Abstract:
Mobile device cases feature sound radiators for changing the sound characteristics of audio played from a mobile device&#39;s speakers. The cases may comprise a mobile device enclosure and a barrier that defines a sound input opening and divides the mobile device enclosure into a device portion and a radiator having a radiator floor. The radiator may include a sound wall and a side wall extending from the radiator floor and defining a sound output opening that is acoustically coupled to the sound input opening.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to cases for mobile devices having sound radiators for directing, amplifying, or otherwise changing the sound characteristics of audio sound waves transmitted from a mobile device&#39;s speakers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Most mobile devices have speakers for producing sound, but device manufacturers often compromise sound quality for cost, device size, and other design considerations. For example, a mobile device may have a small, mono speaker on the bottom of the device that projects sound in a direction substantially parallel to the device. While this configuration may be beneficial in some circumstances, users often desire a higher-quality sound experience. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Implementations of a case for a mobile device may include a mobile device enclosure comprising a pair of adjacent side walls coupled by a pair of adjacent end walls defining a substantially elongate rectangular opening configured to receive a mobile device. An end wall of the pair of end walls may define a sound input opening. A sound radiator may be coupled to the mobile device enclosure proximate this end wall defining the sound input opening. The radiator may include components such as side walls, shoulders, a sound wall and a radiator floor. A first end of the radiator side walls may extend perpendicularly relative to the end wall defining the sound input opening. The shoulders may extend from a second end of the radiator side walls. The sound wall may be joined between the shoulders and arranged opposite the end wall defining the sound input opening. The radiator floor may define a cover such that the radiator components define a partial enclosure for receiving and directing sound waves. The side walls and the sound wall together may define a sound output opening acoustically coupled to the sound input opening for transmitting sound waves out of the partial enclosure. 
         [0004]    One embodiment of a case for a mobile device may include a mobile device enclosure and a barrier defining a sound input opening that divides the mobile device enclosure into a device portion and a radiator having a radiator floor. The radiator may include a sound wall and a side wall extending from the radiator floor that define a sound output opening acoustically coupled to the sound input opening. The case may also have a hinge that divides the case into a first section and a second section and a hinge discontinuity located substantially between the first and second sections. The hinge may also define a first position where the first and second sections are substantially parallel and a second position where the first and second sections are not substantially parallel. The radiator may be slidably coupled to the mobile device enclosure near the sound input opening to define a first position where the sound wall is further away from the speaker opening than it is in a second position. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, there may be a radiator comprising a radiator floor and, extending therefrom, a sound wall and a side wall; a sound input opening and a sound output opening defined by the sound wall, side wall, and radiator floor; and one or more connection members for coupling the radiator to a mobile phone enclosure so that the sound input opening is located near a speaker opening in the mobile phone enclosure. The sound output opening may be larger than the sound input opening. 
         [0006]    In various embodiments, the radiator floor may have an increased height near a portion where the walls extend from the radiator floor; the height of the radiator floor may be equal to a height of the walls; the radiator floor may be made from a different material than the other components of the radiator; the radiator floor may be constructed from a resonant material; the radiator floor may extend partially into the phone enclosure; the radiator may be detachable from the phone enclosure; other configurations; or combinations thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For a further understanding of the above and other features and advantages, reference is made to the following detailed description and to the drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a perspective view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator, according to certain implementations; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a second perspective view of the mobile device case of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator according to certain implementations; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates an end view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator according to certain implementations; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a side cutaway view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator according to certain implementations; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a side cutaway view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator according to certain implementations; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator according to certain implementations; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator according to certain implementations; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a second side view of the mobile device case having a sound radiator opposite the side view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates an end view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator according to certain implementations; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator according to certain implementations; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator according to certain implementations; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of the mobile device case of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  illustrates an end view of the mobile device case of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13A  illustrates a perspective view of a mobile device case having a sound radiator in a first deployed position according to certain implementations; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 13B  illustrates a perspective view of the mobile device case of  FIG. 13A  with the sound radiator in a second retracted position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Implementations provide mobile device cases with a sound radiator. The following embodiments may include configurations with a mobile device having a speaker on its bottom edge; however, other embodiments of a mobile device case may be configured for use with devices of different sizes, shapes, and speaker configurations than the one described. The embodiments may be directed to and suitable for various kinds of mobile devices including but not limited to cell phones, tablet computers, laptops, smart watches, and other mobile devices. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a mobile device case having a sound radiator in a first configuration. The case  10  is shaped and sized to receive and retain a mobile device  40  in a mobile device portion  20 . The mobile device portion  20  may be separated from a radiator  30  by a barrier  25 , and the mobile device portion  20  may be configured to provide protection to the device  40  while allowing a user to access a screen of the device  40  or various controls that may be present. The radiator  30  may be configured to modify the sound produced by the mobile device  40 , and may, for example, modify volume, directionality, equalization, other acoustic properties, and combinations thereof. The radiator may be passive and not require a power source to function as a sound modifier. The radiator may be positioned substantially on a same plane as the device  40 , however other configurations are possible. In some embodiments, a ratio of width to length of the radiator  30  may be 3:1; however, other configurations are possible. 
