Protective case for portable electronic apparatus

Claim 2

A removable protective case for accommodating a portable electronic device therein, said portable electronic device having at least one operating element, comprising: a) an upper case and a lower case with a closed spaced formed therebetween when said upper and lower cases are in abutment, b) a sealing member provided in said upper case for sealing the closed spaced when said upper and lower cases are in abutment, and c) an engagement portion on one end of said protective case and a fastening portion on the opposite end of said protective case, said engagement and fastening portions provided for holding the upper and lower cases in abutment, d) said upper case having at least one through-hole for accessing said at least one operating element through said upper case, said at least one through-hole being sealed by a closure member to prevent penetration and contamination of said closed space during abutment of said upper and lower cases.

Claim 3

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one through-hole is aligned with said at least one operating element for operation of said operating element through said at least one through-hole.

Claim 4

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said closure member is formed from an elastic material.

Claim 5

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said sealing member is formed from an elastic material.

Claim 6

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising at least one push button provided on said closure member, said push button adapted for engagement with said operating element on said portable electronic device through said at least one through-hole.

Claim 7

A protective case in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising at least one push button provided on said closure member, said push button adapted for engagement with said operating element on said portable electronic device through said at least one through-hole.

Claim 8

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said engagement portion further comprises an engagement ring on one of said upper or lower cases and an engagement finger on the other of said upper or lower cases, said engagement finger adapted for insertion into said engagement ring.

Claim 9

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said fastening portion further comprises a fastener receiving piece on one of said upper or lower cases and a fastener insertion piece on the other of said upper or lower cases, said fastener receiving piece adapted for passage of a fastener therethrough, and said fastener insertion piece adapted for receiving said fastener therein.

Claim 10

A protective case in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said fastener is a threaded fastener.

Claim 11

A protective case in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said threaded fastener has a head portion with a linear groove formed thereon, said linear groove dimensioned to receive a coin to facilitate rotation of said fastener.

Claim 12

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said closure member and said sealing member are integrally formed as a continuum.

Claim 13

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , where said sealing member is provided along the perimeter of said upper case and is sandwiched between said upper and lower cases during abutment of such cases.

Claim 14

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is further provided with a display section, and the section of the protective case opposite the display section when the portable electronic device is contained therein is further shaped to act as a concave lens to allow for viewing of the display section through the protective case in a magnified form.

Claim 15

A protective case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of said upper and lower cases is made from a transparent material.

Claim 16

A protective case in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said transparent material comprises a transparent synthetic resin.

Claim 17

A protective case in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said transparent synthetic resin is polymethyl methacrylate.

Claim 18

A protective case in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said transparent synthetic resin is polycarbonate.

Claim 19

A protective case for accommodating a portable electronic device therein, said portable electronic device having at least one side with at least one operating element, comprising: a) an upper case and a lower case with an interior formed therebetween when said upper and lower cases are in abutment, said interior dimensioned to accommodate said portable electronic device therein, with said upper case positioned adjacent said at least one side of said portable electronic device having said at least one operating element, b) a resilient sealing member disposed between said upper and lower cases for sealing the interior when said upper and lower cases are in abutment, c) said upper case having at least one through-hole for accessing said at least one operating element through said upper case, said at least one through-hole being sealed by an elastic closure member to prevent penetration and contamination of said interior during abutment of said upper and lower cases, said closure member having at least one push button adapted for engagement with said at least one operating element on said portable electronic device.

Claim 20

A protective case for accommodating a portable electronic device therein, said portable electronic device having at least one side with at least one operating element, comprising: a) an upper case and a lower case with an interior formed therebetween when said upper and lower cases are in abutment, said interior dimensioned to accommodate said portable electronic device therein, with said upper case positioned adjacent said at least one side of said portable electronic device having said at least one operating element, b) a resilient sealing member disposed between said upper and lower cases for sealing the interior when said upper and lower cases are in abutment, c) said upper case having at least one through-hole for accessing said at least one operating element through said upper case, said at least one through-hole being sealed by an elastic closure member to prevent penetration and contamination of said interior during abutment of said upper and lower cases, said closure member having at least one push button adapted for engagement with said at least one operating element on said portable electronic device.

Claim 21

A protective case in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said at least one through-hole is positioned opposite said at least one operating element for push button operation of said operating element through said protective case.

Claim 22

A protective case in accordance with claim 18 , further comprising an engagement portion on one end of said protective case, said engagement portion further comprising an engagement ring on one of said upper or lower cases and an engagement finger on the other of said upper or lower cases, said engagement finger adapted for insertion into said engagement ring.

Claim 23

A protective case in accordance with claim 20 , further comprising a fastening portion on the end of said protective case opposite said engagement portion, said fastening portion further comprising a fastener receiving piece on one of said upper or lower cases and a fastener insertion piece on the other of said upper or lower cases, said fastener receiving piece adapted for passage of a fastener therethrough, and said fastener insertion piece adapted for receiving said fastener therein.

