Portable device case with corner protection element

• US 9,176,532 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ballistic Products Limited
• Original Assignee: A.G. Findings and Mfg.
• Inventors: Tages, Fernando, Acero, Daniel, Goradesky, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Application Number:
  US14/064,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20140048441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/576, 206/586
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/36 Reinforcements for edges, corners, or other parts
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers

Abstract

A case for a mobile device includes a housing sized to receive the mobile device. The housing defines a plurality of corner portions, each corner portion includes an interior wall. The mobile device is spaced a distance from the interior wall of the corner portions when disposed within the housing. The housing includes a plurality of protrusions disposed along at least a portion of the interior wall, the protrusions are operable to space the mobile device a distance away from the interior wall.

Claims

1. A case sized to receive a mobile device, the case comprising:

a first portion; and

a second portion separable from the first portion, the second portion including a perimeter portion, the perimeter portion defining at least one groove;

the first portion including;

an interior portion;

a side wall defining a perimeter around the interior portion, the side wall further defining a plurality of corner portions, the side wall further including at least one tab engageable with the at least one groove to removeably engage the first portion to the second portion; and

a plurality of protrusions affixed to the side wall and spaced a distance away from each other, the plurality of protrusions being configured to space the mobile device a distance away from the side wall and the plurality of corner portions creating a deformation region between the mobile device and the first portion when the mobile device is received within the first portion, the deformation region having a depth, and each corner portion further defining a recess having a depth less than the depth of the deformation region; and

a flexible bladder disposed within the deformation region.

2. The mobile device case of claim 1, wherein the second portion defines at least one lip, and wherein the tab is disposed on at least one of the at least one lip.

3. The mobile device case of claim 1, wherein the deformation region is defined subjacent to the recess.

4. The mobile device case of claim 1, further including a first layer of material having a durometer of substantially 80 A contoured about at least a portion of each of the plurality of corner portions.

5. The mobile device case of claim 4, further including a second layer of material having a durometer of substantially 60 A molded to the first layer of material.

6. A mobile device case sized to receive a mobile device, the mobile device case comprising:

a first portion; and

a second portion, the second portion being matable to and separable from the first portion;

the first portion including;

a side wall defining an interior;

a plurality of corner portions;

a plurality of protrusions affixed along at least a portion of the interior of the side wall and configured to space the mobile device a distance away from the side wall and the plurality of corner portions creating a deformation region between a corner of the mobile device and the first portion when the mobile device is retained within the first portion; and

a flexible bladder disposed within each of the plurality of corner portions.

7. The mobile device case of claim 6, wherein the protrusions are molded into a portion of the side wall.

8. The mobile device case of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of corner portions includes a resilient layer of material disposed about at least a portion of the exterior of the side wall and at least a portion of each of the plurality of corner portions.

9. The mobile device case of claim 6, wherein the second portion defines a lip sized to be received by the first portion.

10. A case sized to receive a mobile device, the case comprising:

a first portion; and

a second portion separable from the first portion, the second portion including a perimeter portion, the perimeter portion defining a first mating element;

the first portion including;

an interior portion;

a side wall defining a perimeter around the interior portion, the side wall further defining a plurality of corner portions, the corner portions defining a deformation region, the side wall further including a second mating element matable with the first mating element to releasably engage the first portion to the second portion[H]

a plurality of protrusions affixed to the side wall and spaced a distance away from each other, the plurality of protrusions being configured to space the mobile device a distance away from the side wall and each deformation region when the mobile device is received within the first portion; and

a flexible bladder disposed within the deformation region.

11. The mobile device case of claim 10, wherein the perimeter portion includes a lip extending from the perimeter portion, and wherein the first mating element is included on the lip.

12. The mobile device case of claim 10, further including a first layer of material having a durometer of substantially 80 A contoured about at least a portion of each of the plurality of corner portions.

13. The mobile device case of claim 12, further including a second layer of material having a durometer of substantially 60 A molded to at least a portion of the first layer of material.

14. The mobile device case of claim 10, wherein the second portion includes a screen protector.

15. The mobile device case of claim 10, wherein the deformation defines a depth, wherein each corner portion defines a recess having a depth less than the depth of the deformation region.