Abstract:
A mobile device case includes a first piece and a releasably engageable second piece. The first and second pieces are dimensioned to receive a mobile device therebetween. The first piece has a front surface and a plurality of openings. At least a portion of the front surface is reflective. A plurality of light sources are disposed within the plurality of openings. A plurality of adjustable stand elements are attached to at least one of the first and second pieces for portrait and landscape positioning of the case.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/149,244, filed on Apr. 17, 2015, entitled “Mobile Device Case with Lighting and Adjustable Stand Elements,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of the invention relates to cases for mobile devices, and particularly cases including lighting features and adjustable stands. 
         [0003]    There are millions—if not billions—of mobile devices used in the world today. Mobile devices, also referred to as handhelds or handheld devices, are computer-enabled electronic devices, which are generally small enough to be carried around by hand or in a pocket or purse. Commonly used mobile devices include, but are not limited to phones, tablets, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), cameras, gaming devices, personal navigation devices, audio players, and multimedia players. The use of mobile devices not only varies, but continues to grow day by day. But most, if not, all mobile devices in use today include a camera that allows an owner to take a “selfie.” With the explosion of social media, owners will typically take selfies and share them with their followers via platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and FaceBook. 
         [0004]    Owners of mobile devices carry them wherever they go—at work, play and home—and often prefer to use a case to protect and improve the aesthetic value their device. Unfortunately, most cases for mobile devices do not include a stand that allows upright positioning of the device to take selfies. Most cases also do not include additional features that would enhance the background and overall appearance of the selfie. As such, there are clear needs for improved cases for mobile devices. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages, as described herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Briefly stated, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a mobile device case comprising a first piece having a front surface and a plurality of openings. At least a portion of the front surface is reflective. A plurality of light sources are disposed within the plurality of openings. A second piece is releasably engageable with the first piece, and the first and second pieces are dimensioned to receive a mobile device therebetween. A plurality of adjustable stand elements are attached to at least one of the first and second pieces for portrait and landscape positioning of the case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The following detailed description of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0007]    In the drawings: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of a mobile device case in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention with the mobile device case being positioned in a portrait orientation; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a front perspective view of the mobile device case shown in  FIG. 1  with the mobile device and mobile device case being positioned in a landscape orientation; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front exploded perspective view of a mobile device and the mobile device case shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  is a front elevational view of the mobile device case shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a front elevational view of a mobile device case in accordance with an alternative front case piece for use with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4A  is a rear elevational view of a mobile device assembled with the mobile device case shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the case shown with adjustable stand elements being stowed within the mobile device case; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4B  is a rear elevational view of the mobile device and mobile device case shown in  FIG. 4A  with a first stand element being rotated to a second position and a telescoping segment of the first stand element being extended; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4C  is a rear elevational view of the mobile device and the mobile device case shown in  FIG. 4A  with a first stand element being rotated to a second position and two telescoping segments of the first stand element being extended; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  is a rear elevational view of a mobile device and the mobile device case shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the adjustable stand elements being stowed within the mobile device case; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5B  is a rear elevational view of the mobile device and mobile device case shown in  FIG. 5A  with the first stand element being in a stowed position, the second stand element being extended, and a third stand element being extended; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  a front perspective view of a mobile device contained within a mobile device case in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention with the mobile device and mobile device case being positioned in a portrait orientation; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a front exploded perspective view of a mobile device and a mobile device case in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , in a first embodiment, the present invention provides a mobile device case  10  for protection of a mobile device  400  ( FIGS. 2 and 6 ). Preferably the mobile device case  10  is formed of a high impact polymeric material or combination of materials well known in the art. The mobile device case  10  also includes additional features that enhance the appearance of photographs taken with the mobile device  400 . The case  10  is particularly suited with mobile devices such as phones, tablets, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), cameras, gaming devices, personal navigation devices, audio players, and multimedia players. Such devices include, but are not limited to, those sold and/or manufactured by Samsung, Apple, Sony, LG, and Nokia. 
         [0022]    The mobile device case  10  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  is particularly suited for use with Apple iPhone devices. The case  10  includes various openings that align with complementarily positioned mobile device features. For example, the case  10  includes a sensor opening  12 , a speaker/microphone opening  13 , a forward facing camera opening  14   a,  a rearward facing camera opening  14   b  ( FIG. 2 ), a power cord opening  15  ( FIG. 1B ), a screen opening  16  having a rectangular perimeter, a headphone opening  17  ( FIG. 1B ), and light openings  19 . The configuration and positioning of such openings shown in the Figures, however, should not be construed as limiting. The mobile device cases disclosed herein may include fewer or more openings with different configurations, depending on features included within the mobile device designated for use with the case  10 . 
         [0023]    The mobile device case  10 , shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3A-6  preferably includes two main pieces or subcomponents—an upper piece  18   a  and a lower piece  18   b  separated along a crosswise perimeter C of the case  10 .  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a mobile device and case assembly  200 , while  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the fully assembled mobile device and case assembly  200  during use of the case  10 . Each of the upper piece  18   a  and the lower piece  18   b  includes retention elements (now shown) that preferably provide snap fit engagement between the respective pieces  18   a,    18   b.    
