PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE CASE WITH BATTERY

• US 20100321871A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Incase Designs Corporation (Incipio Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, David, Diebel, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 7,889,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• 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 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A case for an electronic device protects and extends the battery life of the electronic device. The case has a lower case portion and an upper case portion, which assemble together to protect the top, side, and bottom edges of the electronic device. The lower case portion includes a battery to extend the battery life of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A case for an electronic device comprising:

a first case portion comprising;

a base surface upon which a back of a housing of the electronic device will be placed against, wherein the base surface comprises a top edge;

a battery, enclosed in the first case portion;

electronic circuitry, coupled to the battery;

a lower sidewall, connected to the base surface at an end opposite of the top edge, that will be positioned against a bottom side edge of the electronic device;

an inner connector, on the lower sidewall, positioned to connect to a connector of the electronic device, and coupled through the electronic circuitry to the battery; and

an outer connector, positioned on an outside of the first case portion, coupled through the electronic circuitry to the battery and inner connector,

wherein the electronic circuitry comprises

a recharging circuit, wherein the recharging circuit can recharge the battery;

a plurality of visible indicators;

a battery charge level indication circuit, coupled to the plurality of visible indicators and the battery;

a button coupled to the electronic circuitry, which when pressed causes the battery charge level indication circuit to determine a charge level of the battery and one or more the visible indicators to be displayed to reflect the determined charge level, and

a second case portion comprising;

an upper sidewall that will be positioned against a top side edge of the electronic device when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion; and

an open side end, opposite of the upper sidewall, wherein the second case portion slides onto the first case portion through the open side end,

wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions meet at and form a seam which extends across a back of the case, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

2. A case for an electronic device, the electronic device having a first rechargeable battery, the case comprising:

a first case portion comprising;

a case connector, adapted to connect to a device connector of the electronic device;

a second rechargeable battery, coupled to the case connector, wherein the second rechargeable can be used to charge the first rechargeable battery; and

a printed circuitry board comprising electronic circuitry, coupled to the battery and the case connector, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises;

a recharging circuit, wherein the recharging circuit can recharge the second rechargeable battery;

a plurality of visual indicators;

a battery charge level indication circuit, coupled to the plurality of visual indicators and the second rechargeable battery; and

a button coupled to the electronic circuitry, which when pressed causes the battery charge level indication circuit to determine a charge level of the second rechargeable battery and one or more the visual indicators to be displayed to reflect the determined charge level; and

a second case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape

3. The case of claim 2 wherein the second rechargeable battery has a charge capacity the same as or greater than a charge capacity of the first rechargeable battery.