Multi-material protective case for sliding/articulating/rotating handheld electronic devices

• US 9,025,317 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Curtis, Loudenslager, John, Johnson, Jamie, Willes, Stephen, Smith, Travis, Morine, Alan, Glanzer, Matthew, Michie, Jane, Magness, Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Zachary M
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURTNER, DOUGLAS R
• Application Number:
  US13/050,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20110228458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679, 206/305, 206/307, 2063081-3083, 206/320, 206/701
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• 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 13/002 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/005 Hinges
• 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: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0081 of objects with parts connected by a thin section, e.g. hinge, tear line
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1676 using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/007 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3481 Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers

Abstract

A two-piece hard shell case with a silicone or other flexible component may protect devices that hinge, slide, or otherwise articulate. A front surface hard cover may snap or connect to the front of the device while a back surface hard cover may snap or connect to the back of the device. A flexible component may be held in place under one or both of the hard shell pieces. The flexible component may be held under one or both of the hard shell covers and may have button pushers, covers, or other features to allow a user to operate a protected device while still covering the device.

Claims

1. A protective case for a handheld electronic device, said handheld electronic device comprising a front portion that slides away from a back portion of the handheld electronic device to expose a keyboard, the protective case comprising:

a hard plastic front shell that is configured to attach to said front portion of said handheld electronic device with a plurality of front shell hooks that engage said front portion of said handheld electronic device, wherein the front shell hooks do not interfere with a sliding motion of the front portion of the handheld electronic device relative to the back portion of the handheld electronic device when transitioning the handheld electronic device between a closed position and an open position;

a hard plastic back shell that is configured to attach to said back portion of said handheld electronic device with a plurality of back shell hooks that are recessed from an outer edge of said hard plastic back shell, said hard plastic back shell having a plurality of back shell openings formed along the outer edge of said hard plastic back shell that provide access to electronic device operational features of said handheld electronic device, wherein the back shell hooks do not interfere with a sliding motion of the front portion of the handheld electronic device relative to the back portion of the handheld electronic device when transitioning the handheld electronic device between said closed position and said open position; and

a flexible silicone layer that is disposed in, and substantially conforms to, said hard plastic back shell, said flexible silicone layer having a plurality of silicone layer openings that engage said plurality of back shell hooks so that said back shell hooks extend through said silicone layer openings in said flexible silicone layer, said flexible silicone layer disposed in said hard plastic back shell so that silicone layer operational features are disposed in said plurality of back shell openings that provide interaction with said electronic device operational features, when said protective case is installed on said handheld electronic device.

2. The protective case of claim 1 wherein:

said silicone layer operational features comprise pads; and

said electronic device operational features comprise buttons on said electronic device.

3. The protective case of claim 2 wherein:

said silicone layer operational features further comprise at least one pivoting access panel; and

said electronic device operational features comprise at least one electronic device port in said handheld electronic device.

4. The protective case of claim 3, wherein said flexible silicone layer further comprises:

recessed portions formed in said silicone layer adjacent to said silicone layer openings, wherein the recessed portions are configured to engage said back shell hooks.

5. A protective cover for a handheld electronic device comprising a front portion and a back portion that are rotatably connected with a hinge along an edge portion of said handheld electronic device, the protective cover comprising:

a front surface hard plastic cover that is configured to attach to said front portion of said handheld electronic device with a first plurality of hooks that engage said front portion of said handheld electronic device, wherein said front surface hard plastic cover is configured to remain securely attached to said front portion of said handheld electronic device when said handheld electronic device transitions from a closed position to an open position;

a back surface hard plastic cover that is configured to attach to said back portion of said handheld electronic device with a second plurality of hooks that engage said back portion of said handheld electronic device, wherein said back surface hard plastic cover is configured to remain securely attached to said back portion of said handheld electronic device when said handheld electronic device transitions from said closed position to said open position; and

a flexible silicone cover comprising;

a front portion that is disposed between said handheld electronic device and said front surface hard plastic cover when said protective cover is installed on said handheld electronic device;

a back portion that is disposed between said handheld electronic device and said back surface hard plastic cover when said protective cover is installed on said handheld electronic device; and

a silicone hinge portion that connects said front portion of said flexible silicone cover to said back portion of said flexible silicone cover, wherein said silicone hinge is disposed over said edge portion of said handheld electronic device, and wherein said silicone hinge covers and protects said edge portion of said handheld electronic device when said protective cover is installed on said handheld electronic device.

6. The protective cover of claim 5 further comprising:

pads disposed on said silicone hinge portion that are configured to interface with buttons on said edge portion of said handheld electronic device so that said buttons can be activated through said flexible silicone cover while said silicone hinge portion protects said edge portion of said handheld electronic device.

7. The protective cover of claim 5 wherein said front portion and said back portion of said handheld electronic device are rotatably connected with a hinge along a side edge portion of said handheld electronic device.

8. The protective cover of claim 5 wherein said front portion and said back portion of said handheld electronic device are rotatably connected with a hinge along a top edge portion of said handheld electronic device.

9. The protective cover of claim 5 wherein said front portion and said back portion of said handheld electronic device are rotatably connected with a hinge along a bottom edge portion of said handheld electronic device.

10. The protective cover of claim 5 wherein at least one of the first and the second plurality of hooks comprises mechanical clips.