Case assemblies and locators

Abstract

Provided are case assemblies and locators and apparatuses for the protection and ready location of handheld electronic devices and other objects. The apparatus includes a case assembly and a locator. The case assembly includes a case for housing a handheld electronic device, a mounting device for moving the handheld electronic device between different positions with respect to the case, and a connector for engaging the case with the locator. The locator is configured for removably hanging on an edge of a purse, backpack, briefcase or bag. The locator includes a means for selectively engaging the connector of the case assembly and/or other objects.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A case assembly for a handheld electronic device comprising, in combination:
 (i) a case comprising (a) a first side, (b) a second side and (c) a hinge portion adjoining said first side and said second side thereby rotatably coupling said first side and said second side to operate said case between an open state and a closed state;   (ii) a mounting device fixed on said second side of said case and configured for permanently or semi-permanently retaining said handheld electronic device; and   (iii) a connector disposed on said case and accessible by a locator for attaching said case to said locator.   
     
     
         2 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said mounting device comprises a mounting plate slidably operated between a first longitudinal position and a different second longitudinal position with respect to said second side, said mounting plate configured for permanently or semi-permanently retaining said handheld electronic device; wherein   when said case is in the closed state and said mounting plate is in said first longitudinal position, said first side and said second side completely enclose said handheld electronic device thereinbetween, thereby providing protection to said handheld electronic device, and   when said mounting plate is in said second longitudinal position, less than the entirety of said handheld electronic device is enclosed by said case, thereby allowing use of at least one function of said handheld electronic device without optical interference by said case.   
     
     
         3 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first side, said second side and said hinge portion are monolithically made. 
     
     
         4 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 said first side comprises a first outer layer and a first inner layer;   said second side comprises a second outer layer and a second inner layer;   said hinge portion comprises a hinge outer layer and a hinge inner layer;   said first outer layer, said second outer layer and said hinge outer layer are monolithically made, and collectively define an outer layer of said case;   said first inner layer, said second inner layer and said hinge inner layer are monolithically made, and collectively define an inner layer of said case; and   said outer and inner layers of said case are fixed to each other.   
     
     
         5 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said outer and inner layers of said case are bound to each other along edges by press or adhesives. 
     
     
         6 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of said outer layer of said case comprises a surface texture for enhancing appearance of said case. 
     
     
         7 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said outer layer or said inner layer of said case is made of leather, fabric or plastic. 
     
     
         8 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said outer layer or said inner layer of said case is made of cotton, denim, Kevlar, non-woven textiles, woven textiles, woven metals, silicone, polyester and blends, or polymers. 
     
     
         9 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said outer layer and said inner layer of said case are made of a same material. 
     
     
         10 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said outer layer and said inner layer of said case are made of different materials. 
     
     
         11 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said outer layer of said case has a color the same as or different than said inner layer of said case. 
     
     
         12 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 said first inner layer and said first outer layer of said first side form a pocket; and   said first inner layer of said first side includes at least one cut to allow one or more cards to pass through and be received in said pocket.   
     
     
         13 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said first side further comprises a first insert fixedly disposed between said first outer layer and said first inner layer for enhancing stiffness of said first side. 
     
     
         14 . The case assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 said first inner layer and said first insert of said first side form a pocket; and   said first inner layer of said first side includes at least one cut to allow one or more cards to pass through and be received in said pocket.   
     
     
         15 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said second side further comprises a second insert fixedly disposed between said second outer layer and said second inner layer for enhancing stiffness of said second side. 
     
     
         16 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said second inner layer of said second side comprises a cut so that said mounting device is directly fixed on an inner side of said second outer layer of said second side. 
     
     
         17 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first side has a shape substantially the same as that of said second side. 
     
     
         18 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 said first side and said second side are substantially rectangular, and have a length between about 4 inches and about 8 inches and a width between about 2 inches and about 5 inches; and   said hinge portion has a length that is substantially the same as that of said first side and said second side and a width between about 0.5 inches and about 1.5 inches.   
     
