Protective case having a hybrid structure for portable handheld electronic devices

• US 9,266,664 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Switcheasy Limited
• Original Assignee: Switcheasy Limited
• Inventors: Bau, Steven Chi Vun
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desai, Kaushikkumar
• Application Number:
  US13/591,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20130206621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/453, 206/586, 220/646, 220/647, 220/650, 264/250, 294/50, 294/53, 294/551, 455/575.8, 428/34.6, 428/34.7, 428/34.9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers

Abstract

A protective case for handheld devices with improved protection characteristics, durability, convenience of use, and functionalities without compromising aesthetics. The protective case includes a “glove” or “skin” piece of a softer material that substantially covers and grips the entire back of the electronic device, by wrapping over the edge of the electronic device (without obscuring the display/touch screen on the front of the device). One or more separate complementary frame pieces, braces and the like made of a hard material are attached over the glove piece, extending over a substantial area of the glove piece, thereby creating a robust interlocking hybrid structure. Openings are provided in the protective case to allow for user interaction with the device, including access to the interfaces (e.g., screens, buttons, sockets, etc.) provided on the device.

Claims

1. A protective case for a portable handheld electronic device, comprising:

a first protective component, sized and configured to extend to fit snugly over at least a portion of a back and at least a portion of the perimeter of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a display screen and at least one port provided on the perimeter of the electronic device, wherein a window and at least one opening are provided on the first protective component, wherein the window is located on the first protective component to expose the display screen of the electronic device and said at least one opening is located on the first protective component to provide external access to said at least one port provided on the perimeter of the electronic device when the first protective component is fitted over the back of the electronic device, wherein the first protective component is sized and configured to extend to cover at least a portion of the back of the electronic device, and wherein the first protective component is sized and configured to extend to cover at least a portion of the perimeter of the electronic device; and

a second protective component covering at least a portion of the first protective component, wherein the second protective component comprises a plurality of extending members extending towards the perimeter of the electronic device and covering the first protective component over at least a portion of the perimeter of the electronic device, wherein each extending member has lateral edges, and wherein each adjacent lateral edge of an extending member is not connected to a lateral edge of an adjacent extending member.

2. The protective case as in claim 1, wherein the first protective component is provided with at least an indentation and the second protective component comprises at least a complementary structure received in the indentation.

3. The protective case as in claim 2, wherein the material of the second protective component is different from the material of the first protective component.

4. The protective case as in claim 3, wherein material of the second protective component is harder than that of the first protective component.

5. The protective case as in claim 2, wherein the second protective component is removably fitted over the first protective component.

6. The protective case as in claim 2, wherein the second protective component and the first protective component form an interlocking structure.

7. The protective case as in claim 1, wherein the first protective component is sized and configured to extend to cover substantially the entire back of the electronic device.

8. The protective case as in claim 1, wherein the first protective component is sized and configured to extend to cover substantially entire perimeter of the electronic device.

9. The protective case as in claim 1, wherein the extending members cover the first protective component over at least one side of the perimeter of the electronic device.

10. The protective case as in claim 1, wherein the first protective component has an overall external shape resembling overall external shape of the electronic device, so as to minimize overall size of combination of the protective case and electronic device when the first protective component is fitted over the back of the electronic device.

11. The protective case as in claim 1, wherein the first protective component has a generally flat overall external shape, and an internal shape configured to fit over the electronic device having a generally flat overall external shape.

20. The protective case as in claim 1, wherein the second protective component is sized and configured to be received in at least an indentation provided in the first protective component over at least a portion of the back of the electronic device, and wherein the extending members of the second protective component is sized and configured to be received in the at least an indentation provided in the first protective component over at least a portion of the perimeter of the electronic device.

21. The protective case as in claim 20, wherein the second protective component is more rigid than the first protective component.

12. A protective case for a mobile device, the mobile device having a front surface, a 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 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 side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, wherein the back side and the top, bottom, right and left sides of the flexible inner sleeve correspond to the back surface and side surfaces of the mobile device; and

a rigid outer shell covering the flexible inner sleeve to thereby form the protective case;

wherein the flexible inner sleeve further comprises at least an indentation below the back surface of the flexible inner sleeve, extending from a portion of the back side to at least one of the right side, the left side, the top side and the bottom sides of the flexible inner sleeve,

wherein the rigid outer shell is received in the indentation, and

wherein the rigid outer shell includes a plurality of side walls that are configured to be received within the corresponding portions of the indentation that are located on the side surfaces of the flexible inner sleeve.

13. The protective case of claim 12, wherein the rigid outer shell is removably engagable with the flexible inner sleeve.

14. The protective case of claim 12, wherein the flexible inner sleeve comprises a soft material.

15. The protective case of claim 14, wherein the rigid outer shell comprises a hard material.

16. The protective case of claim 12, wherein at least one of the right, left, top and bottom sides of the flexible inner sleeve includes an aperture.

17. The protective case of claim 12, wherein the side walls of the rigid outer shell are configured to engage the mobile device through the flexible inner sleeve.

18. The protective case of claim 12, wherein the flexible inner sleeve is configured to substantially cover entire back and side surfaces of the mobile device.

19. The protective case of claim 12, wherein the side walls of the rigid outer walls expose at least a portion of at least one of the top, bottom, right and left sides of flexible inner sleeve which define the screen opening.