Patent Publication Number: US-2020288832-A1

Title: Protective case for mobile electronic device with storage compartment and pivot stand

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/936,064, filed on Mar. 26, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/921,923, filed on Oct. 23, 2015, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/067,953, filed on Oct. 23, 2014, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to protective cases for mobile electronic devices. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Mobile electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and the like, are known to sustain damage from impact and from contamination as a result of the ingress of water or other fluids. Such damage may result, for example, in a cracked screen, scratches on a finished surface, lost or damaged buttons or controls, cracked or bent external body components, and/or failed or malfunctioning electrical components. Protective cases can protect mobile electronic devices from such damage and other types of damage. 
     There is a continuing need for protective cases for mobile electronic devices that are capable of providing a compartment to carry personal items (e.g., credit cards, cash, change, business cards, keys, etc.), while also providing multiple viewing/operating positions. 
     SUMMARY 
     A protective case for a mobile electronic device that includes a storage compartment for a user&#39;s personal items and a pivot stand is disclosed herein. The protective case includes a first or main panel and a second or sub-panel that are configured to cover the storage compartment and provide access thereto. Such access may be provided, for example, via a hinged connection. Each panel may also function as independent pivot stand capable of positioning the case in one or more viewing/operating positions. 
     The protective case is configured to receive, retain, and protect a mobile electronic device. Such mobile electronic devices typically include a front face and a back face that define the height of the mobile electronic device, a perimeter defined by top, bottom, right, and left sides residing between the front and back faces, and corners defined at the intersecting regions of the sides. The mobile electronic device may be a tablet, a mobile phone, a gaming device, or another portable handheld electronic device and may have one or more touchscreens on its front face and/or back face. 
     In some embodiments, the protective case includes two primary components, a bottom shell portion and an upper portion. The bottom shell portion is dimensioned and configured to reside below the back side or face of the electronic device. The upper portion generally extends from the bottom shell portion and is dimensioned and configured to cover at least a portion of one or more sides and/or a portion or a perimeter portion of the front face of the mobile electronic device. 
     The bottom shell portion may be co-molded with the upper portion as respective first and second layers, wherein the bottom shell portion layer is made of material that is more rigid than the co-molded upper portion layer. For example, the bottom shell portion may be formed of a polycarbonate (PC) material while the upper portion layer may be formed of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, silicone rubber, or a combination thereof. Additional layers may also be co-molded or otherwise incorporated into the protective case. 
     In some embodiments, the case includes a hinged storage compartment that is accessible via a first panel that opens outwardly from the bottom shell component. When the first panel is opened outwardly, the storage compartment is accessible and the first panel may be employed as a pivot stand that is configured to facilitate the case being positioned at a first angle or viewing/operating position. A second panel or sub-panel may also be hinged to the bottom shell component and/or to the first panel and may also open outwardly from the bottom shell and/or from the first panel to allow for limited access to the storage compartment and/or to provide another pivot stand that will allow the case to be positioned at a second angle that is the same as or different than the first angle or viewing/operating position. Each of the first and second panels may be co-molded to the bottom component at a hinge. The second panel or sub-panel may be co-molded to the first panel and/or to the bottom shell portion at a hinge that is constructed of less rigid material than other regions of the panel and/or bottom shell. In some embodiments, the bottom shell and compartment panels are constructed of a first material and the upper shell and hinge are constructed of a second material that is softer or less rigid than the first material. In some embodiments, the first panel is configured or otherwise dimensioned to mechanically attach or be mechanically retained by or to the bottom shell component. In some embodiments, the second panel or sub-panel is configured or otherwise dimensioned to mechanically attach or be mechanically retained by or to the bottom shell component and/or the first panel. The distal or free end (the end that is opposite the hinged end) of the second panel and/or the first panel may be layered or overlaid with the first softer material to mitigate slippage when the case is in the stand operating position. 
     Each of the foregoing and various aspects, together with those set forth in the claims and summarized above or otherwise disclosed herein, including the figures, may be combined without limitation to form claims for a device, apparatus, system, method of manufacture, and/or method of use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures provided herewith are intended to illustrate but not to limit the invention. Like reference characters in the figures denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments. Each drawing is generally to scale and hence relative dimensions of the various layers and components can be determined from the drawings. 
         FIGS. 1A-1F  are front face, back face, left side, right side, top side, and bottom side views, respectively, of an embodiment of the disclosed protective case with a smart phone retained therein. 
