Patent Publication Number: US-8978883-B2

Title: Electronic device case with a co-molded stand

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application 61/788,497, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure is generally related to a case for use with a portable electronic device. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a case configured to protect the electronic device from impacts or abrasions. 
     2. Background 
     Some cases for portable electronic devices, such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), for example, have hard exterior surfaces with low coefficients of friction. Such exterior surfaces may facilitate insertion and removal of the case (and electronic device therein) from a user&#39;s pocket. Other cases are formed from a softer cushioning material, tending to have a relatively high coefficient of friction, which may provide greater impact protection to the electronic device. Among other things, the present application discloses improvements to cases for electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment, a case for use with a portable electronic device includes a first material configured to surround a back portion and side portions of the portable electronic device, the first material generally being positioned at an exterior of the case. The case also includes a second material secured to the first material, the second material having greater flexibility than the first material. The case additionally includes a movable stand configured to selectively extend from the first material to support the case in an elevated position. The movable stand is coupled to the first material by the second material. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an electronic device case; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a left side view of the electronic device case of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another perspective side view of the electronic device case of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view of the electronic device case of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a reduced perspective view of the electronic device case of  FIG. 1 , omitting a material molded therein; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a movable stand assembly configured to be assembled into the electronic device case; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a reduced perspective view of the electronic device case of  FIG. 1 , omitting a material molded therein, but including the movable stand assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of the electronic device case of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a reduced front view of the electronic device case of  FIG. 1 , omitting components of the movable stand assembly; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the movable stand assembly in an open position from the electronic device case of  FIG. 1 , supporting the electronic device case in a vertical elevated position; and 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of the movable stand assembly in an open position from the electronic device case of  FIG. 1 , supporting the electronic device case in a horizontal elevated position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT(S) 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a case  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The case  10  includes a base  20  with sides extending away therefrom, configured to form a pocket to receive a portable electronic device therein. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, a top  30 , a bottom  40 , a left side  50   a  and a right side  50   b  are coupled to the base  20 , and define a volume of space in the pocket that may receive the portable electronic device therein. It may be appreciated that the case  10  may be configured to house a variety of portable electronic devices across various embodiments, including but not limited to a cellular phone, PDA, music player (e.g., MP3 player), tablet, gaming device, remote control, and the like. 
     As shown, the top  30 , bottom  40 , left side  50   a , and right side  50   b  may define an opening  60  to the pocket. In an embodiment, the opening  60  may be surrounded by a lip  70  at the perimeter of the opening  60 , which may be deformable to allow the portable electronic device to enter into the pocket via the opening  60 , and retain the portable electronic device therein. Accordingly, in an embodiment an interior surface  80  of the base  20 , as well as interior surfaces of the top  30 , bottom  40 , left side  50   a , right side  50   b , and the lip  70 , may surround the pocket. In an embodiment, a display screen and/or a user interface of the portable electronic device may face away from the pocket (e.g., may be framed at least partially by the lip  70 ). As described in greater detail below, the lip  70  may be formed of an elastic or otherwise resiliently deformable material, which may facilitate expanding the opening  60  to receive the portable electronic device within the pocket. It may be appreciated that other configurations of the case  10  may alternatively be possible, including but not limited to cases having multiple components that are separable from each other. For example, slider cases are generally configured with separable pieces that each slide over the portable electronic device, and engage one another (e.g., with a snap fit or friction fit) to secure the portable electronic device therein. 
     It may be appreciated that the case  10  may have features or apertures formed therein, configured to correspond with features on the portable electronic device. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , an aperture  90  may extend through the base  20 , and may be configured to align with a camera lens on the electronic device. In some embodiments, the aperture  90  may be sized to additionally or alternatively align with a camera flash on the electronic device. In some embodiments, additional apertures may extend through the base  20 , so as to align with other features, including but not limited to marketing insignias on the portable electronic device. It may also be appreciated that in some embodiments one or more of the apertures may be merely decorative (e.g., with a repetitive or randomized pattern of apertures formed across at least a portion of the case  10 ). 
