US20140226268A1 - Cases for mobile electronic devices for use with auxiliary lenses - Google Patents

Abstract

In some embodiments, high-performance, rugged, or damage-resistant cases for mobile electronic devices, such as mobile communication devices, are provided to enclose and/or protect mobile electronic devices and/or one or more auxiliary products for mobile electronic devices, such as one or more auxiliary lenses, from various hazards, such as impact, shock, and/or ingress of potentially damaging substances, such as water, other liquids, dust, dirt, sand, and/or other debris, etc.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/764,981, filed on Feb. 14, 2013 and entitled “Accessories for Communication Devices,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/936,824, filed on Feb. 6, 2014, and entitled “Accessories for Mobile Devices,” the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein and made part of this specification for all that they disclose.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS
• Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties under 37 CFR 1.57.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• This invention relates generally to cases for mobile electronic devices and specifically to cases for mobile devices with one or more additional performance features.
• 2. Description of the Related Art
• The use of mobile electronic devices has become widespread in many diverse fields and applications. Mobile electronic devices include mobile communication devices such as mobile telephones, media storage devices, testing devices, gaming devices, data entry devices, GPS devices, laptop computers, notebook or pad-type computers, and/or devices capable of linking electronically to another device or to a network such as the Internet, etc. The mobile nature of such devices makes them especially vulnerable to damage by inadvertent contact with other objects during transportation or storage, such as when a mobile electronic device is dropped on the ground or comes into contact with water or another potentially damaging substance.
• Existing cases for mobile electronic devices can help in some instances to shield or protect mobile electronic devices from certain types of damage. However, such cases do not provide sufficient interior space for mobile electronic devices equipped with additional performance-enhancing add-on products, and/or do not provide any protection for the add-on products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In some embodiments, high-performance, rugged, or damage-resistant cases for mobile electronic devices, such as mobile communication devices, are provided to enclose and/or protect mobile electronic devices and/or one or more auxiliary products for mobile electronic devices, such as one or more auxiliary lenses, from various hazards, such as impact, shock, and/or ingress of potentially damaging substances, such as water, other liquids, dust, dirt, sand, and/or other debris, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1A is a rear plan view of a case for a mobile electronic device in a closed position;
• FIG. 1B is a rear plan view of the case ofFIG. 1A in an open position;
• FIG. 1C is a rear plan view of the case ofFIG. 1A with an auxiliary lens;
• FIG. 1D is rear perspective view of an example of a mobile electronic device that can be used with any of the embodiments disclosed in this specification;
• FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the case ofFIG. 1A with the auxiliary lens illustrated in an exploded configuration;
• FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a case for a mobile electronic device in an open position;
• FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the case ofFIG. 3 in a closed position;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a case for a mobile electronic device in an open position;
• FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a case for a mobile electronic device in a closed position;
• FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a case for a mobile electronic device in an open position;
• FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of another embodiment of a case for a mobile electronic device in a closed position with an auxiliary lens attached to the case; and
• FIG. 9 is a rear plan view of the case ofFIG. 8 with the auxiliary lens removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• In some embodiments disclosed in this specification, cases for mobile electronic devices such as mobile communication devices can provide a high level of protection for a mobile electronic device and/or for one or more performance-enhancing add-on products that are or can be physically or functionally coupled to a mobile electronic device (e.g., one or more auxiliary lens components). For example, in some embodiments, any of the cases disclosed herein can provide a high level of resistance to damage from impact or shock and/or from ingress of performance-impairing substances, such as moisture, water or other liquid, vapors, perspiration, fog, and/or dust, etc. In some embodiments, a case for a mobile electronic device disclosed in this specification can be partially or fully compliant with industry standards for highly protective or rugged cases for electronic devices, such as IP-68; MIL STD 810E-516.5; and/or MIL STD 810G-516.6, including but not limited to one or more relevant tests in any of these standards, such as test relating to water resistance (or waterproofing), and/or drop or impact resistance, etc. In some embodiments, a case disclosed herein may be generally shock or impact resistant, or water resistant, without necessarily complying with these high-level industry standards.
