Protective case with compartment including spring

• US 9,560,903 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2015
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Lawson, Rebecca, Smith, William T., Rayeski, Jonathan B., Holmes, Larry, Fitzgerald, John P., Weller, Lucas B., Witter, Kevin W., Gronewoller, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US14/962,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20160088912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 206/38, 206/38.1, 206 39- 398, 206/320, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/575.8
• 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 an electronic device, the protective case having a cushion layer that covers a back surface, a left side surface, a right side surface, a top side surface, and a bottom side surface of the electronic device. A structural layer has a back portion and side wall portions that extend from the back portion and surrounds the cushion layer. A sliding drawer is attached to an outer surface of the back portion of the structural layer. The sliding drawer has a compartment that can store one or more items in the protective case. The sliding drawer can make the items accessible when open and concealed when closed.

Claims

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

a cushion layer configured to cover a back surface, a left side surface, a right side surface, a top side surface, and a bottom side surface of the electronic device;

a structural layer having a back portion and at least two side walls connected to and extending from the back portion, the structural layer configured to surround the cushion layer when the electronic device is installed in the protective case;

a sliding drawer attached to an outer surface of the back portion of the structural layer, the sliding drawer having a drawer cavity defined by the outer surface of the back portion of the structural layer and an inner surface of the sliding drawer, the sliding drawer configured to store one or more items, 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; and

a retention spring configured to extend away from the back portion of the structural layer, the retention spring configured to apply pressure to the one or more items stored within the sliding drawer against the inner surface of the sliding drawer and prevent the one or more items from shifting within the drawer cavity when the sliding drawer is in the closed position.

2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the drawer cavity of the sliding drawer is configured and sized to store a credit card or identification card.

3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the sliding drawer further comprises a relief located at a bottom edge of the sliding drawer, the relief configured to allow easier access to remove the credit card or identification card from the sliding drawer.

4. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the drawer cavity of the sliding drawer is configured and sized to store two or more cards selected from the group of a credit card, an identification card, and a business card.

5. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the sliding drawer comprises one or more detents, the detents configured to engage with one or more corresponding recesses on the back surface of the structural layer, the one or more detents and the one or more corresponding recesses configured to secure the sliding drawer in the closed position.

6. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the one or more detents of the sliding drawer are located proximate a top edge of the sliding drawer.

7. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the sliding drawer is attached to the structural layer with 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 rail configured to engage with a first rail receiver on the back surface of the structural layer and the second rail configured to engage with a second rail receiver on the back surface of the structural layer of the protective case.

8. A protective case for an electronic device, the case comprising:

a structural layer comprising a cavity configured to receive the electronic device;

a cushion layer configured to cover a portion of the electronic device, the cushion layer configured to fit within the cavity of the structural layer and provide cushioning support when the electronic device is installed in the protective case;

a compartment slidably attached to a back surface of the structural layer of the protective case, the compartment having an open and a closed position, the compartment configured to store one or more items other than the electronic device; and

a spring configured to exert force against the one or more items stored within the compartment to prevent the one or more items from shifting within the compartment when the compartment is in the closed position.

9. The protective case of claim 8, wherein the compartment comprises a first rail receiver disposed along a first edge and a second rail receiver along a second edge, the first rail receiver configured to engage a first rail located along the back surface of the structural layer and the second rail receiver configured to engage a second rail located along the back surface of the structural layer.

10. The protective case of claim 9, wherein the first rail receiver of the compartment comprises a first detent and the second rail receiver of the compartment comprises a second detent.