Abstract:
A case for a portable electronic devices such as smart phones includes upper and lower shells that are joined by elastic members. The upper shell includes a base surface and sidewalls to retain a portion of the portable electronic device and, likewise, the lower shell includes a base and sidewalls to retain a portion of the portable electronic device. The elastic members enable separation of the upper and lower shells to permit insertion of the portable electronic device and further provide biasing to move the shells together and retain the portable electronic device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/668,881, filed Jul. 6, 2012, and entitled “CASE APPARATUSES FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to portable electronic devices and, more specifically, to case accessories for portable electronic devices. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    The written disclosure herein describes illustrative embodiments that are non-limiting and non-exhaustive. Reference is made to certain of such illustrative embodiments that are depicted in the figures, in which: 
           [0004]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate perspective views of an embodiment of a case for a portable electronic device consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0005]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate perspective views of an embodiment of a case with a portable electronic device stored within consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0006]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate plan views of an embodiment of a case for a portable electronic device consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a case for a portable electronic device consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a case with a portable electronic device stored within consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate plan views of an alternative embodiment of a case for a portable electronic device consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a case for a portable electronic device in a display configuration consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  illustrates a plan view of an embodiment for a case for a portable electronic device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The proliferation of portable electronic devices (PEDs), including notebook and tablet computers (e.g., the Apple® iPad® and Samsung® Galaxy®), portable digital assistants (PDAs), an electronic book reader (e.g., the Amazon® Kindle® and smartphones (e.g., the Apple® Phone®, Google® Android®), has placed more computing power into the hands of users than the computing power of early computers that occupied an entire room. This portable computing power has enhanced both personal and business mobile productivity. Due to their portability, however, PEDs may be susceptible to damage and protecting an expensive electronic device is a priority to the user. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an accessory case for a PED configured to protect the PED from damage. In various embodiments, the case may be configured to enclose and protect the PED in a closed position and support the PED upright and/or elevated (i.e., propped up) in an open position. 
         [0013]    Embodiments may be best understood by reference to the drawings. It will be readily understood that the components of the present disclosure, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the apparatus is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, but is merely representative of possible embodiments of the disclosure. In some cases, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail. The case embodiments disclosed herein may include any number of buttons, apertures, grooves, slots, and the like to enable interaction, access, and viewing with corresponding input and output devices of a PED. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a case  100  for a PED (not shown) that is configured to receive the PED and retain, protect, carry, and secure the PED.  FIG. 1A  is referred to herein as the front side  102  which receives the PED and  FIG. 1B  is the back side  104 . As used herein, the PED may be any portable electronic device including, for example, a notebook computer, an electronic book reader (e.g., the Amazon® Kindle®), a smartphone (e.g., the Apple® iPhone®, the Motorola® Droid®, and the BlackBerry® Storm®) and/or a tablet computer (e.g., the Apple® iPad®, the HP® Slate, and the Samsung® Galaxy® Tablet). The PED may include on the front and/or the back face of the PED a display that is viewable in either a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation, a user input, and a data input/output port. In some embodiments, the case  100  may be configured such that the display, user input, and data input/output port are accessible by a user of the PED while the PED is disposed in the case  100 . Access may be provided by apertures or buttons, toggles, switches and the like which interact with corresponding PED controls. Further, in some embodiments, the case  100  may include a protective display disposed over the PED display. 
         [0015]    The case  100  comprises a primary base surface  106  to support a backside of a PED and may define a generally rectangular shape, include a substantially planar member, may further include rounded corners, and may include one or more apertures for accessing the PED and/or to enable camera operation. In one embodiment, the primary base surface  106  covers a majority of a backside of a PED. 
         [0016]    The case  100  includes a top wall  108  extending from a side of the primary base surface  106  which is intended to cover a top wall of a PED. Two primary sidewalls  110  extend from the primary base surface  106  and are substantially parallel to one another. Together, the sidewalls  108 ,  110  and the base surface  106  define a recess  112  to receive a PED. The sidewalls  108 ,  110  may be configured with apertures, grooves, switches, buttons, toggles, or the like to allow access to the PED. The sidewalls  108 ,  110  may define a frame or window at least partially extending over the recess  112  to retain the PED while still allowing access to a PED. In one embodiment, the opposing and parallel sidewalls  110  may include a configuration or material to facilitate gripping of the case  100 . For example, the sidewalls  110  may include a semi-rigid and compressible material. 
         [0017]    A fourth side  114  of the primary base surface  106  may not have a corresponding, extending sidewall and is designated the access side  114 . The primary base surface  106  and the sidewalls  108 ,  110  are designated herein as the primary case member  116 . 