     The perspective view of  FIG. 1  illustrates that in an embodiment the left side  50   a  of the case  10  may include an aperture  100  configured to align with a switch (e.g., a mute switch) on the portable electronic device. Similarly, the left side  50   a  of the case  10  may include buttons  110  configured to align with buttons (e.g., volume buttons) on the portable electronic device. These features are also visible in the side view of  FIG. 2 , facing the left side  50   a  of the case  10 . The buttons  110  are optional in some embodiments, and additional apertures  100  may be positioned to align with the buttons of the portable electronic device in other embodiments. In an embodiment, the aperture  100  may be sized and position to align with both the switch and the buttons on the portable electronic device. In some embodiments, one or more apertures  100  and/or one or more buttons  110  may be positioned elsewhere on the case  10 , including but not limited to on the right side  50   b . In the illustrated embodiment of the case  10 , a button  110  is also formed on the top  30 , as is more clearly shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 3 , illustrating a view from the top  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, apertures  120  are also formed at the bottom  40  of the case  10 . In an embodiment, the apertures  120  may be positioned to align with data ports, audio ports, speakers, microphones, and or other features of the portable electronic device. In some embodiments, separate apertures may be formed on the same side (e.g., on the bottom  40 ), associated with different features of the portable electronic device, while in other embodiments a single aperture may be sized and positioned to align with a plurality of features of the portable electronic device. 
     In some embodiments, the buttons  110  may be mechanical buttons coupled within the case  10  to transmit a press thereon into a press of the buttons of the portable electronic device. In other embodiments the buttons  110  may be formed from a flexible material, facilitating depression of the buttons  110 , where such depression of the buttons  110  may be transmitted through the buttons  110  to depress the buttons of the portable electronic device. 
     As described in greater detail below, in an embodiment the case  10  may be primarily formed from two materials, a hard material  130 , and a flexible material  140 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hard material  130  generally forms an exterior of the case  10 , while the flexible material  140  generally forms an interior of the case  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the hard material  130  may generally form a frame for the case  10 , which may be supplemented with the flexible material  140 , which may provide shock absorption properties, and cushion the portable electronic device within the hard material  130 . In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible material  140  may generally be positioned in the interior surface  80  of the base  20 , the interior surfaces of the top  30 , bottom  40 , left side  50   a  and right side  50   b . In an embodiment, the flexible material  140  may form the lips  70  surrounding the opening  60  of the case  10 . It may be appreciated that in some embodiments the lips  70  may also protrude above the opening of the case  10  (e.g., away from a screen of a portable electronic device inserted within the case  10 ), which may cause the flexible material  140  to extend outward from the hard material  130  in the case  10 , which may provide protection to the portable electronic device otherwise exposed by the opening (e.g., at the screen thereof). In an embodiment, the flexible material  140  may additionally be selectively positioned at the exterior of the case  10 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the flexible material  140  is also positioned at the exterior surface of the left side  50   a  and the right side  50   b . It may be appreciated that the flexible material  140  may have a higher coefficient of friction than the hard material  130 . Therefore, by being positioned at the exterior of the left side  50   a  and right side  50   b  of the case  10 , the flexible material  140  may assist a user of the portable electronic device in gripping of the case  10 . In some embodiments, the molding process may be configured to shape and define an amount by which the flexible material  140  extends from the sides  50   a  and  50   b  of the case  10 . Such shaping of the flexible material  140  may facilitate creation of additional gripping surfaces thereat. Additionally, the flexible material  140  may be positioned or shaped decoratively on the case  10 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , illustrating the rear of the case  10 , a perimeter of the hard material  130  may be covered in the flexible material  140 . Other positioning of the flexible material  140  on the exterior of the case  10  is alternatively possible. 
     It may be appreciated that protrusions of the flexible material  140  may protect the hard material  130 . For example, where the hard material  130  is glossy or otherwise prone to scratching, the protruding flexible material  140  may space the hard material  130  from support surfaces, reducing a likelihood of the hard material  130  being scratched by the support surface or debris thereon. Additionally, where the flexible material  140  is resilient (e.g. soft and/or elastic), the protruding configuration thereof may provide enhanced impact resistance, such as when the case  10  is dropped and impacts a face or corner thereof. Additionally, the flexible material  140  at the interior  80  of the pocket may provide enhanced impact resistance, and mitigate transmission of impact forces from the hard material  130  to the portable electronic device. This protection may be particularly beneficial where, like in the illustrated embodiment, the hard material  130  is positioned to form the majority of the exterior of the case  10 . 
