Patent Description:
Mobile devices, such as smartphones, cellular or mobile phones, tablets, personal data assistants, and other portable devices, are now ubiquitous. Cases are typically used to protect the mobile device.

<CIT> discloses a protective arrangement for an electronic device that includes a flexible cover having a panel and a skirt that form an interior cavity to receive an electronic device; and an adapter fixedly positioned in the flexible cover and having a male plug with connectors extending into the interior cavity of the flexible cover for mating with a female socket of the device and a contactor with contacts adjacent outwardly from the flexible cover and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug.

<CIT> discloses a mobile terminal protection sleeve that includes a sleeve body, communication terminals , an internal lead, a flexible data line, and a flexible connector. The sleeve body can surround the edge of the mobile terminal, and is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating holes and an opening, and the opening corresponds to the communication interface of the mobile terminal. A plurality of communication terminals is provided for communicationally connected to an external device.

One embodiment is a case for a mobile device that includes a flexible covering defining a cavity configured for receiving and holding the mobile device; a rigid frame at least partially disposed within the flexible covering, where at least one first portion of the rigid frame is covered on one of two opposing sides by the flexible covering and exposed on another of the two opposing sides and at least one second portion of the rigid frame is exposed on both of the two opposing sides; and an adapter disposed at least partially within the rigid frame and the flexible covering, the adapter including a plurality of first contacts for coupling to contacts of an external device, a male plug extending into the cavity defined by the flexible covering and configured for insertion into a female socket of the mobile device, and a plurality of second contacts disposed on the male plug and electrically coupled to the first contacts of the adapter; where the adapter, in combination with at least one of the flexible covering or the rigid frame, defines a first male structure extending away from the cavity defined by the flexible covering of the case and configured for coupling to the external device, where the first contacts of the adapter are disposed on the first male structure.

In at least some embodiments, the first male structure is defined by the adapter, the flexible covering, and the rigid frame. In at least some embodiments, the first male structure includes a base and a second male structure extending away from the base, wherein the first contacts of the adapter are disposed on the second male structure. In at least some embodiments, the adapter further includes a female connector having an opening disposed in the base of the first male structure, wherein the female connector is electrically coupled to the male plug of the adapter.

In at least some embodiments, the adapter further includes a female connector having an opening disposed in the first male structure, wherein the female connector is electrically coupled to the male plug of the adapter. In at least some embodiments, the adapter further includes a port and the case further includes a plug configured for insertion into either the port or the female connector.

In at least some embodiments, the rigid frame includes a back panel with a plurality of raised sections disposed on the back panel and at least one intermediate section between at least two of the raised sections, wherein the raised sections are exposed within the cavity and at least a portion of the at least one intermediate section is covered within the cavity. In at least some embodiments, the rigid frame includes a back panel and a sidewall section that extend from the back panel is configured to receive at least a portion of a lower part of the mobile device. In at least some embodiments, the rigid frame further includes adapter receptacle extending from the sidewall section, wherein the adapter receptacle is configured to receive at least a portion of the adapter and forms at least a portion of the first male structure.

Another embodiment is a case for a mobile device that includes a flexible covering defining a cavity configured for receiving and holding the mobile device; and an adapter disposed at least partially within the flexible covering, the adapter including a plurality of first contacts for coupling to contacts of an external device, a male plug extending into the cavity defined by the flexible covering and configured for insertion into a female socket of the mobile device, a plurality of second contacts disposed on the male plug and electrically coupled to the first contacts of the adapter, and a female connector electrically coupled to the second contacts and having an opening; where the adapter and the flexible covering define a first male structure extending away from the cavity defined by the flexible covering of the case and configured for coupling to the external device, where the first contacts of the adapter and the opening of the female connector are disposed on the first male structure.

