Patent Abstract:
A protective case for a portable electronic device. The protective case including a plurality of storage compartments for retaining a series of items. The protective case includes a removable upper portion allowing unobstructed access to the portable electronic device camera and includes a plurality of corner accessories disposed within and forming the corners of the protective case.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/595,751, filed 2012 Feb. 7 by the present inventor. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved protective case for a portable electronic device. 
     As the value of and function of portable electronic devices has increased, individuals have desired to protect their electronic devices using a protective case. Most portable electronic devices in use today include a camera. Cases designed to provide protection for portable electronic devices often leave the camera lens and flash fully exposed, allowing such exposed camera elements to be soiled and scratched. 
     Therefore, a protective case is needed that has the ability to protect the camera and camera components. Preferably this case includes additional storage compartments allowing a user the ability to maintain within the case essential everyday or desired items. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a protective case for a portable electronic device embodying the principles of the invention, the protective case includes a plurality of storage compartments to contain various everyday and essential items preferably with a lens cover removably attached to the protective case. Alternatively, the lens cover is hingeably attached to the protective case, so that it can be folded flat against the rest of the protective case when the device&#39;s camera is in use. Removing the lens cover or folding the lens cover open allows the camera to be operated so that it is completely unobstructed by the lens cover. 
     The storage compartments composed within a back cover of the device are preferably provided with fixed dimensions to allow for the storage of specifically designed items to be retained within the storage compartments. These compartments of set sizes allow a user to transfer these specifically designed items across multiple protective cases with storage compartments of set sizes used on various personal electronic devices. Further, a plurality of corner accessories may be disposed within the corners of the protective case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to further explain the principles of the invention. Other aspects of the invention and the advantages of the invention will be better appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the Detailed Description when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a back portion of a protective case for a personal electronic device, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the protective case with the upper part partially removed, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the protective case with the upper part fully removed, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the back portion of the protective case with corner accessories, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the back portion of the protective case with storage compartment open and upper portion partially removed, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the corner accessories, as shown and described; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a selection of items, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the device with the storage compartment oriented in a horizontal direction, according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of items received within a storage compartment, according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-9 , a protective case  10  for a portable electronic device  20  is disclosed. The protective case  10  is comprised of a front portion  100 , a back portion  200 , a left side portion  201 , a right side portion  202 , a top end portion  203 , and a bottom end portion  204  encapsulating the portable electronic device  20 . The front portion  100  enclosing the front edges of the portable electronic device  20  and allowing a user of the device  20  access to the display and user input areas of the portable electronic device  20 . 
     The back portion  200  encloses the back of the portable electronic device  20 . The left side portion  201  and the right side portion  202  partially enclose the left and right sides of the portable electronic device  20 . The top end portion  203  and the bottom end portion  204  partially enclose the top end and the bottom end of the portable electronic device  20 . The left side portion  201 , the right side portion  202 , the top end portion  203 , and the bottom end portion  204  extend between the back potion  200  and the front portion  100  attaching the front portion  100  to the back portion  200 . The left side portion  201 , the right side portion  202 , the top end portion  203 , and the bottom end portion  204  allow access to all of the necessary components of the portable electronic device  20 , such as the volume buttons, accessory attachment points, input ports, power buttons, and headphone jacks, etc. 
     A first corner  211  is located at the junction of the top end portion  203  and the right side portion  202 . A second corner  212  is located at the junction of the top end portion  203  and the left side portion  201 . A third corner  213  is located at the junction of the bottom end portion  204  and the left side portion  201 . A fourth corner  214  is located at the junction of the bottom end portion  204  and the right side portion  202 . The first corner  211 , the second corner  212 , the third corner  213 , and the fourth corner  214  allow access to a corner storage compartment  401  forming a cavity in the protective case  10 . The corner storage compartment  401  allows for the storage of a corner accessory  400  within the protective case  10 . 
     The corner accessory  400  is integrated into at least one of the first corner  211 , the second corner  212 , the third corner  213 , and the fourth corner  214 . The corner accessory  400  is comprised of a head  402  and a body  403 . The head  402  conforms to the outer corner of the portable case  10  and allows the corner accessory  400  to be removed or replaced within the protective case  10 . The body  403  extends a length. Preferably the body length is between 1 mm and 300 mm. The corner accessory  400  includes but is not limited to, a toothpick  405 , a tweezers  406 , a screen-cleaning device  407 , a kickstand  408 , a writing implement  409 , a stylus  410 , a screwdriver, and a cosmetic applicator. 
     The back portion  200  includes at least one storage compartment  301 . The storage compartment  301  is disposed and integrated within the back portion  200 . The storage compartment  301  includes a cover  302 . Preferably, the cover  302  is secured to the back portion  200  with a hinge  304 . Preferably, the hinge  304  is located at the periphery of the back portion  200  and located along the protective case  10  sides or ends. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the back portion  200  includes a plurality of storage compartments  301  that are rectangular in shape and provided in fixed sizes arranged to fit within the case  10 . 
     Fixed rectangular sizes are preferred as it allows for the utilization of several specially designed items  500  for placement within the storage compartments  301 . Fixed compartment sizes allow these items  500  to be used across multiple protective cases  10  secured to varying devices  20  or transferred to a new protective case  10  when a user has obtained a new personal electronic device  20 . Accordingly, a user has the ability to retain and grow a collection of items  500  for securing within the storage compartments  301 . 
