Field of the Invention

[001 ] The present invention relates to a cover to be used for a portable electronic devices, such as a mobile phones or tablets.

Background to the Invention

[002] A common issue with using devices such as mobile phones is the difficulty that can arise when trying to view the screen outdoors. Direct sunlight, or bright conditions can make it difficult to view what is displayed on the screen. A common solution is to simply try to shield the display from sunlight by holding a hand or other object to cast a shadow over the screen. This is often only partially successful and means that the hand creating the shade is not free to operate the device.

[003] The present invention relates to a cover which may be used with devices such as mobile phones having features aimed at overcoming, at least in part, the abovementioned problem

Summary of the Invention

[004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cover comprising:

a main body comprising a rear wall and first and second side walls and first and second end walls extending transversely to the rear wall thereby defining a chamber for receiving an electronic device having a screen;

a shield member slidable between a retracted position, in which the shield member is adjacent and parallel the rear wall within the chamber, and an extended position, in which a portion of the shield member extends outwardly through an opening in the first end wall;

wherein the shield member comprises a planar member having a hinge extending between first and second sides thereby defining first and second portions of the shield member such that in the extended position the first portion may be moved from a first position, in which the first portion is parallel to the second portion, to a second position, in which the first portion extends generally perpendicular to the second portion to shield the screen of the electronic device.

[005] Preferably the opening includes a slot located adjacent the rear wall such that a first end of the shield member slides outwardly through the slot in the extended position.

[006] Preferably the opening extends into the rear wall of the main body such that a portion of the shield member is exposed when in the retracted position.

[007] In a preferred embodiment, the shield member includes a recess adjacent the first end such that the recess is accessible through the opening to allow the shield member to be grasped and pulled from the retracted position to the extended position.

[008] Preferably the portion of the opening in the rear wall is complementary in shape to the shape of the recess.

[009] In a preferred embodiment, the shield member includes a latch mechanism such that the shield member is retained by the latch mechanism in the extended and retracted positions.

[010] Preferably the hinge is located adjacent the first end wall of the main body when the shield member is secured in the extended positon such that, in the second position, the first portion of the shield member extends forwardly of a front surface of the electronic device above an upper end thereof.

[01 1 ] In one embodiment, the latch mechanism comprises lugs extending inwardly into the chamber from the first and second side walls of the body to be received in correspondence notches provided in the first and second sides of the shield member.

[012] In one embodiment, there is provided a first set of lugs in the first and second side walls of the body adjacent the second end wall thereof, a second set of lugs provided in the first and second side walls adjacent the first end wall of the body, a first set of notches in the first and second sides of the shield member adjacent the second end thereof and a second set of notches provided in the first and second sides of the shield member offset away from the second end towards the first end such that the first set of lugs are received in the first set of notches when the shield is in the retracted position and the second set of lugs are received in the second set of notches when the shield is in the extended position.

[013] Preferably the first and second sets of notches are provided in the second portion of the shield.

[014] In a preferred embodiment, the shield member includes first and second side flaps comprising planar members pivotally connected to the first and second sides of the shield member such that the first and second side flaps can pivot between a folded position and an expanded position.

[015] Preferably, in the folded position the first and second side flaps are located adjacent and parallel to the shield member such that the shield member can slide within the main body to the retracted position and in the expanded position, the first and second side flaps are oriented perpendicular to the first portion of the shield member.

[016] Preferably the side flaps are located such that when the first portion is moved to the second position thereof, the side flaps are oriented parallel to the side walls of the main body and extend between the side walls and the first portion of the shield member.

[017] In a preferred embodiment, the side flaps include connectors, comprising protrusions on edges thereof adjacent the side walls of the main body when the side flaps are in the expanded position to engage into corresponding cavities provided in the side walls to secure the side flaps to the main body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[018] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[019] Figure 1 is an upper perspective of a cover in accordance with the present invention with the shield in an extended position;

[020] Figure 2a is a front view of the cover of Figure 1 ;

[021 ] Figure 2b is a front view of the cover of Figure 1 with the shield in a retracted position;

[022] Figure 3a is a rear lower perspective view of the cover of Figure 1 containing a mobile phone;

[023] Figure 3b is a front upper perspective of the cover of Figure 1 containing the mobile phone;

[024] Figure 4a is a front view of the cover of Figure 1 containing the mobile phone;

[025] Figure 4b is a rear view of the cover of Figure 1 containing the mobile phone;

[026] Figure 5a is a bottom view of the cover of Figure 1 containing the mobile phone;

[027] Figure 5b is a top view of the cover of Figure 1 containing the mobile phone;

[028] Figure 5c is a first side view of the cover of Figure 1 containing the mobile phone;

[029] Figure 5d is a second side view of the cover of Figure 1 containing the mobile phone;

[030] Figure 6a is a front view of the cover of Figure 1 with the shield in the retracted position;

[031 ] Figure 6b is a close up view of the latch mechanism securing the shield in the retracted position;

[032] Figure 7a is a front view of the cover of Figure 1 with the shield in the extended position; [033] Figure 7b is a close up view of the latch mechanism securing the shield in the extended position;

