Protective case for electronic device

A protective case for a mobile or portable electronic device is disclosed. The protective case includes a front portion and a back portion that is configured to slide into a side of the front portion to effectuate the sealing and closure of the case. The front portion is configured to cover the front face and sides of the electronic device and includes rails or protrusions on opposing sides of its internal surface. The back portion is configured to cover the back side of the electronic device and includes channels on opposing sides that are configured to be slide along the rails on the opposing sides the internal surface of the front component and thereby open and close the case. The protective case is configured to be reversibly attached to a stand module that facilitates multiple viewing/operating positions. The stand includes a base that is configured to be attached to the case, a hinged stand arm, and a slide cover that locks the hinged stand arm into various configurations that facilitate supporting the protective case and mobile device in multiple viewing/operating positions or orientations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to accessories for electronic devices and more specifically to user removable protective enclosures or cases for mobile electronic devices.

Description of the Related Art

Mobile consumer electronic products, such as smart and cellular phones, computing tablets, MP3/audio/video players, gaming devices and laptops are continuously and rapidly evolving to meet expanding consumer demands. Many such mobile electronic devices include touchscreen displays on their front face and one or more buttons, access or charging ports, switches, sensors, speakers, and cameras. It is important to protect such devices from damage from impact, dust and moisture and yet do so while facilitating their use. While there exists protective cases to mitigate against such damage, such protective case can be difficult or inconvenient to install and uninstall from the mobile electronic device, provide insufficient protection, and fail to allow suitable interaction with the mobile electronic device or facilitate varied operation modes.

Accordingly, the inventors here have recognized that there is a continued need for protective cases that can be conveniently installed over the mobile electronic device, enhance protection while facilitate use of the mobile device in a desired manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed are numerous aspects of a unique and inventive protective case configured to receive, retain and protect a mobile electronic device, such as a smart or mobile phone, a computing tablet, a laptop, an MP3 audio player, a gaming device, or other portable handheld electronic device that includes an interactive touchscreen display.

In one aspect, the protective case includes a front component and a back component that slides into one side of the front component to seal and close the case. The front component is configured to cover the front face and sides of the electronic device and includes rails or protrusions on opposing sides of its internal surface. The back component is configured to cover the back side of the electronic device and includes channels on opposing sides that are configured to slide along the rails of the front component to open and close the case.

In another aspect, the protective case is configured to be attached to a stand that facilitates multiple viewing/operating positions. The stand comprises a base that is configured to be attached to the case, a hinged stand arm, and a slide cover, that locks the stand arm into various configurations that facilitate positioning the protective case and electronic device into the multiple viewing/operating positions.

The construction, configuration and implementation of the various components of the case and stand and their interrelationship constitute additional aspects of the invention. In this regard, it should be understood that each of the foregoing and various aspects, together with those set forth in the claims and summarized above and/or otherwise disclosed herein, including the drawings, may be combined to support claims for a device, apparatus, system, method of manufacture, and/or use without limitation.

Each drawing is generally to scale and hence relative dimensions of the various components can be determined from the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As summarized above and illustrated in the drawings, disclosed herein are various aspects of a protective case for a mobile device and reversibly detachable and configurable stand capable of providing different user viewing/operation positions. Many of those aspects are summarized above and illustrated in the drawings.

As set forth above, disclosed inFIGS. 1A-14Dis a protective case100for a mobile or portable electronic device900and reversibly attachable configurable stand1000capable of providing enhanced protection and convenient installation and removal of the electronic device while also providing multiple use modes.

The protective case100includes front, back, left, right, top and bottom sides101,102,103,104,105,106, exterior and interior surfaces107,108, and an electronic device compartment110that is configured to receive and retain an electronic device900. The electronic device900includes corresponding front, back, left, right, top and bottom sides901,902,903,904,905,906with an interactive touchscreen display910, home button/biometric sensor911, and speaker port912on its front face901, a camera lens and flash module913on its back face902, a charging port913, microphone and speaker ports914on its bottom side906, and an audio jack port915and a plurality of buttons and/or switches (e.g., volume, on/off)916on its sides.

The case100comprises basically two major components: a front portion200and a back portion300that slides into one side of front component200to seal and close the case100. The front portion200comprises a front shell400, a transparent screen panel500and an inner bumper600. The bottom portion300comprises a bottom shell700and a back shell pad800. In addition, the case100is configured to attach to and be supported in multiple operation modes by a stand1000. The stand generally comprises a stand base1100, a hinged stand arm1200and a slide cover1300. Each of these components are described in more detail below.

