BATTERY CASE FOR MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20150194648A1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Incipio Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Fathollahi, Andy, Choi, Jin Woo, Lin, Yu Ta
• Granted Patent: US 9,997,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An improved battery case adapted to removably receive, protect and provide power to a mobile device is provided. The case includes a base configured to house a rechargeable battery, a user detachable back face cover capable of providing aesthetic modularity to the consumer and manufacturing advantages, and a bumper that is constructed to include a rigid inner frame or skeleton that includes an outwardly extending rib that is molded on either side with an outer softer and more elastic layer that extends over the face of the mobile device. The bumper can be molded as an integral part of the case or be removably attached to the a component of the case.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery case adapted to removably receive, protect and provide power to a mobile device, said case comprising:

a base portion having a top surface and an opposing back surface and a rechargeable battery housed therein, wherein said top surface defines an outer perimeter of said base portion and wherein said back surface having a first region and an adjacent second region that is depressed in elevation relative to said first region;

a unitary bumper portion extending from the top surface of base portion and extending around the entire perimeter defined by said top surface; and

a user removable panel having an inner and outer surface and being detachably connected at its inner surface to said back surface of said base to cover said second region and seamlessly mated to said first region.

2. The case according to claim 1, wherein the user removable panel is pre-printed with a selected design.

3. The case according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of tabs provided on the inner surface of the user panel and a corresponding plurality of slots provided on the back surface of the base portion, wherein each of the plurality of tabs interfaces with a corresponding one of the plurality of slots when the panel is detachably connected to the back surface of the base.

4. The case according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of slots provided on the back surface are located on the depressed second region of the back surface of the base.

5. The case according to claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a coating configured to be printed separately and affixed to the outer surface of the panel.

6. The case according to claim 1, wherein the bumper portion is detachably connected to the top surface of the base portion.

7. The case according to claim 1, wherein the bumper portion is integrally connected to the base portion.

8. The case according to claim 1, wherein said back surface of said base further having a third region that is adjacent to said second region, wherein said panel when detachably connected at its inner surface to said back surface of said base to cover said second region is further seamlessly mated to said third region.

9. The case according to claim 1, further comprising a printable label configured to be affixed to the cover.

10. A rechargeable battery case adapted to removably receive, protect and provide power to a mobile device having a front face having a touchscreen and an opposing back face, said case comprising:

a base portion having a top surface and an opposing back surface and a rechargeable battery housed therein, wherein said top surface defines an outer perimeter of said base portion; and

a unitary bumper portion having an inner and outer surface and extending from the top surface of base portion around the perimeter defined by said top surface, wherein said bumper portion being comprised of co-molded inner and an outer elements, said inner element including a radially protruding rib that extends through said outer element and is visible at the outer surface, said inner element being made of a material that is more rigid than the material that forms said outer element.

11. The case according to claim 10, wherein the inner element is formed of a polymer.

12. The case according to claim 10, wherein the outer element is an elastomeric material.

13. The case according to claim 12, wherein the elastomeric material is rubber.

14. The case according to claim 10, wherein the inner element includes multiple apertures.

15. The case according to claim 10, wherein the outer element comprises an upper element and a lower element that are separated by said radially protruding rib.

16. The case according to claim 15, wherein the radially protruding rib of said inner element is configured to extend parallel to said front face of said mobile device and is sandwiched within a groove defined between the upper element and the lower element.

17. The case according to claim 10, wherein said bumper includes multiple corner regions and wherein said outer element extends radially outward a greater distance at one or more of said corner regions than adjacent regions thereto.

18. The case according to claim 17, wherein said bumper portion includes multiple apertures extending through both inner and outer elements and wherein said bumper includes depressible buttons that are positioned to interface with a plurality of corresponding buttons on a mobile device for which the case is configured to receive, said buttons being hinged within an aperture extending through one of said inner and outer elements.

19. The case according to claim 10, wherein the outer element further comprises a lip region that is configured to extends over at least a portion of the perimeter front face of the mobile device.

20. The case according to claim 10, wherein the back surface of said base portion includes a first region and an adjacent second region that is depressed in elevation relative to said first region and wherein said case further includes a user removable panel having an inner and outer surface and being detachably connected at its inner surface to said back surface of said base to cover said second region and seamlessly mated to said first region.