     
         19 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 said first side and said second side are substantially rectangular, and have a length between about 5 inches and about 6.5 inches and a width between about 2.5 inches and about 3.5 inches; and   said hinge portion has a length that is substantially the same as that of said first side and said second side and a width between about 0.75 inches and about 1.25 inches.   
     
     
         20 . The case assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said first side or said second side or both has at least one rounded corner. 
     
     
         21 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a decoration disposed on said first side. 
     
     
         22 . The case assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said decoration includes a plurality of holes formed on said first side in a predetermined pattern. 
     
     
         23 . The case assembly of  claim 22 , wherein one or each of the plurality of said holes is a through hole, extending through said first side in a thickness direction of said first side. 
     
     
         24 . The case assembly of  claim 22 , wherein one or each of the plurality of said holes is substantially circular, oblong, polygonal, or elongated. 
     
     
         25 . The case assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a decoration disposed on said first outer layer of said first side. 
     
     
         26 . The case assembly of  claim 25 , wherein said decoration is embedded, pressed, printed, engraved or embroiled on said first outer layer of said first side, raised above said first outer layer of said first side, or attached to said first outer layer of said first side. 
     
     
         27 . The case assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said mounting device further comprising:
 a base plate having a back fixed on said second side of said case and a front with a dented central portion and a peripheral shoulder; and   a frame fixedly coupled to said peripheral shoulder of said base plate for supporting said mounting plate and guiding sliding movement of said mounting plate between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position.   
     
     
         28 . The case assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said frame is snap-fitted, press-fitted, bound, or glued to said peripheral shoulder of said base plate. 
     
     
         29 . The case assembly of  claim 27 , wherein
 one or more edges of said mounting plate in a longitudinal direction of said second side are formed with a step; and   said step is slidably received in a gap formed by said dented central portion of said base plate and said frame.   
     
     
         30 . The case assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said mounting device further comprises:
 a first fastener fixed on said dented central portion of said base plate;   a second fastener fixed on a back of said mounting plate; and   an elastic member connecting said first fastener and said second fastener; wherein   said first fastener, said second fastener and said elastic member facilitate positioning of said mounting plate between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position.   
     
     
         31 . The case assembly of  claim 30 , wherein
 said mounting plate comprises (a) a first hole for receiving said first fastener when said mounting plate is in the first longitudinal position, (b) a first groove extended in the longitudinal direction of said second side so that said first fastener slides along said first groove when said mounting plate slides between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position, and (c) a recess for accommodating said elastic member; and   said base plate comprises (d) a second hole formed on said dented central portion for receiving said second fastener when said mounting plate is in the first longitudinal position, and (e) a second groove formed on said dented central portion and extended in the longitudinal direction of said second side so that said second fastener slides along said second groove when said mounting plate slides between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position.   
     
     
         32 . The case assembly of  claim 27 , wherein
 said base plate is substantially rectangular, and has a length between about 2.5 inches and about 7 inches, a width between about 1 inches and about 4 inches and a thickness between about 0.01 inches and about 0.1 inches;   said peripheral shoulder has a width between 0.1 inches to 0.5 inches and a thickness between about 0.01 inches and about 0.1 inches; and   said mounting plate is substantially rectangular, and has a length between about 1 inches and about 4 inches, a width between about 1 inches and about 3 inches and a thickness between about 0.01 inches and about 0.1 inches.   
     
     
         33 . The case assembly of  claim 27 , wherein
 said base plate is substantially rectangular, and has a length between about 3 inches and about 5 inches, a width between about 1.5 inches and about 3 inches and a thickness between about 0.01 inches and about 0.06 inches;   said peripheral shoulder has a width between 0.15 inches to 0.35 inches and a thickness between about 0.01 inches and about 0.06 inches; and   said mounting plate is substantially rectangular, and has a length between about 1.5 inches and about 2.5 inches, a width between about 1.25 inches and about 2 inches and a thickness between about 0.01 inches and about 0.06 inches.   
     