         [0024]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1A, 3A, and 6  the upper piece  18   a  preferably includes a substantially contiguous mirror or mirror-like surface  20  positioned around the screen opening  16 . The upper surface  20  thus includes a reflective material having properties that allow one or more users  500   a,    500   b  ( FIG. 6 ) of the device to show one or more reflective images  66   a,    66   b  on the device case  10 , as shown particularly in  FIG. 6 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3B , an upper piece  18   a ′ can include sectioned off mirror or mirror-like surfaces, including an upper mirror or mirror-like surface  22   a,  a lower mirror or mirror-like surface  22   b,  and side mirrors or mirror-like surfaces  22   c.    
         [0025]    The upper piece  18   a  also includes a plurality of recessed lights  30  disposed at least partially within light openings  19 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lights  30  are positioned on the surface  20 . Additionally, or alternatively, the lights  30  may be positioned around the outer bezel of the case  10 . The lights  30  allow the front of the case  10  to be illuminated, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Illumination created by the lights  30  provide one or more users  500   a,    500   b  to enhance photographs taken with the mobile device  400 . The lights  30  are preferably electrically coupled to one or more contacts  32  (see  FIG. 1A ) disposed within the interior of the upper piece  18   a.  The contacts  32  are in turn coupled to a small rechargeable battery (not shown) positioned within the case  10 . The rechargeable battery may be recharged by solar power, a power cord (not shown) of the mobile device, or by a separate power source (now shown) for the case, e.g. a cord or a battery. When the battery is powered by the device power cord, the case  10  preferably includes an electronic interface (now shown) that allows elements of the cord to electronically couple with light elements included within the case. The lights  30  are also preferably electronically coupled to a blue-tooth enabled take-picture button  85 , i.e. a shutter button, and a slidable light function button  80  (see  FIG. 1B ) positionable to an off position and high-medium-low positions for controlling the level of illumination for the plurality of lights  30 . 
         [0026]    For positioning of the case  10  for reading or taking photographs, for example, the case includes a plurality of adjustable stand elements that provide vertical, horizontal, and angular positioning of the case with respect to the position of one or more users  500   a,    500   b.  Stand elements for the case  10  include a kick-stand element  40 , a portrait stand element  60  for portrait orientation  10   a  ( FIGS. 1A and 6 ), and a landscape stand element  70  for landscape orientation  10   b  ( FIG. 1B ). Each of the stand elements are coupled to a rear surface  24  of the upper or lower case piece  18   a  or  18   b.  Referring to  FIGS. 4A-4C , the kick-stand element  40  is shown in a first stowed position  50 , with the kick-stand element  40  being substantially flat against the rear surface  24  of the upper case  18   a  and contained in a recess  51 . 
         [0027]    The kick-stand element  40  is tiltable to various positions with respect to tilt or hinge line  43 . Exemplary tilted positions are shown in  FIGS. 1A and 6 . To facilitate positioning, the kick-stand element  40  includes a tilting, rotating segment  42  pivotable with respect to a rotation point  43 , at least one telescoping segment extending therefrom, and a grippable end  48 , e.g., a flange member. 
         [0028]    In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the at least one telescoping segment includes a first telescoping element  44  extendable from segment  42  to a first extended position  52 , and a second telescoping element  46  extendable from first telescoping element  44  to a second ended position  54 . 
         [0029]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 5A, 5B, and 6 , the case  10  includes a portrait stand element  60  for portrait orientation  10   a  and a landscape stand element  70  for landscape orientation  10   b  each of which functions with the kick-stand element  40  for support of the case  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 6 . The portrait stand element  60  is shown in  FIG. 5A  in a stowed position  61 , positioned within a recessed area  65 . In  FIG. 5B , the portrait stand element  60  is shown in an extended position  63 , which shows a telescoping segment  62  and a grippable end  64  of the portrait stand element  60 . Similarly, in  FIG. 5A , the landscape stand element  70  is shown in a stowed position  71  positionable with a recessed area  75 . In  FIG. 5B , the landscape stand element  70  is shown in an extended position  73 . When extended, the landscape stand element is shown including a telescoping segment  72  and a grippable end  74 . In one embodiment, at least one of the portrait stand element  60  and the landscape stand element  70  may also be extendable into a selfie-stick arm. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a mobile device and case assembly  300 , including an alternative case  110  and a mobile device  400 . In this alternative embodiment, the case  100  includes among other features an upper or front piece  118   a  and a lower or rear piece  118   b  separated along a longitudinal perimeter P of the case  100 . The reference numerals of the second preferred embodiment are distinguishable from those of the first preferred embodiment by a factor of one-hundred ( 100 ), but otherwise indicate the same elements as indicated in the first preferred embodiment, except as otherwise specified. The mobile device case  110  of the second preferred embodiment is substantially similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. The description of certain similarities between the embodiments are omitted herein for the sake of brevity and convenience, and, therefore, is not limiting. 
         [0031]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.