WO2001011848A1

WO2001011848A1 - Carrier for a mobile phone

Info

Publication number: WO2001011848A1
Application number: PCT/SG2000/000056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hattori Masahiko
Original assignee: Nisshin (S) Enterprises
Priority date: 1999-08-09
Filing date: 2000-04-25
Publication date: 2001-02-15
Also published as: JP2001046133A; AU5194800A; KR200172554Y1

Abstract

A carrier for a mobile phone (4), the carrier having a carrier body (1) defining a storage space (2) of a length, width and height suitable to accommodate the mobile phone (4); the carrier body (1) having an insertion point (21) to enable the mobile phone (4) to be inserted into and removed from the storage space (2); there being provided an air compartment (3) attached to the carrier body (1) externally thereof and extending therearound, the air compartment (3) being able to be inflated and deflated by means of a ventilation valve (33).

Description

CARRIER FOR A MOBILE PHONE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a carrier for a mobile phone and

refers particularly, though not exclusively, to such a carrier

having waterproof and impact absorbing capabilities.

Background to the inventions

Usually, mobile phones have hanging cords attached to

them, or they are kept in storage places which may be attached

to belts, or in the pockets, of clothes, or in bags. However, when

so located they do not have any waterproofing, or impact

absorbing capabilities.

Mobile phones may be drenched accidentally by workers

in the fishery industry, or by the fisherman. Alternatively or

additionally, the phone may be damaged when dropped on to

the road, footpath, or other surface. They can also be damaged

if the user is working in locations near water, or where water is

used; or on ramy days. As such, users of mobile phones have

been seeking a way of carrying their phone in a manner which

has waterproof and impact absorbing capabilities. It is therefore the principal object of the present invention

to provide a carrier for a mobile phone and which has

waterproof and impact absorbing capabilities.

Definitions

Throughout this specification reference to a mobile phone

is to be taken as including reference to a mobile telephone,

cordless telephone, hand telephone, cell telephone, and other

similar devices.

Summary of the Invention

With the above and other objects in mind the present

invention provides a carrier for a mobile phone having a carrier

body defining a storage place of a length, width and height

suitable to accommodate the mobile phone. The carrier body

has an insertion point to enable the mobile phone to be inserted

into and removed from the storage place. Thereto also provided

an air compartment attached to the carrier body externally

thereof, the air compartment being able to be inflated and

deflated by means of a ventilation valve. Preferably, the air compartment is formed by an external

sheet attached to the carrier body along an upper edge of the

external sheet, and a lower edge of the external sheet. More

preferably, the air compartment is divided into an upper air

compartment and a lower air compartment by at least one

internal sheet extending from the carrier body to the external

sheet.

Advantageously, the internal sheet has at least one

ventilation hole therethrough for an air connection between the

upper air chamber and the lower air chamber.

Description of drawings

In order that the invention may be readily understood and

put into practical effect, there shall now be described by way of

non-limitative example only a preferred construction of a carrier

for a mobile phone incorporating the principal features of the

present invention, the description being with reference to the

accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the carrier for a mobile

phone; Figure 2 is a vertical, transverse cross-sectional view

along the lines of and in the direction of arrows A-A of Figure 1 ;

and

Figure 3 is a vertical, longitudinal cross-sectional view

along the lines of and in the direction of arrows B-B of Figure 1.

Description of preferred embodiment

The carrier is a carrier for mobile phones that protects the

phone with an airtight space. The carrier body 1 is adapted to

reasonably receive therein a mobile phone 4 in a storage space

2.

The storage space 2 is of a width, length and height

suitable for the phone 4. An insertion/ removal point 21 enables

the phone 4 to be inserted into, and removed from, storage

space 2.

Extending around the outside of carrier body 1 but not

over the top or base thereof is an air compartment 3 having at

least one ventilation valve 33 that can be used to inflate the air

compartment 3 by mouth. The air compartment 3 keeps the

phone 4 in storage space 2 in an elastic manner. The carrier body 1 and air compartment 3 make use of

transparent sheets of, for example, rubber or synthetic resins.