• Any of the cases disclosed herein can be configured to be water proof or water resistant, such as up to about 3 ATM of water pressure. Any of the cases disclosed herein can include an auxiliary power portion, such as an auxiliary battery and/or a solar-charging portion and/or auxiliary flash and/or other auxiliary electronic capability. In any of the cases disclosed herein, a transparent portion or a light-channeling portion can be provided that is configured to direct light generated by an onboard flash onto the scene being photographed. Any of the cases disclosed herein can include one or more cushioning or shock-absorbing features on an exterior or interior surface of the case to diminish or resist damage that may otherwise be caused by shock or impact against a mobile electronic device contained within thecase1700. The individual features disclosed and/or described in this specification are contemplated to be additive or interchangeable: any structure, material, step, or function disclosed and/or illustrated in any particular embodiment can be combined with or used instead of any other structure, material, step, or function disclosed and/or illustrated in any other embodiment. The selected aggregation of particular features in the descriptions or illustrations is merely for convenience in providing examples in a context, but is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the term “mobile electronic device” refers to a device with electronic functionality that can be easily and conveniently carried by an individual, and the term “mobile communication device” refers to a mobile electronic device that is capable of communicating electronically with one or more other devices.
• InFIG. 1A, an example of an embodiment of acase1700 for a mobile communication device is shown. Thecase1700 ofFIG. 1A can be shock-resistant and/or water resistant. In some embodiments, thecase1700 can be formed, in whole or in part, from a polymer such as polycarbonate or polypropylene or from a metal, such as aluminum or titanium. The body of thecase1700 may be molded or otherwise formed with generally thick dimensions (e.g., one or more walls of the body can be generally thick), and/or at least a portion of the case may be made of one or more rigid, highly rigid, resilient, or highly resilient materials. In some embodiments, the case material can be generally transparent, in whole or in part, such as in thedisplay region1701 that is configured to be generally adjacent to the screen of the mobile device when the mobile device is inserted therein, such that the screen of the mobile device can be generally visible through thedisplay region1701 of thecase1700. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the case material can be of a type that is appropriately thin, flexible, or resilient, and/or appropriately composed so as to permit touch-screen communication by a user through the case material onto the underlying screen of the mobile device disposed within the case, such as in adisplay region1701 of thecase1700.
• Thecase1700 can include abody portion1702, comprising an internal cavity into which a communication device (not shown) is configured to be placed, and alid portion1704 that couples to thebody portion1702 to enclose the communication device. In some methods of providing thecase1700 to a user, a manufacturer or retailer instructs the user to insert a communication device into thecase1700. In some embodiments, the internal cavity can be sized and/or shaped to closely conform to the size and/or shape of a mobile electronic device coupled with an auxiliary attachment, such as an auxiliary lens on the mobile electronic device, permitting the mobile electronic device and auxiliary attachment to be contained at least partially, or entirely, within the case without undue or excessive internal jostling, rattling, or vibration that could potentially damage the mobile electronic device and/or the auxiliary attachment. Thelid portion1704 can be substantially smaller than the body portion, as illustrated. In some embodiments, as shown, the lid portion extends along only one upper edge of thecase1700, from a first lateral side to a second lateral side. Thecase1700 may completely enclose a communication device to resist impacts, scratches, and the like, and/or to resist against water ingress and/or other environmental factors.
• In some embodiments, as illustrated, thebody portion1702 and thelid portion1704 may comprise a movable connection, such as through ahinge1713. As shown, thehinge1713 can be formed partially by a portion of thelid portion1702 and partially by a portion of thebody portion1702. As illustrated, thehinge1713 can be positioned on a portion of case that is generally opposite from asecuring mechanism1703.
• Aseal1712 may be used between thelid portion1704 and thebody portion1702. For example, theseal1712 may be a gasket made of rubber, silicone, or some other resilient, compliant, or flexible material. When a user moves thelid portion1704 into engagement with thebody portion1702, such as along an upper edge of thebody portion1702 and along a lower portion of the lip portion, into a closed position, thelid1704 can compress theseal1712 against thebody portion1704, forming a water-resistant seal. In some embodiments, theseal1712 can comprise a plurality of components, such asseal portions1712aand1712b,as illustrated inFIG. 1B. In a closed position of thecase1700, theseal portions1712aand1712bcan be configured to compress against each other and against respective portions of thecase1700 to form a suitable seal. As shown, theseal1712, or portions thereof, can be non-planar so as to closely conform to a curved portion of thecase1700. As with all features disclosed and/or illustrated in this specification, a seal with appropriate adaptations can be used with any embodiment disclosed and/or illustrated in this specification along any region where two or more components come together, contact each other, and/or converge, etc.
• In some embodiments, as illustrated, asecuring mechanism1703, such as a latch, can removably secure thelid portion1704 to thebody portion1702. In some embodiments, as shown, thesecuring mechanism1703 can be disposed on a lateral side of thecase1700. As illustrated inFIG. 1B, a latch can be pivotally attached to thecase1700 such that, in an open position, the latch is spaced from acontact region1705 on either of thebody portion1702 or thelid portion1704; and in a closed position, the latch is moved into contact withsuch contact region1705 to removably secure thecase1700 in a closed position. Many other different types of securing mechanisms can be used.