         [0026]    The mobile device portion  20  may be defined by, for example, a mobile device enclosure  118  sized and shaped to surround a periphery of the mobile device  40  (for example, one or more of the sides, back, front or other regions). The enclosure  118  may allow for the mobile device portion  20  to protect and retain the mobile device  40  within the mobile device portion  20 . Various features may be provided for receiving and retaining the mobile device  40  within the mobile device portion  20 , including but not limited to: mobile device retention clips, portions for protecting the mobile device, rubberized grip portions, mobile device retention locks, other mobile device protection means and combinations thereof. For example, a lip  120  may extend along the periphery of the mobile device enclosure  118  for retaining the mobile device  40 . The lip  120  may be configured as a flange or other structure that prevents the mobile device portion  20  from releasing mobile device  40  during regular use. In addition, the lip  120  may cooperate with a back plate or mobile device base  140  (not visible in  FIG. 1A ) to restrict motion of the mobile device  40 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a second perspective view of the case  10  of  FIG. 1A , including the barrier  25 . The barrier  25  may be configured to expose various regions at an end of the mobile device  40 , for instance, a speaker  42 , a microphone  44 , a port  46 , and an audio connector  48  or various other components. The speaker  42  and the microphone  44  of the mobile device  40  may be located behind speaker grilles to protect internal sound components. The barrier  25  may be constructed so as to not interfere with the use or access of these components  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  while providing retention, support, and/or protection to the mobile device  40 . For example, in this embodiment, portions of the barrier  25  extending between the first and second side walls of the mobile device portion  20  include curved regions complementary to a curvature of the side walls of the mobile device  40 , a top portion of the barrier  25  may be complementary to a top part of the mobile device  40 , and the barrier  25  defines an opening configured as an input opening  34  for the use and access of components  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  located on the bottom of the mobile device  40 . The input opening  34  may provide a conduit for transmitting sound between the device portion  20  and the radiator  30  and may deliver or input sound waves into an interior of the radiator  30 . The speaker  42  of the mobile device  40  may act as a driver for the propagation of sound waves within radiator  30  and out of a radiator sound opening  32  defined by side walls of the radiator. The radiator sound opening  32  may enable sound waves to be output from the radiator  30 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the case  10 , including the radiator  30  and without mobile device  40 , according to certain implementations. The radiator  30  may include radiator side walls  310 , shoulders  320 , a sound wall  330 , and a radiator floor  340 . These components,  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340  may define the radiator sound opening  32 . The components  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340  may be configured to channel, direct, acoustically couple, or amplify sound waves from the sound input opening  34  (not shown) towards, though, and/or out the radiator opening  32 . The radiator side wall  310  may be a wall region of the radiator  30  that begins at a hinge discontinuity  114  and ends at or is coupled to one of the shoulders  320 . In some embodiments, the radiator side wall  310  may initiate at the barrier  25  or other portions of the enclosure  118 . The radiator side walls  310  may define the width of the radiator  30 . In certain implementations, the radiator side walls  310  may be substantially in-line with and/or substantially parallel to the side walls of the device portion  20 . In other implementations, the radiator side walls may extend at an angle in order to define a radiator  30  having a portion of greater or smaller width than the width of the device retention portion  20 . 