     The flexible material  140  may be coupled to the hard material  130  by any appropriate mechanism. For example, in some embodiments, the flexible material  140  may be co-molded to the hard material  130 . Such co-molding may comprise co-injection molding in some embodiments, wherein the hard material  130  and the flexible material  140  may be integrally formed together to form a one piece assembly. In another embodiment, the co-molding may comprise forming a preform (e.g., of the hard material  130 ), and overmolding the flexible material  140  over the preform to create a co-molded assembly. In an embodiment, the case  10  is formed from injection-molded plastic or rubber. Other constructions for some or all of the case  10  are additionally or alternatively possible, including but not limited to creating an assembly through a combination of constituent components, assembled through adhesion with an adhesive, interlocking components, or any other appropriate assembly mechanism. Additional details of embodiments of the co-molding and/or of the case  10  may be found in U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/761,556, incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a preform  150  comprising the hard material  130  of the case  10 . As shown, the preform  150  includes structural components configured to facilitate co-molding of the flexible material  140  thereon. While in some embodiments the preform  150  may be merely partially cured before the flexible material  140  is applied and molded there around, in an embodiment the formation of the preform  150  of the hard material  130  may be complete (e.g. cured, removed from the mold, and/or separately assembled) before being combined with the flexible material  140 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in an embodiment the preform  150  includes frame supports  160  that may be at least partially filled and surrounded with the flexible material  140  during assembly of the case  10 . In an embodiment, the frame supports  160  may generally provide structural rigidity for the flexible material  140  thereat. It may be appreciated that the flexible material  140  at the sides  50   a  and  50   b  may be shaped to include grooves, decorations, or other features. In an embodiment, some or all of the frame supports  160  may protrude from or otherwise not be covered by the flexible material  140 . 
     In some embodiments, such as that illustrated, the portion of the preform  150  that forms the base  20  of the case  10  may include apertures  170  therein which may provide a path for the flexible material  140  to flow through prior to curing during the co-molding process. Such apertures  170  may therefore allow the flexible material  140  to reach the rear side of the case  10 , to form the decorative perimeter illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As further shown, cutouts  180  may be formed in the preform  150  to space the sides  50   a  and  50   b  from the top  30 , which may contribute to the flexibility of the case  10  to expand the opening  60  for insertion of the personal electronic device therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the aperture  100  on the left side  50   a  includes a portion formed from the flexible material  140 . Accordingly, the preform  150  may include a corner piece  190  that is separated from the remainder of the left side  50   a  and the top  30 , except through the base  20 , but is subsequently coupled to the remainder of the left side  50   a  and the top  30  through the addition of the flexible material  140 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom  40 , including the apertures  120  formed therein, is formed from the second material  140 . Accordingly, the preform  150  may simply include a receiving space so as to receive the flexible material  140  therein during the co-molding. It may likewise be appreciated that in embodiments where the buttons  110  are formed from the flexible material  140 , the preform  150  may simply include receiving spaces so as to receive the flexible material  140  therein, shaped to form the buttons  110 . The assembly of the flexible material  140  onto the hard material  130  may vary across embodiments, and it may be appreciated that other assembly methods (including but not limited to the materials being secured together with an adhesive) are possible in some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, molding supports may be formed on or otherwise positioned on the preform  150  to facilitate overmolding of the flexible material  140  onto the hard material  130 . In some embodiments the molding supports may be configured to cooperate with the mold in the overmolding process. For example, in an embodiment one or more of the molding supports may be configured to position or align a portion of the mold to facilitate injection of the flexible material  140 . For example, the preform  150  may include support tabs protruding therefrom at a desired distance, configured to define a maximum application thickness for the overmold of the flexible material  140  onto the preform  150 . For example, in an embodiment the support tabs may be positioned on the interior surface  80  of the base portion  20  (e.g., for application of the flexible material  140  thereto). In an embodiment the molding supports may include mold channels configured to facilitate flow of the flexible material  140  to desired regions of the preform  150  prior to curing the flexible material  140 . For example, in an embodiment the mold channels may be formed around the perimeter of the back surface of the case  10 . In an embodiment, the apertures  170  may extend from the interior surface of the preform  150  to the mold channels. 
