device, such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, palmtop computer, or the like, can be protected from physical shock using a protective case with a sliding display screen cover. The protective case includes a main body having an opening positioned to correspond with a position of the display screen of the handheld device. A protective door, for example a roll-top type door, is slidably coupled to the main body, so that the display screen is exposed when the door has been slid open, and covered when the door has been slid closed. The door can be coupled to the body via a track, and can be made of a transparent or semitransparent material to allow viewing of the screen when closed, while still protecting the screen from physical shock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective case for a handheld device with a display screen, the protective case comprising:
 a main body substantially covering a handheld device placed within the protective case to shield the handheld device from physical shock, the main body including a front side having an opening formed therein and positioned to correspond with a position of the display screen of the handheld device when the handheld device is positioned within the protective case;   a track extending at least partially along at least one side of the opening; and   a flexible door slidably engaging the track and configured to slide along the track into an open position substantially exposing the display screen, and into a closed position substantially covering the display screen and protecting the display screen from physical shock.   
     
     
         2 . The protective case of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the flexible door configured to curl around the back of the handheld device in the open position.   
     
     
         3 . The protective case of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the flexible door comprising ribs arranged in a plane parallel to a surface of the display screen and perpendicular to a direction in which the flexible door slides.   
     
     
         4 . The protective case of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the ribs comprising lands and grooves formed in a single piece of flexible material.   
     
     
         5 . The protective case of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the flexible door constructed of a material that is at least semi-transparent, permitting viewing of the display screen and providing protection from physical shock when the flexible door is closed.   
     
     
         6 . The protective case of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the flexible door comprising a plurality of slats coupled side by side in a roll-top configuration.   
     
     
         7 . The protective case of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the main body comprising a cavity extending from an edge of the opening and extending partially into a back portion of the main body; and   the flexible door configured to slide into the cavity and around at least a portion of the handheld device.   
     
     
         8 . The protective case of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the flexible door configured to slide over an outer surface of the main body.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a case constructed of a sturdy material and configured to hold a handheld device having a display screen, the case including an opening substantially corresponding to a shape and size of the display screen and through which the display screen can be viewed; and   a door member slidably coupled to the case and constructed of a rugged material to provide a shock-protecting barrier over the display screen when slid into a closed position, and to expose the display screen to view when slid into an open position.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the door member comprising a plurality of at least semi-rigid slats coupled side by side using bendable joints.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the semi-rigid slats comprise lands;   the bendable joints comprise groves;   and the door member is formed of a unitary piece of material.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the unitary piece of material comprising a translucent, flexible material.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at least one slot engaging the rugged door member and guiding movement of the door member during opening and closing.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the door member configured to rest substantially within the slot when the door member is in an open position.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at least one track formed along an edge of the opening; and   the door member including at least one tab matingly engaging the at least one track.   
     
     
         16 . A sliding display cover for a portable device, the sliding display cover comprising:
 a collection of narrow slats arranged side by side and movably coupled to adjacent narrow slats;   a means for coupling the collection of narrow slats to a protective cover including an opening substantially corresponding to a display screen of a portable device, wherein the display cover substantially covers the opening in a closed position, and curls around at least a portion of the portable device in an open position.   
     
     
         17 . The sliding display cover of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the collection of narrow slats comprise lands on a unitary piece of material; and   the lands are movably coupled to adjacent lands by grooves cut out of the unitary piece of material to form the lands.   
     
     
         18 . The sliding display cover of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 the means for coupling to a protective cover includes at least one tab configured to slidably mate with a track in the protective cover.   
     
     
         19 . The sliding display cover of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 the narrow slats comprising a flexible translucent material.   
     
     
         20 . The sliding display cover of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 the means for coupling comprising an extension of the sliding display cover configured to remain within a slot of the protective cover regardless of whether the sliding display is in an open or closed position.   
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 placing an electronic device within a protective case having a roll-top display cover configured to protect a screen of the electronic device from physical shock when the roll-top display cover is in a closed position; and   sliding the roll-top display cover from the closed position into an open position, in which the screen is substantially exposed.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the roll-top display case is slidably coupled to a slot in the main body of the protective cover. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein placing the electronic device further comprises:
 aligning the screen of the electronic device with an opening in a main body of the protective case.