     
         34 . The case assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said mounting plate, said base or said frame is made of a metallic material or a plastic material. 
     
     
         35 . The case assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said mounting plate, said base and said frame are made of a same material. 
     
     
         36 . The case assembly of  claim 27 , wherein one or each of said mounting plate, said base and said frame is made of a different material. 
     
     
         37 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting device includes a fixing means for permanently or semi-permanently retaining said handheld electronic device. 
     
     
         38 . The case assembly of  claim 37 , wherein said fixing means includes a mounting plate and an adhesive disposed on a front surface of said mounting plate. 
     
     
         39 . The case assembly of  claim 38 , wherein said fixing means further includes a backing which is to be removed prior to fixing said handheld electronic device on said mounting plate. 
     
     
         40 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first coupler disposed on one of said first side and said second side; and   a flap having a first portion fixed on the other of said first side and said second side and a second portion configured to bend over to the one of said first side and said second side when said case is in the closed state; wherein   said second portion of said flap includes a second coupler corresponding to said first coupler for operably coupling said flap to the one of said first side and said second side, thereby selectively maintaining said case in the closed state.   
     
     
         41 . The case assembly of  claim 40 , wherein one of said first coupler and said second coupler includes an iron material and the other of said first coupler and said second coupler includes a magnetic material. 
     
     
         42 . The case assembly of  claim 40 , wherein one of said first coupler and said second coupler includes a strip of hook material and the other of said first coupler and said second coupler includes a strip of loop material. 
     
     
         43 . The case assembly of  claim 40 , wherein said first coupler includes a lock post and said second coupler includes a through hole. 
     
     
         44 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said connector includes a through hole formed on said case or on said hinge portion of said case. 
     
     
         45 . The case assembly of  claim 44 , wherein said hole is substantially circular or oblong. 
     
     
         46 . The case assembly of  claim 44 , wherein said connector further includes a grommet surrounding said through hole to enhance strength or endurance of said connector. 
     
     
         47 . The case assembly of  claim 46 , wherein said grommet is made of steel, brass, or plastic. 
     
     
         48 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said connector is attached to said case or said hinge portion of said case. 
     
     
         49 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said connector is a ring, a clasp, a hook, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said locator is configured for removably hanging on an edge of a purse-like or bag-like device, thereby facilitating ready location of said case assembly. 
     
     
         51 . The case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said locator is configured for removably hanging on an edge of a purse-like or bag-like device and includes a clasp, a hook or a grasp for selectively engaging said connector of said case. 
     
     
         52 . The case assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one function includes use of a camera of said handheld electronic device. 
     
     
         53 . A case assembly for a handheld electronic device comprising, in combination:
 (i) a case comprising (a) a first side and (b) a second side rotatably coupled to said first side for operating said case between an open state and a closed state;   (ii) a mounting device fixed on side second side of said case and configured for permanently or semi-permanently retaining said handheld electronic device; and   (iii) a connector disposed on said case and accessible by a locator for attaching said case to said locator.   
     
     
         54 . The case assembly of  claim 53 , wherein:
 said mounting device comprises a mounting plate slidably operated between a first longitudinal position and a different second longitudinal position with respect to said second side, said mounting plate configured for permanently or semi-permanently retaining said handheld electronic device;   when said case is in the closed state and said mounting plate is in said first longitudinal position, said first side and said second side completely enclose said handheld electronic device thereinbetween, thereby providing protection to said handheld electronic device;   when said mounting plate is in said second longitudinal position, less than the entirety of said handheld electronic device is enclosed by said case, thereby allowing use of at least one function of said handheld electronic device without optical interference by said case; and   said locator is configured for removably hanging on an edge of a purse-like or bag-like device, thereby facilitating ready location of said case assembly.   
     
     
         55 . The case assembly of  claim 53 , wherein the case further comprising:
 a hinge portion adjoining said first side and said second side thereby rotatably coupling said first side and said second side to operate said case between the open state and the closed state.