         [0018]    The case  100  may include a secondary base surface  118  with a planar surface which supports a minority of a backside of a PED. The secondary base surface  118  may also define a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. The case  100  includes secondary sidewalls  120  and a bottom wall  122  which extend from the secondary base surface  118 . The walls  120 ,  122  may include one or more apertures to enable access to the PED. In an alternative embodiment, the case  100  may not have a secondary base surface  118  but would still include the walls  120 ,  122 . 
         [0019]    A fourth side  124  of the secondary base surface  118  designated herein as the secondary access side, does not have a corresponding sidewall. The secondary base surface  118  and the secondary walls  120 ,  122  are collectively referred to herein as the secondary case member  126 . The primary and secondary case members  116 ,  126  may comprise various semi-rigid and/or rigid materials. 
         [0020]    Two opposing stretchable strips  128  are coupled to the two parallel primary sidewalls  110  and two parallel secondary sidewalls  120 . The strips  128  may include any one of various elastic materials known in the art. The strips  128  may be coupled to the primary and secondary walls  110 ,  120  adjacent the primary and secondary access sides  114 ,  124 . The strips  128  provide sufficient strength to pull the primary and secondary case members  116 ,  126  together adjacent one another in a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the base surfaces  106 ,  118  form a continuous planar member  106 ,  118  to support the PED and the PED is contained within the walls  108 ,  110 ,  120 ,  122 . 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the primary and secondary base surfaces  106 ,  118  are configured with tongue and groove features to facilitate alignment of the base surfaces one another. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the case  100  is shown with a PED  150 .  FIG. 2A  illustrates the front side  102  of the case  100  and  FIG. 2B  illustrates a back side  104  of the case  100 . In inserting a PED  150  into the case  100 , a user applies tension to the strips  128  to separate the primary and secondary case members  116 ,  126  away from one another in an open configuration. The PED  150  is inserted through the access side  114  into the recess  112  defined by the primary base surface  106  and primary walls  108 ,  110 . A user then releases tension on the strips  128  and the secondary base surface  118  and secondary sidewalls  120 , defining a secondary recess, receive a portion of the PED  150 . Thus inserted, the backside and sidewalls of the PED  150  are protected and a PED display is accessible. 
         [0023]    In transitioning from a closed configuration to an open configuration, a user may apply tension to the strips  128  to separate the primary and secondary case members  116 ,  126 . A user may then extract the PED  150  from the case  100 . Alternatively, a user may remove the secondary case member  126  to expose a side of the PED  150  while the primary case member  116  continues to retain a portion of the PED  150 . A user may thereby access a port on the exposed side to enable access such as for charging and/or data synchronization. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , front and back sides  102 ,  104  of the case  100  are shown in a closed configuration with a PED  150  retained within. As illustrated, the PED display is accessible while the sides and back of the PED  150  are protected by the case  100 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a case  200  is shown for a PED.  FIG. 4A  is referred to herein as the front side  202  which allows access to a PED display and  FIG. 2B  is the back side  204 . As in other embodiments, the case  200  may be configured such that the display, user input, and data input/output port are accessible by a user of the PED while the PED is disposed in the case  200 . Access may be provided by apertures or buttons, toggles, switches and the like which interact with corresponding PED controls. 
         [0026]    The case  200  comprises a primary base surface  206  to support a majority of a backside of a PED and may define a generally rectangular shape, include a substantially planar member, may further include rounded corners, and may include one or more apertures for accessing the PED and/or to enable camera operation. The case  200  includes a top wall  208  and two primary sidewalls  210 , substantially parallel to one another, extending from sides of the primary base surface  206  as shown. The walls  208 ,  210  and the primary base surface  206  define a recess  212  to receive a PED. The walls  208 ,  210  may be configured with apertures, grooves, buttons, switches, toggles, and the like to access or interact with the PED. The walls  208 ,  210  may define a frame or window at least partially extending over the recess  212  to retain the PED while still allowing access to a PED. 
         [0027]    A fourth side  214  of the primary base surface  206  may not have a corresponding, extending sidewall and is designated the access side  214 . The primary base surface  206  and the walls  208 ,  210  are designated herein as the primary case member  216 . The primary base surface  206  may have a greater length than the sidewalls  210  and may therefore extend without corresponding sidewalls  210 . 
         [0028]    The case  200  includes a secondary base surface  218  with a planar surface which supports a minority of a PED backside. The secondary base surface  218  may also define a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. The case  200  includes secondary sidewalls  220  and a bottom wall  222  which extend from the secondary base surface  218 . In one embodiment, the bottom wall  222  may only partially extend along the corresponding side of the secondary base surface  218  to thereby allow access to a power and data synchronization port of a PED. As illustrated, the bottom wall  222  extends for a minority of the length of the corresponding side. 