Claim 24

A protective case in accordance with claim 21 , wherein said fastener is a threaded fastener having a head portion with a linear groove formed thereon, said linear groove dimensioned to receive a coin to facilitate rotation of said fastener.

Claim 25

A protective case in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said closure member and said sealing member are integrally formed as a continuum.

Claim 26

A protective case in accordance with claim 23 , where said sealing member is provided along the perimeter of said upper case and is sandwiched between said upper and lower cases during abutment of such cases.

Claim 27

A protective case in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the portable electronic device is further provided with a display section, and the section of the protective case opposite the display section when the portable electronic device is contained therein is further shaped to act as a concave lens to allow for viewing of the display section through the protective case in a magnified form.

Claim 28

A protective case in accordance with claim 18 , wherein at least one of said upper and lower cases is made from a transparent material.

Claim 29

A protective case in accordance with claim 26 , wherein said transparent material comprises a transparent synthetic resin.

Claim 30

A protective case in accordance with claim 27 , wherein said transparent synthetic resin is selected from the group of polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate.

Claim 31

A protective case for accommodating a portable electronic device therein, said portable electronic device having a plurality of operating elements and a display section, comprising: a) an upper case and a lower case with an interior space defined by the abutment of said upper and lower cases, said interior space dimensioned to receive and enclose said portable electronic device, b) said portable electronic device arranged within said interior space such that the upper case is positioned opposite the operating elements and the display section during the abutment of said upper and lower cases, c) an elastic sealing member provided along the perimeter of said upper case for sealing the interior space during the abutment of said upper and lower cases, and d) an engagement portion on one end of said protective case and a fastening portion on the opposite end of said protective case, said engagement and fastening portions provided for holding the upper and lower cases in abutment, e) said upper case having a plurality of through-holes for accessing said operating elements, said through-holes arranged for alignment with the operating elements of said portable electronic device, f) said plurality of through-holes sealed by an elastic closure member integrally formed as a continuum with said sealing member, g) said closure member provided with push buttons arranged for pressing engagement with said operating elements, said push buttons arranged on said closure member within said through-holes, said push buttons further seated on resilient pieces that enable movement of said push buttons into engagement with said operating elements.

Claim 32

A protective case for accommodating a portable electronic device therein, said portable electronic device having a plurality of operating elements and a display section, comprising: a) an upper case and a lower case with an interior space defined by the abutment of said upper and lower cases, said interior space dimensioned to receive and enclose said portable electronic device, b) said portable electronic device arranged within said interior space such that the upper case is positioned opposite the operating elements and the display section during the abutment of said upper and lower cases, c) an elastic sealing member provided along the perimeter of said upper case for sealing the interior space during the abutment of said upper and lower cases, and d) an engagement portion on one end of said protective case and a fastening portion on the opposite end of said protective case, said engagement and fastening portions provided for holding the upper and lower cases in abutment, e) said upper case having a plurality of through-holes for accessing said operating elements, said through-holes arranged for alignment with the operating elements of said portable electronic device, f) said plurality of through-holes sealed by an elastic closure member integrally formed as a continuum with said sealing member, g) said closure member provided with push buttons arranged for pressing engagement with said operating elements, said push buttons arranged on said closure member within said through-holes, said push buttons further seated on resilient pieces that enable movement of said push buttons into engagement with said operating elements.

Claim 33

A protective case in accordance with claim 29 , wherein said engagement portion further comprises an engagement ring on one of said upper or lower cases and an engagement finger on the other of said upper or lower cases, said engagement finger adapted for insertion into said engagement ring.

Claim 34

A protective case in accordance with claim 30 , wherein said fastening portion further comprises a fastener receiving piece on one of said upper or lower cases and a fastener insertion piece on the other of said upper or lower cases, said fastener receiving piece adapted for passage of a threaded fastener therethrough, and said fastener insertion piece adapted for receiving said threaded fastener therein.

Claim 35

A protective case in accordance with claim 31 , wherein said threaded fastener has a head portion with a linear groove formed thereon, said linear groove dimensioned to receive a coin to facilitate rotation of said fastener.

Claim 36

A protective case in accordance with claim 29 , wherein the section of said protective case opposite the display section when the portable electronic device is contained therein is further shaped to act as a concave lens to allow for viewing of the display section through the protective case in a magnified form.

Claim 37

A protective case in accordance with claim 29 , wherein the upper and lower cases are made from a transparent material.

Claim 38

A protective case in accordance with claim 34 , wherein said transparent material comprises a transparent synthetic resin.

Claim 39

A protective case in accordance with claim 35 , wherein said transparent synthetic resin is polymethyl methacrylate.

Claim 40

A protective case in accordance with claim 35 , wherein said transparent synthetic resin is polycarbonate.