Case having protective film for electronic device

A case having a protective film for an electronic device includes a soft protective shell having a bottom and a side wall, a hard protective frame configured to removably mount over the bottom and side wall of the protective shell, and a protective film for covering the front portion of the electronic device. The soft protective shell significantly covers hack and side portions of the electronic device, but does not significantly covers a front portion of the electronic device. The protective shell further includes an inverted “L”-shaped recess for receiving and holding in place edges of the protective film. The case may further include a film frame for covering the protective film.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a case having a protective film for an electronic device and, more particularly, to a mobile phone case having a soft protective shell, a hard protective frame, and a protective film. The protective film is attached to the screen of the electronic device, and its edges are securely received by an inverted “L”-shaped recess of the soft protective shell. The electronic device may foe a mobile phone, smart phone, tablet computing device, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention provides a case having a protective film for an electronic device.

The object of the invention is to provide a case having a protective film for an electronic device, comprising a soft protective, shell having a bottom and a side wall, a hard protective frame configured to removably mount over the bottom and side wall of the protective shell, and a protective film for covering the front portion of the electronic device. The soft protective shell significantly covers the back portion and side portion, of the electronic device, but does not significantly cover the front portion of the electronic device. The protective shell further includes an inverted “L”-shaped recess for receiving and holding in place edges of the protective film.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case having a protective film for an electronic device, comprising a soft protective shell, a hard protective frame configured to removably mount over the soft protective shell, and a protective film for covering a front portion of the electronic device. The protective shell further includes an inverted shaped recess for receiving and holding in place edges of the protective film. The inverted “L”-shaped recess is preferably formed continuously along four sides of the side wall.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a case having a protective film for an electronic device, comprising a soft protective shell, a hard protective frame configured to removably mount over the soft protective shell, and a protective film for covering the front portion of the electronic device. The protective shell further includes an inverted “L”-shaped recess for receiving and holding in place the edges of the protective film, and the inverted “L”-shaped recess is formed continuously along four sides of the side wall. The protective shell further comprises grooves formed on the inverted “L”-shaped recess, and the protective film comprises mating protrusions, wherein the mating protrusions mate with the grooves.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a case having a protective shell, a protective frame, a protective film, and a film frame. The film frame covers the protective film and the front portion of the electronic device. The film frame is received and secured in between the sides of the protective shell and the electronic device.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the case for an electronic device of the present invention has a protective film, for covering and protecting the screen of an electronic device which is securely held in place by an inverted “L”-shaped recess formed on the side wall of the soft protective shell of the case; (2) the case for an electronic device of the present invention provides multiple protections to an electronic device secured therein by a soft protective shell, a hard protective frame, and a protective film; (3) the inverted shaped recess receives edges of the protective film, and the edges of the protective film can be securely and tightly held, in place partially because of the pressure by the hard protective frame towards the soft protective shell and towards the direction of the electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions, or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2show front and rear perspective exploded, views of the case and an electronic device.

FIGS. 3 through 10show a front elevational view, a top view, a bottom view, a left elevational view, a right elevational view, a rear elevational view, a front perspective view, and a rear perspective view of the case with an electronic device therein.

The case100, having a protective film30for an electronic device1, comprises: a protective shell10, a protective frame20, and a protective film30. The protective shell10protects and covers the electronic device1installed therein, significantly covering back2and side3portions of the electronic device1, but without significantly covering a front portion4of the electronic device. The protective shell10comprises a bottom12, covering the back portion2of the electronic device1, and a side wall13, extending from the bottom12and covering the side portion3of the electronic device1. The protective frame20is configured to removably mount over the side wall13of the protective shell10. The protective film30covers and protects the front portion4of the electronic device1. In addition, the protective shell10further comprises an inverted “L”-shaped recess14for receiving and securely holding in place the edges of the protective film30.

FIGS. 13 through 20show various views of the protective shell10.

The side wall13of the protective shell10comprises an inner bevel15and an outer bevel16.

As shown inFIGS. 31 through 36, the inverted “L”-shaped recess14is formed right below the inner bevel15of the side wall13. In addition, the inverted “L”-shaped recess14is formed continuously along four sides of the side wall13to receive all four edges of the protective film30.

FIGS. 11 through 12show perspective views of the protective film30. The protective film30is attached to the front portion4of the electronic device1. As shown inFIGS. 31 and 32, the edges of the protective film30may be curved and securely received by the inverted “L”-shaped recess14. When the edges of the protective film30are curved, the edges may be detached from the electronic device1, but the inverted “L”-shaped recess14securely holds the edges to prevent them from being detached.

The protective shell10may further comprise grooves17formed on the inverted “L”-shaped recess14as shown inFIG. 37and the protective film30may further comprise mating protrusions37such that the mating protrusions37mate with the grooves17. Because of the coupling between the grooves17and the mating protrusions37, the protective film30and its edges can be securely held in place by the protective shell10. Preferably, such grooves17and mating protrusions37are respectively formed on all four sides of the protective shell10and all four edges of the protective film30.

The inverted shaped recess14receives edges of the protective film30and the grooves17receives the mating protrusions37. In the alternative, the mating protrusions37, instead of edges of the protective film30may be received in the inverted shaped recess14.