• As illustrated inFIGS. 1C and 2, thecase1700 may be configured to be used with a mobile electronic device having anauxiliary lens component1706 attached thereto and/or housed within thecase1700 along with the mobile electronic device. In some embodiments, theauxiliary lens component1706 is configured to attach directly to the mobile electronic device and/or is configured to attach directly to thecase1700. As illustrated inFIG. 1D, in some embodiments, anauxiliary lens component1706acan be removably attachable to a portion of the mobileelectronic device1730 with aretainer portion1732. Theauxiliary lens component1706acan be configured to be attached to the mobileelectronic device1730 in a region that is adjacent to or overlayed or overlapping an onboard camera of the mobileelectronic device1730, such as on a corner of the mobile electronic device, or along an upper edge of the mobile electronic device (e.g., at or near a middle region along an upper edge region of the mobile electronic device). Thelens portion1707 of theauxiliary lens component1706acan be configured to modify light that passes through thelens portion1707 before such light impinges on an onboard lens and/or onboard camera of a mobileelectronic device1730. Many examples of auxiliary lens components are included in U.S. Pat. No. 8,279,544, which is incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses, and any of such auxiliary lens components can be used on a mobile electronic device that can be inserted, together with an auxiliary lens component, into acase1700 that is appropriately sized and dimensioned to fit and to protect such mobile electronic device and auxiliary lens component.
• In some embodiments (not shown), an auxiliary lens component can be provided as an integral portion of thecase1700. For example, the auxiliary lens component can be affixed or removably attached to thelid portion1704 or to thebody portion1702 of thecase1700. The integrally mounted auxiliary lens component can swing open or closed with thelid portion1704 such that in the closed position of thecase1700, the auxiliary lens component is positioned generally in front of an onboard lens or onboard camera of a mobile electronic device. In some embodiments, a plurality of interchangeable integral auxiliary lens components can be provided with different optical characteristics, such as any of the different optical characteristics disclosed for other lenses in the specification.
• Theauxiliary lens component1706 can provide an optical capability or function that is different from or greater than the optical capability of an onboard lens in a camera of the mobile electronic device. For example, theauxiliary lens component1706 can be an optical element that provides one or more of magnification (adjustable or fixed), telephoto, polarization, anti-glare, anti-reflection, light filtering, light attenuation, wide-angle, fish-eye, or other functionality. Any of these functionalities can be adjustable. In some embodiments, a plurality of different interchangeableauxiliary lens components1706 can be provided with different optical capabilities.
• A separateprotective lens housing1706 may be used to house the lens component. Thelens housing1706 may provide a non-permanent protective enclosure for one of multipleinterchangeable lens components1707. In some embodiments, a particular lens component may be permanently enclosed within thelens housing1706. The lens housing may be removably secured in place between thelid1704 andbody portion1702, as shown inFIG. 1C. In some embodiments, when a user does not wish to use a lens component, alens housing1706 is not required to be secured between thelid portion1704 and thebody portion1702. Instead, an opening may remain, or a separate protective component or anempty lens housing1712 may be secured between thelid portion1704 and thebody portion1702 to maintain the protection against environmental factors.
• As illustrated inFIGS. 1B, one or more portions of thecase1700, such as a lower portion of thelid portion1704 and/or an upper portion of thebody portion1702, can comprise one or more surfaces or shapes that are configured to closely correspond to one or more surfaces or shapes of an outside surface of alens housing1706 or other portion of anauxiliary lens component1706,1706a.For example, as illustrated, a lower edge of thelid portion1704 can comprise an upwardlyconcave region1715 and an upper edge of thebody portion1702 can comprise a downwardlyconcave region1719. Each of theseconcave regions1715,1719 can be configured to fit tightly against the respective upper and lower surfaces of thelens housing1706, with one ormore seals1712 disposed between these components in some embodiments in some embodiments to produce a seal between the respective lid andbody portions1704,1702 and thelens housing1706. The one or moreconcave regions1715,1719 can comprise generally arcuate or generally circular or partially arcuate or partially circular shapes to generally match with at least a portion of an outer surface of anauxiliary lens component1706,1706a.The opening formed by the combination of the one or moreconcave regions1715,1719 can be substantially larger (e.g., at least two or at least three times larger) than an onboard lens or an onboard camera, since the opening is configured to receive an auxiliary lens.
• As illustrated inFIG. 1D, when attached to a mobileelectronic device1730, anauxiliary lens component1706acan extend further in one or more dimensions, such as in a vertical direction and/or a horizontal direction than anupper edge1734 and/or alateral edge1736 of the mobileelectronic device1730. In some embodiments, as illustrated inFIGS. 1A, anupper portion1738 of thecase1700 that is configured to generally surround at least an upwardly extending portion of theauxiliary lens component1706,1706ain the closed position can extend further in the vertical region than a main portion of the top edge of thecase1700; and a laterally extendingportion1740 of thecase1700 that is configured to generally surround at least a side portion of theauxiliary lens component1706,1706ain the closed position can extend further in the lateral side than a main portion of the side edge of thecase1700. Either or both of the upwardly extendingportion1738 and thelateral extending portion1740 can comprise a generally curvilinear, non-straight outer surface.