The front shell400comprises a perimeter support frame410defining a front face opening470configured to overlie the touchscreen display910and the home button and biometric sensor911on the front side901of the mobile device900. The perimeter support frame includes C-shaped cross-section regions that are configured to overlie the front face901of the mobile device900and wrap around from the front side101to the back side102of the case100on three sides. In the illustrated embodiment the perimeter support frame410wraps has a C-shaped cross-section configuration that wraps around at the bottom, left, and right sides106,104,103of the case100while leaving the top side101with an opening to receive the back portion300of the case100that slides into that side. While in the illustrated implementation the front portion200is configured to allow the back portion300to slide into the case from the top side101, it should be understood that the case100may be configured to allow the back portion300to slide into the case from the bottom, left or right sides.

To facilitate the sliding engagement and attachment with the back portion300, the interior surface411of the front shell400includes rails420positioned on opposing left and right sides104,103that extend in generally transverse direction to the open top side105of the front shell400. The front shell400also includes slide guides426and retention notches425on the interior surface411at the bottom side106end region. The exterior surface412of the front shell400includes a clasp receiving/engaging surface415that is configured to be attached by the clasp715of the bottom shell700component.

The right side103of the front shell400includes button interfaces430that are hollowed on the inner side that are configured to reside over the volume buttons916of the mobile device900. To the extent that the mobile device has a switch on one of its sides, a movable switch interface435may also be positioned on the perimeter of the case100that is configured to engage and move the switch. The top and bottom side105,106of the front shell400can include port apertures440that are configured to overlie the charging and headphone jack ports913,915on the electronic device900to facilitate charging and connecting to the headphone jack. Port plugs475can be provided to seal port apertures440when not in use. Speaker and/or microphone apertures450, which are covered by acoustic membranes470, may also be provided to overlie the speakers and microphones914of the electronic device to facilitate audio communication.

To facilitate placement and retention of the inner bumper component600, the front shell400includes retention apertures460that are configured on the inner side to receive the inner bumper600retention tabs660and on the external side to receive the attachment protrusion1115on the stand base1100to facilitate attachment of the stand1000to the case100.

The front shell400may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, including polymers and metal. In one implementation, the front shell400comprises multiple co-molded polymer inner and outer layers480,485. The inner layer480can be formed of a more rigid polycarbonate (PC) material, whereas the outer or external layer485can be formed of a relatively less rigid polymer such as thermoplastic urethane or other elastomer. The more rigid inner layer480generally forms a substrate upon which the softer more elastic outer layer485is molded. The inner layer480forms the outer surfaces of the front shell400in various regions including the internal surfaces411of the front shell400and the rails420, and the perimeter around the front face opening470, the clasp receiving surface415and the indented regions on either side of the retention apertures460. The bulged out externally facing surfaces that surround the corners regions and overlie portions of the sides, and the button interfaces430are formed of the softer elastic outer layer485to act as a bumper and allow for the pliability necessary to be depressible by the user for use as a button.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 2A-2B, mounted to the internal surface of the front shell400is a transparent touchscreen film or panel500that is configured to overlying the front face opening470to allow the user visibility and interaction with the touchscreen display of the electronic device. For electronic devices, like the Apple iPad that have a home button and/or biometric sensor on the front side, the transparent panel500may further define a user interface opening510that is configured to reside around and over the home button/biometric sensor911of the electronic device900. To provide protected interaction with the home button/biometric sensor911, a more flexible membrane520may be overlaid over the opening510and be attached or bonded to the transparent touchscreen panel500and/or front shell400component.

The transparent touchscreen panel500may be formed of any suitable material including glass, tempered or reinforced glass, or a polymer film. In one implementation, for example, the transparent touchscreen panel500is formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film having a thickness of 0.25 mm. Similarly the more flexible membrane520, may be formed of any suitably durable elastic polymer that allows for the needed capacitive interaction and repetitive movement associated with such home buttons/biometric sensors. In one implementation, for example, the more flexible membrane520is formed of a clear 2 MIL (0.002 inches) thick thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film.

The inner bumper component600, as best illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2B, 5 and 8, is configured as a unitary component and is configured to be positioned and reside within the perimeter internal surface411of front shell400and be configured externally to conform to the surface configuration of the underlying internal surface areas of the front shell400. The inner bumper600is further configured to include button interfaces630that are configured to reside within the hollow cavities in button interfaces430of the front shell400and engage with the buttons916on the mobile device900in response to the user depressing the button interfaces430on the front shell400. The inner bumper600is also configured to include retention tabs660that are configured to reside within the retention apertures/notches460formed on the interior surface411on the bottom end section of the front shell400.

