US20140138265A1 - Protective Cases for Mobile Devices - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to protective cases for mobile devices. The case includes a main body covering part of a major surface of the mobile device that is integral and/or secured to sidewall enclosures. The main body includes spoke(s) integral and/or secured to sidewall enclosures. The sidewall enclosures are corner sidewall enclosures and non-corner side enclosures that protect the surfaces of the mobile device from dropping damage. The sidewall enclosures can be assembled by users.

Description

BACKGROUND
• This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/708,654, filed on Oct. 2, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein.
• This invention relates to a protective case for mobile devices such as cell phones, e-readers, music players, and tablets.
• As mobile devices have evolved to offer advanced features, the replacement cost for damaged devices has grown. Unfortunately, if a mobile device hits a hard surface, it may damage it. It may be a dent or scratch, but sometimes the damage may require purchasing a new mobile device. If we are talking about a cell phone, the user may pay dearly, because the warranty may have expired or simply not cover the damage and carrier contracts for reduced prices may not be available. Thus, many users have bought protective cases for cell phones. Some cases may wrap protective material around the entire cell phone except for the display. Such an approach may protect the cell phone from shocks, dents and scratches but something is lost—the beauty of the cell phone design. The inventors recognized these problems and sought to identify what surfaces of the mobile device are susceptible to damage and protect those surfaces in a less bulky fashion that reveals much of the cell phone design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to protective cases for mobile devices.
• In a feature, the case includes a main body covering only part of a major surface of the mobile device that is integral and/or secured to sidewall enclosures that protect the mobile device.
• In another feature, the case includes a main body that includes one or more spokes that are integral and/or secured to sidewall enclosures protecting the mobile device.
• In another feature, the sidewall enclosures are corner sidewall enclosures and non-corner sidewall enclosures that protect the mobile device on the surfaces susceptible to dropping damage.
• In another feature, the protective case includes a variety of sidewall enclosures that are separable parts that can be assembled for customization by users.
• In other features, the sidewall enclosures are molded, machined, and/or shaped to enclose at least part of the perimeter of the mobile device and are integral with and/or secured to the main body. When the sidewall enclosures are assembled to the main body, they form a case that encloses at least part of the perimeter of the mobile device, and part of the back of the mobile device.
• In other features, the case particularly encloses certain parts of the mobile device such as the corners where it is more susceptible to damage. The corner and non-corner sidewall enclosures can be minimal with molded interior shapes conforming to the mobile device to preferably form a snug fit or relatively large and robust to have more coverage and an extra level of protection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of a protective case for a mobile device.
• FIG. 2aillustrates a planar shaped main body of a protective case.
• FIG. 2bis an exploded view of an open frame shaped main body and the rest of a protective case.
• FIG. 2cillustrates an X-shaped main body.
• FIG. 3aillustrates a protective case that includes an X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to the corner sidewall enclosures.
• FIG. 3billustrates a protective case that includes corner sidewall enclosures without the main body.
• FIG. 3cillustrates a protective case that includes an X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to the corner sidewall enclosures.
• FIGS. 4a-4dillustrate the modular nature of the protective case that allows for customization.
• FIG. 5aillustrates a protective case that includes an open frame shaped main body and sidewall enclosures.
• FIG. 5billustrates a protective case that includes an open frame shaped main body with corner sidewall enclosures.
• FIGS. 6a-6dillustrate various corner and non-corner sidewall enclosures.
• FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a protective case that includes an open frame shaped main body, corner sidewall enclosures and non-corner sidewall enclosures.
• FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a protective case that includes an X-shaped main body, corner sidewall enclosures, and sidewall enclosures.
• FIG. 9aillustrates a corner sidewall enclosure of a protective case integral with and/or secured to an open frame shaped main body.
• FIG. 9billustrates a spoke of the main body secured by a screw to the corner sidewall enclosure.
• FIG. 9cillustrates a spoke of the main body secured in a slot of the corner sidewall enclosure.
• FIG. 9dillustrates an open frame shaped main body that includes an extension that wraps around a corner sidewall enclosure.
• FIG. 10aillustrates a protective case for a cell phone using an X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to four corner sidewall enclosures.
• FIG. 10billustrates a protective case for a tablet using an X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to four corner sidewall enclosures.
