Smartphone privacy device
View Patent ↗A smartphone privacy device that attaches to a back side of a smartphone and does not inhibit smartphone operation. The privacy device employs a first hinged flap to obscure the front bottom microphone. A second hinged flap obscures the front top microphone and front facing camera. And a sliding shield obscures the rear top microphone and rear facing camera. The device allows selective openings of the flaps and shield. The smartphone privacy device erases any concern that a microphone or camera on a smartphone is listening or watching the user without the user's knowledge.
1. A removable privacy device for a smartphone having a front face with a lower front microphone, an upper front microphone, a first camera, and a back face having an upper back microphone and a second camera, said front face spaced apart from said back face by an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; the removable privacy device comprising:
a body member for covering said back face, said body member having an upper end wall securable to the smartphone upper edge, a lower end wall securable to the smartphone lower edge, a first side wall securable to the smartphone first side edge, and a second side wall securable to the smartphone second side edge,
a first flap hingedly secured to said lower end wall, said first flap having an L-shape constructed and arranged to rotate between a closed position for obscuring the lower front microphone of the smartphone, and an open position for conventional use of the lower front microphone, wherein said first flap includes an aperture to provide access to a lightning port while said first flap is in said closed position;
a second flap hingedly secured to said upper end wall, said second flap having an L-shape constructed and arranged to rotate between a closed position for obscuring the upper front microphone and first camera, and an open position permitting the conventional use of the upper front microphone and first camera; and
a shield defined by an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface including a silicone rubber gasket to obscure said upper rear microphone and said rear camera when said shield is in a closed position, said outer surface of said shield includes a grip member for ease of sliding said shield between the open and closed position, said shield slidably secured to said body member, said shield having a bracket constructed and arranged to slide within a track between a closed position for obscuring the upper back microphone and second camera, and an open position permitting the conventional use of the upper back microphone and second camera, wherein said body member includes a track for receipt of said shield;
wherein said flaps and shield are selectively closed and opened to provide privacy from someone listening through the microphones or watching through the cameras.
2. The removable privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 1 wherein said first flap is L-shaped having an inner wall and an outer wall, said inner wall including a silicone rubber gasket to obscure the lower front microphone when said flap is in a closed position.
3. The removable privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 1 wherein said second flap is L-shaped having an inner wall and an outer wall, said inner wall including a silicone rubber gasket to obscure the upper front microphone and first camera when said flap is in a closed position.
4. The removable privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 1 wherein an inner surface of said body member is lined with a rubber lining.
5. The removable privacy device for a smartphone according to claim 4 wherein said rubber lining is constructed and arranged to allow operation of push button controls placed on the side edges of the smartphone.