MULTI-MATERIAL PROTECTIVE CASE FOR SLIDING/ARTICULATING/ROTATING HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20110228458A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Willes, Stephen, Glanzer, Matthew, Smith, Travis, Morine, Alan, Johnson, Jamie, Magness, Cameron, Richardson, Curtis, Michie, Jane, Loudenslager, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,025,317 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 13/002 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/005 Hinges
• 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: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0081 of objects with parts connected by a thin section, e.g. hinge, tear line
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1676 using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/007 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3481 Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers

Abstract

A two-piece hard shell case with a silicone or other flexible component may protect devices that hinge, slide, or otherwise articulate. A front surface hard cover may snap or connect to the front of the device while a back surface hard cover may snap or connect to the back of the device. A flexible component may be held in place under one or both of the hard shell pieces. The flexible component may be held under one or both of the hard shell covers and may have button pushers, covers, or other features to allow a user to operate a protected device while still covering the device.

Claims

1. A protective case for an electronic device, said electronic device having a front portion and a back portion that are coupled together by a sliding connector comprising:

a hard plastic front shell that connects to said front portion of said handheld electronic device with a plurality of front shell hooks that engage said front portion of said handheld electronic device;

a hard plastic back shell that connects to said back portion of said handheld electronic device with a plurality of back shell hooks that are recessed from an outer edge of said hard plastic back shell, said hard plastic back shell having a plurality of back shell openings formed along an outer edge of said hard plastic back shell that provide access to electronic device operational features of said handheld electronic device;

a flexible silicone layer that is disposed in, and substantially conforms to, said hard plastic back shell, said flexible silicone layer having a plurality of silicone layer openings that engage said plurality of back shell hooks so that said back shell hooks extend through said silicone layer openings in said flexible silicone layer, said flexible silicone layer disposed in said hard plastic back shell so that silicone layer operational features are disposed in said plurality of back shell openings that provide interaction with said electronic device operational features.

2. The protective case of claim 1 wherein:

said silicone layer operational features comprise pads;

said electronic device operational features comprise buttons on said electronic device.

3. The protective case of claim 2 wherein:

said silicone layer operational features further comprise at least one pivoting access panel;

said electronic device operational features comprise at least one electronic device port in said electronic device.

4. The protective case of claim 3 wherein said flexible silicone layer further comprises:

recessed portions formed in said silicone layer openings adjacent to said silicone layer openings, that engage said back shell hooks, that are recessed from said outer edge of said hard plastic shell, so that a substantially straight outer edge of said silicone layer is provided.

5. A protective cover for a handheld electronic device that has a front portion and a back portion that are rotatably connected with a hinge along an edge portion of said handheld electronic device comprising:

a front surface hard plastic cover that connects to said front portion of said handheld electronic device;

a back surface hard plastic cover that connects to said back portion of said handheld electronic device;

a flexible silicone cover having a front portion that is disposed between said handheld electronic device and said front surface hard plastic cover, and a back portion that is disposed between said handheld electronic device and said back surface hard plastic cover, said flexible silicone cover having a silicone hinge portion that is connected to said front portion and said back portion of said flexible silicone cover, said silicone hinge disposed over said edge portion of said handheld electronic device which covers and protects said edge portion of said handheld electronic device.

6. The protective cover of claim 5 further comprising:

pads disposed on said silicone hinge portion that interface with buttons on said edge portion of said handheld electronic device so that said buttons can be activated through said flexible silicone cover while said silicone hinge portion protects said edge portion of said handheld electronic device.

7. The protective cover of claim 6 wherein said front portion and said back portion of said handheld electronic device are rotatably connected with a hinge along a side of said handheld electronic device.

8. The protective cover of claim 7 wherein said front portion and said back portion of said handheld electronic device are rotatably connected with a hinge along a top portion of said handheld electronic device.

9. The protective cover of claim 8 wherein said front portion and said back portion of said handheld electronic device are rotatably connected with a hinge along a bottom portion of said handheld electronic device.

10. The protective cover of claim 9 further comprising:

first mechanical clips on said front surface hard plastic cover that connect to said front portion of said handheld electronic device;

second mechanical clips on said back surface hard plastic cover that connect to said back portion of said handheld electronic device.