• FIG. 11aillustrates an embodiment of a main body that includes a spoke integral with and/or secured to two corner sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11billustrates another embodiment of a main body that includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11cillustrates another embodiment of a main body that includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner sidewall enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11dillustrates another embodiment of a main body that includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11eillustrates another embodiment of a main body that includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11fillustrates another embodiment of a main body that includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11gillustrates another embodiment of a main body that includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11hillustrates another embodiment of a main body that includes spokes integral with and/or secured to four corner sidewalls enclosures to protect four corners of a mobile device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• The following description includes the best mode of carrying out the invention, illustrates the principles of the invention, uses illustrative values, and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is determined by reference to the claims. Each part or step is assigned its own number in the specification and drawings. The drawings are not to scale and do not reflect the relative size of the parts.
• FIG. 1 is a partially exploded and perspective view of a case that can protect a mobile device (e.g., cell phone, tablet, and e-reader). The mobile device can be a cell phone such as Apple's iPhone, an iPad, iPod, and other firms' tablets, a computer, an e-reader such as Amazon's Kindle, and other mobile devices such as the Android OS mobile devices.
• The protective case includes amain body24 that is integral with and/or secured to secondary portions that fully or partly enclose the perimeter or edges of themobile device42 to eliminate or reduce damage to the mobile device when it collides with a hard surface.
• For brevity, the application uses the phrase “integral with” to refer to adjacent “parts” that are structurally a single part. The application uses “secured” to refer to adjacent parts held together mechanically by, for example, a screw, a rivet, a fastener and/or adhesive.
• The secondary portions includecorner sidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20 andnon-corner sidewall enclosures10,15,16, and22. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, thenon-corner sidewall enclosures10,22 enclose the top sidewall and the bottom sidewall of themobile device42. Thenon-corner sidewall enclosures15,16 enclose the right sidewall and the left sidewall of themobile device42.Corner sidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20 protect the corners of themobile device42. In another embodiment, instead ofcorner sidewall enclosure20, the protective case includes acorner sidewall enclosure26 with an opening27 for a lanyard, a strap or another purpose. In another embodiment, instead of thecorner sidewall enclosure20, the protective case includes acorner sidewall enclosure29 that includes abutton28 for activating a function (e.g., camera shutter) of themobile device42.
• In another embodiment, acorner sidewall enclosure30 includes anopening30 at the top and aclosed bottom enclosure34 to hold an input tool, such as a stylus orpen36. The sidewall enclosures are integral with and/or secured to the open frame shapedmain body24.
• In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, themain body24 is an open frame shaped, which is on the periphery of themobile device42 with an opening in the center. Themain body24 can be rigid or elastic and a singular object or include multiple-pieces assembled together.
• The open frame shapedmain body24 that holds the corner sidewall enclosures and the non-corner sidewall enclosures together has center opening in themain body24 so it can be disposed on the back or even the front (i.e., display side) of themobile device42.
• The corner sidewall and non-corner sidewall enclosures are made of rigid or non-rigid materials such as aluminum, other metals, plastic, rubber, polyurethane, carbon fiber, or other composite materials.
• FIG. 2aillustrates a planar shapedmain body44, including anopening43, that covers and protects the back of the mobile device.
• FIG. 2bis an exploded view of an open frame shaped main body and the rest of a protective case. As shown, the protective case includes an open frame shapedmain body24,non-corner sidewall enclosures10,15,16, and22, andcorner sidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20. Thenon-corner sidewall enclosure10 includes a rectangular shapedopening38 and acircular opening40 to access the mobile device's functions (e.g., camera, flash, microphone and other controls or for exposing the mobile device's graphics, name, on/off/sleep button, mute button, and volume buttons).
• FIG. 2cillustrates a main body that includes spokes that is integral with and/or secured to the corner sidewall enclosures. As shown inFIG. 2c, the X-shapedmain body46 is a four-spoke body in the shape of an “X” or two “V's” that are integral with and/or secured to each other where one “V” is inverted with respect to the other “V.”
• FIG. 3aillustrates a protective case that includes an X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to the corner sidewall enclosures. The cornersidewall enclosures portion12,14,18, and20 enclose the corners of themobile device42, and are held together by the X-shapedmain body46 on the back of themobile device42. Together when assembled with themobile device42 within, thecorner sidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20 and the X-shapedmain body46 form a snug fit case to contain themobile device42. This embodiment allows a minimal amount of material to cover themobile device42 while protecting the corners of themobile device42, which are most susceptible to damage due to a fall or drop, as well as the back of themobile device42.
• FIG. 3billustrates a protective case that includescorner sidewall enclosures12,14,18,20 secured to themobile device42 without themain body46.FIG. 3cillustrates a protective case that includes an X-shaped main body integral with and/or secured to the corner sidewall enclosures without themobile device42.
• FIG. 4aillustrates another embodiment of a protective case for amobile device42 that includes an open frame shapedmain body24 that is integral with and/or secured totop sidewall enclosure10 withopenings38 and40, thenon-corner sidewall enclosures15,16, and thebottom sidewall enclosure22.Non-corner sidewall enclosure16 includes a set ofopenings48,50, and52 to access functions of themobile device42.