The inverted “L”-shaped recess14has a vertical side and a horizontal side. Preferably, the grooves17are formed on the vertical side of the inverted “L”-shaped recess14and substantially in contact with inner edges of the inverted “L”-shaped recess14. Here, the inner edge is the bordering line between the vertical side and horizontal side of the inverted “L”-shaped recess14.

FIGS. 21 through 28show various views of the protective frame20.

The protective frame20is configured to removably mount over the side wall13and additionally the bottom12of the protective shell10.

The protective shell10may comprise a plurality of indentations18formed on the side wall13of the protective shell10and the protective frame20may comprise complementary structures28to be received in the indentations18. The indentations18are formed on the outer side of the side wall13, and the outer side of the protective frame20may be substantially flush with the side of the protective shell10to form a substantially continuous contour of the side of the case100.

The protective shell10may further comprise a plurality of recesses19formed on the indentations18and the protective frame20may further comprise complementary protrusions29to be received in the plurality of recesses19. Because of this coupling between the recesses19and the complementary protrusions29, the protective frame20can securely and tightly mount over the protective shell10. The protective frame20is sufficiently tensile enough to mount over the protective shell10and to be removed therefrom. In addition, the recesses19are preferably formed on edges of the indentations18and lengthwise along the edges of the indentations18.

The protective shell10may further include a depression40formed on the outer surface of the bottom12of the protective shell10for receiving the protective frame20therein. By this construction, the back of the protective frame20may become substantially flush with a non-depression area of the outer surface of the bottom12.

FIGS. 29 and 30show perspective views of an electronic device1(iPhone 6™).

The protective shell10may further comprise four legs51,52,53and54formed on the non-depression area of the outer surface of the bottom12. The legs51,52,53and54prevent the protective frame20from being directly in contact with a surface where the case100is placed.

The protective shell10is made of soft material and the protective frame20is made of hard material. Preferably, the protective shell10is made of thermoplastic polyurethane and the protective frame20is made of polycarbonate.

If the protective shell10is made of soft material, the edges of the protective film30may be dislodged from the inverted “L”-shaped recess14. However, the hard protective frame20presses the side wall13of the protective shell10towards the direction of the electronic device1, and thus, the edges of the protective film30can be securely and tightly held in the inverted “L”-shaped recess14.

The protective film30may be made of polycarbonate, tempered glass, or polyethylene terephthalate. The protective film30may be coated with a UV (ultraviolet) curable coating. The coated side of the protective film30is preferably in contact with the screen of the electronic device1. The UV coating reduces glare and improves wear or scratch resistance.

FIGS. 31 through 36show various cross-sectional views of the case. InFIGS. 35 and 36, the screen of the electronic device1is flat and the edges of the protective film30are flat as well. However, inFIGS. 31 and 32, the edges of the screen of the electronic device1are curved and the edges of the protective film30are curved as well. InFIGS. 33 and 34, the screen of the electronic device1is concave and the protective film30is concavely attached to the screen. In all three embodiments, the edges of the protective film30are securely held by the inverted “L”-shaped recess14.

FIGS. 38 through 43show alternative embodiment of the present invention. Here, the case further comprises a film frame60for covering the protective film30and the front portion of the electronic device1.

FIG. 38shows a front perspective exploded view of alternative embodiment of the present invention andFIG. 33shows a rear perspective exploded view of the case.

FIG. 40shows front, left side, right side, top, bottom, rear, front perspective and rear perspective views of the case. In addition,FIGS. 41A, 41B, and 41Cshow a bottom view and cross-sectional views of the case andFIGS. 42A, 42B, and 42Cshow a side view and cross-sectional views of the case.FIG. 43shows front, left side, right side, top and bottom views of the film frame60of the case. Here, the electronic device1is drawn in green.

The case having a protective film30for an electronic device1comprises: a protective shell10for protecting the electronic device1installed therein, significantly covering back and side portions of the electronic device1and without significantly covering a front portion of the electronic device1wherein the protective shell10comprises a bottom12covering the back portion of the electronic device1and a side wall13extending from the bottom and covering the side portion of the electronic device1; a protective frame20configured to removably mount over the side wall of the protective shell10; a protective film30for covering the front portion of the electronic device1; and a film frame60for covering the protective film30and the front portion of the electronic device1.

The case may further comprise a standing leg70for supporting the electronic device1so that the electronic device can stand. The standing leg70is pivoted with the protective frame20and rotatable with respect to the protective frame20. The U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/063,292, entitled “Case having Standing Leg for Electronic Devices” describes details on the standing leg70and the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

The case may further comprise a round transparent film80received in a round recess formed on the protective frame20. The protective frame20has a round aperture and the protective shell10also has a round aperture on the location corresponding to the round aperture of the protective frame20. The round recess may be formed around the round aperture of the protective frame20(FIG. 38) or the protective shell10(not shown).

The film frame60is received and secured in between sides of the protective shell10and the electronic device1. The film frame60can be inserted in between the protective shell10and the electronic device1because the protective shell10is soft and flexible. However, once the film frame60is inserted, it is tightly secured in there.

Top and bottom sides of the film frame60may be inserted and secured in between the protective shell10and the electronic device1. Alternatively, four corner sides of the film frame60may be inserted and secured in between the protective shell10and the electronic device1. These alternatives are example only and various constructions can be possible.

Preferably, the protective film30is attached to the film frame60by a double-sided tape. Preferably, the film frame60is made of polycarbonate.