In at least some embodiments, the case further includes a rigid frame at least partially disposed within the flexible covering, wherein at least one first portion of the rigid frame is covered on one of two opposing sides by the flexible covering and exposed on another of the two opposing. In at least some embodiments, the rigid frame includes a back panel with a plurality of raised sections disposed on the back panel and at least one intermediate section between at least two of the raised sections, wherein the raised sections are exposed within the cavity and at least a portion of the at least one intermediate section is covered within the cavity. In at least some embodiments, the rigid frame includes a back panel and a sidewall section that extend from the back panel is configured to receive at least a portion of a lower part of the mobile device. In at least some embodiments, the rigid frame further includes adapter receptacle extending from the sidewall section, wherein the adapter receptacle is configured to receive at least a portion of the adapter and forms at least a portion of the first male structure.

In at least some embodiments, the first male structure includes a base and a second male structure extending away from the base, wherein the first contacts of the adapter are disposed on the second male structure. In at least some embodiments, the adapter further includes a port and the case further includes a plug configured for insertion into either the port or the female connector.

Yet another embodiment is a system that includes any of the cases described above and a mobile device having the female socket and receivable within the cavity of the case.

A further embodiment is a system that includes any of the cases described above and an external device having a connector configured for electrically coupling to the first contacts of the adapter of the case.

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.

The present invention is directed to cases for a mobile device. The present invention is also directed to a case for a mobile device that includes a flexible covering, a rigid frame, and an adapter with contacts that electrically couple to the mobile device.

<FIG> illustrate one embodiment of a case <NUM> for a mobile device, such as a cellular or mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal data assistant, or any other suitable mobile device. The case <NUM> includes a flexible covering <NUM> which defines a cavity <NUM> to receive the mobile device, a rigid frame <NUM> disposed at least partially within the flexible covering, and an adapter <NUM> disposed at least partially within the flexible covering and the rigid frame. The adapter <NUM> includes first contacts <NUM> for coupling to an external device (not shown), such as a docking device, a male plug <NUM> for insertion into a female socket of the mobile device, and second contacts <NUM> (<FIG>) disposed on the male plug. The second contacts <NUM> of the male plug <NUM> are electrically coupled to the first contacts <NUM> so that the adapter can carry power or data or both between the external device and the mobile device. The adapter <NUM> optionally includes a female connector <NUM>, such as a USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, Micro-USB, Mini-USB, or Lightning connector or the like. The adapter <NUM> and at least one of the rigid frame <NUM> or the flexible covering <NUM> form a first male structure <NUM> extending away from the cavity. The terms "flexible" and "rigid", when used in the context of "flexible covering" and "rigid frame", are intended to be relative to each other, such that the flexible covering feels more flexible, as judged by an average adult user, than the rigid frame and the rigid frame is more rigid, as judged by the average adult user, than the flexible cover.

Optionally, the adapter (and optionally one or both of the flexible covering <NUM> or rigid frame <NUM>) forms, as part of the first male structure <NUM>, a second male structure <NUM> extending out of a base <NUM> of the first male structure <NUM>. In at least some embodiments, the first male structure <NUM> or second male structure <NUM> (or both) are configured for coupling to a female connector (not shown) or any other suitable connector of the external device. In the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, regions <NUM>, <NUM> are open.

<FIG> are front and back views of a second embodiment of a cover <NUM> with flexible covering <NUM>, rigid frame <NUM>, and adapter <NUM> in a similar, but different, arrangement. <FIG> use shading to distinguish the flexible covering <NUM> (lighter shading) and rigid frame <NUM> (darker shading) and open regions <NUM>, <NUM>.

The flexible covering <NUM> can be made of any suitable flexible, plastic material including, but not limited to, thermoplastic elastomeric polymer materials, other suitable flexible or elastomeric polymer materials, or the like or any combination thereof. In at least some embodiments, the flexible covering <NUM> is molded over or around the rigid frame <NUM>. In at least some embodiments, the rigid frame <NUM> can be an insert and the flexible covering <NUM> can be insert molded over or around the rigid frame. In at least some embodiments, the molding facilitates adherence of the flexible covering <NUM> to the rigid frame <NUM>. In at least some embodiments, materials of the flexible covering <NUM> and rigid frame <NUM> are selected to facilitate the adherence. In at least some embodiments, the flexible covering <NUM> may be attached to the rigid frame <NUM> using adhesive, heat treatment, or the like or any combination thereof.