     It may be appreciated that the case  10  described herein includes a stand  200 , configured to selectively facilitate holding the portable electronic device in an elevated position on a support surface. While in some embodiments the stand  200  is assembled into other regions of the case  10 , in the illustrated embodiment the stand  200  is built into the base  20 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , in an embodiment the base  20  is formed with a stand aperture  210 . Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the stand aperture  210  is formed in the preform  150 . Assembled into the stand aperture  210  may be a movable stand assembly  220 , illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 6 , which may move relative to the base  20  to form an angle relative thereto. 
     While the stand assembly  220  of  FIG. 6  may vary across embodiments, in an embodiment the stand assembly  220  includes a support leg  230  configured to be generally flush with the base  20  when the stand assembly  220  is in a closed position, but extend outward from the base  20  when the stand assembly  220  is in an open position. Accordingly, the support leg  230  may form at least three points of contact with the support surface when the stand assembly is in the open position (e.g., with the support leg  230  and either the bottom  40  or one of the sides  50   a  or  50   b ), as described in greater detail below. As shown, the stand assembly  220  may pivot relative to the base  20  at a pivot region  240 . Distal from the pivot region  240  may be a support surface engaging region  250 . The pivot region  240  and the support surface engaging region  250  are described in greater detail below. 
     In an embodiment, the stand assembly  220  may include a movable support frame  260 , configured to move relative to both the support leg  230  and the base  20  of the case  10 , so as to provide additional structural support to the support leg  230 , to hold the support leg  230  away from the base  220  when the stand assembly  220  is in the open position, and support the case  10  in the elevated position. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the movable support frame  260  includes a support leg pivot  270 , which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a support pin  280  extending through a portion of the support leg  230  and a portion of the movable support frame  260 . In the illustrated embodiment, the movable support frame  260  also includes a base engaging portions  290 , which as may be appreciated from  FIGS. 4 and 7  may be received in guide tracks  300  formed adjacent to the stand aperture  210 . While in some embodiments the base engaging portions  290  may be formed integrally with the movable support frame  260 , in an embodiment the base engaging portions  290  may be part of a pin received in the movable support frame  260 , having sufficient length to extend into the guide tracks  300 . 
     As described in greater detail below, as the stand assembly  220  is moved into the open position, pivoting at the pivot region  240 , the support surface engaging region  250  of the support leg  230  may move outwards away from the base  20 , while the movable support frame may pivot at the support leg pivot  270  (via the support pin  280  on the support leg  230 ), while the base engaging portions  290  slide along the guide tracks  300 , to create another point of contact on the support surface. In an embodiment, the guide tracks  300  may include notches therein that the base engaging portions  290  may push past and frictionally lock behind. In an embodiment, a user of the case  10  would utilize additional force to overcome the frictional engagement to move the stand assembly  220  from the open position back to the closed position. Additionally, the frictional engagement may deter or prevent the stand assembly  220  from unintentionally slipping back towards the closed position when the case  10  is supported in a vertical elevated position. While in the illustrated embodiment the notches may be molded into the preform  150 , other engagements, including but not limited to spring biased detents, may be utilized to selectively lock the stand assembly  220  into the open position. 
     In some embodiments, one or more protrusions  310  may be formed on the support leg  230 , configured to selectively engage within the guide tracks  300  when the support leg  230  is in the closed position. Such a configuration may deter or prevent the stand assembly  220  from inadvertently moving to the open position, unless a user of the case  10  pulls the support leg  230  away from the base  20 , releasing the protrusions  310  from their engagement within the guide tracks  300 . Other configurations or engagements are additionally or alternatively possible in some embodiments, including but not limited to spring biased detents, which may be utilized to selectively lock the stand assembly  220  into the closed position. Additionally, while in some embodiments the protrusions  310  may engage within the guide tracks  300  to lock the stand assembly  220  into the closed position, in other embodiments the protrusions  310  may engage other notches formed in the base  20 , or elsewhere on the case  10 . 
