CASE FOR A COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20130206614A1
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Portero Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Premier Systems USA Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neill, Patrick D., Pak, Chong
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/216
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/00 Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing, or tearing of wall portions B65D17/00; pallets B65D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a case for a communication device, having two or more portions movable with respect to each other. A first case portion may cover a particular component or area of the communication device. Accessories or auxiliary structures may be available for use with the particular component, and may be configured to attach to or be used with a communication device housing of a particular size or shape. The first case portion may be moved relative to a second case portion, thereby exposing the component or area of the communication device for use with the accessory. Additional embodiments disclosed herein related to modular components that may be used with cases in order to provide various accessories and features, such as mounts, flashes, batteries, and the like.

Claims

1. A case configured to be removably attachable to a communication device, the case comprising:

a first case portion configured to at least partially cover a first component of a communication device when the first case portion is in a first closed position; and

a second case portion coupled to the first case portion, wherein the first case portion is configured to move, relative to the second case portion, from the first closed position to a second open position in which the first component is exposed to permit attachment of an auxiliary component to the communication device for use with the first component.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein the first case portion is configured to pivot, relative to the second case portion, from the first closed position to the second open position.

3. The case of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises an onboard camera lens, and wherein the first case portion comprises an opening to permit use of the onboard camera lens when the first case portion is in the first closed position.

4. The case of claim 1, further comprising a third case portion removably attachable to the second case portion, wherein the third case portion provides a second auxiliary component for use with the communication device.

5. The case of claim 4, wherein the second auxiliary component comprises a tripod mount, a shoe, a flash component, or a battery.

6. A case configured to be removably attachable to a communication device, the case comprising:

a first case portion configured to at least partially cover a first area of a communication device when the first case portion is in a first position; and

a second case portion coupled to the first case portion, wherein the first case portion is configured to move, relative to the second case portion, from the first position to a second position in which the first area of the communication device is exposed to permit attachment of an auxiliary component to the first area.

7. The case of claim 6, wherein the first area comprises a first corner area of the communication device, and wherein the first corner area is exposed to permit attachment of an auxiliary lens component to the first corner area when the first case portion is in the second position.

8. The case of claim 6, wherein the first case portion is configured, when in the second position, to actuate a button of the communication device in response to user pressure on the first case portion.

9. The case of claim 6, wherein the second case portion comprises a protrusion configured to provide a point of contact to a surface when the communication device is placed on the surface.

10. The case of claim 6, wherein the first case portion is configured to slide, relative to the second case portion, from the first position to the second position.

11. The case of claim 6, wherein the first case portion is configured to pivot, relative to the second case portion, from the first position to the second position.

12. The case of claim 6, wherein the first case portion is configured to rotate, relative to the second case portion, from the first position to the second position.

13. The case of claim 6, wherein the first area of the communication device comprises an onboard camera lens, and wherein the first case portion comprises an opening to permit use of the onboard camera lens when the first case portion is in the first closed position.

14. The case of claim 6, further comprising a third case portion removably attachable to the second case portion, wherein the third case portion provides a second auxiliary component for use with the communication device.

15. The case of claim 14, wherein the second auxiliary component comprises a tripod mount, a shoe, a flash component, or a battery.

16. The case of claim 14, wherein the second case portion is configured to establish an electrical connection between the communication device and the second auxiliary component.

17. The case of claim 14, wherein the second auxiliary component is configured to communicate wirelessly with the communication device.

18. A method of manufacturing a removably attachable case for a communication device, the method comprising:

providing a first case portion configured to at least partially cover a first area of a communication device when the first case portion is in a first position;

providing a second case portion; and

coupling the first case portion to the second case portion, wherein the first case portion is configured to move, relative to the second case portion, from the first position to a second position in which the first area of the communication device is exposed to permit attachment of an auxiliary component to the first area.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling the first case portion to the second case portion such that the first case portion slides, relative to the second case portion, from the first position to the second position.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling the first case portion to the second case portion such that the first case portion pivots, relative to the second case portion, from the first position to the second position.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling the first case portion to the second case portion such that the first case portion rotates, relative to the second case portion, from the first position to the second position.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a third case portion removably attachable to the second case portion, wherein the third case portion provides a second auxiliary component for use with the communication device.

23. A method of modifying the photographic capabilities of a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

providing a mobile communication device attached to a case;

moving a first portion of the case relative to a second portion of the case while retaining a connection between the first and second portions, to expose an onboard camera of the mobile communication device while retaining the attachment between the case and the mobile communication device; and

attaching an auxiliary lens component to the mobile communication device.