When the mobile device is received in the case <NUM>, the flexible covering <NUM> is arranged to cover at least a portion of all the side surfaces of the mobile device and to extend over at least a portion (or all) of the peripheral edges of the front and back surfaces of the mobile device to hold the mobile device in the case and to provide protection to the mobile device. In at least some embodiments, the flexible covering <NUM> includes one or more curved extensions <NUM> to receive and hold a stylus or other device. Optionally, the flexible covering <NUM> can include one or more soft buttons <NUM> that are positioned in the flexible covering to coincide with positions (or possible positions) of buttons on the mobile device. The soft buttons <NUM> are arranged so that depression of the soft buttons with sufficient force results in depression of the buttons of a mobile device received in the case <NUM>. The flexible covering <NUM> can also include one or more openings <NUM> to provide access to a speaker, a microphone, a camera, a light, a jack, or the like on the mobile device.

<FIG> illustrates only the rigid frame <NUM> of the cover <NUM> of <FIG>. The illustrated embodiment of the rigid frame <NUM> includes a back panel <NUM> and a sidewall section <NUM> that extends from the back panel <NUM> and is configured to receive the lower portion of the mobile device. In at least some embodiments, the back panel <NUM> includes raised sections <NUM> surrounding first indented sections <NUM>, as well as second indented sections <NUM> between the raised sections <NUM>. The back panel <NUM> can provide protection or support to the back portion of the mobile device and the sidewall section <NUM> can provide protection or support to the bottom and lower portion of the mobile device.

When the flexible covering is disposed (for example, molded) over the rigid frame <NUM>, one or more partially exposed sections of the rigid frame will be covered on one of two opposing sides (for example, either the interior or exterior side where the interior side is the side facing the cavity <NUM> and the exterior side is the side on or facing a back exterior <NUM> (<FIG>) of the case <NUM>) by the flexible covering leaving the other one of the opposing sides exposed. In addition, the rigid frame <NUM> may include one or more fully exposed sections that are not covered on either of the two opposing sides by the flexible covering and, optionally, one or more covered sections that are covered on both of the two opposing sides by the flexible covering.

Referring to <FIG>, in this embodiment, portions <NUM> of the flexible covering <NUM> are disposed over the second indented sections <NUM> between the raised sections <NUM> of the rigid frame <NUM> so that those portions of the rigid frame are covered on the interior side by the flexible covering. These second indented sections <NUM> of the rigid frame are partially exposed sections of the rigid frame as described above. In addition, most or all of the sidewall section <NUM> of the rigid frame <NUM> is covered on the exterior side by the flexible covering <NUM> leaving the interior side exposed so that these portions of the rigid frame also are partially exposed sections of the rigid frame as described above. Other parts of the back panel <NUM> of the rigid frame <NUM> are exposed on both the front and back sides so that these portions of the rigid frame are fully exposed sections of the rigid frame as described above. In at least some embodiments, portions of the rigid frame <NUM> along the edges of the rigid frame may be covered by the flexible covering <NUM> on both opposing sides corresponding to the covered sections of the rigid frame described above.

The rigid frame <NUM> also includes an adapter receptacle <NUM> extending from the sidewall section <NUM> for receiving the adapter <NUM> and for protecting or supporting the adapter <NUM>. The rigid frame <NUM> can also include one or more openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the rigid frame for access to buttons, a camera, a connector, or the like of the mobile device.

The rigid frame <NUM> can be made of any suitable rigid material including, but not limited to, rigid plastics, metal, or the like or any combination thereof.