• In some embodiments, as illustrated inFIG. 1C, when thecase1700 is positioned in the closed position, at least a portion of theauxiliary lens component1706,1706acan protrude or extend outside of thecase1700, such that thecase1700 does not cover or impede the direct contact of light with thelens portion1707 of theauxiliary lens component1706,1706a.The upwardly and downwardlyconcave portions1715,1719 of thecase1700 can form complimentary portions of a generally circular opening in the case, as illustrated in the example ofFIG. 1A. A seal or tight fit can be formed around theauxiliary lens component1706,1706aby one or more portions of thecase1700 to prevent the ingress of damaging substances into thecase1700 along or at the boundary between theauxiliary lens component1706,1706aand thecase1700, which could otherwise damage the mobile electronic device housed therein. In some embodiments (not shown), theauxiliary lens component1706,1706acan be completely enclosed within thecase1700 when thecase1700 is in the closed position. At least a portion of thecase1700 can comprise a transparent or translucent region to permit light to pass through thecase1700, onto thelens portion1707 of theauxiliary lens component1706,1706a,and then onto the onboard lens or camera of the mobileelectronic device1730.
• In some embodiments, as illustrated in an example inFIG. 2, interfacing components can be provided to permit access to or communication with the mobileelectronic device1730 when the mobileelectronic device1730 is contained with thecase1700 in a closed position. For example, one ormore control interfaces1742 can be provided and configured to allow a user to control one or more features of the mobile electronic device (such as to turn the mobile electronic device on or off, adjust volume, and/or actuate a photo-capturing process, etc.) In some embodiments, thecontrol interface1742 can comprise a flexible or resilient portion of material that is bonded to or otherwise attached to a portion of thecase1700 in a manner that is resistant to leaking to impede the ingress of performance-impairing substances such as water, dust, and/or debris. In some embodiments, as illustrated, since theauxiliary lens1706,1706aor some other component may block direct access to a control portion (e.g., a power button1748) on a mobileelectronic device1730, or the interface portion may be spaced from the control portion, an internal actuating component (not shown) that is functionally coupled to thecontrol interface1742 can extend downwardly inside of thecase1700, between thecontrol interface1742 and the control portion of the mobileelectronic device1730, to enable a user to actuate the control portion of the mobile electronic device by actuating thecontrol interface1742.
• One or more access regions can be provided to permit selective contact with a portion of the mobileelectronic device1730 when it is contained within thecase1700 in a closed position. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 2, a flexible orresilient cover1744 can be provided in thecase1700 in a region that is generally proximate to an ear phone jack or other electronic access region of the mobileelectronic device1730 when it is positioned within the internal cavity of thecase1700. Thecover1744 can comprise a closed position (as shown) and an open position. In the open position, an electronic component, such as an ear phone, can be electronically connected to the mobileelectronic device1730 without requiring the mobileelectronic device1730 to be removed from thecase1700. Many alternative or additional types of access regions can be provided. For example, an access region can be provided to enable a user to connect a power cord or charger to the mobile electronic device while it is disposed within thecase1700 in a closed position.
• In some embodiments, the access region is configured to form a seal around the access region, or to provide an external electronic interface that is in electronic communication with the mobile electronic device on the interior of thecase1700, to enable a user to access or establish an electronic connection with the mobileelectronic device1730 in thecase1700 in a closed position, while maintaining a sealed configuration around the mobileelectronic device1730, to resist the ingress of one or more damaging substances such as water, dust, debris, etc.
• FIGS. 3-4 illustrate another embodiment of a sturdy or rugged, shock-resistant, and/or water-resistantprotective case1800. As illustrated, thecase1800 is in an open position. Thecase1800 can comprise multiple components, any of which can be used in other embodiments disclosed and/or illustrated in this specification, with suitable adaptations, and/or any of the features disclosed and/or illustrated in other embodiments in this specification can be used oncase1800, with suitable adaptations. Thecase1800 may include abody portion1802 that is made of sturdy protective material, such as molded polycarbonate and/or anodized aluminum, etc. Thebody portion1802 can comprise aninner cavity1809.
• In some embodiments, thebody portion1802 can include a plurality ofconnection points1803, such as apertures configured to receive elongate connectors, such as screws or bolts with threads in a closed position of thecase1800. Many other suitable connectors or connection means can be provided, instead of or in addition to elongate connectors, such as one or more clasps, clips, snaps, buckles, bands, clamps, etc., to provide a closed position for thecase1800. In some embodiments, thebody portion1802 comprises a recessed top portion, forming an outer lip, for receiving anupper screen protector1806 in a recessed manner. Thebody portion1802 can be transparent or opaque. The rear side of the body portion can be closed or open (e.g., in some situations the body portion can comprise merely a lower band configured to generally surround an outer edge of a mobile electronic device).