         FIG. 2  is a right side view of the smart phone and the disassembled protective case illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1F  illustrating the smart phone and components of the case. 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  are front and back perspective views, respectively, of the disassembled protective case illustrated in  FIG. 2  showing the smart phone and the first and second layers that form the bottom shell and an upper portion of the case. 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate different viewing/operating positions of the mobile electronic device.  FIG. 4A  shows a storage compartment second panel or sub-panel pivoted about a first hinge to provide a first viewing angle, and  FIG. 4B  shows another storage compartment panel (together with the second panel or sub-panel) being pivoted about a second hinge to provide a second viewing angle that is more upright than the first viewing angle. 
         FIG. 5A  is a back face view of the protective case illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the storage compartment panels being in the fully closed position and the smart phone contained within the case.  FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 B- 5 B in  FIG. 5A .  FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 C- 5 C in  FIG. 5A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     A protective case for a mobile electronic device that includes a storage compartment for a user&#39;s personal items and a pivot stand is disclosed herein. The protective case includes a first or main panel and a second or sub-panel that are configured to cover the storage compartment and provide access thereto. Such access may be provided, for example, via a hinged connection. Each panel may also function as independent pivot stand capable of positioning the case in one or more viewing/operating positions. 
     The protective case is configured to receive, retain, and protect a mobile electronic device. Such mobile electronic devices typically include a front face and a back face that define the height of the mobile electronic device, a perimeter defined by top, bottom, right, and left sides residing between the front and back faces, and corners defined at the intersecting regions of the sides. The mobile electronic device may be a tablet, a mobile phone, a gaming device, or another portable handheld electronic device and may have one or more touchscreens on its front face and/or back face. 
     In some embodiments, the protective case includes two primary components, a bottom shell portion and an upper portion. The bottom shell portion is dimensioned and configured to reside below the back side or face of the electronic device. The upper portion generally extends from the bottom shell portion and is dimensioned and configured to cover at least a portion of one or more sides and/or a portion or a perimeter portion of the front face of the mobile electronic device. 
     The bottom shell portion may be co-molded with the upper portion as respective first and second layers, wherein the bottom shell portion layer is made of material that is more rigid than the co-molded upper portion layer. For example, the bottom shell portion may be formed of a polycarbonate (PC) material while the upper portion layer may be formed of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, silicone rubber, or a combination thereof. Additional layers may also be co-molded or otherwise incorporated into the protective case. 
     In some embodiments, the case includes a hinged storage compartment that is accessible via a first panel that opens outwardly from the bottom shell component. When the first panel is opened outwardly, the storage compartment is accessible and the first panel may be employed as a pivot stand that is configured to facilitate the case being positioned at a first angle or viewing/operating position. A second panel or sub-panel may also be hinged to the bottom shell component and/or to the first panel and may also open outwardly from the bottom shell and/or from the first panel to allow for limited access to the storage compartment and/or to provide another pivot stand that will allow the case to be positioned at a second angle that is the same as or different than the first angle or viewing/operating position. Each of the first and second panels may be co-molded to the bottom component at a hinge. The second panel or sub-panel may be co-molded to the first panel and/or to the bottom shell portion at a hinge that is constructed of less rigid material than other regions of the panel and/or bottom shell. In some embodiments, the bottom shell and compartment panels are constructed of a first material and the upper shell and hinge are constructed of a second material that is softer or less rigid than the first material. In some embodiments, the first panel is configured or otherwise dimensioned to mechanically attach or be mechanically retained by or to the bottom shell component. In some embodiments, the second panel or sub-panel is configured or otherwise dimensioned to mechanically attach or be mechanically retained by or to the bottom shell component and/or the first panel. The distal or free end (the end that is opposite the hinged end) of the second panel and/or the first panel may be layered or overlaid with the first softer material to mitigate slippage when the case is in the stand operating position. 
       FIGS. 1-5  illustrate a protective case  200  for a mobile electronic device  100 , and individually and collectively illustrate, by way of example only, various of the configuration and construction aspects of the disclosed protective case. In the embodiment shown, the case is configured for an Apple® iPhone® 6 Plus smart phone device. It should be understood, however, that the case may be configured for any mobile electronic device, including but not limited to portable or cellular phones, audio/video devices, gaming devices, laptop computers, and tablet computing devices. 