<FIG>, which is a back view, and <FIG>, and <FIG>, which are all front views, illustrate four additional embodiments of a case <NUM> with different arrangements of the flexible covering <NUM> and rigid frame <NUM>. In particular, these embodiments illustrate different configurations of open regions <NUM>, <NUM>, as well as which regions of the rigid frame <NUM> are exposed through the flexible covering <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate embodiments in which the rigid frame <NUM> is exposed and forms part of the back exterior <NUM> of the case <NUM>. In at least some other embodiments, the flexible covering <NUM> forms the back exterior <NUM> of the case <NUM> with the rigid frame primarily or only exposed at the interior <NUM> of the case. <FIG> illustrates one embodiment of a docking device <NUM> coupled to the case <NUM>. Examples of other embodiments of external devices, such as a docking device (also referred to as a docking cradle), and a female connector of an external device can be found in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

<FIG> illustrates a portion of the adapter <NUM> which includes the male plug <NUM> for coupling to a female connector of the mobile device, the first contacts <NUM> for coupling to contacts of an external device, a contact support <NUM>, the female connector <NUM>, a substrate <NUM> (such as a printed circuit board) for carrying conductors (not shown - for example, conductive traces or wires) that couple the first contacts <NUM> and the female connector <NUM> to the male plug <NUM>, and one or more optional magnetic elements <NUM>. The optional magnetic elements <NUM> can be made of either magnetic material or magnetically attracted material (for example, a ferromagnetic material). In at least some embodiments, the external device can include magnetic elements that magnetically interact with the magnetic elements <NUM> of the adapter <NUM>, as described in more detail in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>. <FIG> illustrate an overmold <NUM> disposed over the substrate <NUM>, female connector <NUM>, and a portion of the male plug <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate one arrangement of the first contacts <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. In this arrangement, there are eighteen first contacts <NUM> arranged in two rows. In the illustrated embodiment, the rows are staggered, but it will be recognized that the rows can be aligned with each other, instead of staggered. The external device can have the same number and arrangement of electrical contacts although in some embodiments, the external device may have fewer or more contacts than the cover <NUM>. It will be understood that the cover <NUM> can include any number of first contacts <NUM> including, but not limited to, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen, eighteen, twenty, or more first contracts. The first contacts <NUM> can be arranged in any regular or irregular pattern. For example, three first contacts can be arranged in a straight line, an equilateral triangle, an isosceles triangle, a right triangle, or any other suitable arrangement. As another example, some or all of the first contacts <NUM> can be arranged at vertices of a regular or irregular polygon, such as a pentagon, hexagon, or octagon.

<FIG> is a block diagram of one embodiment of electrical connection between the external device <NUM>, adapter <NUM>, and mobile device <NUM> when the mobile device is received in the case <NUM> and the external device is electrically coupled to the adapter of the case. In this embodiment, the first contacts <NUM> of the adapter are coupled to the second contacts <NUM> on the male plug <NUM> through conductors <NUM> that are sequentially ordered. As illustrated, contacts <NUM> in a female socket <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM> are electrically coupled to the second contacts <NUM> on the male plug <NUM> of the adapter and contacts <NUM> (which are, optionally, in a female connector <NUM> or other connector) of the external device <NUM> are coupled to the first contacts <NUM> of the adapter <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates one example of an arrangement <NUM> of these contacts as assigned to particular inputs/outputs. It will be recognized that other assignments of inputs/outputs or arrangements of assignments of inputs/outputs can be used.

<FIG> is a block diagram of another embodiment of electrical connection between the external device <NUM>, adapter <NUM>, and mobile device <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first contacts <NUM> are coupled to the second contacts <NUM> in a nonsequential relationship with at least some of the conductors <NUM> overlapping (with intervening insulation). Accordingly, the adapter <NUM> can be used to couple a specific type of mobile device to a universal external device by rearranging the inputs/outputs from the mobile device to the arrangement of inputs/outputs of the universal external device, such as a docking device or docking cradle. This allows the universal external device to be used with a variety of mobile devices by selection of the appropriate adapter to convert the arrangement of inputs/outputs from the mobile device to the universal external device.

