PROTECTIVE CASES FOR MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20110036876A1
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Incipio Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Fathollahi, Andy
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/191
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for protecting a mobile device. In one embodiment, a protection device for a mobile device is disclosed which induces a combination of a flexible inner sleeve and a rigid shell. The flexible inner sleeve conforms to, and encapsulates, the mobile device. The rigid shell receives and engages the inner sleeve. The flexible inner sleeve and the rigid shell can be used separately with the mobile device or can encase the mobile device as an integrated protective unit.

Claims

1. A protection device for a mobile device, comprising:

a flexible inner sleeve for conformingly surrounding the mobile device, the flexible inner sleeve having a screen aperture and a plurality of indents, the flexible inner sleeve receiving the mobile device through the screen aperture; and

a rigid shell for engaging the flexible inner sleeve, the rigid shell having a plurality of fingers where each finger engages a corresponding indent on the flexible inner sleeve.

2. The protection device of claim 1, wherein the flexible inner sleeve is made from a soft polymeric material or a soft rubber material.

3. The protection device of claim 1, wherein the rigid shell is made from a hard plastic material.

4. The protection device of claim 1, wherein the rigid shell releasably engages the mobile device without the flexible inner sleeve.

5. A protective case for receiving a mobile device, comprising:

a sheath having a backing and a plurality of edges; and

a sleeve having a face portion and a backing portion, the sleeve defining a first protrusion and a second protrusion which respectively correspond to a first control and a second control of the mobile device;

wherein the sheath engagingly receives the sleeve between the plurality of edges and wherein the sheath includes a first cavity and a second cavity for receiving the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively.

6. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the sheath further comprises a sheath aperture and the sleeve further comprises a sleeve aperture and wherein when engaged the sheath aperture and the sleeve aperture align to form a cutout.

7. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the sheath is rigid.

8. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the sleeve is flexible.

9. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the sleeve further comprises a plurality of mortises, and wherein each of the plurality of mortises lockingly receives a respective one of the plurality of edges.

10. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the sleeve further comprises a first groove and a second grove for slidingly receiving a first and a second of the plurality of edges.

11. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the sleeve defines a housing for receiving the mobile device.

12. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the sleeve is constructed from a soft polymer or a rubber material.

13. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the sheath is a thermoplastic material.

14. The protective case of claim 5, further comprising a bracket for attaching at least one of the sleeve or the sheath to an external object.

15. A two-piece protection device for a mobile device, comprising:

a flexible inner sleeve for conformingly surrounding the mobile device, the flexible inner sleeve having a top portion including a screen aperture for viewing the mobile device and a bottom portion including a bottom surface, a plurality of outer raised portions surrounding the bottom surface, and a plurality of indents where an indent is located between adjacent outer raised portions, the flexible inner sleeve being made out of a soft rubber material; and

a rigid shell for engaging the flexible inner sleeve, the rigid shell having an inner surface for contacting the bottom surface of the flexible inner sleeve and a plurality of fingers where each finger engages a corresponding indent on the flexible inner sleeve, the rigid shell being made out of a hard plastic material.

16. The two-piece protection device of claim 15, wherein the rigid shell does not cover a plurality of sides of the flexible inner sleeve.

17. The two-piece protection device of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of indents is located at a corner of the flexible inner sleeve.

18. The two-piece protection device of claim 15, wherein the rigid shell has a plurality of sides that snugly fit against the plurality of outer raised portions.