Multifunctional electronic device case

• US 8,567,599 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: modulR LLC
• Original Assignee: modulR LLC
• Inventors: Beatty, Joshua, Casto, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US13/014,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20120024741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 206/305, 206/320, 206/701, 224/191, 224/197, 224/271, 224/272, 224/665, 224/930, 224/250, 224/666, D32/18, D14/250, 361/679.3, 361/679.4, 361/679.41, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.03, 455/575.1, 455/575.4, 455/575.8
• US Class Current: 206/320
• 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 13/001 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/002 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/025 for holding portable computers or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A case for an electronic device includes a main body configured to secure and protect the electronic device and one or more accessory-attachment nodes configured to be coupled to a case accessory. Example case accessories include shoulder straps, car headrest frames, wall-mounting frames, and the like. When the electronic device case is mated to the case accessory using the one or more accessory-attachment nodes, the electronic device may be securely positioned for transport and/or use. Further, the one or more accessory-attachment nodes may allow the case and, in particular, the electronic device coupled to the case, to be easily moved from one case accessory to another case accessory.

Claims

1. A system for protecting an electronic device and using the electronic device in various settings, comprising:

(a) a first case accessory comprising a hand strap including two or more coupling connectors; and

(b) a case for the electronic device, the case including

(i) a main body configured to secure and protect the electronic device, the main body comprising

(A) a primary section having four corners, a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface of the primary section being configured to contact a back surface of the electronic device,

(B) first and second side sections each extending frontwardly from the primary section, the first and second side sections being configured to apply force to a first pair of opposed sides of the electronic device, and

(C) first and second latch sections extending toward one another, the first latch section extending from the first side section, and the second latch section extending from the second side section, the first and second latch sections being configured to apply force to a front of the electronic device; and

(ii) three or more accessory-attachment nodes arranged near three of the four corners on the rear surface of the primary section, the three or more accessory-attachment nodes comprising a first accessory-attachment node, a second accessory-attachment node, and a third accessory-attachment node, each accessory-attachment node being configured to be coupled to the first case accessory, wherein the main body is selectively positionable to orient the electronic device in three or more orientations relative to the first case accessory by selectively mating two of the coupling connectors with

(A) the first and second accessory-attachment nodes,

(B) the second and third accessory-attachment nodes, or

(C) the first and third accessory-attachment nodes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary section of the main body includes a substantially rigid plate overmolded by a softer material.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes are attached to and extend from a rear side of the substantially rigid plate, with the three or more accessory-attachment nodes being uncovered by the softer material such that the three or more accessory-attachment nodes are accessible to the first case accessory.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary section of the main body includes three or more threaded holes, and the three or more accessory-attachment nodes are removably screwed into the three or more threaded holes.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the main body is integrally formed of the same material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the main body and the three or more accessory-attachment nodes are integrally formed of the same material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes comprise male coupling hardware and the two or more coupling connectors of the first case accessory comprise female coupling hardware.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes comprise female coupling hardware and the two or more coupling connectors of the first case accessory comprise male coupling hardware.

9. The system of claim 1, further including a second case accessory, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes are further configured to be coupled to the second case accessory.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second case accessory is selected from a group consisting of a stationary wall-mounting frame, a frame with a movable arm, a stand-up frame, a shoulder strap, a car headrest frame, and car front-seat frame.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes comprises four accessory-attachment nodes.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each accessory-attachment node includes a neck portion and a head portion and each coupling connector includes a slot, with the neck portion being configured to mate with the slot and the head portion being configured to inhibit removal of the neck portion from the slot.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes are magnetic and are configured to be magnetically coupled to the first case accessory.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the main body further includes

(iv) third and fourth side sections each extending frontwardly from the primary section, the third and fourth side sections being configured to apply force to a second pair of opposed sides of the electronic device, and

(v) third and fourth latch sections extending toward one another, the third latch section extending from the third side section, and the fourth latch section extending from the fourth side section, the third and fourth latch sections being configured to apply force to the front of the electronic device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth side sections of the main body and the first, second, third, and fourth latch sections of the main body all comprise a substantially continuous edge section configured to apply force to the sides and the front of the electronic device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein

the case'"'"'s main body further includes (D) an aperture, and

at least one of the case'"'"'s three or more accessory-attachment nodes include a detent configured to be removably inserted into the aperture.