• Aninner layer1804 may be removably or permanently positioned within theinner cavity1809 of thebody portion1802. As illustrated inFIG. 3, theinner layer1804 can comprise aninterior cavity1807. Theinner layer1804 may be configured to generally surround and/or secure a particular type of communication device or a plurality of various types of communication devices within thebody portion1802. In some embodiments, an inner boundary of theinner layer1804 can be configured to closely conform with or tightly fit an outer edge region of an electronic device that is disposed in theinterior cavity1807 of theinner layer1804. In some embodiments, theinner layer1804 can provide padding or shock absorption to a mobile electronic device disposed therein, such as one or moreinner layers1804 made of a resilient or flexible material such as silicone. In some embodiments, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the lateral thickness of the inner layer can vary along at least a portion of its perimeter, or along its entire perimeter, to provide multiple discrete points of flexible or resilient contact with a mobile device disposed in theinterior cavity1807 of theinner layer1804. In some embodiments (not shown), the lateral thickness of the inner layer is substantially contact along a portion, or most, or all, of its perimeter to provide a thick, impact-resistant barrier to help protect a mobile electronic device disposed in theinner cavity1807 of theinner layer1804. In some embodiments, theinner layer1804 includes one ormore access regions1809 comprising aperture or other points of access for permitting interaction between a user and the mobile electronic device disposed in thecase1800 in a closed position.
• Ascreen protector1806 may be used to protect the front face and/or screen of the communication device, and/or to help provide a seal against ingress of potentially damaging substances, such as water, dust, moisture, vapors, and/or debris. Thescreen protector1806 may be transparent or clear, and thescreen protector1806 can facilitate viewing of the screen even when the communication device is completely enclosed within thecase1800. In some embodiments, as illustrated, the outer perimeter of thescreen protector1806 is about the same shape and size as the outer perimeter of the upper edge of thebody portion1802; and in some embodiments, the outer perimeter of thescreen protector1806 is slightly smaller than the outer perimeter of the upper edge of thebody portion1802, such that thescreen protector1806 can fit within a recessed portion of the upper edge of thebody portion1802 in some configurations.
• Thescreen protector1806 can be made of strengthened glass (e.g., tempered or chemically treated glass). For example, thescreen protector1806 can be made of an alkali-aluminosilicate sheet of glass, such as Gorrila Glass made by Corning, Inc. In some embodiments, thescreen protector1806 is a thin, flexible layer configured to permit a user to interact or communicate with the mobile electronic device disposed inside of the case through thescreen protector1806. As with all features in this specification, a screen protector with one or more of these features can be utilized with appropriate adaptations in any embodiments disclosed and/or illustrated in this specification.
• In a closed configuration of thecase1800, the flexible or resilientinner layer1807 can be disposed within theinterior cavity1804 of thebody portion1802, and a mobile electronic device can be disposed within theinner layer1807. Thescreen protector1806 can be positioned on top of thebody portion1802, theinner layer1807, and the mobile electronic device. The connection mechanism, such as a plurality of elongate connectors, or another connection mechanism, can extend through at least a portion of one or more of thescreen protector1806, theinner layer1807, and/or thebody portion1802. Many other connection mechanisms can be provided to bring together two or more of these components to form a closed configuration for thecase1800. In some embodiments, each of, or any pair of, thescreen protector1806, theinner layer1807, and/or thebody portion1802 are compressed or moved tightly together to form one or more generally sealed boundaries between or among these components.
• Thebody portion1802, theinner layer1804, and/or thescreen protector1806 may be configured in an exposed position to temporarily expose a small portion of the underlying mobile electronic device, such as a portion that includes an onboard camera lens or some other portion or component of the communication device. As seen inFIG. 4, a removably attachable functional case portion can comprise anauxiliary lens component1810 with alens portion1811 that may be temporarily mounted onto or otherwise used with the communication device (e.g., in a corner region, as shown, or in another region, such as in a middle region along a top edge of a mobile electronic device), facilitated or enabled by the exposure of the onboard camera lens by the various components of thecase1800 while the communication device is in thecase1800 and the case is in the closed position. The removably attachable functional case portion can be attached to thebody portion1802 at a notch or opening or surface aberration of thecase portion1800. Theauxiliary lens component1810 can be configured to be attachable to the mobileelectronic device1730 such that thelens portion1811 of theauxiliary lens component1810 is in optical communication with the onboard lens or camera of the mobileelectronic device1730.
