Patent Publication Number: US-2019173511-A1

Title: Customizable protective case for portable electronic device

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/836,572, filed Dec. 8, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/448,397, filed Mar. 2, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/941,391, filed Nov. 13, 2015, which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/078,980, filed on Nov. 13, 2014. All of the above applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and are to be considered a part of this specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A wide variety of different types and designs of cases for portable electronic devices are known. One problem with existing device cases is that consumers like a variety of different cases and like to change and update their cases and devices often. This means the manufacturers must build and stock a wide variety of different styles and sizes of device cases and consumers are often forced to buy a new case to obtain a new design or functionality even though the old case is still functional. Therefore, what is needed is an advanced customizable case design that can be easily changed into a number of different configurations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention is directed toward a protective case for a portable electronic device. The protective case includes a rigid plastic frame, a stretchable rubber cover and a back panel that can be removably inserted into a pocket on a rear of the stretchable rubber cover. The stretchable cover is preferably attached to the rigid plastic frame by the manufacturer. To put a device in the case, the device is simply inserted into front opening of the rigid plastic frame and the edges of the stretchable rubber cover stretch over the portable electronic device such that the device is secured in the protective case. The back panel includes a hooked lip and locking tabs positioned around the outer perimeter of the back panel that mate with a corresponding hooked lip and cavities positioned around the inner edges of the pocket in the rear of the case assembly. An assortment of different back panels can be inserted into the pocket in the case assembly to alter the appearance or function of the case. These back panels include a stand for the device case. The stand back panel has a pair sloped edges on a foot of a foldable stand that allow the stand to support the device case in either a horizontal or vertical position. The back panel can also have a payment card pocket adapted to hold payment cards with a protrusion in the pocket that applies pressure to any payment cards placed in the pocket to securely hold them. Another back panel having a folding wallet attached to the panel provides the case with the functionality of a wallet as well as a viewing stand. The back panels can also have a variety of different surfaces and designs such as a mirror or a recess adapted for fabric adhesion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing of an unassembled embodiment of the present invention without a back panel inserted into the main protective case assembly. 
         FIGS. 2 a -2 c    are respectively a drawing of a back panel for insertion into the back of the main case assembly, a close up view of the hooked lips on the stretchable rubber cover and back panel, and a close up view of a cavity in the stretchable cover that receives a locking tab. 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a solid back panel inserted in the back of the main protective case assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing of an unassembled stand back panel insert for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing of an embodiment of the present invention with the assembled stand back panel of  FIG. 4  inserted into the back of the main protective case assembly and with the stand in the open position. 
         FIG. 6  is a drawing of an embodiment of the present invention with a payment card style back panel inserted into the back of the main case assembly. 
         FIG. 7  is a drawing of an embodiment of the present invention with a wallet style back panel inserted into the back of the main case assembly. 
         FIG. 8  shows that a wallet portion of the wallet style back panel of  FIG. 7  can be folded back to form a stand. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is directed toward an adaptable protective device case with a removable back panel or insert that can be replaced with an assortment of inserts that have different designs and/or functions. The device case preferably includes a rigid plastic frame bonded to an outer stretchable rubber cover or bumper that fits around the edges of the rigid frame and holds enclosed device. A removable back panel snaps into an opening in the back of the stretchable rubber cover. 
     The design of the platform allows a user of the case to mix and match different rubber covers and back panels with a standardized rigid frame to create different case designs and functions. A single case can easily be changed into different configurations by simply inserting a different insert into the rear of the main case assembly. For example, the case may include a back panel tooled for fabric adhesion, a back panel of plain plastic in various colors, patterns and designs, a back panel for in mold lamination, a back with a payment card holder, a back with a folding wallet, a back with a kick stand, and a back with a mirror. In addition, the case assembly of the present invention is readily adaptable to different device sizes and styles from various manufacturers. The cases are preferably sold in a kit that includes a rigid plastic frame bonded to a rubber bumper or cover and a matching back panel insert. However, the back panels may also be sold individually or in sets. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a drawing of an unassembled embodiment of the present invention without a back panel inserted in the main case assembly is shown. The main case assembly  1  consists of a stretchable rubber cover  2  and a relatively rigid plastic frame  4  that are preferably bonded together during production. To insert a device into the case assembly  1 , the device is simply pushed into the opening in the front of the case assembly  1  and the edges of the rubber cover  2  stretch over the device such that the device is securely held inside both the rubber cover  2  and plastic frame  4  of the case assembly. Raised bumpers  17  on the plastic frame extend through corresponding openings  15  in the rubber cover  2 . 
