Protective case with compartment

• US 9,241,551 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Rayeski, Jonathan B., Holmes, Larry, Smith, W. Travis, Fitzgerald, John P., Weller, Lucas B., Witter, Kevin W., Gronewoller, Peter J., Lawson, Rebecca
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US14/281,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20140251368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 206/38, 206/38.1, 206/320
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 1/06 Wallets devices for the prevention of theft or loss of wallets A45C13/185; for holding keys A45C11/32; Notecases
• 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 11/182 Credit card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• 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: A45C 2011/188 Media card holders, e.g. memory cards, SIM cards
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 33/26 combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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

Abstract

A protective case for a personal electronic device can include a compartment configured to receive and store an item such as, for example, a credit card, identification card, SIM card, memory card, keys, cosmetics, or cash. The compartment can be a waterproof compartment designed to protect the contents of the compartment from damage in situations where the protective case is exposed to liquids. In some examples, the compartment can include or be configured to receive and store cosmetics, cosmetic tools, or a mirror, and can eliminate the need to carry a separate compact. In some examples, the compartment can include an ejection mechanism configured to eject a credit or identification card from the compartment.

Claims

1. A protective case for a personal electronic device, the case comprising:

a housing structured to receive and hold the personal electronic device;

a sliding drawer comprising an inner surface having a cavity configured to receive a credit card or identification card, wherein the cavity has a length of about 3.38-3.48 inches and a width of about 2.13-2.23 inches, wherein

the sliding drawer is slidably attached to a back side surface of the housing, the credit card or identification card is accessible when the sliding drawer is in an open position, and the credit card or identification card is concealed when the sliding drawer is in a closed position; and

a compartment gasket disposed in a gasket channel that extends around a perimeter of the back side surface of the housing, wherein the compartment gasket is configured to provide a watertight seal against a sealing surface of the sliding drawer when the sliding drawer is in the closed position.

2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the protective case further comprises:

a retention spring extending from the back side surface of the housing, wherein

the retention spring is configured to press the credit card against an inner surface of the sliding drawer and prevent the credit card from rattling within the sliding drawer when the sliding drawer is in the closed position.

3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the protective case further comprises

a retention spring extending from the back side surface of the housing, wherein

the retention spring is configured to provide a spring force against an inner surface of the sliding drawer to resist opening of the sliding drawer when the sliding drawer is in the closed position.

4. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising

a mirror adhered to an inner surface of the sliding drawer, the mirror being visible when the sliding drawer is in an open position and being concealed when the sliding drawer is in the closed position.

5. The protective case of claim 1, wherein

the housing includes a cavity configured to receive the electronic device, wherein a back surface of the housing forms the back side surface of the protective case, and wherein the sliding drawer is slidably attached to the back surface of the housing;

and

the protective case further comprises a flexible cushion layer configured to fit within the cavity of the housing and cover at least a back surface of the personal electronic device when the personal electronic device is disposed in the cavity of the housing.

6. The protective case of claim 1, wherein

the sliding drawer comprises a first rail disposed along a first edge of the sliding drawer and a second rail disposed along a second edge of the sliding drawer,

the first edge of the sliding drawer is opposite the second edge of the sliding drawer,

the housing comprises a first rail receiver located proximate a first edge of the back side surface of the housing and a second rail receiver located proximate a second edge of the back side surface of the housing,

the first rail receiver is configured to receive the first rail on the sliding drawer, and

the second rail receiver is configured to receive the second rail on the sliding drawer when the sliding drawer is attached to the housing of the protective case.

7. The protective case of claim 1, wherein

the sliding drawer comprises a first rail receiver disposed along a first edge of the sliding drawer and a second rail receiver disposed along a second edge of the sliding drawer,

the first edge of the sliding drawer is opposite the second edge of the sliding drawer,

the housing comprises a first rail located proximate a first edge of the back side surface of the housing and a second rail located proximate a second edge of the back side surface of the housing, wherein the first rail is configured to engage the first rail receiver, and the second rail is configured to engage the second rail receiver on the sliding drawer when the sliding drawer is attached to the protective case.

8. A housing for a personal electronic device, the housing comprising:

a top member having a perimeter portion forming a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the top member comprising a first clasping mechanism at least at a portion of the perimeter portion of the top member;

a bottom member having a perimeter portion forming a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the bottom member having a front surface and a back surface spanning from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and spanning across the opposing side portions of the bottom member, the bottom member comprising a second clasping mechanism at least at a portion of the perimeter portion of the bottom member;

a compartment proximate a back surface of the bottom member, the compartment defined by a volume located between an inner surface of a sliding drawer and the back surface of the bottom member, wherein the compartment is configured to store one or more items other than the personal electronic device, wherein the one or more stored items are accessible when the sliding drawer is in an open position, and wherein the one or more stored items are concealed when the sliding drawer is in a closed position;

a gasket positioned in a channel located in the perimeter portion of the bottom member, wherein the perimeter portion of the top member is configured to press against and compress the gasket in the gasket channel when the first clasping mechanism engages the second clasping mechanism when the top member is coupled to the bottom member to form the housing;

a top member gasket extending from an inner perimeter portion of the top member, the top member gasket configured to contact and compress against a top surface of the personal electronic device to form a liquid-tight seal therewith when the personal electronic device is installed in the top member and when the top member is coupled to the bottom member to form the housing; and

a compartment gasket disposed in a gasket channel that extends around a perimeter of the back side surface of the protective case, wherein the compartment gasket is configured to provide a watertight seal against a sealing surface of the sliding drawer when the sliding drawer is in the closed position.