         [0029]    The walls  220 ,  222  may include one or more apertures, switches, toggles, buttons, and the like to enable access to the PED. A fourth side  224  of the secondary base surface  218 , designated herein as the secondary access side, does not have a corresponding sidewall. The secondary base surface  218  and the secondary walls  220 ,  222  are collectively referred to herein as the secondary case member  226 . 
         [0030]    Two opposing flexible strips  228  are coupled to the two parallel primary sidewalls  210  and two parallel secondary sidewalls  220 . The strips  228  may include any one of various pliable or elastic materials known in the art. With the application of pressure, the strips  228  provide pivotable separation of the case members  216 ,  226  from one another to an open configuration wherein a PED may be inserted into the recess  212 . Without pressure, the strips  228  return to the original, closed configuration wherein the base surfaces  206 ,  218  are disposed adjacent one another to support a back side of a PED. In the closed configuration, the base surfaces  206 ,  218  may be separated from one another by a groove  229  which may also partially extend along opposing sides of the primary base surface  206 . The groove  229  provides unobstructed separation of the case members  216 ,  226  as the members pivot relative to one another. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the case  200  is shown in an open configuration with a PED  250 .  FIG. 2A  illustrates the front side  202  of the case  200  and  FIG. 2B  illustrates a back side  204  of the case  200 . In inserting a PED  250  into the case  200 , a user applies pressure to the strips  228  to separate the primary and secondary case members  216 ,  226  away from one another. The PED  250  is inserted through the access side  214  into the recess  212  defined by the primary base surface  206  and primary walls  208 ,  210 . A user then releases pressure on the strips  228  and the secondary base surface  218  and secondary sidewalls  220 , defining a secondary recess, receive a portion of the PED  250 . 
         [0032]    In transitioning from a closed configuration to an open configuration, a user may apply pressure to the strips  228  to separate the primary and secondary case members  216 ,  226 . A user may then extract the PED  250  from the case  200 . The open configuration may also be used to allow access to a port on a bottom side of the PED  250  which is appreciated in an embodiment where the bottom wall  222  would prevent access. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , front and back sides  202 ,  204  of the case  200  are shown in a closed configuration with a PED  250  retained within. As illustrated, the PED display is accessible while the sides and back of the PED  250  are protected by the case  200 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a perspective view of the case  200  of  FIGS. 4A-6B  is shown in an open configuration with the flexible strips  228  providing separation of the primary and secondary case members  216 ,  226  relative to one another. The case  200  also provides a display configuration with the PED  250  and the secondary case member  216  resting on a horizontal surface to provide angled viewing of the PED  250 . The primary case member  216  secures the PED  250  while the secondary case member  226  provides an angled support. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a plan view of a case  300  is shown with the front side exposed. As in previous embodiments, the case  300  includes a primary base surface  306 , top side wall  308 , primary sidewalls  310 , primary recess  312 , primary case member  316 , secondary base surface  318 , secondary sidewalls  320 , bottom wall  322 , secondary case member  326 , and flexible strips  328 . The case  300  further includes sliders  340  that may be disposed on the primary base surface  306  to facilitate insertion of a PED into the recess  312  and reduce scratching of the PED. The sliders  340  further protrude from the base surface  306  and provide suspension of the PED once the PED is secured in the case  300  to enhance cushioning and protection. The sliders  340  may comprise an elastomeric material including thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermal plastic urethane (TPU), polyurethane, transpolyurethane, unsaturated and saturated rubbers, and the like. 
         [0036]    A slider  340  may extend around the majority or the entirety of the border between the primary base surface  306  and the walls  308 ,  210 . A slider  340  may be a single continuous member or may be disposed at discreet locations. For example, sliders  340  may only be disposed along the borders between the primary base surface  306  and the sidewalls  310 . A slider  340  may also extend around an aperture  342 , in the illustrated example a camera aperture, to provide cushioned support for the PED. One or more sliders  340  may also be disposed on the walls  308 ,  310  to facilitate insertion and removal of the PED and cushioned support of the PED. 
         [0037]    The cases disclosed herein provide separation of primary and secondary case members while still retaining connection between the case members. The primary and secondary case members define respective recesses to receive and support portions of a PED. The primary and secondary case members may also be referred to as primary and secondary shells. 
         [0038]    It will be understood by those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles presented herein. In addition, any suitable combination of various embodiments, or the features thereof, is contemplated. Further, any methods disclosed herein may comprise one or more steps or actions for performing the described method. These method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for proper operation of the embodiment, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified. 
         [0039]    Throughout this specification, any reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “the embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the quoted phrases, or variations thereof, as recited throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of embodiments, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than those expressly recited in that claim. Rather, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles set forth herein.