Mobile device case with foldable speaker system

• US 9,807,483 B1
• Filed: 12/07/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BassCase LLC
• Original Assignee: BassCase LLC
• Inventors: Edson, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez, Angelica M
• Application Number:
  US15/371,823
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 4555718, 4555711-5717, 4555501
• 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 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• 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: A45C 2200/15 Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A mobile device case is disclosed. The mobile device case includes a housing comprising a cavity configured to partially enclose a mobile device, a first and second foldable panel having first and second speakers pivotally connected to the housing, wherein the first and second foldable panels rotate from a folded position where the first and second foldable panels are configured to be folded on a back surface of the bottom surface of the cavity to an unfolded position where the first and second foldable panels extend laterally in a parallel way relative to the bottom surface of the cavity.

Claims

1. A case for a mobile device comprising:

a housing comprising a first cavity configured such that the mobile device is capable of being partially enclosed therein, a second cavity and a third cavity,

wherein said first cavity has a bottom surface and an opening, and said second and third cavities are disposed on a back surface of the housing that is opposite to said bottom surface of said first cavity, such that openings of the second and third cavity face in an opposite direction from the opening of the first cavity;

a first foldable panel configured to be partially enclosed in said second cavity and comprising a first speaker, the first foldable panel being pivotally connected to a first side of said housing; and

a second foldable panel configured to be partially enclosed in said third cavity and comprising a second speaker, the second foldable panel being pivotally connected to a second side of said housing,

wherein said first and second foldable panels rotate

from a folded position where said first and second foldable panels are configured to be folded within the second cavity and the third cavity, respectively, such that the first foldable panel is partially enclosed in the second cavity and the second foldable panel is partially enclosed in the third cavity and said first and second speakers face in a direction from said bottom surface of said first cavity to said opening of said first cavity

to an unfolded position where said first and second foldable panels extend laterally away from said back surface of said bottom surface of said first cavity.

2. The case for a mobile device of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a raised portion interposed between the second cavity and the third cavity, the raised portion having a height that is substantially the same as a thickness of said first and second foldable panels, such that surfaces of the first and second foldable panels and the raised portion are flush when the first and second foldable panels are in the folded position, wherein the raised portion houses a power source.

3. The case for a mobile device of claim 2, wherein said power source is configured to be disposed between said first and second foldable panels in said folded position.

4. The case for a mobile device of claim 2, wherein said housing further comprises a light source configured to indicate remaining power of said power source.

5. The case for a mobile device of claim 2, wherein said first and second speakers communicate with said mobile device through wireless communications.

6. The case for a mobile device of claim 5, further comprising a switch disposed on said power source,

wherein said switch includes three modes:

power off, wireless communication, and power transfer,

wherein said off mode turns off power of said case, said wireless communication mode turns on wireless communications between said first and second speakers and said mobile device, and said power transfer mode provides power of said power source to said mobile device.

7. The case for a mobile device of claim 2, wherein said housing further comprises a connector disposed on a side of said first cavity and configured to fasten said mobile device and connect an external communication plug to said mobile device.

8. The case for a mobile device of claim 7, wherein said connector is connected to said power source and configured to transmit power to said mobile device and said power source at the same time.

9. The case for a mobile device of claim 7, wherein said connector comprises a hole for a microphone in said mobile device, configured to deliver sound outside of said case to said microphone in said mobile device.

10. The case for a mobile device of claim 7, wherein said connector comprises a microphone configured to transmit sound outside of said case to said mobile device.

11. The case for a mobile device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a fastener disposed on a side of said first cavity and configured to fasten said mobile device.

12. The case for a mobile device of claim 1, wherein said first foldable panel includes a kick stand configured to support said case in said unfolded position where said display panel stands at a 100 to 160 degree angle relative to the ground.

13. The case for a mobile device of claim 1, wherein said housing and said first foldable panel have a window configured to show a camera or a display on a back surface of said display panel.

14. A case for a mobile device comprising:

a housing comprising a first cavity configured such that the mobile device is capable of being partially enclosed therein, and at least one second cavity, wherein said first cavity includes a bottom surface and an opening, said at least one second cavity is disposed on a back surface of the housing that is opposite to said bottom surface of said first cavity such that an opening of the at least one second cavity faces in an opposite direction from the opening of the first cavity, and said housing includes at least one side having a hinge axis;

at least one foldable panel configured to be partially enclosed in said at least one second cavity and comprising a speaker, the at least one foldable panel being pivotally connected to said at least one side of said housing, wherein said at least one foldable panel is configured to rotate about said hinge axis relative to the back surface; and

a raised portion formed on the back surface so as to define the second cavity, the raised portion having a height that is substantially the same as a thickness of said at least one foldable panel, such that surfaces of the at least one foldable panel and the raised portion are flush when the at least one foldable panel is partially enclosed in the at least one second cavity,

wherein said at least one foldable panel rotates

from a folded position where said at least one foldable panel is configured to be folded within said at least one second cavity such that said at least one foldable panel is partially enclosed in said second cavity and said speaker faces in a direction from said bottom surface of said first cavity to said opening of said first cavity

to an unfolded position where said at least one foldable panel extends laterally away from said back surface of said bottom surface of said first cavity and said speaker faces in a direction away from the direction from said bottom surface of said first cavity to said opening of said first cavity.

15. The case for a mobile device of claim 14, wherein said speaker communicates with said mobile device through wireless communications.

16. The case for a mobile device of claim 15 further comprising a switch disposed on said power source,

wherein said switch includes three modes:

off, communication, and power,

wherein said off mode turns off power of said case, said communication mode turns on said wireless communications between said speaker and said mobile device, and said power mode provides power of said power source to said mobile device.

17. The case for a mobile device of claim 14, wherein said housing further comprises a fastener disposed on a side of said first cavity and configured to fasten said mobile device.

18. The case for a mobile device of claim 14, wherein said housing further comprises a connector disposed on a side of said first cavity and configured to fasten said mobile device and connect an external communication plug to said mobile device.

19. The case for a mobile device of claim 18, wherein said connector is connected to said power source and configured to transmit power to said mobile device and said power source at the same time.