     As noted above, the stand assembly  220  pivots relative to the base  20  at a pivot region  240  on the support leg  230 . It may be appreciated that the support leg  230  may be coupled to the base  20  via a quantity of the flexible material  140 . For example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, where the hard material  130  is formed as the preform  150 , it may be appreciated that the support leg  230  may also be formed from the hard material  130 . As depicted in the view of  FIG. 8 , the flexible material  140  may be positioned at both the interior surface  80  of the base  20 , and extend across the pivot region  240 , onto the support leg  230 , as a flexible hinge  320 . Accordingly, the flexible hinge  320  at the pivot region  240  may allow the support leg  230  to pivot or otherwise move relative to the base  20 . It may be appreciated that the flexible hinge  320  may be shaped from the flexible material  140  to include grooves therein that may facilitate bending at the pivot region  240 . For example, such grooves may be seen at the pivot region  240  in both the view of  FIG. 8  facing the interior of the pocket, as well as the view facing the rear of the case  10  in  FIG. 4 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, where the support leg  230  is further coupled to the base  20  via the movable support frame  260 , it may be appreciated that at the movable support frame  260  may guide the movement of the stand assembly  220  away from the base  20 , and may provide a frictional engagement to prevent the flexible material  140  from biasing the support leg  230  back towards the base  20  (moving the stand assembly  220  back into the closed position). 
     As further shown in  FIG. 8 , it may be appreciated that a portion of the flexible material  140  may be positioned at the support surface engaging region  250  of the support leg  230  as a stand grip  330 , to provide a grip engagement with the support surface when the stand assembly  220  is in the open position. As noted above, the flexible material  140  may have a higher coefficient of friction than the hard material  130 . Accordingly, where the support leg  230  is generally formed from the hard material  130 , the flexible material  140  of the stand grip  330  may contact the support surface instead of the hard material  130  at the support leg  230 . Accordingly, in embodiments where the bottom  40  is also formed from the flexible material  140 , it may be appreciated that the support leg  230  being in the open position may result in multiple spaced points or planes of contact of the higher friction flexible material  140 , as described in greater detail below. 
     It may be appreciated that in some embodiments the flexible material  140  at the support surface engaging region  250  (forming the stand grip  330 ) may be applied concurrently with the flexible material  140  being molded onto the base  20  of the case  10  (i.e., the flexible hinge  320  and that covering the base  20 ). For example,  FIG. 9  shows a reduced view of the case  10 , omitting the support frame  260  (including the base engaging portions  290 ) and the support pin  280 , so that the molding of the flexible material  140  onto the support leg  230  is not obscured. As shown, in an embodiment the flexible material  140  may be molded (e.g., poured and cured) so as to cover the base  20 , extend onto the support leg  230  to form the flexible hinge  320 , and extend as a strip  340  onto the stand grip  330 . In other embodiments, the flexible material  140  at the stand grip  330  may be poured separately from the flexible material  140  at the flexible hinge  320  and/or the base  20 . In some embodiments, the flexible material at the stand grip  330  and/or the flexible hinge  320  may be a different material from the flexible material generally positioned in at the interior  80  of the base  20 . Accordingly, the illustrated embodiment with the strip  340  coupling the stand grip  330  with the flexible hinge  320  and the flexible material  140  at the interior  80  is merely exemplary, and other configurations are alternatively possible. 
     In an embodiment, assembly of the case  10  may comprise forming the preform  150  and the support leg  230 . The support leg  230  may be formed simultaneously with or separately from the preform  150  in various embodiments. Regardless, assembling the case  10  may comprise placing the support leg  230  in the stand aperture  210  (or otherwise separating the support leg  230  from the preform  150  to form the stand aperture  210 ). The preform  150  and support leg  230  may then be covered by the flexible material  140  joining the support leg to the preform  150  via the flexible hinge  320 . As indicated above, in some embodiments the hard material  130  and the flexible material  140  may be co-molded through co-injection molding (and thus may cure together), while in other embodiments either the hard material  130  or the flexible material  140  may be formed first (and may be at least partially cured), before the other of the hard material  130  or the flexible material  140  is molded thereon. In an embodiment, once the perform  150  and the flexible material  140  are formed together, the movable support frame  260  may be installed thereon. For example, where the base engaging portions  290  are part of a pin received in the movable support frame  260 , the pin may be inserted into the movable support frame  260  and aligned with the base engaging portions  290  to be received in the guide tracks  300 . The opposite end of the movable support frame  260  may then be aligned with the support leg pivot  270 , and the support pin  280  may be inserted into the receiving portion