The inner bumper600may be formed of any suitable elastomeric material or other materials capable of effectuating the desired cushioning. In one implementation, the inner bumper is formed as a unitary molded frame structure formed of silicone having a Shore A hardness of 50+/−5 to provide the desired firmness and cushioning. As best illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2B, 5 and 8A, plurality of apertures or cavities610may be provided through the inner bumper600frame structure to provide additional flexibility and cushioning.

Bottom shell component700of the back portion300, which is best illustrated inFIGS. 1B, 2A-2B, 4A-5 and 7-11D, generally comprises a back panel710having corresponding inner and outer faces711,712and left, right, top and bottom sides703,704,705,706. The left and right sides include opposing channels720on their inner face711that are configured to track or slide over the rails420of the front portion200when the bottom portion300is attached to the top portion200. The channels720, which are best illustrated in the left and right side views ofFIGS. 4B-4Dand the detailed illustration inFIG. 8, are defined in the inner face711between the inner surface of the exterior wall722on one side and a series of protruding wall structures721extending from the inner face711on the other side.

The top side705of the bottom shell700can further include a clasping member715that is configured to attach to or clasp receiving surface415on the front shell400when the bottom portion300is attached to the front portion200and thereby serves to keep the case100closed. The bottom shell700can further include retention protrusions725on its bottom side706that are configured to being received within corresponding retention notches425on the bottom end inner surface411of the front shell400.

Like the front shell400, various apertures can be provided in the bottom shell700to facilitate interaction and operative of the electronic device900. For example, an audio jack aperture740is provided on the top side705of the bottom shell700and corresponds to the audio jack aperture440in the front shell400and the audio jack port915of the electronic device900. A camera/flash module aperture750is further provided near the top right corner to correspond with the position camera lens and flash module913on the back face902of the electronic device900. The inner surface711of the bottom shell700further includes a perimeter cavity770that is configured to receive and retain in position the back shell pad800.

The back shell pad800, as best illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2B and 6, comprises front and back surfaces811and812, and as noted is configured to being received in, the perimeter cavity770on the inner surface711of the bottom shell700. The front surface811includes an elevated contour surface815to provide for additional cushioning while the back face812is generally flat to correspond to the surface of the perimeter cavity770of the bottom shell700. The back shell pad800may be formed of any suitable elastomeric material or other materials capable of effectuating the desired cushioning or impact dissipation. In one implementation, the back shell pad800, like the inner bumper component600, may be formed as a unitary molded frame structure formed of silicone having a Shore A hardness of 50+/−5, which has been found to provide suitable firmness and cushioning. The back shell pad800may be bonded by any suitable means (e.g., adhesive, chemically) to the bottom shell700or may be co-molded thereto.

FIGS. 7-9are a series of illustrations depicting how the back portion300is attached to the front portion200by position and then sliding the bottom side706of the back portion300into the open-ended top side of the front portion200so that the opposing channels720on the bottom shell700are received and guided into the closed position by the corresponding rails420in the interior surface411of the side walls of the front shell400. In operation, the user opens the case100by sliding the back portion300off the front portion200, then inserts the electronic device900front face down onto the inner bumper600of the front portion200. Once the electronic device900is properly position in the front portion200, the back portion300can be slid into the front portion as previously described until the case100is closed.

The retention apertures460provide a means for attaching accessory components to the case100. One such accessory component is a configurable stand1000, which is best depicted inFIGS. 10A-14. The stand1000generally comprises a stand base1100, a hinged stand arm1200, and a slide cover1300. The stand base1100is generally in a form of a panel having a length, width, and thickness and being configured to extends longitudinally from a first end region1101to a second end region1102and includes an inner case facing surface1103, an opposing outer facing surface1104, with the thickness being defined between those opposing faces1103,1104. Each of the end regions1101,1102includes a curved C shaped clasp arm1110that includes an attachment protrusion1115, extending from its inner facing surface1103, and configured to be externally received in retention apertures460.

The outer facing surface1104of the stand base1100includes a plurality of steps or ledges1120formed therein, each of which is configured to include a plurality of apertures or notches1130that are configured to receive feet1230protruding from the free-end of the hinged stand arm1200as further described below. A plurality of retention cavities1150are positioned on the outer surface1104of the stand base1100and are configured to retentively receive protrusions1250correspondingly positioned on the internal surface1203of the hinged stand arm1200when the two components are pressed against one another so that the outer surface1104of the stand base1100is in contact with the inner facing surface1203of the hinged stand arm1200. The width of the stand base1100includes recessed regions1160on other sides are configured to confine the slider1300therein when the hinged arm1200is in the closed position.

