Abstract:
A protective carrying case for a mobile electronic device is provided having a concealed storage compartment. The concealed compartment may store credit cards, identification cards and other personal articles. The case also includes an integrated stand that enables a user to prop the mobile device at a desired angle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP 
     Not Applicable 
     JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to protective cases for electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-intrusive mobile phone protective case having a support stand and concealed compartment for use as a mobile phone carrying case. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Mobile electronic devices, such as cellular phones, tablets and laptops often include an external housing that may shatter or sustain damage from an impact. The damage from impact may result in a cracked screen, scratches on a finished surface, and/or failed or malfunctioning electrical components. Complimentary casings have been provided to reduce potential damage from impact. However, in the past, these complimentary casings have been bulky, reducing the overall aesthetic appearance of the mobile device. Further, the increased bulk of these cases contradicts a consumer&#39;s desire for a compact mobile (lightweight and small sized) device. Additionally, there may be a desire to increase the functionality of the case by adding practical structures to the case, however these added structures typically further add too much to the bulk and weight of the case. An increase in bulk or weight may result in a cumbersome and less desirable case. Accordingly, there is a desire to minimize the bulkiness and weight of protective cases for mobile devices while maintaining impact protection and additional versatility. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments according to aspects of the present invention provide a covering for an electronic device that absorbs shock while also including a concealed storage compartment. The protective covering includes a hard outer shell and an inner flexible sheath. A multi hinged panel is fixed to the outer shell and may be utilized to conceal the storage compartment and may also be altered to prop up or stand the electronic device at a desired angle. 
     The protective case in accordance with aspects of the present invention may include an outer shell or rigid body, a flexible sheath or pliable body, and a hinged panel stand. The pliable body has a first cavity formed into a first side of the pliable body and a second cavity formed into a second opposing side of the pliable body. The first and second opposing cavities are separated by a dividing wall, wherein the first cavity is adapted for receiving an electronic device and the second cavity is adapted for receiving one or more articles. The rigid body is fixed or coupled to the second side of the pliable body. The hinged panel stand has a first end portion fixed to an outer surface of the rigid body and a second free end portion that is adapted to extend over and cover the second cavity of the pliable body. A portion of the hinged panel includes a plurality of hinge joints, allowing the panel to be altered from a flat configuration to a multi fold or triangular configuration. 
     In embodiments of the invention the protective covering includes buffering slotted corners formed in the pliable body. Further, magnets and metal strips may be associated with the hinged panel. The magnets and metal strips act together to retain the hinged panel in either a flat, concealing manner or a folded stand forming manner. The protective covering may further include flanges extending inward from the second cavity sidewalls and block outer access to a portion of the second cavity. The flanges restrict objects placed in the second cavity from falling out of the storage compartment formed by the cavity and flanges. At least one of the sidewalls of the second cavity is sloped or ramped. The ramp may be utilized to slide credit cards, for example, out of the storage compartment. Additionally, cushioning members may be formed in the pliable body. The cushion members may be adapted to align with a camera aperture of the electronic device. 
     In accordance with aspects of the invention, an embodiment of the invention includes a protective covering for a mobile electronic device configured to be user removable from the mobile device. A suitable mobile electronic device includes a thickness that is defined as the distance between a front face and a back face of the mobile device, and a perimeter that is defined by a top side, bottom side, right side, and left side extending between the front and back faces, and corners defined at the intersecting regions of the sides. The protective covering includes a rigid body, integrated pliable body and a hinged panel. The rigid body is defined by inner and outer surfaces of the rigid body, wherein the inner surface includes a perimeter edging extending upward from the inner surface and a plurality of tabs extending inward from the perimeter edging toward a center of the first rigid body. The perimeter edging of the rigid body is dimensioned to engage sides of the pliable body and the rigid body further includes an opening extending through the rigid body between the inner and outer surfaces of the rigid body. The opening formed in the rigid body is positioned to align with a cavity of the pliable body. The pliable body is defined by inner and outer surfaces of the pliable body and is dimensioned to both cover a majority of the back face of the mobile device and extend around a majority of the perimeter of the mobile device. The pliable body further includes a first cavity formed into the inner surface of the pliable body and a second cavity formed into the outer surface of the pliable body. The second cavity aligns with the opening extending through the rigid body. Further, the first cavity is adapted for receiving the mobile device and the second cavity is adapted for receiving one or more articles. The inner surface and outer surface of the pliable body oppose each other and the first and second cavity are separated by a dividing wall. The hinged panel has multiple folds formed in the panel and has a first end fixed to the rigid body. The hinged panel is dimensioned to cover the opening extending through the rigid body and the second cavity aligned with the rigid body opening. 