• In some embodiments, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the exterior edge of theauxiliary lens component1810 can be sized and shaped to generally match the converging top and/or lateral edges of thecase1800, such that when theauxiliary lens component1810 is attached to thecase1800, the auxiliary lens component forms a corner portion of thecase1800 that is similar or virtually identical in size and shape to one or more other corner portions of thecase1800. In a similar manner, if theauxiliary lens component1810 is instead attached to another region of thecase1800, such as a middle region along a top edge, theauxiliary lens component1810 can generally match the size and shape of the adjacent edges, such that the region to which theauxiliary lens component1810 can be attached has an appearance that is similar in size and shape to other corresponding regions, such as other sides, of thecase1800. As illustrated inFIG. 4, in some embodiments, one or more of theinterior edges1813 of theauxiliary lens component1810 can be configured to closely match and/or abut against one or more edges of an open corner portion of thecase1800.
• One or more connectors can be provided to securely and removably attach theauxiliary lens component1810 to thecase1800. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 4, one or more latches can be pivotably attached to thecase1800 to firmly attach theauxiliary lens component1810 to thecase1800 during use. In some embodiments, a gasket or other ingress-resistant structure can be provided to seal the boundary between theauxiliary lens component1810 and thecase1800, such that thecase1800 with theauxiliary lens component1810 in an attached position provides high-level protection to the mobile electronic device, including in the region of theauxiliary lens component1810.
• In some embodiments, a specialized, matchingauxiliary lens component1810 may not be provided; rather, a corner or side portion is merely configured to open, exposing and/or providing access to an onboard lens or onboard camera. A standard auxiliary lens (not specially made to match the case1800) can be attached to the exposed region of the mobile electronic device. When alens component1810 is not being used, a removably attachable cap may be provided to complete the enclosure of the communication device by covering the exposed component or area of the communication device, thereby protecting the previously exposed portion of the mobile electronic device.
• As with all of the embodiments in this specification, any disclosed features can be interchangeable and combinable. For example, without limitation, any of the user access or control features disclosed in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 1A-2 can be included in the embodiment ofFIGS. 3-4. One or more flexible or resilient seals can be provided in any useful location on thecase1800, such as in the region of a home-return button on the mobile electronic device (e.g., along a lower edge of the front side of the mobile electronic device).
• FIGS. 5-7 illustrate other types of sturdy or ruggedprotective cases1900. An example of acase1900 may include one ormore hinges1910 along a lateral edge, facilitating the opening of the case by pivoting an attachedcover portion1905 of thecase1900 as shown. In some embodiments, thecover portion1905 extends along at least about a majority of the length of thecase1900, and/or along about the entire length of thecase1900. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the case can comprise aninterior cavity1909 that is sized to removably receive a mobileelectronic device1730. In some methods of providing acase1900 to a user, the user is instructed to insert the mobileelectronic device1730 into the case. After the mobileelectronic device1730 is inserted into theinterior cavity1909 of thecase1900, thecover portion1905 can be pivoted into a closed position. One or more securing mechanisms, such aslatches1911 as illustrated, can removably secure thecover portion1905 of thecase1900 in a closed position.
• Thecase1900 may include aninner layer1907 that provides padding or shock absorption for acommunication device1730 housed within thecase1900 on the top, bottom, and/or one or more sides of theinterior cavity1909 of thecase1900. Alens component1706amay be coupled to thecommunication device1730, and may remain coupled to thecommunication device1730 when the case is housed within thecase1900. The length of theinterior cavity1909 of thecase1900 can be sufficiently large to fit the length of a mobileelectronic device1730 plus anauxiliary lens component1706a;the width of theinterior cavity1909 of thecase1900 can be sufficiently large to fit the width of a mobileelectronic device1730 plus anauxiliary lens component1706a;and the thickness of the interior cavity1909 (e.g., front-to-back depth) of thecase1900 can be sufficiently large to fit the thickness of a mobileelectronic device1730 plus anauxiliary lens component1706a.
• In some embodiments, an interior perimeter of theinterior cavity1909 can closely fit, conform to, or match an outer perimeter of the mobileelectronic device1730 and/or an attachedauxiliary lens component1706ato avoid jostling, rattling, or vibration of the mobile electronic device and/or theauxiliary lens component1706awithin thecase1900 in the closed position. One or more surfaces of thecase1900 can be transparent to permit a user to review a screen of the mobile electronic device in the closed configuration.
• As illustrated inFIGS. 6-7, in some embodiments acase2100 can include apivoting cover2102 that is substantially smaller than an outer surface of acase2100. For example, thecover2102 can comprise less than half of the surface area of an outer surface of acase2100, as illustrated inFIG. 7. In some embodiments, the remainder of the front and rear surfaces can be permanently bonded together to avoid inadvertent opening. In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 6, thecase2100 can comprise a mounting portion, such as atripod mount2011, and/or a carrying portion, such as ahandle2013.