     As best depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1F , the protective case  200  includes front and back face walls  210  and  220  and left and right side walls  230  and  240 , and top and bottom side walls  250  and  260 . The side walls  230 ,  240 ,  250 , and  260  reside between the front and back faces. Each of the walls  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250 , and  260  are dimensioned to correspond in dimension to the front and back faces, and left, right, top, and bottom sides of a mobile electronic device  100 , respectively. As illustrated in the drawings, the front face wall  210  includes an aperture that facilitates visibility to the front face touchscreen of the device  100  and allows for insertion and removal of the device into and out of the case  200 . 
     Collectively the side walls  230 ,  240 ,  250 , and  260  define a perimeter  270  between the front and back faces  210  and  220  of the protective case  200  and are dimensioned to receive and retain the mobile electronic device  100  within the case  200  as depicted in the drawings. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3A-3B , a lower or bottom shell portion  300  is defined by first inner and outer surfaces  310  and  311 , respectively, and is dimensioned to cover the back face of the mobile electronic device  100 . The first bottom shell  300  may be configured to extend to the perimeter of the mobile electronic device  100  at the back face boundary, which is the perimeter defined by the intersection of the side walls and the back face of the mobile electronic device  100 . 
     The bottom shell portion  300  may be configured to cover the entire, a majority, half, or less than half of the back face of the mobile electronic device  100  and may be configured to extend to or around the entire, a majority, half, or less than half of the perimeter of the mobile electronic device  100  at the back face boundary. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom shell portion  300  is configured to cover the back face of the mobile electronic device  100 , with the exception of the flash and camera lens window aperture  224  and the storage compartment  560  that is covered by the storage compartment panels  570  and  580  that are hinged and co-molded to the upper portion  500 , which is in turn co-molded to the bottom shell portion  300 . The bottom shell  300  is dimensioned to extend about the entire perimeter of the back face of the mobile electronic device  100 . It should be understood, however, that alternative configurations may be employed. Perimeter regions in the bottom shell  300  that reside between one or more of the corners may be removed. Mid-section regions of the bottom shell  300  may be removed to allow for access to, or user utilization of, user controls, additional touchscreen interfaces, and/or other device features (e.g., speakers, cameras, lights, microphone, etc.) that are located on the side walls and/or back face of the mobile electronic device  100 . 
     The second layer or upper portion  500  is also defined by inner and outer surfaces  510  and  511 , respectively. The upper portion  500  is generally dimensioned to cover the top, bottom, right and/or left sides of the mobile electronic device  100 , while in the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion  500  extends around the entire perimeter of the mobile electronic device  100 , it may alternatively have a different configuration. Thus, it is contemplated that the upper portion  500  may cover the entire, a majority, half, or less than half of the top, bottom, right and/or left sides of the mobile electronic device and/or may be configured to extend around less than the entire, a majority, half, or less than half of the perimeter of the mobile electronic device  100  in any combination. The upper portion  500  includes the one or more mobile electronic device control apertures that extend through the layer and/or include control buttons or interfaces that are dimensioned and positioned to allow access to and/or control of the underlying control buttons and/or ports (e.g., power button, volume button, ringer silent switch, headphone jack, microphone opening, speaker grill, and data/charging port) on the mobile electronic device  100 . 
     The upper portion  500  and bottom shell portion  300  define a storage area or compartment  560 , which in the illustrated embodiment is sized to receive personal items such as, but not limited to, credit cards, a driver&#39;s license, cash, etc. 
     The bottom shell  300  includes an opening  360  sized to receive and retain in position a major or first storage compartment panel  570 . The first storage compartment panel  570  is configured to open and close along hinges  562 . The first storage compartment panel  570  is configured or dimensioned to cover the personal items stored in the storage area  560  when the first storage compartment panel  570  is positioned in a closed position, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1B, 4A, and 5A -C. When the first storage compartment panel  570  is opened as shown in  FIG. 4B , personal items such as credit cards can be inserted into or taken out from the storage area  560 . 
     The bottom shell portion  300  may have a recessed area or slot  390  to facilitate a user opening and/or closing the panel  570 . The bottom shell  300  may have one or more stops  370  to provide support to the panel as well as an ending position for the panel  570  when the panel  570  is in a closed position and may also include indents  395  that receive protrusions  595  to snap lock the panel  570  in the dosed position. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the panel  570  includes a secondary opening  576  sized to receive a minor or second panel or sub-panel  580 . The sub-panel  580  is configured to independently open or close along a hinge  564 . When the sub-panel  580  is opened while panel  570  remains closed as shown in  FIG. 4A , the case  200  is configured to be in a reading/viewing position while personal items can remain retained and protected safely within the storage area or compartment  560  that remains covered by the panel  570 . The sub-panel  580  may also serve as a preview window that allows the user to look into the compartment to confirm the contents thereof without risking those items falling out of the compartment or being fully exposed. 
