Multi-mode protective device for portable video players

Abstract

A protective device for a video player comprising a video screen, comprising a structure defining a main chamber, a support opening, and a screen opening. The protective device operates in first and second modes. In the first mode, at least a portion of the video player is located within the main chamber such that the video screen is within the main chamber. The structure protects the video player the video screen is at least partly visible through the screen opening when the protective device is in the first mode. In the second mode, at least a portion of the video player extends through the support opening such that the structure supports the video player such that the video screen is located outside the main chamber.

1 . A method of protecting and supporting a video player comprising a video screen, comprising the steps:
 providing a structure defining a main chamber, a support opening, and a screen opening;   locating at least a portion of the video player within the main chamber such that
 the video screen is within the main chamber and at least partly visible through the screen opening, and 
 the structure protects the video player; and 
   extending at least a portion of the video player through the support opening such that the structure supports the video player with the video screen located outside the main chamber.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the step of providing the structure further comprises the step of defining a main opening; and   the step of locating at least a portion of the video player within the main chamber comprises the step of inserting at least a portion of the video player into the main chamber.   
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the step of providing the structure further comprises the step of providing at least one panel; and   the step of extending at least a portion of the video player through the support opening comprises the step of extending the video screen at a viewing angle with respect to the at least one panel.   
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the video player further comprises at least one control button;   the step of providing the structure further comprises the step of defining at least one control opening; and   the step of locating the at least a portion of the video player within the main chamber comprises the step of allowing access to the at least one control button through the at least one control opening.   
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the video player further comprises at least one control button;   the step of providing the structure further comprises the step of defining at least one control opening configured to allow access to the at least one control button; and   the step of extending at least a portion of the video player through the support opening comprises the step of locating the at least one control button outside the main chamber.   
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the video player further comprises at least one connector; and   the step of providing the structure further comprises the step of defining at least one connector opening; and   the step of locating the at least a portion of the video player within the main chamber comprises the step of allowing access to the at least one connector through the at least one connector opening.   
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , in which the step of providing the structure further comprises the steps of:
 providing a front panel defining the screen opening; and   providing a rear panel defining the support opening.   
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , in which the step of providing the structure further comprises the steps of:
 providing a front panel defining the screen opening and the at least one control opening; and   providing a rear panel defining the support opening.