     The items  500  including, but not limited to, a tool, a tweezers, a toothpick, a lens cleaning cloth, a kickstand, a set of earphones, a telephonic head/speaker set, a flash drive, a laser pointer, a health monitoring item, a medical item, an office product, a cosmetic product, a pharmaceutical product, a candy product, a hygiene product, a spice, a sweetener, a condiment, a cleaning product, a writing instrument, an adhesive product, a mount, a safety product, a first aid product, a survival product, a oral care product, a pair of eye glasses, and a electronic component, such as batteries, chargers, and cables. 
     As the items  500  come in varying shapes, sizes, and thicknesses, a removable storage compartment mat  303  is preferably used to frictionally secure the item  500  within the storage compartment  301 . Preferably, the storage compartment mat  303  is provided along with the item  500  for securing the item  500  within the storage compartment  301 . The thickness of the storage compartment mat  303  is determined utilizing the depth of the storage compartment  301  less the thickness of the item  500 . The storage compartment mat  303  can be composed varying materials such as foam, rubber, silicone rubber, or other similar materials that offer both cushioning and frictional resistance. Preferably, this material is tacky on a top surface, a bottom surface, or both the top and bottom surface to allow for the retention of the items  500  within the storage compartment  301  and to allow for the retention of the mat  303  itself with the storage compartment  301 . Further, it is preferred that the mat  303  be compressible to allow for variations in the size items  500  and to offer a cushioned element to protect and secure the items  500  received with the storage compartment  301 . 
     There are numerous dimensions available for the fixed dimensions of the storage compartment  301  that can be arranged to fit within the size of the protective case  10 . It is desired to maximize the number and size of the storage compartments  301  while ensuring that the size of the storage compartments  301  is suitable for the various the items  500  that can be retained with the storage compartments  301 . Three different storage compartment  301  widths with one of two lengths and a common depth has proven to be a desirable solution. 
     The preferred dimensional depth range of the storage compartment  301  is between 1 mm and 60 mm with the preferred depth being 6 mm. This is the preferred depth as it maximizes storage while still allowing the protective case  10  to maintain a slim profile and be retained within a pocket or purse. The preferred dimensional range of the width of the storage compartment  301  is between 1 mm and 300 mm, with the preferred width being three separate compartments having a width of 10 mm, 15 mm, and 30 mm. The preferred dimensional range of length of the storage compartment  301  is between 1 mm and 300 mm, with the preferred length being 40 mm and 60 mm. According to the preferred ranges and dimensions, it is preferred that six unique sizes of storage compartments  301  are arranged to fit within the various dimensions of the protective case  10  secured to various personal electronic devices  20 . These preferred six dimensions are: a depth of 6 mm, a width of 10 mm, and a length of 40 mm; a depth of 6 mm, a width of 15 mm, and a length of 40 mm; a depth of 6 mm, a width of 30 mm, and a length of 40 mm; a depth of 6 mm, a width of 10 mm, and a length of 60 mm; a depth of 6 mm, a width of 15 mm, and a length of 60 mm; and a depth of 6 mm, a width of 30 mm, and a length of 60 mm. 
     Different combinations of the storage compartment  301  dimensions are chosen based upon the overall length and width of the protective case  10  for a given personal electronic device  20 . The majority of the storage compartments  301  extend vertically along the longitudinal axis of the generally rectangular protective case  10 , thereby maximizing space. However, the storage compartments  301  can also be positioned horizontally along the longitudinal axis of the generally rectangular protective case  20 . 
     As most personal electronic devices  20  include a camera lens and camera components  21  disposed on the back of the device  20 , the protective case  10  may include a removable lens cover. Camera components  21  can include speakers, microphones, lenses, and other recording means for capturing sound and video. Preferably, the removable lens cover is comprised of a removable upper part  220  of the back portion  200 . The upper part  220  is defined at its periphery by a top edge  221 , a left edge  222 , a bottom edge  223 , a right edge  224 , and a floor  227 . The upper part  220  is removably affixed to a lower part  230  of the back portion  200  by a securing means. The securing means may be a clip, pin, snap, detent or other similar securing means. Preferably the securing means is at least one tab  225  with a raised detent  226  affixed to the bottom edge  223  for receipt within a slot(s)  231  present in a sidewall of the lower back portion  230 . A pair of tabs  225  located at the outer periphery of the bottom edge  223  and received within a pair of corresponding slots  231  is preferred. 
     Preferably, the upper part  220  is hingedly secured to the lower part  230  using an elastomeric band  600  retained in the lower part  230  and the bottom edge  223 . The elastomeric band  600  is preferred as it allows the upper part  220  to be separated from the lower back portion  230  and flipped nearly 180 degrees against the lower back portion, as seen in  FIG. 3 . The floor  227  will retain objects within the storage compartments  301  during this movement. The removable upper part  220  allows the user of the device to have a protective case  10  allowing for unobscured use of the camera  21  located on the back of the portable electronic device  20 . 
     In a further embodiment of the securing means between the upper part  220  and the lower part  230 , the tab  225  and raised detent  226  may be incorporated into the elastomeric band  600 . Wherein, the tab  225  forms a sleeve around the elastomeric band  600  and is received within an aperture contiguous with the connection of the elastomeric band  600  to the lower part  230  and the bottom edge  223 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) but that the invention will include all embodiments falling with the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0