Latch Mechanism of a Protective Case for Portable Electronic Device

Abstract

A protective case for an electronic device includes a cover and a back plate that are hingedly coupled to one another. The cover has a locking plate hingedly coupled to the top of the cover. A latching mechanism is disposed on the top of the back plate. The locking plate is configured to rotate over the cover and back plate and be engaged by the latching mechanism, locking the cover and back plate together. Furthermore, a portable electronic device is configured to be enclosed by the cover and the back plate, which provide protection for the portable electronic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective case for a portable electronic device, comprising:
 a first cover including a top, a bottom, and an opening disposed between the top and the bottom;   a second cover including a top and a bottom, the bottom of the second cover hingedly connected to the bottom of the first cover;   the portable electronic device being receivable between the first and second covers;   at least one latch member disposed on one of the first and second covers; and   a locking plate configured to be engaged by the at least one latch member and disposed on the other of the first and second covers, wherein when the locking plate is engaged by the at least one latch member, the portable electronic device is locked between the first cover and second cover.   
     
     
         2 . The protective case of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen protector covering the opening of the first cover. 
     
     
         3 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the locking plate is hingedly connected to the top of the first cover. 
     
     
         4 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the locking plate includes a first aperture and a second aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The protective case of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one latch member includes a first latch member and a second latch member. 
     
     
         6 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch member is substantially L-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch member is slidably reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the at least one latch member is configured to engage the locking plate in the first configuration and is configured to disengage the locking plate in the second configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The protective case of  claim 7 , further comprising a spring biasing the at least one latch member in the first configuration. 
     
     
         9 . A protective case for a portable electronic device, comprising:
 a first cover including a first edge and a second edge;   a second cover including a first edge and a second edge, the second edge of the second cover being hingedly connected to the second edge of the first cover so that the first cover and the second cover can be positioned in an open position, where the first edge of the first cover is spaced away from the first edge of the second cover, and a closed position, where the first edge of the first cover is adjacent to the first edge of the second cover;   the portable electronic device being receivable between the first and second covers;   at least one latch member disposed on one of the first and second covers proximate its the first edge; and   a locking plate disposed on the other of the first and second covers proximate to its first edge, the locking plate being shaped to extend over the first edge of the first and second covers to engage the at least one latch member when the first cover and second cover are in the closed position.   
     
     
         10 . The protective case of  claim 9 , wherein the first cover includes an opening and a screen protector covering the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The protective case of  claim 9 , wherein the locking plate is hingedly connected to the first cover. 
     
     
         12 . The protective case of  claim 9 , wherein the locking plate includes a first aperture and a second aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The protective case of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one latch member includes a first latch member and a second latch member. 
     
     
         14 . The protective case of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one latch member is substantially L-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The protective case of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one latch member is slidably reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the at least one latch member is configured to engage the locking plate in the first configuration and is configured to disengage the locking plate in the second configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The protective case of  claim 15 , further comprising a spring biasing the at least one latch member in the first configuration. 
     
     
         17 . A protective case for a portable electronic device, comprising:
 a first cover including an inner surface and an outer surface;   a second cover including an inner surface and an outer surface, the second cover being hingedly connected to first cover so that the first and second covers can be positioned in an open position, where the inner surface of the first cover and the inner surface of the second cover are exposed, and a closed position, where the inner surface of the first cover is adjacent to the inner surface of the second cover;   the portable electronic device being receivable between the first and second covers;   at least one latch member disposed on the outer surface of one of the first and second covers; and   a locking plate pivotally coupled to the outer surface of the other of the first and second covers, the locking plate being repositionable between an unlocked position and a locked position, where when the locking plate is in the locked position and the first cover and the second cover are in the closed position, the locking plate is engaged with the at least one latch member.   
     
     
         18 . The protective case of  claim 17 , wherein the locking plate includes a first aperture and a second aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The protective case of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one latch member includes a first latch member and a second latch member, the first latch member being engagable with the first aperture and the second latch member being engagable with the second aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The protective case of  claim 17 , wherein the first cover includes an opening and a screen protector covering the opening.