17. A method of protecting an electronic device and using the electronic device in various settings, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a case that includes

(i) a main body having (A) a primary section with four corners, a front surface and a rear surface, (B) first and second side sections each extending frontwardly from the primary section, and (C) first and second latch sections extending toward one another, the first latch section extending from the first side section, and the second latch section extending from the second side section,

(ii) three or more accessory-attachment nodes arranged near three of the four corners on the rear surface along an outer edge of the main body'"'"'s primary section, the three accessory-attachment nodes comprising a first accessory-attachment node, a second accessory-attachment node, and a third accessory-attachment node;

(b) putting the electronic device into the case, including

(i) positioning a back surface of the electronic device in contact with the front surface of the main body'"'"'s primary section,

(ii) positioning a first pair of opposed sides of the electronic device in contact with the main body'"'"'s first and second side sections such that the main body'"'"'s first and second side sections apply force to the first pair of opposed sides of the electronic device, and

(iii) positioning a front of the electronic device in contact with the main body'"'"'s first and second latch sections such that the main body'"'"'s first and second latch sections apply force to the front of the electronic device;

(c) providing a first case accessory comprising a hand strap including two or more coupling connectors; and

(d) coupling the case to the first case accessory, including selectively positioning the main body to orient the electronic device in three or more orientations relative to the first case accessory by selectively mating two of the coupling connectors with

(i) the first and second accessory-attachment nodes,

(ii) the second and third accessory-attachment nodes, or

(iii) the first and third accessory-attachment nodes.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

(e) providing a second case accessory including two or more coupling connectors;

(f) decoupling the case from the first case accessory; and

(g) coupling the case to the second case accessory, including selectively positioning the main body to orient the electronic device in a portrait or landscape orientation relative to the second case accessory by selectively mating two of the accessory-attachment nodes with two of the coupling connectors.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second case accessory is selected from a group consisting of a stationary wall-mounting frame, a frame with a movable arm, a stand-up frame, a shoulder strap, a car headrest frame, and car front-seat frame.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes comprises four accessory-attachment nodes.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein coupling the case to the first case accessory includes coupling at least two of the four accessory-attachment nodes to the first case accessory.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein each accessory-attachment node includes a neck portion and a head portion and each coupling connector includes a slot, and wherein coupling the case to the first case accessory includes mating the neck portion of at least two of the three or more accessory-attachment nodes to the slots of two of the coupling connectors of the first case accessory.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes are magnetic, and wherein coupling the case to the first case accessory includes magnetically coupling at least two of the three or more accessory-attachment nodes to the first case accessory.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein

the case'"'"'s main body further includes (D) third and fourth side sections each extending frontwardly from the primary section and (E) third and fourth latch sections extending toward one another, the third latch section extending from the third side section, and the fourth latch section extending from the fourth side section, and

putting the electronic device into the case further includes (iv) positioning a second pair of opposed sides of the electronic device in contact with the main body'"'"'s third and fourth side sections such that the main body'"'"'s third and fourth side sections apply force to the second pair of opposed sides and (v) positioning the front of the electronic device in contact with the main body'"'"'s third and fourth latch sections such that the main body'"'"'s third and fourth latch sections apply force to the front of the electronic device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth side sections of the main body and the first, second, third, and fourth latch sections of the main body all comprise a substantially continuous edge section.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes comprise male coupling hardware, the two or more coupling connectors of the first case accessory comprise female coupling hardware, and coupling the case to the first case accessory includes mating the male coupling hardware with the female coupling hardware of the first case accessory.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the three or more accessory-attachment nodes comprise female coupling hardware, the two or more coupling connectors of the first case accessory comprise male coupling hardware, and coupling the case to the first case accessory includes mating the female coupling hardware with the male coupling hardware of the first case accessory.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein

the case'"'"'s main body further includes (D) an aperture,

at least one of the case'"'"'s three or more accessory-attachment nodes include a detent, and

the method further comprises removably inserting the detent into the aperture to removably attach the at least one accessory-attachment node to the main body.