CASE FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH A RESILIENT BAND FOR HOLDING ITEMS

• US 20120168336A1
• Filed: 01/04/2011
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Inventors: Schmidt, Michael, Choi, Taiwon, Lee, Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/478
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

Disclosed is a case or attachment device for use with an electronic device having a screen. The case has a base portion with a body having a back wall and side walls extending therefrom forming a receiving opening for receiving the electronic device. The case also includes a resilient band configured to hold one or more items (e.g., ID, credit cards, cash) against the case. The band may be pulled away from the body and items may be slid underneath the band so that they are held between an inner surface of the band and an outer surface of the body. The band may extend in a lateral, a longitudinal, or a diagonal direction. The band may also form a pocket for receiving items therein. The band can hold items against the back wall of the case.

Claims

1. A case for use with an electronic device having a screen, the case comprising:

a base comprising a body having a back wall and side walls extending therefrom forming a receiving opening for receiving the electronic device; and

a resilient band configured to hold one or more items against the case, the resilient band being attached to the body and configured to hold one or more items against the body,

wherein the resilient band has a first end and a second end, each end comprising a reinforcement portion therein comprising a material that is different from a material of the first and second ends of the resilient band, and wherein each end is connected to one relative side wall of the body such that the band extends adjacent to the back wall of the body, and

wherein the side walls comprise male protrusion members and wherein the first and second ends of the resilient band comprise female receiving members, and wherein the female ‘

receiving members of the first and second ends of the resilient band are attached to the male protrusion members of the side walls of the body.

3. The case according to claim 1, further comprising a top having at least a front wall with at least one opening that is configured to releasably lock with the base to encapsulate the electronic device therein, and wherein the at least one opening enables viewing of the screen.

4. The case according to claim 3, wherein the resilient band is attached to the top.

5. The case according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a length and a width, and wherein the resilient band is attached such that it extends the width of the body in a lateral direction,

6. The case according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a length and a width, and wherein the resilient band is attached such that it extends the length of the body in a longitudinal direction.

7. The case according to claim 1, wherein the resilient band is attached such that it extends in a diagonal direction with respect to the body.

8. The case according to claim 1, wherein the resilient band extends adjacent to the back wall of the body.

9. The case according to claim 1, wherein the resilient band further comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the inner surface of the resilient band is constructed and arranged to lie adjacent an outer surface of the back wall, and wherein the items are configured to be held between the inner surface of the resilient band and the outer surface of the back wall.

11. The case according to claim 1, wherein the one or more items are selected from the group consisting of:

credit card(s), identification card(s), key(s), currency, earpiece, headphones, computer chips, and memory cards.

12. The case according to claim 9, wherein the outer surface of the back wall of the body comprises an indentation configured to receive the resilient band therein.

16. The case according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement material comprises a polypropylene material and the resilient band comprises a thermoplastic polymer material.

18. The case according to claim 1, wherein the resilient band further comprises a body portion extending adjacent to the back wall of the body, the body portion being connected to a bottom and sides of the base, and having an inner surface constructed and arranged to move towards and away from the back wall thereby forming a pocket to receive and hold the one or more items against the case.

31. The case according to claim 9, further comprising a recessed grasp area provided adjacent the resilient band to enable access to grasp the resilient band for movement of the inner surface of the band away from the outer surface of the back wall.

32. The case according to claim 12, wherein the indentation is configured such that the outer surface of the resilient band is constructed and arranged to lie substantially flush with the outer surface of the back wall of the base.

2. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

19. An attachment device for a portable electronic device having a screen, the attachment device comprising:

a base comprising a body having a back wall and side walls extending therefrom forming a receiving opening for receiving the electronic device;

a top having at least a front wall that is configured to releasably lock with the base to encapsulate the electronic device therein; and

a resilient band attached to the body and configured to hold one or more items against the case, wherein the resilient band has a first end and a second end for connection to the body, each end comprising a reinforcement portion comprising a material that is different from a material of the first and second ends, and wherein each end is connected to one relative side wall of the body such that the band extends adjacent to the back wall of the body, and

wherein the side walls comprise male protrusion members and wherein the first and second ends of the resilient band comprise female receiving members, and wherein the female receiving members of the first and second ends of the resilient band are attached to the male protrusion members of the side walls of the body.

20. The attachment device according to claim 19, wherein the resilient band further comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the inner surface of the resilient band is constructed and arranged to lie adjacent an outer surface of the back wall, and wherein the items are configured to be held between the inner surface of the resilient band and the outer surface of the back wall.

22. The attachment device according to claim 19, wherein the one or more items are selected from the following group:

credit card(s), identification card(s), key(s), and cash.

23. The attachment device according to claim 20, wherein the outer surface of the back wall of the body comprises an indentation configured to receive the resilient band therein.

25. The attachment according to claim 19, wherein the resilient band extends a width of the case in a lateral direction.

26. The attachment according to claim 19, wherein the resilient band extends the length of the case in a longitudinal direction.

27. The attachment according to claim 19, wherein the resilient band is attached such that it extends in a diagonal direction with respect to the case.

29. The attachment device according to claim 19, wherein each end comprises a polypropylene material and wherein the resilient band is formed from a thermoplastic polyethylene (TPE).

30. The attachment device according to claim 19, wherein the resilient band further comprises a body portion extending adjacent to the back wall of the body, the body portion being connected to a bottom and sides of the base, and having an inner surface constructed and arranged to move towards and away from the back wall thereby forming a pocket to receive and hold the one or more items against the case.

33. The case according to claim 20, further comprising a recessed grasp area provided adjacent the resilient band to enable access to grasp the resilient band for movement of the inner surface of the band away from the outer surface of the back wall.

34. The case according to claim 23, wherein the indentation is configured such that the outer surface of the resilient band is constructed and arranged to lie substantially flush with the outer surface of the back wall of the base.

21. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

35-39. -39. (canceled)