of the movable support frame  260  and the support leg  230 , to pivotally couple the movable support frame  260  to the support leg  230 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the case  10  with the stand assembly  220  in the open position, configured to support the case  10  in a vertical elevated position. As shown, in some embodiments, when the support leg  230  is pulled away from the base  20 , the movable support frame  260  moves relative to the base  20  via the base engaging portions  290  moving along the guide tracks  300  until snapping behind notches formed in the guide tracks  300 . At the same time, the movable support frame  260  pivots relative to the support leg  230  via the support pin  280 . It may be appreciated that the support leg  230  is coupled to the base  20  via the flexible hinge  320 , formed from the flexible material  140 . Once the case  10  is positioned in the vertical elevated position, supported by the stand assembly  220  in the open position illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the stand grip  330  and the bottom  40 , each formed from a material (e.g., the flexible material  140 ) having a higher coefficient of friction than the hard material  130 , may provide a stable frictional engagement between the case  10  and the support surface. In some embodiments, such as where the stand grip  330  is formed to face the interior of the case  10  when the stand assembly  220  is in the closed position, it may be appreciated that an angle formed between the base  20  and the support leg  230  when the support leg  230  is in the open position may be sufficiently great so that the stand grip  330  contacts the support surface instead of the side or base of the support leg  230 . In an embodiment, such an angle may be determined by one or more of the length or other configuration of the movable support frame  260  and/or the guide tracks  300 . Additionally, in an embodiment the flexible material  140 , or similar material having a high coefficient of friction, positioned at the bottom  40  or back of the case  10 , may extend sufficiently far so as to provide a high friction contact at the body of the case  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, the perimeter of the flexible material  140  formed on the back of the case  10  may include portions of flexible material  140  extending towards the bottom  40 , which may provide such a frictional contacting surface against the support surface when the support leg  230  is in the open position. 
     It may be appreciated that the case  10  may alternatively be supported in a horizontal elevated position, resting on one of the sides  50   a  or  50   b , with the support leg  230  in the open position. For example, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the case  10  may be positioned with the support leg  230  extended while the case  10  is resting on the right side  50   b . While in some embodiments the flexible material  140  on the sides  50   a  or  50   b  (normally serving as a grip for the user) may provide increased frictional engagement against the support surface, in other embodiments the case  10  may be angled such that the hard material  130  at the sides  50   a  or  50   b  (or the hard material  130  at a corner between the sides  50   a  or  50   b  and the back of the case  10 ) may contact the support surface. Similarly, while in some embodiments the flexible material  140  at the stand grip  330  may contact the support surface when the case  10  is supported in the horizontal elevated position, in other embodiments the hard material  130  (or similar material) of the support leg  230  may contact the support surface when the case is supported in the horizontal elevated position. It may be appreciated that in some embodiments a lower center of gravity of the case  10  in the horizontal elevated position relative to the vertical elevated position may make the higher frictional engagement of the unnecessary. 
     It may be appreciated that dimensions of the case  10  may vary according to the type of portable electronic device to be held therein. For example, in some embodiments where the hard material  130  (e.g., as the preform  150 ) is relatively rigid (especially as compared to the flexible material  140 ), it may be appreciated that the dimensions thereof may be sufficient to surround the portable electronic device. In an embodiment, the flexible material  140  may be sized to snugly surround the portable electronic device, and may provide impact protection for the portable electronic device within the hard material  130 . Additionally, in some embodiments the hard material  130  in the case  10  may be shaped to generally match contours of the portable electronic device. For example, the preform  150  or analogous components of other embodiments of the case  10  may cause the case  10  to generally resemble the portable electronic device. In some embodiments, the case  10  may be formed with the hard material  130  (e.g., as the preform  150 ) having multiple facets or curves formed on one or more of the base  20 , top  30 , bottom  40 , left side  50   a , and right side  50   b . In other embodiments, the case  10  may be shaped in a manner that is externally different from the portable electronic device configured to be retained therein. In some embodiments, the flexible material  140  may be configured to create a pocket shaped to retain the portable electronic device, but may have varying thickness within to fill the space between the pocket and the hard material  130  at the exterior of the case  10 . Accordingly, it may be appreciated that the generally straight lines and rounded corners depicted in the case  10  illustrated herein are merely exemplary. 
