Case for an electronic device

• US 8,028,794 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futuristic Audio Design Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Futuristic Audio Design Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Freeman, Falco
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips; Forrest M
• Application Number:
  US12/765,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20110259664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 181/202, 455/575.1, 455/575.6, 455/575.8, 455/575.9
• US Class Current: 181/202
• 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 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: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/035 Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities

Abstract

A case for an electronic device can include two pieces. A first piece can be configured to be attached to the electronic device in a substantially fixed position. A second piece can be configured to be attached to the electronic device in one of multiple substantially fixed positions.

Claims

1. A case for an electronic device having a housing, comprising:

a first piece configured to be attached to the housing of the electronic device in a substantially fixed position; and

a second piece configured to be attached to the housing of the electronic device, the second piece having a first substantially fixed position and a second substantially fixed position that is translationally spaced from the first substantially fixed position by a predefined distance, wherein an upper edge of the second piece is in close proximity to a lower edge of the first piece when the second piece is in the first substantially fixed position, and wherein the second piece is configured to define a gap between a lower edge of the second piece and a bottom edge of the housing of the electronic device when the second piece is in the second substantially fixed position.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein the second piece substantially covers a majority portion of a backside of the electronic device when the second piece is in the first substantially fixed position.

3. The case of claim 1, further comprising at least one connecting portion configured to connect the second piece to the first piece in at least the first substantially fixed position.

4. The case of claim 3, wherein the at least one connecting portion is configured to connect the second piece to the first piece in the second substantially fixed position.

5. The case of claim 3, wherein the at least one connecting portion comprises an inner portion of the second piece having a top edge that extends beyond the top edge of the second piece.

6. The case of claim 3, wherein the at least one connecting portion comprises multiple units situated underneath each of the first piece and the second piece.

7. The case of claim 1, wherein the second piece is further configured to slide along the electronic device when transitioning between the first substantially fixed position and the second substantially fixed position.

8. The case of claim 7, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to secure the second piece into place in at least one of the first substantially fixed position and the second substantially fixed position.

9. The case of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one protruding portion.

10. The case of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises at least one receiving portion configured to receive the at least one protruding portion.

11. The case of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the second piece is configured to collect sound waves from the electronic device and redirect the sound waves to a user of the electronic device.

12. The case of claim 11, wherein the bottom portion of the second piece is further configured to amplify the collected and redirected sound waves.

13. The case of claim 12, wherein the collected and redirected sound waves are amplified by at least twenty percent.

14. The case of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the second piece defines at least one opening.

15. The case of claim 14, wherein the at least one opening is situated in close proximity to an audio component of the electronic device when the second piece is in the first substantially fixed position.

16. The case of claim 15, wherein the audio component comprises at least one of a speaker and a microphone.

17. The case of claim 14, wherein the at least one opening is configured to substantially keep a connecting wire in place.

18. The case of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the second piece comprises a polycarbonate (PC) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) blend.

19. The case of claim 18, wherein the bottom portion of the second piece comprises the PC ABS blend.

20. The case of claim 1, wherein the first piece defines an opening configured to be in close proximity to a camera lens of the electronic device.

21. The case of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile communication device.

22. The case of claim 1, wherein the second piece comprises:

a body portion in substantial alignment with a first plane; and

a bottom portion having two sub-portions, wherein each sub-portion is in substantial alignment with a corresponding plane, and wherein the plane corresponding to each of the sub-portions is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.