         [0029]    The shoulder  320  may be a transition region between the radiator side wall  310  and the sound wall  330 . In the illustrated embodiment, the shoulder  320  is a curved wall region; however, in other embodiments, the shoulder  320  may define sharper or more gradual transition. The sound wall  330  may be the wall of the radiator  30  arranged between the shoulders  320 . Depending on the configuration of the mobile device  40  and the radiator  30 , the sound wall  330  may be opposite the barrier  25  and the sound input opening  34 . In this location, it may be advantageous for the sound wall  330  to have special properties to increase the propagation and amplification of sound being emitted from the speaker  42  or being channeled into the microphone  44 , when the mobile device  40  is installed in the mobile device portion  20 . 
         [0030]    Different implementations of the radiator side walls  310 , the shoulders  320 , and the sound wall  330  may have differing thicknesses and/or heights. These portions may have characteristics similar to or different from each other. According to one implementation, one or more of these components  310 ,  320 ,  330  may have substantially the same thickness as the side walls of the mobile device portion. In other implementations, one or more of these components  310 ,  320 ,  330  may be thicker or thinner than the side walls of the mobile device portion in order to produce or encourage particular sound characteristics of the radiator  30 . 
         [0031]    The interior region of the radiator  30  and the various components within may have or be designed to create various characteristics and features in order to achieve desired acoustic properties. For example, the radiator  30  may be shaped so as to improve the propagation of sound waves from the sound input opening  34  or to the microphone  44 . In one implementation, the radiator floor  340  may have a chamfered edge transition with the sound wall  330 , shoulder  320 , side walls  310 , combinations thereof, or portions thereof. This chamfered edge may allow for the encouragement of sound propagation from sound input opening  34  to the radiator sound opening  32 . The height of this change may be four-times the height of the thickness of radiator floor  340 , however, other configurations are possible. For example, the chamfer may extend substantially all of the way up the walls of the radiator  30  and substantially all of the way along the floor  340  towards a portion near the barrier  25 . The floor  340  may also have specific channels or routes to encourage the transmission of sound from the sound input opening  34  to the sound opening  32 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates an end view of the case  10 , including the sound wall  330  and shoulders  320 , according to certain implementations. The walls  310 ,  320 ,  330  of the radiator  30  may be relatively straight or perpendicular to the floor of the case  10 . In some embodiments, the walls  310 ,  320 ,  330  of the radiator  30  may bow or flare out to form a horn-shaped or other structure. For example, such a design may result in the radiator sound opening  32  having a larger or smaller area than the area of the radiator floor  340  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) within the radiator  30 . This design may alter the acoustic properties of the radiator  30 . The sound wall  330 , shoulder  320 , radiator side walls  310 , radiator floor  340 , and barrier  25  may define an enclosed or partially enclosed radiator interior region, including the radiator sound opening  32 . From this perspective, it can be seen that the top portion of the radiator  30  has a gentle curve in the shoulder  320  region but flattens out near the sound wall  330  portion. However, other embodiments of the case  10  may have different configurations. For example, the sound wall  330  and the shoulder  320  may define a horn-shaped region in the radiator  30  or a region that flares outward from the radiator sound opening  32 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a side cutaway view of the case  10 , including the sound wall  330  and shoulders  320 , according to certain implementations. While the height of portions of the radiator side wall  310  and the shoulder  320  are consistent with height of the wall of the mobile device portion  20 , other portions have an increasing height. For example, the increase in height may be a 25% increase in height, but other increases or decreases are possible. This increase in height may be linear, as shown, or may follow non-linear paths. This view also illustrates the presence of chamfered edges on the periphery of the case  10 . These edges may make the case  10  more comfortable to hold than a sharp transition between different portions of the case  10 . 
         [0034]    The radiator floor  340  may be constructed from the same material as the rest of the radiator  30  and, in some embodiments, may be optional or integrally coupled with a radiator base  350 . In other embodiments, the radiator floor  340  may be constructed from a different material than other portions of the case  10  in order to improve the acoustic properties of the radiator  10 . For example, the radiator floor  340  may be a stiff section prone to vibrating or resonating when the mobile device  40  produces sound. This vibration may improve the acoustic properties of the produced sound. 