     The rubber cover  2  and plastic frame  4  have an opening or pocket  6  in the rear with edges  5  that are adapted to receive and securely hold a matching back panel or insert.  FIG. 2( a )  is a drawing of a back panel insert  8  that snaps into the back opening in the stretchable rubber cover  2  and plastic frame  4 .  FIG. 2( b )  is close up cross sectional view of the mating of the hooked back panel edge  11  with the hooked edge  13  of the rubber cover  2 . The back panels hooked edge or lip  11  is provided with locking tabs  9  that fit into corresponding cavities on the rubber cover  2 . The hooked edge  11  of the back panel  8  mates with the corresponding hooked edge  13  on the rubber cover  2  to securely hold the back panel  8  in position with respect to the rubber cover  2 .  FIG. 2( c )  is a drawing of a cavity  19  in the rubber cover  2  that receives a locking tab  9 . The locking tab  9  rests in the corresponding cavity  19  on the rubber cover  2  such that the back panel is fixed and prevented from sliding with respect to the rubber cover  2  or plastic frame  4 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a drawing of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a solid plastic back panel  8  inserted into the pocket  6  on the back of the main case assembly is shown. As discussed in more detail below and above, the edges  8  of the pocket in the back of the rubber bumper  2  and plastic frame  4  have features such as hooked edges that allow them to grip and hold an insert inserted into the back pocket  6 . The solid back panel  8  can easily be replaced by simply pulling it off of the rubber cover  2  and replacing it with an alternative back panel having a different design or surface, such as a mirrored surface, to alter the design, appearance or function of the case. The solid back panels  8  can also include a recessed plastic surface and channel that are adapted to receive fabric such that a pleasing fabric or leather back can be provided to the case. In addition, alternative stretchable covers  2  can be provided that have different designs or fabric surfaces, but a standardized back pocket  6  that can receive any available back panel. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a drawing of an unassembled stand back panel insert  21  for an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. The stand back panel insert  21  includes three plastic pieces foot  20 , mounting member  22  and mounting member  24 , two hinge pins  26  and a main back panel  28 . The main back panel  28  includes cavities  30  and holes  32  into which the plastic pieces  20 ,  22  and  24  and hinge pins  26  are inserted when the stand back panel insert is fully assembled. The main back panel  28  includes a hooked lip  34  with protrusions or tabs  36  around its outer perimeter that function together with matching hooked lips and cavities on the inner edges of the opening of the case assembly discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1  to securely hold the back panel in the back of the case assembly. 
       FIG. 5  is drawing of the assembled stand back panel  40  of  FIG. 4  inserted into the case assembly  42  of  FIG. 1  with the stand arm  44  in the extended or open position. When the stand is open position, the edges  46  of the stand arm  44  function to hold the case and device in either a horizontal or vertical viewing position depending upon how the case is positioned on the supporting surface. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a drawing of an embodiment of the present invention with a payment card style back panel insert  50  inserted into the main case assembly  52  is shown. The payment card style back panel insert  50  includes a pocket  54  sized to accept payment cards and/or folded cash. The pocket  52  has a central protrusion  56  that flexes and applies pressure to items held in the pocket  52  so that the items do not fall out of the pocket. Similar features, such as tabs and hooked lips, to those discussed above with respect to the embodiment of  FIG. 5  are provided around the edges of the back panel insert  50  to secure it in the rear well of the case assembly  52 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a drawing of an embodiment of the present invention with a wallet style back panel insert  60  inserted into the main case assembly  62  is shown. The wallet style back panel insert  60  includes a fold open wallet portion  64  that functions like a standard fold open wallet with a pocket  66  and a latch  68 , which may be magnetic, that holds the wallet closed when folded. The wallet portion  64  can also be folded back to form a stand for the device as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Customizable Device Case, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.