• In some embodiments, thecase2100 may include anexternal compartment2006 or housing for storing astandard lens component2007 or an extra oralternative lens component2007 when not in use. For example, as shown inFIG. 6, acompartment2006 may store alens component2007. Thelens component2007 can be slid away or otherwise detached from thecompartment2006 of thecase2100 and then attached integrally to the pivotingcover2102 to position thelens component2007, in a closed configuration of thecase1900, in optical communication with an onboard lens or camera of amobile communication device1730 that is disposed inside of theinterior cavity2009 of thecase2100. A plurality oflens components2007 can be provided, such that at least onelens component2007 can be attached to a portion of thecase2100 to permit thelens component2007 to be positioned in optical communication with an onboard lens or onboard camera of the mobileelectronic device1730, and anotherlens component2007 can be attached to the case for storage and later use. Each of thelens components2007 can provide different optical features, such as different optical features disclosed elsewhere in this specification. As with all features in this specification, a lens component storage compartment can be provided with any case disclosed and/or illustrated herein.
• In some embodiments, a laterally pivotable and/ordetachable cover2102 may be included to protect and enclose a separate,removable lens component1706awhile the component is attached directly to a mobile electronic device (seeFIG. 7), and positioned inside of thecavity1909 of thecase1900. Thecover2102 may allow removal of the lens component when desired without requiring the communication device to be removed from the case2000. Thecover2102 may include a clearprotective lens cover2004 to protect thelens component1706awhile permitting normal operation of thelens component1706aby allowing light to pass clearly through thelens cover2004 to thelens component1706a.
• In some embodiments, as illustrated, a portion of thecover2102 orcase2100 that is configured to generally surround at least a portion of the onboard camera of the mobileelectronic device1730, and/or a removably attachedlens component1706a,can protrude further in a rearward direction than a majority of the surface area of the side of thecase2100 on which it is mounted.
• In some embodiments, as illustrated inFIG. 7, thecase2100 can include alid portion2102 that swivels or pivots about a generally vertically or longitudinally oriented axis, laterally from a back or front face of thecase2100. In some embodiments, a communication device100 may be housed within thecase2100 while an auxiliary lens component102 remains coupled to the device100.
• FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of aprotective case2200 for a mobileelectronic device1730. In this example, acase2200 is configured to open with one or more lateral hinges2204, in a manner similar to the example shown inFIG. 5, to receive a mobileelectronic device1730 in an interior cavity (not shown) of thecase2200, and then to close, forming a protective barrier against impact and/or ingress of damaging materials.
• In some embodiments, after thecase2200 has closed, the mobileelectronic device1730 cannot be contacted or directly accessed from the exterior (unless thecase2200 is fully opened again). Thecase2200 can include anauxiliary lens2210 attached to aremovable housing portion2215. In some embodiments, as illustrated, theremovable housing portion2215 can be detached from thecase2200 when not needed or when another type of auxiliary lens with different optical features (such as those described elsewhere in this specification) is desired to be used in place ofauxiliary lens2210. In some embodiments, a plurality of different lenses can be attached and detached from the sameremovable housing portion2215. In some embodiments, including those with a shape that permits front-to-back reversible attachability, a first type of lens can be attached to a first face of theremovable housing portion2215 and a second type of lens can be attached to a second face of theremovable housing portion2215 at the same time, thereby provide a plurality of optical capabilities with the sameremovable housing portion2215. The user can modify thecase2200 to position the desired lens capability in front of the onboard lens or onboard camera of the mobileelectronic device1730 by removing theremovable housing portion2215, reversing its orientation from front to back, and then replacing theremovable housing portion2215 on thecase2200.
• When theremovable housing portion2215 with theauxiliary lens2210 is removed from thecase2200, anunderlying portion2225 of thecase2200 is exposed, but not the mobileelectronic device1730 itself Rather, the mobileelectronic device1730 continues to be fully protected by thecase2200, even when theauxiliary lens2210 is removed. At least a portion of theunderlying portion2225 is transparent so that light can pass through it into an onboard lens or onboard camera of the mobileelectronic device1730. Theremovable housing portion2215 can be attached and/or removed from thecase2200 in many different ways. For example, theremovable housing portion2215 can be slidably received and/or withdrawn from thecase2200, or latched into a fixed position on thecase2200, or removably secured using elongate connectors such as screws, and/or snap-fit into place, etc.
• In some embodiments ofcase2200, there is asingle hinge2204 generally on or near one edge, andmultiple latches2202 generally on or near an opposite, generally parallel edge. In some embodiments, acase2200 can include asingle latch2202 generally on or near one edge, andmultiple hinges2204 generally on or near an opposite, generally parallel edge. In some embodiments, a case2200bcan include a one ormore latches2202, but no external hinge (e.g., an internal hinge, living hinge, or no hinge may be used). In some embodiments, a case2200dcan includemultiple latches2202, one or more of which may be generally on or near an edge that ahinge2204 mechanism is also generally on or near.
• In some embodiments, as illustrated, one or more surfaces of thecase2200 can comprise shallow recesses to provide strength and/or rigidity for thecase2200, without unduly adding to the overall weight and manufacturing material costs of thecase2200.