[034] Figure 8a is an upper perspective view of the cover of Figure 1 with the shield in the extended position;

[035] Figure 8b is a close up view of the latch mechanism securing the shield in the extended position;

[036] Figure 9a is a view of the cover of Figure 1 with the shield member in a partially extended position;

[037] Figure 9b is a view of the cover of Figure 1 with the shield member in the extended position;

[038] Figure 10a is a view of the cover of Figure 1 with the first portion of the shield member partially pivoted relative to the second portion of the shield member;

[039] Figure 10d is a view of the cover of Figure 1 with the first portion of the shield member fully pivoted relative to the second portion of the shield member;

[040] Figure 1 1 a is front view of the cover of Figure 1 ;

[041 ] Figure 1 1 b is a cross sectional view of the cover of Figure 1 1 a through the line C-C; and

[042] Figure 1 1 c is a close up view of Detail D of Figure 1 1 b.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[043] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a cover 10 comprising generally a main body 12 and a shield member 14. The main body 12 is provided for receiving an electronic device, such as a mobile phone 1 1 .

[044] The main body 12 includes a rear wall 16 comprising a planar rectangular member. First and second side walls 18 and 19 extend transversely to the rear wall 16 from opposed sides thereof. The main body 12 also includes first and second end walls 20 and 21 extending transversely to the rear wall 16 from opposed ends thereof. [045] A chamber 26 is defined by the rear wall 16 and the side and end walls 18, 19, 20 and 21 having a rectangular prism shape for receiving the phone 1 1 in a known manner. Lip portions are provided on distal edges of the side walls 18 and 19 and the end walls 20 and 21 to engage with the phone 1 1 to retain the phone 1 1 within the chamber 26 of the main body 12. The rear wall 16, the side walls 18 and 19 and the end walls 20 and 21 are preferably integrally formed.

[046] The shield member 14 comprises a planar member being generally rectangular in shape. The shield member 14 therefore includes first and second sides 22 and 23 and first and second ends 24 and 25. The shield member 14 is received adjacent a first surface of the rear wall 16, being the surface within the chamber 26. This shield member 14 is located within the main body 12 such that the first and second sides 22 and 23 are located adjacent the first and second side walls 18 and 19 respectively. The shield member 14 is slidably mounted within the main body 12 such that the shield member 14 can slide longitudinally relative to the main body 12. That is, the shield member 14 moves in a direction parallel to the first and second sides 22 and 23 thereof.

[047] The main body 12 includes an opening 28 provided in the first end wall 20. The first end wall 20 is the end of the main body 12 adjacent to which the top of the phone 1 1 is located. The opening 28 comprises a slot located adjacent the rear wall 16 such that the first end 24 of the shield member 14 may slide outwardly through the opening 28.

[048] The shield member 14 is slidable between a retracted positon (as shown in Figure 2b) and an extended position (as shown in Figure 2a). In the retracted position, the shield member 14 is contained within the extents of the rear wall 16 of the main body 12. That is, the shield member 14 is contained in use within the chamber 26 behind the phone 1 1 . In the extended position, the first end 24 of the shield member 14 extends outwardly through the opening 28. [049] The shield member 14 includes a latch mechanism such that the shield member 14 is retained by the latch mechanism in the extended and retracted positions.

[050] The latch mechanism in the embodiment shown comprises lugs 34 provided extending inwardly into the chamber 26 from the first and second side walls 18 and 19 of the body 12. The lugs 34 comprise flexible tabs of material extending inwardly from the first and second side walls 18 and 19. The first and second sides 22 and 23 of the shield member 14 are provided with notches 36 such that the lugs 34 may be received in corresponding notches 36 when the shield member 14 is in the retracted or extended position, to restrict further sliding movement of the shield member 14.

[051 ] In the embodiment shown, there is provided a first set of lugs 34a on the first and second side walls 18 and 19 of the body 12 adjacent the second end wall 21 thereof. A second set of lugs 34b is provided on the first and second side walls 18 and 19 adjacent the first end wall 20 of the body 12. The shield member 14 is provided with a first set of notches 36a in the first and second sides 22 and 23 adjacent the second end 25 thereof and a second set of notches 36b provided in the first and second sides 22 and 23 offset away from the second end 25 towards the first end 24.

[052] When the shield member 14 is moved to the retracted position, the first set of lugs 34a are received in the first set of notches 36a to secure the shield member 14 in the retracted positon. When the shield member 14 is moved to the extended position, the second set of lugs 34b are received in the second set of notches 36b. In the embodiment shown, the first and second sides 22 and 23 of the shield member 14 are provided with shoulder portions 37 adjacent the second set of notches 36b. The second set of lugs 34b comprises a pair of lugs 34b on each of the first and second sides 18 and 19 where a first of the lugs 34b on each side is received into the corresponding notch 36b and a second, larger lug 34b engages over the shoulder portion 37 (as can be seen in Figure 7). [053] The opening 28 extends also into the rear wall 16 of the main body 12 adjacent the first end wall 20. As can be seen in Figure 3a, the first end 24 of the shield member 14 is therefore accessible through the portion of the opening 28 in the rear wall 16, when the shield member 14 is in the retracted position.

