Protective cases for mobile devices

• US 8,800,762 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Incipio Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Fathollahi, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Luan K
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORTIZ, RAFAEL ALFREDO
• Application Number:
  US12/540,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20110036876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/576, 206/701, 206/724, 428/159, 428/160, 455/575.8, 455/575.1, 455/575.4
• US Class Current: 206/320
• 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: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for protecting a mobile device. In one embodiment, a protection device for a mobile device is disclosed which induces a combination of a flexible inner sleeve and a rigid shell. The flexible inner sleeve conforms to, and encapsulates, the mobile device. The rigid shell receives and engages the inner sleeve. The flexible inner sleeve and the rigid shell can be used separately with the mobile device or can encase the mobile device as an integrated protective unit.

Claims

1. A protective case configured to be in contact with all sides of a mobile device, the mobile device having a flat front surface, a flat back surface, and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the mobile device having a screen on the front surface, the protective case comprising:

a flexible inner sleeve configured to engage and substantially surround the mobile device, including the back surface and the side surfaces of the mobile device, the flexible inner sleeve defining a screen opening configured to provide access to the screen on the front surface of the mobile device, the flexible inner sleeve having a front surface, a flat back surface, and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the top side forming a first and second corner junction with the right side and left side, the bottom side forming a third and fourth corner junction with the right side and left side, wherein the back, and side surfaces of the flexible inner sleeve correspond with the back surface and side surfaces of the mobile device; and

a one-piece rigid outer shell removably engagable with the flexible inner sleeve to thereby form the protective case;

wherein the flexible inner sleeve further comprises an indention extending continuously from a portion of the back surface to the right and the left sides, and the top and bottom sides of the flexible inner sleeve, the height of said indention on one of the right, left, top and bottom sides of the flexible inner sleeve, as measured between the front and back surfaces, is less than the height of the indention extending on one or more of the other sides of the flexible inner sleeve, the indention on one of the sides of the flexible inner sleeve further includes a protrusion, the outer shell configured to be removably received into the indention, and the outer shell including an aperture dimensioned to receive the protrusion;

wherein the outer shell includes multiple side walls that are configured to be received within the corresponding portions of the indention that are located on the side surfaces of the inner sleeve, and wherein at least one side wall of the shell is configured to reside entirely below the front surface of the mobile device when the mobile device is fully inserted within the protective case such that the back surface of the mobile device is in contact with the flat back surface of the flexible inner sleeve.

2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein when the outer shell is engaged with the flexible inner sleeve the case has an exposed edge of the flexible inner sleeve extending beyond the outer shell that surrounds and thereby defines the screen opening.

3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the flexible inner sleeve comprises a soft polymeric material.

4. The protective case of claim 3, wherein the soft polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of silicon-based polymer, a foamed polymer, or rubber.

5. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the rigid shell comprises a hard plastic material.

6. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the hard plastic material comprises acrylic.

7. A system comprising the protective case of claim 1 and a mobile device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the flexible inner sleeve is configured to surround substantially entirely the back and side surfaces of the mobile device.

9. The protective case of claim 8, wherein the rigid outer shell is configured to establish substantially entirely a back surface of the protective case.

10. The protective case of claim 1, wherein when the outer shell is engaged with the flexible inner sleeve the case has a second exposed edge of the flexible inner sleeve not covered by the outer shell that surrounds and thereby defines the aperture, wherein the second exposed edge includes a curved region.

11. The protective case of claim 1, wherein each of the right, left, top and bottom sides of the flexible inner sleeve includes one or more aperture.

12. The protective case of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth corner junctions are uncovered by the outer shell.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the side walls of the outer shell are configured to physically engage the mobile device through the flexible inner sleeve.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein at least two side walls of the shell are configured to reside below the front surface of the mobile device when the mobile device is fully inserted within the protective case.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein two side walls on oppositing sides of the shell are configured to reside below the front surface of the mobile device when the mobile device is fully inserted within the protective case.