     Embodiments of the invention include a protective covering wherein the pliable body includes one or more control apertures extending through the pliable body that are dimensioned and positioned to allow access to control ports on the mobile device. The pliable body may include sides having slots formed in the sides, wherein the slots are dimensioned and positioned to align and engage with the tabs of the rigid body. Further, the pliable body may have indentations aligned with corners of the mobile device, wherein the indentations are dimensioned to increase a pliability of the pliable body near the corners of the mobile device. The rigid body may be made of a first material that has a first hardness and the second pliable body may be made of a second material that has a second hardness, wherein the first hardness is greater than the second hardness. The pliable body may further include channels formed and extending into the inner surface of the pliable body, wherein the channels are formed to align and extend around at least a portion of a camera aperture of the mobile device. The protective covering may further include magnets or metal strips associated with a second end portion of the hinged panel. Magnets may also be associated with the outer surface of the rigid body. The magnets and metal strip engage the hinged panel to the rigid body in a removable relation. Flanges may be included that block outer access to a portion of the second cavity. The second cavity may include a ramped sidewall and the second cavity may be dimensioned to be slightly larger than a size of a credit card. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of hinged stands or flaps and access opening configurations may be utilized in accordance with the present invention. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a portion of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to further explain the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred; however, it should be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the various figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals throughout the figures identify substantially similar components. 
         FIG. 1  is a front upper perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating a smart phone contained within the carrying case; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded front perspective view of a carrying case in according with the present invention illustrating a smart phone elevated above the inner member or pliable body of the carrying case; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded back perspective view of a carrying case in according with the present invention illustrating a smart phone elevated above the inner member or pliable body of the carrying case; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded back perspective view of a carrying case in according with the present invention illustrating the hinged flap removed and a smart phone elevated above the inner member or pliable body of the carrying case; 
         FIG. 5  is a front upper perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a back upper perspective view of the carrying case of the type shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front side perspective view of an inner member or pliable body of the carrying case in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a back side perspective view of an inner member of the carrying case in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a front side perspective view of an inner member of the carrying case in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a front upper perspective view of an outer member of the carrying case in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a back side perspective view of an outer member of the carrying case in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a front upper perspective view of an outer member of the carrying case in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a front upper perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand in a partially opened position; 
         FIG. 14  is a front upper perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand in a partially opened position; 
         FIG. 15  is a front upper perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand in a partially opened position; 
         FIG. 16  is a front upper perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand in a partially opened position; 
         FIG. 17  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand in a fully open and engaged position without cards inserted in the back compartment; 
         FIG. 18  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand in a fully open and engaged position without cards inserted in the back compartment; 
         FIG. 19  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand removed; 
         FIG. 20  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand removed and a card inserted in the compartment; 
         FIG. 21  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand in an open position and a card inserted in the compartment; 
         FIG. 22  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand removed; 
         FIG. 23  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand removed; 
         FIG. 24  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand removed and a card inserted in the compartment; 
         FIG. 25  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand in an open position and a card inserted in the compartment; 
         FIG. 26  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand removed; 
         FIG. 27  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand removed and a card inserted in the compartment; 
         FIG. 28  is a front side perspective view of a carrying case in accordance with the present invention illustrating the stand in an open position and a card inserted in the compartment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description provides detail of various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each of these embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not intended to be an undue limitation of the invention. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. By way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, may be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention also cover such modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     In an embodiment of the invention a slender and compact protective covering  10  is provided that minimizes the bulkiness and weight of the protective case for mobile device  14  while maintaining impact protection and additional versatility. The protective covering  10  for the mobile electronic device  14  is configured to be user removable from the mobile device, wherein the mobile device includes a thickness that is defined as the distance between a front face and a back face of the mobile device, and a perimeter that is defined by a top side, bottom side, right side, and left side extending between the front and back faces, and corners defined at the intersecting regions of the sides. 
     In accordance with aspects of the invention the protective covering includes a two piece outer rigid shell  16  and inner shock absorbing pliable body  18 . A multi hinged panel  20  is attached to the outer rigid shell  16  that may lay flat against the protective outer shell  16  to conceal a storage compartment  24  formed in the inner pliable body  18 . The outer shell  16  is defined by inner and outer surfaces and includes a perimeter protective edging  58  extending upward from the inner surface. A plurality of tabs  56  extend inward from the perimeter edging  58  toward a center of the rigid body  16 . Similarly, the pliable body is defined by inner and outer surfaces of the pliable body. The pliable body  18  is dimensioned to cover a majority of the back face of the mobile device  14  and to extend and wrap around a majority of the perimeter of the mobile device. The pliable body  16  includes a first cavity  38  formed into the inner surface of the pliable body and a second cavity  40  formed into the outer surface of the pliable body. Further, the first and second cavity  38  and  40  are separated by a dividing wall  41 , wherein the first cavity  38  is adapted for receiving the mobile device and the second cavity  40  is adapted for receiving one or more articles. 