     Panel  570  may have one or more stops  574  to provide an end or fully closed position for sub-panel  580  when sub-panel  580  is closed into panel  570 . Therefore, when panel  570  is pivoted outward about hinge  562  as shown in  FIG. 4B , sub-panel  580  can be retained therein and the two panels may be moved or pivoted together outwardly in a locked configuration. A soft tip or gripping region  584  (which may be co-molded onto the panel) is positioned at the free end  588  of the sub-panel  580 . The free end of the sub-panel  580  may have a recess area  586  to facilitate the user opening and pivoting or moving the sub-panel  580 . This soft tip or gripping surface  584  may also provide additional friction to further stabilize the standing position on a surface as shown in  FIG. 4A  when the case in put in a reading/viewing position. A slot or recessed area  578  may be configured on panel  570  to provide easy access to the free end of the sub-panel  580 . 
     Thus, the case  200  is provided with a storage compartment  560  that is easily accessible while also providing one or more reading/viewing positions. Hence, when the subpanel  580  is open and the case  200  is placed on a table or desk as shown in  FIG. 4A , the case  200  provides the user a first reading/operating position. When the panel  570  is open and the case  200  is placed on a table or desk as shown in  FIG. 4B , the case  200  can provide the user a second reading/operating position that, as illustrated in  FIG. 4B , positions the mobile electronic device in a more upright or vertical position than the operating position illustrated in  FIG. 4A . Also as illustrated in the drawings, the relative dimensions of the first and second panels  570  and  580  serve to facilitate retention of the personal items while allowing the user to stand-up the case  200  and the mobile electronic device  100  in a viewing/operating position, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 4A . As illustrated in the drawings, the first or primary panel  570  is more than double the size of the secondary panel or subpanel  580 . The subpanel  580  is positioned centrally within the primary panel  570  so that the contents of the storage compartment  560  are enclosed around the perimeter by the primary panel  570  even when the sub-panel  580  is swung out at the hinge into the open stand position as illustrated in  FIG. 4A . 
     While, the first and second or bottom and upper portions  300  and  500  together with the pivot panel  570 , pivot sub-panel  580 , and the soft tip or gripping surface  584  may be co-molded all together to form an integrated case  200  construction or construct, it should be understood that it is contemplated that only portions of one or more of the portions or components may be co-molded, or each of the components may be separately formed and mechanically attached to one another by clips, snaps, or latches between each of the components or between, for example, the bottom and upper portions. A combination of co-molding and mechanical attachment of the layers or portions thereof may also be employed. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom shell portion and upper portion  300  and  500  including the storage compartment panels and sub-panels  570  and  580  and the hinges  562  and  564  are co-molded together, such that the bottom shell portion  300  and panels and sub-panels  570  and  580  are made of a first material and the upper portion  500 , hinges  562  and  564 , and the gripping surface or tip  584  are made of a second material that is more elastic, softer and/or less rigid than the first material. The panels  570  and  580  are attached to the upper portion  500  via flanges  590  that are co-molded to hinges  562  and  564  respectively. 
       FIG. 5B  best illustrates the flanges  590  that may be provided to facilitate the connection between the panel  570  and hinge  562 , between the sub-panel  580  and hinge  564 , and between the soft gripping surface or tip  584  and the sub-panel  580 . 
     In a fully integrated or co-molded construction, the case  200  would be properly dimensioned and have sufficient flexibility to allow the user to insert and remove the mobile electronic device  100  without damage to the case  200 . The flexibility may be implemented via the materials used to construct the case and the configuration of the co-molded layers or components. The panels  570  and  580  may be constructed so that they are biased toward the closed position. In this way the user would need to provide some force to open or swing the panels  570  and  580  open when accessing the storage compartment or when being used to support a viewing/operating position. The weight of the mobile electronic device will tend to offset the bias of the panels  570  and/or  580  when used to support a viewing/operating position. 