Although <FIG> illustrate the coupling of the first contacts <NUM> to the second contacts <NUM>, it will be recognized that a similar arrangement of conductors <NUM> can be used to couple the contacts <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> to the second contacts <NUM> of the male plug <NUM> of the adapter <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> (using the reference "<NUM>/<NUM>"). In some embodiments, the female connector <NUM> is identical to the female socket <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM>. For example, if the female socket of the mobile device is a USB C type socket, then the female connector is also USB C. In other embodiments, the female connector <NUM> is a different type or connector, or has a different input/output arrangement, from the female socket <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the rigid frame <NUM> can be excluded from the case <NUM> to provide a flexible covering <NUM> with an adapter <NUM> having the female connector <NUM> in addition to the first male structure <NUM> (and optional second male structure <NUM>) and first contacts <NUM>. The first contacts <NUM> and the female connector <NUM> provide two different connector arrangements for coupling the case <NUM> (and the mobile device <NUM> received in the case) to the external device <NUM>. Examples of other flexible cases (or covers) that can be modified to include and adapter <NUM> with the female connector <NUM> can be found <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>. For example, those flexible cases (or covers) can be modified to replace the adapter described therein with the adapter <NUM> that includes the female connector.

<FIG> illustrates the adapter <NUM> inserted into the adapter receptacle <NUM> of the rigid frame <NUM>. <FIG> are close-up views with the flexible covering <NUM> molded (or otherwise disposed) over the adapter <NUM>. In at least some embodiments, the flexible covering <NUM> can form a platform <NUM> around the contacts <NUM> and over the one or more optional magnetic elements <NUM> (<FIG>) and contact support <NUM> (<FIG>). The flexible covering <NUM> can also form an optional port <NUM>. In other embodiments, the platform <NUM> or the port <NUM> or both can be formed of another flexible or rigid polymer material.

In at least some embodiments, the port <NUM> can be similar in size and shape to the female connector <NUM> and the case <NUM> can include a plug <NUM> that can fit snugly in either the port or the female connector <NUM>. The plug <NUM> may be useful to cover the female connector <NUM> when not in use. When the female connector <NUM> is in use, the plug <NUM> can be inserted into the port <NUM> so that it is not lost.

In at least some embodiments, the platform <NUM>, second male structure <NUM>, or first male structure <NUM> can have an asymmetric shape that can facilitate correctly coupling the case <NUM> to the external device. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the platform <NUM>, second male structure <NUM>, or first male structure <NUM> has a first edge <NUM> that is straight and a second edge <NUM>, opposite the first edge, that is curved. A female connector of the external device can be shaped similarly to the platform <NUM>, second male structure <NUM>, or first male structure <NUM> so that the platform <NUM>, second male structure <NUM>, or first male structure <NUM> of the case only fits easily into the female connector of the docking cradle in one orientation. This asymmetric the platform <NUM>, second male structure <NUM>, or first male structure <NUM> of the case <NUM> facilitates correct coupling of the case with an external device so that the first contacts <NUM> correctly and reliably mate with corresponding contacts on the external device.

Claim 1:
A case (<NUM>) for a mobile device, the case comprising:
a flexible covering (<NUM>) defining a cavity (<NUM>) configured for receiving and holding the mobile device;
a rigid frame (<NUM>) at least partially disposed within the flexible covering, wherein at least one first portion of the rigid frame is covered on one of two opposing sides by the flexible covering and exposed on another of the two opposing sides, at least one second portion of the rigid frame is exposed on both of the two opposing sides, and at least one third portion of the rigid frame is covered on both of the two opposing sides by the flexible covering; and
an adapter (<NUM>) disposed at least partially within the rigid frame and the flexible covering, the adapter comprising a plurality of first contacts (<NUM>) for coupling to contacts of an external device, a male plug (<NUM>) extending into the cavity defined by the flexible covering and configured for insertion into a female socket of the mobile device, and a plurality of second contacts (<NUM>) disposed on the male plug and electrically coupled to the first contacts of the adapter;
wherein the adapter, in combination with at least one of the flexible covering or the rigid frame, defines a first male structure (<NUM>) extending away from the cavity defined by the flexible covering of the case and configured for coupling to the external device, wherein the first contacts of the adapter are disposed on the first male structure.