     The perimeter edging  58  of the rigid body  16  is dimensioned to engage sides  43  of the pliable body  18 . The rigid body  16  further includes an opening  26  extending through the rigid body  16  between the inner and outer surfaces of the rigid body. The opening  26  extends through a portion of the rigid body  16  to align with the second cavity  40  of the pliable body  18 . The multi hinged panel  20  has multiple hinges or folds  60  formed in the panel  20  and has a first end  64  fixed to the rigid body  16 , wherein the panel  20  is dimensioned to cover the opening  26  extending through the rigid body  16 . 
     With reference to the Figures various aspects of the invention will be further described.  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary mobile electronic device  14  inserted and contained within the protective case or covering  10  of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the length, width and thickness of the components of the protective cover  10  may be modified to accommodate various electronic devices including, without limitation intended, various cell phone makes and models, tablets and laptops. An outer perimeter portion of the pliable shell  18  overlaps the mobile device  14  to retain the mobile device  14  within cavity  38  formed in the pliable shell  18 . The panel  20  includes multiple folds or hinges  60  that allow the panel to fold at angles to form a stand. The phone may be propped in an orientation to align the display in a vertical or horizontal orientation and at multiple varying viewing angles. 
       FIGS. 2-4  further illustrates how the phone  14 , pliable body  18  and rigid outer body  16  integrate and fit together. The figures show a view of the mobile phone  14  removed from the rigid body  16  and separated from pliable body  18 . A storage compartment  24  is created in the second cavity  40  and aligns with the opening  26  formed in the rigid body  16 . Magnets  22  are fixed between the rigid cover or body  16  and the pliable body  18 . The panel  20  includes metal strips or magnets  62  embedded or associated with the hinged panel. These metal strips or magnets cooperate with magnets  22  to fix the panel in a desired position relative to rigid covering  16 . The magnets  22  and magnets or metal strips  62  may also cooperate with other magnets or metal surfaces to couple the protective case  10  to another body. For example, the magnets  62  may cooperate with the metal body of a refrigerator allowing the user to essentially hang the protective case to allow a user to view the display without using hands. Further, a clip having a magnet may be utilized to cooperate with the magnet  60  and clip to a desired surface or structure. For example, without limitation, the user may clip onto an air vent in a vehicle to allow the user to display the mobile device at a desired angle without the need to hold the device. 
       FIGS. 5-6  illustrates the protective case  10  of the invention. The protective case  10  includes a rigid body  16  that has sides  50  that only extend around a portion of the sides  43  of the pliable body  18 , thereby providing a slim look and reducing the bulk of the protective case. The panel  20  includes a fixed hinge  64  that attaches the panel to the rigid body  16  and further includes multiple hinge points or folds  60  that allow the panel to be folded and positioned in multiple orientations. 
       FIGS. 7-9  illustrates the pliable body  18  of the protective covering or case  10  of the present invention. The pliable body includes control buttons  30  formed into the sides  43  of the pliable body. The control buttons  30  may be sized and positioned to accommodate the size and positioning of control on a particular model of a mobile device  14 . The control buttons  30  may include slots or relief so that the buttons easily depress inwards. Control ports  32  are also formed in the sides  43  of the pliable body  18 . Similar to the control buttons  30 , the position and dimensions of the ports may be formed in the sides  43  to accommodate a particular make and model of the mobile device  14 . Further, slots  34  may be formed in interior corners of intersecting sides  43  of the pliable body  18 . The slots  34  create an air cushion at the corners between the pliable body  18  and the mobile device  14 . Additional slots or cushioning members  36  may be formed in an interior or inner planar surface of the pliable body  18 . The cushion members  36  may provide additional shock absorption at critical points on the mobile device  14 . For example, the cushioning members may further include members formed in the pliable body  18  that align with a camera aperture of the electronic device  14 . The pliable body  18  further includes a cavity  38  formed on an inner side of the body  18  and a second cavity  40  formed on an outer side of the body  18 . The cavities  38  and  40  are separated and divided by dividing wall  41 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the dividing wall may provide complete separation between the first and second cavities  38  and  40  (as shown) or may be partially enclosed, thereby utilizing the back of the mobile device  14  to divide the cavities. The inner cavity  38  is suitable and adapted for receiving a mobile device and the outer cavity  40  is adapted to receive articles. By way of example, credit cards or ID cards  80  may fit within the outer cavity  40 . A rim  44  may extend around a portion of the outer cavity  40  to form a stop that restricts card  80  from falling out of the cavity  40 . Sides  43  may further include slots adapted for receiving the tabs  56  of the outer shell  16 . The slots are sized and dimensioned such that the tabs  56  snap into and fit snuggly in the slots  46 . The outer surface of the pliable body may further include recesses  48  that are adapted for receiving magnets  22 . 