The air compartment 3 is formed by an upper sheet 1 1

and a lower sheet 12, both of which are securely attached to

carrier body 1 along a first edge, and to each other along a

second edge. Such attachment may be by means of welding,

adhesive, or the like.

Two internal sheets 31 , 32 are also provided and which

are also securely attached to, or integral with, the carrier body 1

along a first side of each sheet 31 , 32. The sheets 31, 32 are

also connected to each other, and to upper sheet 11 and lower

sheet 12, along a second edge of sheets 31 , 32. This therefore

creates the air compartment 3. The ventilation valve 33 is

provided to enable air compartment to be inflated by mouth and

deflated, as desired. A ventilation hole 34 in sheets 31 , 32 is

provided to ensure that all of air compartment 3 is inflated, or

deflated, simultaneously. The air compartment 3 is defined by

sheets 1 1 , 12, 31 and 32. If sheets 31 , 32 are integral with

carrier body 1 as shown, they may form the sides of carrier body

1. The carrier body 1 has an opening and closing sheet 22

that opens and closes the insertion point 21. The sheet 22 is

securely attached to the joint of sheets 12 and 32 and extends

across the full width of the carrier body 1. To insert the phone

4 into space 2, the sheet 22 is raised to expose the insertion

point 21. At insertion point 21 , sheet 31 is not joined to sheet

32 or sheet 12, but is joined to sheet 1 1. Therefore, sheets 1 1

and 31 can be raised to allow the phone 4 to be inserted into

space 2. The air pressure in air compartment 3 when inflated,

and the natural elasticity of the material of sheets 1 1 and 31

allow them to return to the position shown following insertion of

phone 4. Sheet 22 is then returned to the position shown. The

air pressure in air compartment 3 will also force sheets 31 and

32 together.

A removable hanging cord 5 attached to the edge of

carrier body 1 may be provided, if desired, to enable the carrier

to be attached to or suspended from the user's body or clothing.

To use the carrier, the phone 4 should be inserted into

space 2 before air compartment 3 is inflated so that, when

inflated, the air pressure in compartment 3 will enable the

carrier body to snugly engage the phone 4. As air compartment 3 is formed externally of the carrier

body 1 , the cost of production and materials can be minimised.

However, as the phone 4 is protected by the inflated air

compartment 3, water cannot enter the space 2 even if the

carrier 1 is dropped into water. Also, as the air compartment 3

extends around the phone 4, and beyond the phone 4, it

provides an impact absorption if the phone 4 is dropped or

accidentally impacted.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A carrier for a mobile phone, the carrier having a carrier

body defining a storage space of a length, width and

height suitable to accommodate the mobile phone; the

carrier body having an insertion point to enable the

mobile phone to be inserted into and removed from the

storage space; there being provided an air compartment

attached to the carrier body externally thereof and

extending therearound, the air compartment being able to

be inflated and deflated by means of a ventilation valve.

2. A carrier as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the air

compartment is formed by an external sheet securely

attached to the carrier body along an upper edge of the

external sheet and a lower edge of the external sheet.

3. A carrier as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the carrier body

has a top and a base, the upper edge being attached to

the top and the lower edge being attached to the base.

4. A carrier as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the air

compartment is divided into an upper air compartment

and a lower air compartment by at least one internal sheet extending from the carrier body to the external

sheet.

5. A carrier as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the at least one

internal sheet is securely attached to the carrier body

along a first edge of the at least one internal sheet.

6. A carrier as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the at least one

internal sheet is integral with the carrier body as is

securely attached to the external sheet.

7. A carrier as claimed in Claim 6, wherein there are two

internal sheets comprising an upper internal sheet

integral with the top, and a lower internal sheet integral

with the base.

8. A carrier as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the upper

internal sheet and lower internal sheet are joined adjacent

the external sheet, there being provided at least one

ventilation hole through the upper and lower internal

sheets where they are joined.

9. A carrier as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 8, wherein

the insertion point is as an end of the carrier and includes

a cover sheet attached to the external sheet.