[054] The first end 24 of the shield member 14 includes a recess 38 therein. The recess 38 in the embodiment shown comprises an elongate recess extending across the first end 24 from adjacent the first side 22 to adjacent the second side 23. The recess 38 is exposed by the portion of the opening 28 in the rear wall 16 (as can be seen in Figure 3a). In the embodiment shown, the portion of the opening 28 in the rear wall 16 is complementary in shape to the shape of the recess 38. The recess 28 is to be used to engage the first end of the shield member 14 so that the shield member 14 may be pulled from the retracted position to the extended position.

[055] The shield member 14 may be provided also with an opening 39. The opening 39 in the embodiment shown is provided in the recess 38. The opening 39 is provided to align with a lens of a camera of the phone 1 1 when the shield member 14 is in the retracted position.

[056] The shield member 14 comprises a first portion 40 located adjacent the first end 24 thereof and a second portion 42, located adjacent the second end 25 thereof. The first portion 40 is pivotally connected to the second portion 42 such that the first portion 40 may pivot about an axis parallel to the first and second end walls 20 and 21 of the main body 12. The first and second portions 40 and 42 are preferably formed integrally with a flexible hinge 44 extending between the first and second sides 22 and 23 of the shield member 14, thereby defining the first and second portions 40 and 42.

[057] The first and second sets of notches 36a and 36b are provided in the first and second sides 22 and 23 of the shield member 14 in the second portion 42 thereof.

[058] When the latch mechanism secures the shield member 14 in the extended positon, the hinge 44 is located adjacent the first end wall 20 of the main body 12. The first portion 40 can therefore pivot in the extended position between a first position (as shown in Figure 9b), in which the first portion 40 is parallel to the second portion 42 of the shield member 14, and a second position (as shown in Figure 10b), in which the first portion 40 extends generally perpendicular to the second portion 42. In the second position, the first portion 40 of the shield member 14 extends forwardly of the front surface of the phone 1 1 above the upper end thereof. The first portion 40 can therefore be used to shield the display of the phone 1 1 from sunlight.

[059] The shield member 14 in the embodiment shown includes also a transverse flange 52. The transverse flange 52 extends forwardly from along the first end 24 of the shield member 14. The first end wall 20 of the body 12 includes a corresponding gap 53 therein such that that the flange 52 is received in the gap 53 when the shield member 14 is moved to the retracted position. In the embodiment shown, the gap 53 and the flange 52 extend from a location adjacent the first side wall 18 to a location adjacent the second side wall 19 such that the first end wall 20 comprises a pair of short wall portions located adjacent opposed ends of the gap 53.

[060] The shield member 14 includes also first and second side flaps 46. The first and second side flaps 46 comprise planar members pivotally connected to first and second sides 22 and 23 of the shield member 14 adjacent the first end 24 thereof.

[061 ] The first and second side flaps 46 are secured to the first portion 40 of the shield member 14 and can pivot between a folded position (as shown in Figure 9b) and an expanded position (as shown in Figure 10). In the folded position, the first and second side flaps 46 are located adjacent and parallel to the shield member 14 such that the shield member 14 can slide within the main body 12 to the retracted position. In the expanded positions, the first and second side flaps 46 are oriented perpendicular to the first portion 40 of the shield member 14.

[062] As can be seen in Figure 10, the side flaps 46 are located such that when the first portion 40 is moved to the second position thereof, the side flaps 46 are oriented parallel to the side walls 18 and 19 of the main body 12 and extend between the side walls 18 and 19 and the first portion 40 of the shield member 14. The side flaps 46 include also connectors 48 thereon, comprising protrusions on edges of the side flaps 46 located adjacent the side walls 18 and 19 of the main body 12 when the side flaps 46 are in the expanded position. The protrusions 46 engage into corresponding cavities 50 provided in the side walls 18 and 19 to secure the side flaps 46 to the main body 12. The side flaps 46 thereby aid in shielding against sunlight passing around the first portion 40 of the shield member 14.

[063] The cover 10 is provided also with various further apertures to allow access to parts of the phone 1 1 . The further apertures may be provided in the rear wall 16, the side or end walls 18, 19, 20 or 21 and the shield member 14 to allow access to buttons, ports or other parts of the phone 1 1 .

[064] In use, the phone 1 1 is received within the cover 10 and used normally with the shield member 14 in the retracted position. If it is desired to provide shade to the display of the phone 1 1 in bright conditions, the shield member 14 is grasped by placing a finger into the aperture 38 and pulling the shield member 14 outwardly to the extended position. The first portion 40 of the shield member 14 is then folded forwardly (as shown in Figure 10a) and the side flaps 46 also pivoted to the expanded position. The side flaps 46 are then engaged with the main body 12 to hold the first portion 40 of the shield member 14 and the side flaps 46 in place (as shown in Figure 10b). When the shield member 14 is no longer required, the reverse process is used to return the shield member 14 to the retracted position.

[065] It will be appreciated that while the description of the invention relates to shielding the screen of an electronic device from glare, the shield member 14 of the cover 10 of the present invention may also be used to shield the display for the purposes of privacy.

[066] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.