The hinged stand arm1200, as best illustrated inFIGS. 10A-11D and 13A-13B, is also generally in the form of a panel having a length, width, and thickness and being configured to extends longitudinally from a first end region1201to a second end region1202and includes an inner case facing surface1203, an opposing outer facing surface1124, with the thickness being defined between those opposing faces1203,1204. The first end region1201of the stand arm1200is hinged via a first hinge1210to the first end region1101of the stand base100. The stand arm1200further includes a second internal hinge1220that allows the stand arm to flex over itself as best illustrated inFIGS. 11A-11Band delineates a first section1205of the stand arm1200from the second section1206of the stand arm1200with the first section1205residing between the first and second hinges1210,1220and the second section1206residing between the second hinge1120and the second end region1202. The feet1230are positioned at the second end1202, which is the free end of the stand arm, and as stated above are configured to fit in the notches1130when the stand arm is position on a ledge1120.

An additional flex joint1232may be included in the second section1206to add further flexibility in the stand arm1200to facilitate manipulation of the feet1230in and out of the notches1130. The stand arm1200further includes slide cover retention protrusions or bumps1240on opposing edges of both the first and second sections1205,1206on either side of the second hinge1220to facilitate friction fit interaction with ribs1330, positioned on the internal corner regions of the inner case facing surface1302of the slide cover1300, that allow the slide cover to be locked into two different positions on the stand arm1200. Similarly, two sets of protrusions1250are configured to extend from the inner surface1203of the stand arm1200, with a first set positioned on the first section1205and a second set positioned on the second section1206so that they reside on either side of the second hinge1220. The protrusions1250are positioned to be restively received within the retention cavities1150correspondingly positioned on the outer surface1104of the stand base1100and thereby may further assist in keeping the stand arm1200in the closed position as illustrated inFIGS. 10A-10B.

The hinged stand arm1200may be formed of any suitable materials to effectuate the needed rigidity and flexibility at the hinge1220. In one implementation, the hinged stand arm1200is formed of molded polymer materials with sections1205and1206being formed of a rigid polymer such as PC and internal hinge1220and the feet1230being co-molded thereto and formed of a softer polymer material such as TPU or an elastomer. The hinge1220in this configuration is thus a living hinge configuration, whereas the hinge1210, between the stand arm1200and the stand base1100, is more of a conventional mechanical hinge that is formed pins that extends outwardly from the first end section1201of the stand arm1200and that are received within correspondingly dimensioned cavities or channels in the first end region1101, below the clasp arm1110, of the stand base1100.

The slide cover1300component and its operation is best illustrated inFIGS. 10A-10B, 11A-11D and 12A-12B. The slide cover1300is generally comprised of an inner case facing surface1302and outer externally facing surface1301and includes a middle panel1305with transversely extending side walls1310on opposing ends. The inner facing surfaces1302of the side walls1310are configured to include channels1320that are dimensioned to receive and slide along the sides of the hinged stand arm1200from a first locked position where the slide cover1300overlies the hinge1220to a second unlocked position where the slide cover1300is adjacent to the hinge1220. In the second unlocked position, which is depicted inFIGS. 10A-10B and 11A-11B, the slide cover1300does not restrict the hinge1220from bending. Whereas in the first locked position, which is depicted inFIGS. 11C-11D, the slide cover1300overlies the hinge1220and resides over both the first and second sections1205and1206and thereby precludes or mitigates against bending of the stand arm1200along its internal hinge1220. The inner facing surfaces1302of the side walls1310further include catches or ribs1330that are configured to retentively attach to the protrusions or bumps1240on opposing edges of the first and second sections1205,1206of the stand arm1200and thereby fix the slider cover1300in the locked or unlocked position.

The slide cover1300may be formed of any suitable material including metal or polymer. In one implementation, the slide cover1300is formed of a molded rigid polymer such as PC.

While a stand accessory is described it should be understood that various other case accessories or modules may be attached to the stand via the retention apertures460. Such modules may provide additional functionalities.

Further, while the protective case described herein is disclosed in the context of a tablet computing device, it should be understood that the structural components and features may be adapted to other electronic devices including smart and cellular phones, laptops, MP3/audio/video players, and gaming devices. Moreover, although the various inventive aspects are herein disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments, implementations, and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the various aspects have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within their scope will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It should therefore be also understood that the scope of this disclosure includes the various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, such that the various features, modes of implementation, and aspects of the disclosed subject matter may be combined with or substituted for one another. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments or implementations described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of claims made in this patent document and any future patent document that relies on this disclosure.

Similarly, this method of disclosure, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than are expressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claims represent, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.