         [0035]    The radiator floor  340  may be substantially flat and abut sound wall  330 , shoulder  320 , and radiator side walls  310  at a substantially 90-degree angle. However, the radiator floor  340  may have curved regions, regions of increased material, regions of increased density, regions of different materials, channels, bumps, other structural components, or combinations thereof. The height of the radiator  30  may vary. For example, the radiator  30  may linearly increase in height from about the barrier  25  to the sound wall  330 . However, other configurations are possible. For example, the change in height may be constant, varied, curved, non-existent, or other configurations. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4B  illustrates case  10  configured with a sliding fit between the radiator  30  and the device enclosure  20  by a groove  160  and a tongue  162 , according to certain implementations. The groove  160  may be a channel or groove cut into a portion of the case  10  to allow a sliding fit for a tongue  162  located on a portion of the radiator  30 . The tongue  162  may be a protrusion or other extension that may substantially align with the groove  160 . This configuration may allow for radiator  30  to have a sliding fit with the rest of the case  10 . It may also allow for the radiator  30  to be removed from the case  10  entirely. There may be various locking features that may resist movement of the radiator  30  at various portions, including just before removal, at positions conducive to particular sound or ergonomic configurations, and other positions. For example, there may be a position where the sound wall  330  (or other potion of the case  10 ) abuts the mobile device  40  or the barrier  25  so as to substantially mute or muffle sound emitted from mobile device  40 . While this particular embodiment is shown as having a tongue-and-groove sliding fit, other configurations are possible. For example, the radiator  30  may have radiator side walls  310  sized to fit within or around the mobile device portion  30 . 
         [0037]    In addition, certain implementations of case  10  may have both a hinge  110  and a tongue-and-groove. For example, the tongue  162  may end in a pin, ball, or other substantially circular portion that may have rotatably fit within the groove  160 . When the radiator  30  is, for example, fully extended, the pin may enable the radiator  30  to rotate at the hinge  110 . For example, hinge  110  may deform to allow motion or rotation by the pin. In other embodiments, the tongue  162  may leave the groove  160  to allow for rotation at the hinge  110 . The groove  162  may also be curved along the path of rotation that would result by bending at hinge  110 . Other combinations or structures are possible as well. 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of the case  10  having a sound radiator according to certain implementations, including the hinge  110  and a hinge discontinuity  114 . The hinge  110  may divide the back of the case  10  into a mobile device base  140  and the radiator base  350  and may be a pivot point at or by which the mobile device base  140  and the radiator base  350  may pivot or rotate. The back of the case  10  may also be divided by the hinge discontinuity  114 . The hinge discontinuity  114  may be an area lacking material, an area of highly stretchable material, or a region that generally cooperates with the hinge  110  to allow for hinged separation between two portions of the case  10 . Although the hinge  110  is illustrated as being located in the mobile device portion  20 , it may be located in other areas along case  10 . Some embodiments may not include the hinge  110 . In one embodiment, the hinge  110  may be constructed from the same material as the radiator floor  340 . In other embodiments, the hinge  110  may be entirely or partially constructed from a stretchy or material conducive to repeated bending to allow the mobile device  40  to bend at the hinge discontinuity  114 . The hinge  110  may have a divot or recessed portion to encourage movement or bending. 
