Protective case for electronic device

• US 10,623,043 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2019
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Nebel, David B., Bulkley, Ross V., Breeden, Alex S., Glanzer, Matthew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet M
• Application Number:
  US16/247,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20190229763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 4555758, 4555751, 4555754, 36167901, 320108, 224191, 224235, 206320, 206752, 206 37, 220752, 428 43, 37914404
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/36 Reinforcements for edges, corners, or other parts
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks

Abstract

A protective case for use with an electronic device includes a first case portion having an attached first resilient compressible pad and a second case portion having an attached second resilient compressible pad. The second case portion is configured to be removably attachable to the first case portion. The attached first and second case portions define an aperture for directly accessing a front of the installed electronic device. The aperture has dimensions greater than or equal to corresponding dimensions of the electronic device. The first and second resilient compressible pads are each configured to be compressed by opposing sides of the installed electronic device. The first and second resilient compressible pads are further configured to apply opposing forces to the opposing sides of the installed electronic device, respectively, to retain the installed electronic device in the protective case.

Claims

1. A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a first case portion;

a first resilient compressible pad attached to the first case portion;

a second case portion configured to be removably attachable to the first case portion such the attached first and second case portions at least partially cover the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, the attached first and second case portions defining an aperture for directly accessing a front of the installed electronic device, the aperture having dimensions greater than or equal to corresponding dimensions of the electronic device; and

a second resilient compressible pad attached to the second case portion, wherein the first and second resilient compressible pads are each configured to be compressed by opposing sides of the installed electronic device when the second case portion is attached to the first case portion over the electronic device, and wherein the first and second resilient compressible pads are configured to apply opposing forces to the opposing sides of the installed electronic device, respectively, to retain the installed electronic device in the protective case.

2. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the second case portion is slidably attachable to the first case portion along an axis.

3. The protective case of claim 2 wherein the first and second resilient compressible pads are each configured to be compressed by opposing sides of the installed electronic device along the axis and configured to apply the opposing forces to the opposing sides of the installed electronic device along the axis.

4. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the first case portion includes a first attachment mechanism and the second case portion includes a second attachment mechanism, wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms interface to removably attach the second case portion to the first case portion.

5. The protective case of claim 4 wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms have an interference fit.

6. The protective case of claim 1 wherein one of the first case portion and the second case portion includes an opening configured for providing access to a camera of the installed electronic device from outside the protective case.

7. The protective case of claim 1 wherein one of the first case portion and the second case portion includes an opening configured for providing access to an electrical port of the installed electronic device from outside the protective case.

8. The protective case of claim 1 wherein one of the first case portion and the second case portion includes a third resilient compressible pad.

9. The protective case of claim 1 wherein each of the first resilient compressible pad and the second resilient compressible pad includes a gripping material on a surface configured to contact the installed electronic device.

10. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the electronic device includes recesses for receiving at least a portion of the resilient compressible pads, respectively.

11. A cover for use with an electronic device, the cover comprising:

a first cover portion having a compressible pad; and

a second cover portion adapted to be removably attachable to the first cover portion such the attached first and second cover portions at least partially cover a housing of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the cover, wherein the attached first and second cover portions define an aperture for directly accessing a front surface of the installed electronic device, the aperture having dimensions equal to or greater than corresponding dimensions of the electronic device, wherein the second cover portion also has a compressible pad, wherein the compressible pads of the first cover portion and the second cover portion are each adapted to be compressed by opposing sides of the installed electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the cover, and wherein the compressible pads are each adapted to apply opposing forces to the opposing sides of the installed electronic device, respectively, to retain the installed electronic device in the cover.

12. The cover of claim 11 wherein the first cover portion includes a first attachment mechanism and the second cover portion includes a second attachment mechanism, wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms interface to removably attach the second cover portion to the first cover portion.

13. The cover of claim 12 wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms interface to provide a snap attachment mechanism between the first cover portion and the second cover portion.

14. The cover of claim 11 wherein one of the first cover portion and the second cover portion includes an opening adapted for providing access to a camera of the installed electronic device from outside the cover.

15. The cover of claim 11 wherein one of the first cover portion and the second cover portion includes an opening adapted for providing access to an electrical port of the installed electronic device from outside the cover.

16. The cover of claim 11 wherein each of the first cover portion and the second cover portion includes a second compressible pad.

17. The cover of claim 11 wherein each of the first cover portion and the second cover portion includes an outer shell and an interior cushioning member.

18. The cover of claim 11 wherein the compressible pads are sized to fit, at least partially, into respective recesses on the housing of the installed electronic device.

19. The cover of claim 11 wherein the second cover portion is slidably attachable to the first cover portion along an axis of attachment.

20. The cover of claim 19 wherein the compressible pads are each adapted to be compressed by opposing sides of the installed electronic device along the axis and adapted to apply the opposing forces to the opposing sides of the installed electronic device substantially along the axis of attachment.