     When the components are modular or separable from one another, a user may wrap the upper portion  500  around the mobile electronic device  100  and then slip the bottom shell  300  in position around the upper portion  500  and the mobile electronic device  100 . The clips, snaps, hooks, or other mechanical attachments may, if needed, be formed or molded into: (a) two or more of the components at their perimeter regions, (b) the control buttons and corresponding apertures on the bottom or upper portions  300  and  500  and/or (c) at any region where two layers or components are in contact or in proximity to one another. Thus, a combination of co-molding and/or mechanical attachment of the layers may be employed. It should be understood, however, that the shell portion  300  and upper portion  500  may be dimensioned so that the shell portion  300  snugly receives the upper portion  500  containing the mobile electronic device  100  and the force of that snug fit by itself retains the upper portion  500  (containing the mobile electronic device  100 ) within the shell portion  300 . 
     The materials that form the components may be selected based on their hardness or rigidity. For example, the bottom shell portion  300  may be made of a first material that has a first hardness or rigidity, and the upper portion  500  may be made of a second material that has a second hardness or rigidity that is different from the first hardness. In some preferred embodiments, the first hardness is greater than the second hardness. In some embodiments, the first rigidity is greater than the second rigidity. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the material that forms panel  570  and sub-panel  580  is the same as the material that forms the bottom shell  300 . The material that forms the soft less-rigid gripping surface or tip  584  and hinges  562  and  564  is the same softer less-rigid material that forms the upper portion  500 . 
     The bottom and upper portions  300  and  500  may be formed of a composition composed of one or more materials including but not limited to polycarbonate, thermoplastic urethane (TPU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, metal, silicone rubber, or any combination thereof. For example, the bottom shell  300 , which is the harder and more rigid of the two layers, may be formed of a composition composed of polycarbonate (PC), a combination of polycarbonate and ABS, nylon, fiber reinforced plastic, and/or metal. The upper portion  500 , which has a softer layer, may be formed, for example, of a composition composed of TPU and/or TPE, a combination thereof, or other suitable material(s). 
     The bottom shell  300  may have a Shore A durometer hardness that is 50% or more greater than the second layer or upper portion  500 , 40% or more greater than the second layer  500 , 30% or more greater than the second layer, 20% or more greater than the second layer, or 10% or more greater than the second layer, all ±5% as measured using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard D2240. The first layer may have a Shore A durometer hardness of 100±15, 100±10, or 100±5, or 100 as measured using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard D2240. The second layer may have a Shore A durometer hardness of 65±15, 65±10, 65±5, or 65 as measured using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard D2240. It should be understood that the two layers may have a Shore A hardness that is any combination of the hardnesses described above. 
     In operation, the user would insert the mobile electronic device  100  into the case  200  through the more pliable less rigid upper portion that defines the upper section of the case  200  and the device compartment. Once inserted into the case  200 , the user may hinge open panels  570  and  580  to access the storage compartment and insert one or more credit cards or other personal items into the storage compartment  560  and then close panel  570  with or without closing panel  580 . Once the panel  570  is closed the personal items are secured within the compartment  560 . The user may then extend the sub-panel  580  to support the case and the mobile electronic device in the viewing/operating position depicted in  FIG. 4A . Alternatively, the user may extend panel  570  to support the case and the mobile electronic device in another more upright viewing/operating position as depicted in  FIG. 4B . It should be understood that the storage compartment  560  may be any shape or size. For example, the storage compartment  560  may be formed with greater volume to receive thicker items or may be formed in different shapes to receive specific sized coins or memory sticks or other earphones or plugs. In some embodiments, the storage compartment is dimensioned to receive and store wireless or wired ear-buds and the controllers and a supporting power source. In other embodiments, the storage compartment  560  may be dimensioned to receive and store pharmaceutical products, a passport, or make-up. The inner surfaces of the panels  570  and or  580  may include a mirror or reflective surface or a money clip for retention of cash. 
     The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention disclosed herein. Although the various inventive aspects are disclosed in the context of certain illustrated embodiments, implementations, and examples, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the 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 various inventive aspects have been shown and described in detail, other modifications that are within their scope will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art based upon reviewing this disclosure. It should 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. The generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 
     Similarly, the disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intent that any claim set forth below requires more features than are expressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects may reside in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. 
     Each of the foregoing and various aspects, together with those set forth in the claims and summarized above or otherwise disclosed herein, including the figures, may be combined without limitation to form claims for a device, apparatus, system, method of manufacture, and/or method of use. 
     All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.