• FIG. 4billustrates another embodiment of a protective case for amobile device42 that includes an open frame shapedmain body24 that is integral with and/or secured to cornersidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20 andnon-corner sidewall enclosures15,16.Non-corner sidewall enclosure16 includesopenings48,50, and52 to access functions of themobile device42.
• FIG. 4cillustrates another embodiment of a protective case for amobile device42 that includes an open frame shapedmain body24 that is integral and/or secured to cornersidewall enclosures12 and20 along with topnon-corner sidewall10 withopenings38 and40,corner sidewall enclosures14 and18 along with bottomnon-corner sidewall22.
• FIG. 4dillustrates another embodiment of a protective case for amobile device42 that includes an X-shapedmain body46 that is integral and/or secured to cornersidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20.
• FIG. 5aillustrates the assembled protective case shown as an exploded view inFIG. 1.FIG. 5aillustrates thecorner sidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20, andnon-corner sidewall enclosures10,15,16, and22 enclose the edges around the perimeter of the mobile device. Thenon-corner sidewall enclosures15,16 are integral with and/or secured to the open frame shapedmain body24.FIG. 5billustrates a case that includes an open frame shapedmain body24 withcorner sidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20 to protect corners ofmobile device42.
• FIG. 6aillustrates acorner sidewall enclosure12 that protects the corner ofmobile device42.FIG. 6billustrates asidewall enclosure54 that protects two corners and the top of themobile device42.FIG. 6cillustrates asidewall enclosure56 that encloses the corner and the non-corner of themobile device42.FIG. 6dillustratesnon-corner sidewall enclosures10,15 that protect the non-corner perimeter of themobile device42.
• FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the protective case shown assembled inFIG. 5a. The only new part added to the case ofFIG. 5ais acorner sidewall200 with anopening100.
• FIG. 8 is an exploded view of protective case shown assembled inFIG. 4d. The only part added to the case ofFIG. 5ais acorner sidewall200 with anopening100.
• FIG. 9aillustrates acorner sidewall enclosure20 of a protective case integral with and/or secured to an open frame shapedmain body24.
• FIG. 9billustrates a spoke of themain body46 secured by ascrew62 to thecorner sidewall enclosure13 of themobile device42.
• FIG. 9cillustrates a spoke of themain body46 secured in a slot of thecorner sidewall enclosure66 of themobile device42.
• FIG. 9dillustrates an open frame shapedmain body24 that includes anextension68 that wraps around acorner sidewall enclosure20 of themobile device42.
• FIG. 10aillustrates a protective case for a cell phone using an X-shapedmain body46 secured to fourcorner sidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20.
• FIG. 10billustrates a protective case for atablet70 using an X-shapedmain body80 secured to fourcorner sidewall enclosures72,74,76, and78.
• FIG. 11aillustrates an embodiment of amain body82 that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to twocorner sidewalls enclosures54,300 to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11billustrates another embodiment of amain body84 that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to fourcorner sidewalls enclosures12,14,18, and20 to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11cillustrates another embodiment of amain body86 that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to fourcorner sidewall enclosures12,14,18, and20 to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11dillustrates another embodiment of amain body88 that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to fourcorner sidewalls enclosures12,14,18, and20 to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11eillustrates another embodiment of amain body90 that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to fourcorner sidewalls enclosures12,14,18, and20 to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11fillustrates another embodiment of amain body92 that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to fourcorner sidewalls enclosures12,14,18, and20 to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11gillustrates another embodiment of amain body94 that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to fourcorner sidewalls enclosures12,14,18, and20 to protect four corners of a mobile device.
• FIG. 11hillustrates another embodiment of amain body96 that includes spokes that are integral with and/or secured to fourcorner sidewalls enclosures12,14,18, and20 to protect four corners of a mobile device.

Claims (8)

We claim:

1. A protective case for a mobile device, comprising:

sidewall enclosure(s) that cover at least part of the perimeter of a mobile device; and

a main body that covers a part of the back of the mobile device, including one or more spokes integral with and/or secured to the sidewall enclosures.

2. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein the sidewall enclosures are four corner sidewall enclosures to protect four corners of the mobile device.

3. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein the sidewall enclosures can be detached from the main body and replaced with other sidewall enclosures.

4. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein the main body is X-shaped with spokes that are integral with and/or secured to the corner sidewall enclosures

5. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein the corner sidewall enclosures are secured to the main body by screws, pins, or mating parts.

6. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein the main body holds the sidewall enclosures against the mobile device to protect the mobile device.

7. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein the sidewall enclosure portions are interchangeable to access mobile device functions.

8. The protective case ofclaim 1, wherein main body is one of the following shapes a plus sign, a vertical line, V-shaped, diamond-shaped, and open frame shaped.

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