Protective case with over-center flap closure

Abstract

There is provided a case ( 1 ) for a device ( 22 ) comprising a sleeve portion ( 4 ) having a sleeve opening ( 17 ), a closure portion ( 6 ), and a hinge ( 8 ) connecting the closure portion ( 6 ) to the sleeve portion ( 4 ) adjacent the sleeve opening ( 17 ). The hinge ( 8 ) is adapted to allow the closure portion ( 6 ) to move from a first position away from the sleeve opening to allow the device ( 22 ) to be inserted into the sleeve portion ( 4 ) and a second position where the closure portion ( 6 ) is positionable over an end of the device ( 22 ). Movement of the hinge ( 8 ) from the first position to the second position causes the closure portion ( 6 ) to pass over an end of the device ( 22 ) to form an over-center engagement with the end of the device ( 22 ).

1 . A case for a device comprising:
 a sleeve portion having a sleeve opening;   a closure portion; and   a hinge connecting the closure portion to the sleeve portion adjacent the sleeve opening, the hinge adapted to allow the closure to move from a first position away from the sleeve opening to allow the device to be inserted into the sleeve portion and a second position where the closure portion is positionable over an end of the device;   wherein movement of the hinge from the first position to the second position causes the closure portion to pass over an end of the device to form an over-center engagement with the end of the device.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve portion forms a cavity, wherein the device comprises a major portion inserted in the cavity of the sleeve portion and a minor portion including the end of the device extending from the cavity when the case is in the first position, and wherein when the hinge is moved from the first position to the second position, the case resiliently deforms to allow the closure portion to pass over the minor portion of the device. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 2 , wherein the closure portion forms a closure cavity and when the case is in the second position, the minor portion of the device is within the closure cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The case of one of  claims 1 - 3 , further comprising a bumper arranged along a portion of an inner peripheral side of the sleeve and/or the closure. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 4 , wherein the bumper is compressed in a longitudinal direction when the closure is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The case of one of  claims 1 - 5 , wherein when one or more of the sleeve portion, the closure portion, and the hinge is adapted to stretch in a longitudinal direction when the closure is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The case of one of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein the closure portion further comprises an engagement surface and wherein the engagement surface contacts a surface of the sleeve portion when the case in the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The case of one of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein the sleeve is formed from a front panel joined to a rear panel by a peripheral edge. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 8 , wherein the front panel and the rear panel comprise a compliant material. 
     
     
         10 . The case of  claim 8 , wherein the front panel and rear panel comprise a rigid material. 
     
     
         11 . The case of one of  claims 1 - 10 , wherein the sleeve portion and closure portion comprise water resistant materials. 
     
     
         12 . The case of one of  claims 1 - 11 , wherein the device has a longitudinal dimension L, the sleeve portion has a depth D, the closure portion forms a closure cavity with an internal dimension equal to T, and wherein L−D is greater than or equal to T. 
     
     
         13 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein L−D is greater than T. 
     
     
         14 . The case of one of  claims 1 - 13 , wherein the closure portion is formed by a front closure panel and rear closure panel connected to a peripheral portion at a first region of the peripheral portion, wherein the sleeve portion is formed by a front sleeve panel and rear sleeve panel connected with the peripheral portion at a second region of the peripheral portion, and wherein the hinge has an axis located between the first and second regions of the peripheral portion. 
     
     
         15 . The case of  claim 14 , further comprising a pair of slits formed in the peripheral portion between the first and second regions, one slit at each end of the hinge along the axis of the hinge. 
     
     
         16 . The case of  claim 14 , further comprising a pair of through holes formed in the peripheral portion between the first and second regions, one through hole at each end of the hinge along the axis of the hinge. 
     
     
         17 . The case of one of  claims 14 - 16 , wherein one or more of the rear sleeve panel and the rear closure panel are thicker than the hinge. 
     
     
         18 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve portion comprises a rear sleeve member and a front sleeve panel connected along respective portions of their perimeter edges to form the sleeve opening and a sleeve cavity, wherein the closure portion comprises a rear closure member and a front closure panel connected along respective portions of their perimeter edges to form a closure opening and a closure cavity, and wherein the hinge connects the rear sleeve member to the rear closure member along respective edges of the sleeve opening and closure opening. 
     
     
         19 . The case of  claim 18 , wherein the first closure panel is longer in a longitudinal direction than the rear closure member and wherein, when the hinge is in the second position a portion of the front closure panel overlaps a portion of the front sleeve panel. 
     
     
         20 . The case of  claim 18  or  19 , wherein a contiguous rear panel forms the rear surfaces of the rear sleeve member and rear closure member and wherein the hinge is formed by a flexible hinge line of the contiguous rear panel.