     The materials utilized in the case  10  and/or their properties may also vary across embodiments. For example, while in the illustrated embodiment the material  130  utilized in the preform  150  is described as being hard or rigid, in other embodiments the material  130  may be any appropriate material having less shock absorbing properties than the flexible material  140 . For example, while both the hard material  130  and the flexible material  140  may be flexible in some embodiments, the flexible material  140  may be more resilient than the hard material  130 . It may be understood that resilient materials may include materials that can substantially return to its original form after being stretched, moved, bent, or otherwise deformed (within a reasonable tolerance). 
     It may be appreciated that in the art, resiliency may be measured by a durometer. Shore A durometers generally measure the compressive deformability of softer materials, such as rubbers and softer polyurethanes, while Shore D durometers may measure compressive deformability of harder polyurethanes and softer plastics. Rockwell R durometers typically measure compressive deformability of harder polyurethanes and plastics, ranging from Teflon through phenolic, for example. Accordingly, in some embodiments the flexible material  130  may have a hardness/resiliency on a scale conventionally measured on a Shore A durometer (e.g., a Shore A durometer value between 20-95), while the hard material  130  may have a hardness/resiliency on a scale conventionally measured on a Shore D durometer of 25-85, or on a Rockwell R durometer of 50-150. In an embodiment, the hard material  130  may be harder or more rigid so as to provide penetrative protection thereto, distributing impact forces applied thereto throughout the hard material  130 . The comparative softness and resilience of the flexible material  140  (e.g., having a Shore A durometer value of less than 90) may absorb shocks therein, and give to prevent direct application of forces to the portable electronic device housed therein. It may be appreciated that in some embodiments hardness/resilience and an associated coefficient of friction may be distinct from a coefficient of friction associated with the material and a given reference surface. For example, some harder materials may have a relatively high coefficient of friction, while some softer/resilient materials may have a relatively lower coefficient of friction. Accordingly, the selection of the hard material  130  and the flexible material  140  may vary across embodiments, depending on a desired protruding resilient portion or a desired portion having a higher coefficient of friction. 
     As such, the material selections of the hard material  130  and the flexible material  140  may vary, and may each have different properties, including but not limited to differing hardness/resiliency, and differing coefficients of friction. It may be appreciated that in some embodiments, the same material may have different hardness&#39;s/resiliencies, or different coefficients of friction (e.g., with a particular support surface) depending on how the material is prepared. Regardless, in some non-limiting embodiments, the flexible material  140  may comprise a thermoplastic polymer or a thermoplastic elastomer material, such as thermoplastic polyethylene (TPE) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Any other resilient material, such as silicone, rubber or foam, may additionally or alternatively be utilized. In contrast, the hard material  130  may be more prone to permanent deformation, including cracking, scratching, shearing, or so on. As one non-limiting example, in the illustrated embodiment, where the hard material  130  is a molded plastic, the hard material  130  may comprise a thermoplastic, including but not limited to thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It may be appreciated that the hard material  130  need not be formed from molded plastic, but may comprise any other material, including but not limited to wood, metal, glass, leather, or so on, which may be overmolded with or assembled with a resilient or otherwise impact absorbing flexible material, which may facilitate the flexible hinge  320  between the base  20  and the support leg  230 , for example. 
     In some embodiments, the hard material  130  and the flexible material  140  may have different cosmetic properties. For example, in some embodiments, the hard material  130  may have glossy characteristics, while the flexible material  140  may have matte characteristics. In other embodiments, the converse may be true. In some embodiments, the hard material  130  and the flexible material  140  may be different colors. Additionally, in various embodiments, one or more additional materials may be embedded or combined with either or both of the hard material  130  and the flexible material  140 , and may serve cosmetic or functional purposes. For example, different portions of the components of the case  10  described above (e.g., different parts of the preform  150 ) may be made from different materials, which may be molded or otherwise assembled before being overmolded or otherwise secured to the flexible material  140  and/or additional materials. In an embodiment, the hard material  130  and the flexible material  140  may be secured to each other through a bond (e.g., as in the molding process) or through adhesion (e.g., via an adhesive). 
     While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the illustrative embodiments set forth above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the structure, arrangement, proportion, elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing preferred specific embodiments have been shown and described for the purpose of illustrating the functional and structural principles of this invention and are subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of this disclosure, including the appended claims.