       FIGS. 10-12  illustrates the rigid body  16  of the protective covering or case  10  of the present invention. The rigid body  16  is shown with the multi hinged panel  20  attached thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the panel  20  may be formed integral with the rigid body  16 , may be permanently attached to the rig body  18  or may be removably attached to the rigid body  16 . The rigid body  16  includes sides  50  and ends  52  that have a perimeter edging  58 . The perimeter edging extends upward from an inner surface of the rigid body  14 . A plurality of tabs  56  extend inward from the perimeter edging  58  toward a center of the rigid body  14 . The perimeter edging  58  and tabs  56  are adapted to align and engage sides of the pliable body. The rigid body  14  further includes an opening  26  extending through the rigid body  14  between the inner and outer surfaces of the rigid body and extending through a portion of the rigid body to align with the second cavity  40  of the pliable body  18 . The opening may be sized smaller than the cavity  40  and an edge of the opening may form a flange  54  that supports the panel  20 . The flange  54  may include a variety of sizes and shapes some of which will be described below in greater detail. 
       FIGS. 13-16  illustrates the multiple positions of the hinged panel or flap  20  that may be utilized to vary the angle of the display screen of the mobile device  14  when propped on a flat surface. By way of example, without limitation intended, hinge or fold  60  may be used as a point of contact along with one of the parallel side edges of the rigid body  16 . Depending upon which side the user chooses to rest against the flat surface the viewing angle may range from 15-45 degrees from vertical or from 20-25 degrees from a horizontal viewing angle. For example the viewing angle shown in  FIG. 13  is approximately 45 degrees from vertical or 20 degrees from horizontal, while the viewing angle depicted in FIG.  16  would be approximately 15 degrees from vertical or approximately 25 degrees from horizontal. 
       FIGS. 17-18  illustrates the concealed storage compartment  24  with and without a credit card  80  stowed in the storage compartment. To access the card  80  the user slides the panel  20  along flanges  54  to an open position that exposes the credit card. The user may then push or slide an edge of the card up ramp  42  to slide the card under the flange  54  and out of the storage compartment  24 . 
     Various configurations of the flange and cavity are illustrated in  FIGS. 19-28 . With reference to  FIGS. 19-22 , an embodiment of the rigid body  16  of the present invention is illustrated having a flange  90  configured to expose most of the cavity  92 . The cavity  92  includes ramp  96  to guide card  94  out of the cavity  90 .  FIG. 22  illustrates a similar cavity structure  90  but having control buttons  98  aligned in a slightly different position along the side of the protective case  10 .  FIGS. 23-25  illustrates an arrangement of flange  120  extending across and enclosing access to most of cavity  122 . A thumb cutout  138  provides access to card  126  to push card  126  up ramp  128  and out of the storage compartment. A magnetic strip  130  is provided that cooperates with magnetic or metal strips in the panel  20  to retain the panel in a fixed desired position.  FIGS. 26-28  illustrates a flange  150  configured to expose most of the cavity  148 . The flange  150  includes narrow portions  152  near or adjacent ramp  156 . The flange extends along the sides of the cavity  148  towards the back of the cavity. The flange  150  widens at tapered portion  154  and then extends across the entire cavity  148  towards the back portion of the cavity which is proximate the hinge joint between the panel  20  and rigid body  16 . The portion of the flange extending across the cavity includes a thumb cutout  160  that exposes the card  158  allowing a user to slide card  158  up the ramp  156  and out of the storage compartment. Magnets  162  and  164  are provided that cooperate with magnetic or metal strips in panel  20  to retain the panel in a fixed desired position. The panel  20  may be fixed in multiple open or partially closed positions. The panel  20  is shown in an open position that would allow a user to rest the panel hinge  60  against a flat surface to create a viewing angle of approximately 15 degrees from vertical or 25 degrees from the horizontal viewing angle. 
     The various embodiments described herein are illustrative of the present invention and not limiting as to the scope and spirit of the present invention. These and various other aspects and features of the invention are described with the intent to be illustrative, and not restrictive. This invention has been described herein with detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be carried out by specifically different constructions, and that various modifications, both as to the construction and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, in the appended claims, the transitional terms comprising and including are used in the open ended sense in that elements in addition to those enumerated may also be present. Other examples will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing this document.