         [0039]    The mobile device base  140  may be a portion of the case  10  that primarily defines a back section of the mobile device portion  20  and may be configured with a generally planar wall with a shape corresponding to the back section of the mobile device  40 . The mobile device base  140  may define a rear component opening  210 . The rear component opening  210  may correspond to a rear component portion  54  of the mobile device  40  when the mobile device  40  is retained in the mobile device portion  20 . The rear component opening  210  may allow use of or provide access to rear component portions  54 , which may include cameras, speakers, lights, batteries, other features, or combinations thereof. The radiator base  340  may be a portion of the case  10  that primarily defines a back section of the radiator  30  and may extend to cover a back section of the mobile device portion  20 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the case  10 , including the radiator  30 , according to certain implementations. The case  10  may have a height that varies across its length. For example, the mobile device portion  20  may have a relatively consistent height, the radiator  30  may have a height that matches the height of the mobile device portion  20 , and the radiator  30  may have a region of increasing height. For example, as the radiator side walls  310  extend away from the mobile device portion  20 , the radiator side walls  310  may have a substantially similar height to the height of the side walls of the mobile device portion  20 . As the radiator side walls  310  continue to extend, the height of the radiator side walls  310  may increase. This increase in height may continue through shoulder  320  and sound wall  330 . The increase in height may be fixed or adjustable. According to one implementation, portions of the sound wall  330 , shoulders  320 , and side walls  310  may be constructed from a material or combination of materials that allow for the increase in height to be adjusted. In addition,  FIG. 6  illustrates the hinge discontinuity  114  as it extends up the side of the case  10 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates a second side view of the case  10  opposite the side view of  FIG. 6 , including a feature opening  220 , according to certain implementations. The feature opening  220 , may be one or more openings located on a side of the case  10  to allow a user to access a side mobile device feature  50  located on a side of the mobile device  40 . The side mobile device features  50  may include a silent-mode switch, volume buttons, power buttons, a kick stand, SIM card door, and other features. Although the feature openings  220  are shown as being discrete openings for each of the side mobile device features  50 , the feature opening  220  may be a single continuous opening that allows for access to many or all of side mobile device features  50 . While the openings  220  may be an absence of material in the side of a case  10 , the openings  20  may also be a different material that allows for manipulation of the side mobile device features  50  (for example, a region of thinner or different material), and depending on the material the case  10  is made from, openings may not be needed at all. 
         [0042]      FIG. 8  illustrates an end view of case  10 , including a top feature opening  230  according to certain implementations. The top feature opening  230  may be one or more openings located on a top of the case  10  to allow for a user to access one or more of the top features  52  located on a top of the mobile device  40 . The top features  52  may include a power button, a SIM card door, a headphone jack, and other features. Although the top feature opening  230  is shown as a single continuous opening that allows for access to the top feature  52 , other openings, or configurations of openings are possible. While the opening  230  may be an absence of material in the top of the case  10 , the opening  230  may also be a different material that allows for manipulation of a top feature  52  (for example, a region of thinner or different material), and depending on the material the case  10  is made from, the opening  230  may not be needed at all. In addition, the portions of the radiator  30  that have a greater height than the phone retention portion  20  are visible, specifically side walls  310 , shoulders  320 , and sound wall  330 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of case  10  having an alternate barrier  25  design according to certain implementations. In this implementation, the barrier  25  is a substantially straight, elongate piece extending across the width of case  10  with two posts coupling the barrier  25  to the floor of the case  10 . The exact location of the posts may vary depending on the configuration of the mobile device  40 . For example, as illustrated, the posts flank the port  46  but do not cover other features  42 ,  44 ,  48  on the base of the mobile device  40 . In this implementation, sound input opening  34  may be smaller than in other implementations. The illustrated case  10  also has a notch  315 . The notch  315  may be an opening defined by a portion of the case  10  (e.g., sound wall  330 ) sized, shaped, and located in order to provide additional access to components of the mobile device  40 , such as the port  46  or the audio connector  48 . A device designed to connect to the port  46  (e.g., a charging or data cable) may be of such a size and shape that a user may have difficulty coupling the device with the port  46 . The notch  315  may be configured to facilitate the process by, for example, providing additional space to maneuver or place the device. In addition, the notch  315  may be sized, shaped, and/or located to minimize an effect on the radiator  30 . For example, if the notch  315  is too large, it may encourage sound propagation in an undesirable manner. In other implementations, the notch  315  may be designed to affect the performance of the radiator  30 . The notch may be sized, shaped and/or located in order to beneficially alter the sound propagation characteristics of the radiator  30 . For example, implementations with the notch  315  may alter the directionality of audio in a desired direction. 