Claims (29)

The following is claimed:

1. A case configured to receive and to protect a mobile electronic device with an auxiliary lens attached to the mobile electronic device, the case comprising:

a housing comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being configured to move with respect to each other from an open position to a closed position; and

a cavity within the case configured to receive and to closely conform to the shape of both a mobile electronic device and an auxiliary lens attached to the mobile electronic device in the closed position.

2. The combination of the case ofclaim 1 and the mobile electronic device.

3. The case ofclaim 1 wherein the case is shock-resistant.

4. The case ofclaim 1 wherein the case is water-resistant.

5. The case ofclaim 1 wherein the case is shock-resistant and water-resistant.

6. The case ofclaim 5, wherein the case complies with one or more industry standards for shock-resistant and water-resistant electronic cases.

7. The case ofclaim 6, wherein the case complies with one or more military standards for shock-resistance and water-resistances for electronic cases.

8. The case ofclaim 1, wherein the auxiliary lens is configured to be positioned entirely within the housing in the closed position.

9. The combination of the case and mobile electronic device ofclaim 2 and the auxiliary lens.

10. The case ofclaim 1 wherein the close conformance of the cavity with the mobile electronic device and an auxiliary lens is configured to prevent shock damage to the mobile electronic device and the auxiliary lens.

11. The case ofclaim 10 further comprising a flexible or resilient layer positioned within at least a portion of the housing, the flexible or resilient layer.

12. A water-resistant case for a mobile electronic device, the case comprising:

a first housing portion;

a second housing portion configured to move relative to the first housing portion; and

a seal positioned between the first and second housing portions in a closed position of the case, at least a portion of the seal being configured to extend along at least a portion of an exterior portion of an auxiliary lens that extends from a region near an onboard lens of a mobile electronic device inside of the case to a region outside of the case.

13. The combination of the case ofclaim 12 with the mobile electronic device.

14. The combination of the case and mobile electronic device ofclaim 13 and the auxiliary lens.

15. The case ofclaim 12, wherein the auxiliary lens attaches to the case.

16. A mobile electronic device case comprising:

a main case portion that is configured to receive and to protect a majority of a mobile electronic device; and

one or more removably attachable functional case portions, each functional case portion comprising an exterior edge that is configured to generally conform with and generally match an outer edge of the main case portion when the functional case portion is attached to the main case portion, at least one of the functional case portions comprising an auxiliary lens configured to be positioned in optical communication with an onboard camera or onboard lens of a mobile electronic device positioned within the main case portion.

17. The combination of the mobile electronic device case ofclaim 16 and the mobile electronic device.

18. The mobile electronic device case ofclaim 16, wherein at least one removably attachable functional case portion is configured to attach to the mobile electronic device case at a corner region of the mobile electronic device case.

19. The mobile electronic device case ofclaim 16, wherein the removably attachable functional case portion is attachably secured to the mobile electronic device case by way of one or more latches.

20. The mobile electronic device case ofclaim 16, in combination with a plurality of different removably attachable function case portions comprising lenses with different optical capabilities.

21. The mobile electronic device case ofclaim 16, wherein the removably attachable functional case portion is configured to receive a plurality of different lenses with different optical capabilities.

22. A case for a mobile electronic device, comprising:

a main case portion with a front surface and a rear surface, the main case portion comprising an interior space configured to receive a mobile electronic device; and

a cover portion pivotally attached to the rear surface of the main case portion in a region that is configured to cover a region of the mobile electronic device with an onboard lens or an onboard camera in the mobile electronic device, the surface area of the cover portion being substantially smaller than the surface area of the rear surface, the cover being configured to receive an auxiliary lens;

wherein the cover is configured to move from an open position that permits a mobile electronic device to be inserted in the interior space and a closed position that retains a mobile electronic device in the interior space.

23. The combination of the case ofclaim 22 with the mobile electronic device.

24. The combination of the case ofclaim 22 with an auxiliary lens.

25. The combination of the case ofclaim 22 with a plurality of auxiliary lenses with different optical capabilities.

26. A protective enclosure for a mobile electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising:

a housing with an open position and a closed position, the housing configured to receive a mobile electronic device in the open position and the housing configured to enclose, to protect, and to seal the mobile electronic device within the housing in the closed position; and

a removable housing portion attached or attachable to an auxiliary lens, the removable housing portion configured to removably attach to the housing in a region of the housing that is configured to be near a region of the mobile electronic device with an onboard lens or onboard camera of the mobile electronic device;

wherein, when the housing is in the closed position and the removable housing portion is removed from the housing, the housing still protects, seals, and encloses the mobile electronic device within the housing.

27. The combination of the protective enclosure ofclaim 26 with the mobile electronic device.

28. The protective enclosure ofclaim 26, further comprising a plurality of removable housing portions comprising lenses with different optical capabilities.

29. A method of providing protection for a mobile electronic device, comprising:

providing a case for a mobile electronic device with an internal cavity that is configured to receive a mobile electronic device, wherein the case permits the mobile electronic device to utilize an auxiliary lens while providing shock-resistance and water-resistance to the mobile electronic device.

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