Mobile device case and armband with fluid chamber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9680515-B2
Application number	US-201514798411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2015
Priority date	Jul 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A case for a mobile device including a body with a fluid chamber configured to retain fluid therein. An armband for a mobile device includes a band with a fluid chamber configured to retain fluid therein. The fluid chamber may serve to cushion the mobile device or wearer's arm when in use.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An armband for a mobile device comprising:
a band including
a first arm extending in a first longitudinal direction and having a first sleeve with an opening therein and a first end,
a second arm extending in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction and having a second sleeve with an opening therein and a second end, the first end configured to connect with the second end to wrap around a wearer's arm,
an outer surface, and
an inner surface configured to contact the wearer's arm;

a fluid chamber having a first end and a second end, the fluid chamber removably coupled to the band by insertion of the first end of the fluid chamber in the first longitudinal direction into the opening of the first sleeve and insertion of the second end of the fluid chamber in the second longitudinal direction into the opening of the second sleeve and positioned such that at least a portion of the fluid chamber is positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface, the fluid chamber configured to retain a fluid;
a first valve located on the first arm of the band, coupled to the fluid chamber, and configured to add an additional amount of fluid to the fluid retained in the fluid chamber when the first valve is engaged by a force exerted on the first valve;
a second valve located on the second arm of the band, coupled to the fluid chamber, and configured to release a portion of the fluid retained in the fluid chamber when the second valve is engaged by a force exerted on the second valve; and
a coupler configured to couple the mobile device to the band.

2. The armband of claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber has flexible side walls.

3. The armband of claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber is configured to cushion the wearer's arm from a force applied to the band.

4. The armband of claim 1 , wherein the fluid has a density that is less than the density of water.

5. The armband of claim 1 , wherein the first valve is a part of a pump.

6. The armband of claim 1 , wherein the second valve is a release valve.

7. The armband of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm extend outward from the coupler.

8. The armband of claim 7 , wherein the fluid chamber extends longitudinally along the first arm and the second arm.

9. The armband of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is a quick connect device configured to engage a mobile device case.

10. An armband for a mobile device comprising:
a housing configured to receive the mobile device, the housing having a first side and a second side;
a first arm extending longitudinally from the first side of the housing, having a first sleeve with a slot, and configured to extend around at least a portion of a wearer's arm;
a second arm extending longitudinally from the second side of the housing, having a second sleeve with a slot, and configured to extend around at least a portion of the wearer's arm;
a fluid chamber having a first end and a second end and being configured to retain a fluid, and removably couple to the housing by insertion of the first end of the fluid chamber longitudinally into the slot of the first arm and insertion of the second end of the fluid chamber longitudinally into the slot of the second arm and be positioned such that the fluid chamber is positioned between the housing and the wearer's arm when the armband is held to the wearer's arm;
a first valve located on the first arm, coupled to the fluid chamber, and configured to add an additional amount of fluid to the fluid retained in the fluid chamber; and
a second valve located on the second arm of the band, coupled to the fluid chamber, and configured to release a portion of the fluid retained in the fluid chamber.

11. The armband of claim 10 , wherein:
the first arm includes an exterior surface configured to face away from the wearer's arm when the armband is held to the wearer's arm, the fluid chamber configured to be positioned such that the fluid chamber is positioned between the exterior surface and the wearer's arm when the armband is held to the wearer's arm; and
the second arm includes an exterior surface configured to face away from the wearer's arm when the armband is held to the wearer's arm, the fluid chamber configured to be positioned such that the fluid chamber is positioned between the exterior surface of the second arm and the wearer's arm when the armband is held to the wearer's arm.

12. The armband of claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a slot for the mobile device to be inserted through for the housing to receive the mobile device.

13. A method comprising:
coupling a fluid chamber having a first end and a second end to an armband including a first arm having a first sleeve with an opening and a second arm having a second sleeve with an opening, the coupling including inserting the first end of the fluid chamber longitudinally into the opening of the first sleeve of the armband and inserting the second end of the fluid chamber longitudinally into the opening of the second sleeve of the armband;
coupling an armband to a wearer's arm, the armband having:
a fluid chamber coupled to the armband and configured to retain a fluid;
a first valve located on a first arm of the armband, coupled to the fluid chamber, and configured to add an additional amount of fluid to the fluid retained in the fluid chamber;
a second valve located on the second arm of the band, coupled to the fluid chamber, and configured to release a portion of the fluid retained in the fluid chamber;
a coupler configured to couple a mobile device to the armband; and

operating the actuator.

14. The armband of claim 10 , wherein the first valve is a part of a pump.

15. The armband of claim 10 , wherein the second valve is a release valve.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first valve is a part of a pump.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second valve is a release valve.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluid chamber is removably coupled to the armband.

Assignees

• Superior Communications Inc

Inventors

• Pan Jason
• Li Ming-Shiuan
• Greenough Alexander
• Cho Adam
• Ng Timothy

Classifications

• H04M1/185

  Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity · CPC title

• H04B2001/3861

  carried in a hand or on fingers · CPC title

• H04B1/3888

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H04M1/04

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• H04B1/385 Primary

  Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets · CPC title