         [0044]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the case  10  according to certain implementations. The case  10  may be positioned in the second configuration by bending the case  10  at the hinge  110  and the hinge discontinuity  114 . Bending the phone at the hinge  110  and the hinge discontinuity  114  may move the barrier  25  or other features to allow the mobile device  40  to be slid in or out of the phone retention portion  20  case  10  by placing the mobile device  40  between the floor of the case and the lip  120  and pushing or pulling. While this configuration may allow for the insertion and removal of the mobile device  40 , the second configuration may also allow for the case  10  to be used as a stand to orient the device in a particular direction. 
         [0045]      FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of the case  10  of  FIG. 8  in the second configuration, including the mobile device  40  emerging from the case  10 . In this configuration, the case  10  may be referred to in the context of a first section and a second section divided by the hinge  110  and the hinge discontinuity  114 . While in the first configuration, the first and second sections are substantially parallel, while in the second configuration, the first and second sections are rotated with respect to each other and are no longer substantially parallel. 
         [0046]      FIG. 12  illustrates an end view of the case  10  of  FIG. 8  in the second configuration, including the lip  120 . From this perspective and in this configuration, the lip  120  is arranged at the periphery of the enclosure  120 . The lip  120  may be a flange that extends over the front of the mobile device  40  to restrict motion while minimizing any negative effects on the usability of the screen or other controls on the front of the device  40 . This may be accomplished by extending the lip  120  over a bezel of the mobile device  40 . In this second configuration, the barrier  25  is moved out of the way of the mobile device  40  and no longer blocks motion of the mobile device  40 . Also shown in this front view are the speaker  42 , the microphone  44 , the port  46 , and the audio connector  48 . 
         [0047]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate the case  10  according to certain implementations where the radiator  30  is slidably coupled to the mobile device enclosure  180  near the sound input opening  34  to define a first position in  FIG. 13A  and where the sound wall  330  is spaced further apart from the sound input opening  34  compared to a second position in  FIG. 13B . 
         [0048]    More particularly,  FIG. 13A  illustrates a case  10  where the radiator  30  is in a first deployed position according to certain implementations. For instance, the radiator  30  may be in the first deployed position as a result of a sliding fit between tongue  162  and groove  160 . This position may be an extended or substantially extended position where the sound wall  330  is substantially distant from the barrier  25 . While in this position, the radiator  30  may amplify, direct, or otherwise modify sound emitted from the mobile device  40 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 13B  illustrates the case  10  where the radiator  30  is in a second retracted position according to certain implementations. In  FIG. 13B , the radiator may be in the second retracted position as a result of sliding the sound wall  330  towards the barrier  25  until the components are substantially adjacent. While in this configuration, the radiator  30  may amplify, direct, or otherwise modify the sound emitted from the mobile device  40 ; however, it may have additional or changed characteristics from the first deployed position. For example, certain frequencies of sound may be accentuated or diminished. In certain configurations, the sound may be muffled or muted altogether by substantially sealing barrier  25  with sound wall  330 . 
         [0050]    In addition to amplifying and directing sound from the speaker  42 , the radiator  30  may also be suitable for acting as a channel, wind blocker, or other sound enhancer for directing external sound into the microphone  44 . 
         [0051]    While the radiator  30  has been discussed in the context of case  10 , radiator  30  need not be integrally connected with the mobile device portion  20  and may be sold or utilized as a separate component that is adapted to fit or cooperate with existing case designs from a variety of manufacturers. For example, certain implementations of radiator  30  may include a radiator floor  340 , sound wall  330 , and radiator side walls  310 , but it may also include one or more connection members for connecting the radiator  30  to a mobile phone enclosure so that the sound input opening is located near a speaker opening in the mobile phone enclosure. The connection members may be elongated components extending from side walls  310  or they may be the side walls  310  themselves in an elongated configuration in order to fit around or cooperate with an existing case design. 
         [0052]    While this disclosure describes exemplary cases, various changes can be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. As understood by those skilled in the art, modifications can also be made to adapt these teachings to different situations and applications, and to the use of other materials and methods, without departing from the essential scope of the cases disclosed herein. Implementations are thus not limited to the particular examples that are disclosed, and encompasses all of the implementations falling within the subject matter of the appended claims.