Protective folio case for an electronic device

• US 9,814,289 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Lay, Carlton R., Havens, Adam J., Gronewoller, Peter J., Weller, Lucas B., Gates, Lee B.
• Primary Examiner(s): HEIBER, SHANTELL LAKETA
• Application Number:
  US15/089,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20160295981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 591 Days
• Field of Search: 4555751, 4555758
• 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 13/1069 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/15 Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks

Abstract

A protective case for an electronic device includes a structural member, a cushioning member, and a flexible member. The structural member and cushioning member are overmolded to cover the installed electronic device. The flexible member has a first panel connected to the back portion of the structural member and a second panel connected to the first panel by a hinge section. The second panel of the flexible member has a magnet that is configured to connect with a metallic tab that is adhered to the side of the structural member. The metallic tab is configured to allow the first panel of the flexible member to connect with the metallic tab in a closed position that covers the touchscreen of the electronic device and in an open position when the first panel of the flexible member is folded away from the touchscreen and covering the back of the protective case.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the electronic device having a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces, the front surface of the electronic device having a touchscreen, the protective enclosure comprising:

a structural member having a back portion extending along the back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure, the structural member further having a first side portion and an opposing second side portion, the side portions of the structural member extending from the back portion along the side surfaces of the installed electronic device;

a cushioning member affixed to the structural member, the cushioning member having a back section, a top section, a bottom section, and side sections for covering and cushioning at least a portion of the back surface and the side surfaces of the installed electronic device, the top section, the bottom section, and the side sections of the cushioning member forming a protective rim, the protective rim extending beyond the front surface of the installed electronic device;

a metallic tab adhered to the first side portion of the structural member, the metallic tab having a first side extending to the protective rim of the cushioning member and a second side extending to an outer surface of the back portion of the structural member;

a flexible member having a first panel and a second panel, the first and second panels being connected with a hinge section, the first panel being adhered to the outer surface of the back portion of the structural member and covering at least a portion of the back surface of the installed electronic device, the hinge section covering the opposing second side of the structural member and configured to allow the second panel of the flexible member to extend over and cover at least a portion of the front surface of the installed electronic device in a closed position; and

a magnet attached to the second panel of the flexible member, the magnet located to engage with the first side of the metallic tab of the protective enclosure when the flexible member is in the closed position and engage with the second side of the metallic tab when the second panel of the flexible member is folded back over the first panel of the flexible member in an open position, the open position configured to expose the front surface of the installed electronic device.

2. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the back portion of the structural member includes a camera opening that allows access to a camera of the installed electronic device.

3. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the bottom section of the cushioning member comprises one or more openings, the one or more openings located over respective functional features of the installed electronic device.

4. The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the side portions of the structural member include cutout regions.

5. The protective enclosure of claim 4, wherein the side sections of the cushioning member include one or more control features for actuating a control button of the installed electronic device.

6. The protective enclosure of claim 5, wherein the cutout regions of the structural member allow for flexing of the protective enclosure for insertion or removal of the electronic device from the protective enclosure.

7. The protective enclosure of claim 6, wherein the one or more control features of the cushioning member are located at least partially within the cutout regions of the structural member.

8. A protective folio case for an electronic device, the electronic device having a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces, the front surface of the electronic device having a touchscreen, the protective folio case comprising:

a cushioning bumper having a top section, a bottom section, a first side section, and a second side section, the sections of the cushioning bumper at least partially covering the top surface, the bottom surface, and the side surfaces of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective folio;

a structural bumper overmolded with the cushioning bumper, the structural bumper having a top portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion opposite the first side portion, the portions of the structural bumper covering at least a portion of the top section and side sections of the cushioning bumper, the structural bumper having a perimeter portion extending from the side portions along to the back surface of the installed electronic device;

a flexible member having a first area and a second area, the first area and the second area connected by a hinge area, the first area of the flexible member being adhered to the perimeter portion of the structural bumper and covering the back surface of the installed electronic device, the second area of the flexible member covering the front surface of the installed electronic device in a closed position, the hinge area of the flexible member covering the first side portion of the structural bumper when the second area of the flexible member is in the closed position;

a first metallic clip adhered to the second side portion of the structural bumper; and

a second metallic clip adhered to the second area of the flexible member, the second metallic clip configured to magnetically connect to the first metallic clip when the second area is in the closed position, the second metallic clip further configured to magnetically connect to the first metallic clip when the second area of the flexible member is folded away from the front surface of the electronic device and over the first area of the flexible member in an open position.

9. The protective folio of claim 8, wherein the flexible member comprises leather.

10. The protective folio of claim 8, wherein the flexible member comprises one or more openings for allowing access to one or more functional features of the installed electronic device.

11. The protective folio of claim 10, wherein the one or more openings of the flexible member is located on the first area.

12. The protective folio of claim 8, wherein the flexible member comprises one or more control features along the hinge area, the control features positioned over functional features of the installed electronic device when the second area of the flexible member is in the closed position.

13. The protective folio of claim 8, wherein an inner surface of the second area of the flexible member comprises a card slot.

14. A protective case for an electronic device, the electronic device having a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces, the front surface having a touchscreen, the protective case comprising:

a first member having a perimeter portion extending along and at least partially surrounding the top surface, the bottom surface and the side surfaces of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case;

a second member adhered to the first member, the second member having a first section, a second section and a folding section, the first section adhered to the perimeter portion of the first member of the protective case and covering the back surface of the electronic device, the second section of the second member connected to the first section of the second member by the folding section, the folding section sized and configured to allow the second section of the second member to cover the front surface of the installed electronic device, the folding section further sized and configured to allow the second section of the second member to fold away from the front surface of the electronic device and cover the back surface of the electronic device; and

a clasp having a first part and a second part, the first part of the clasp attached to the first member of protective case, the second part of the clasp attached to the second section of the second member of the protective case at a side of the second section opposite the folding section, the first part and second part of the clasp positioned to engage and retain the second member in place when the second member is covering the front surface of the installed electronic device and positioned to engage and retain the second member in place when the second member is folded away from the front surface of the electronic device and over the back surface of the electronic device.

15. The protective case of claim 14, wherein the first member comprises a protective rim that is configured to extend beyond the front surface of the installed electronic device.

16. The protective case of claim 14, wherein the first section of the second member comprises an opening configured to allow access to a camera feature of the installed electronic device.

17. The protective case of claim 14, wherein the second section of the second member comprises an opening configured to allow access to a functional feature of the installed electronic device when the second section is covering the front surface of the installed electronic device.

18. The protective case of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part of the clasp includes a magnet that engages a metallic tab on another of the first part and the second part of the clasp.

19. The protective case of claim 14, wherein the folding section of the second member comprises one or more control features, the control features positioned over functional features of the electronic device when the folding section is positioned to cover the side surface of the installed electronic device.

20. The protective case of claim 14, the second section of the second member comprising a card slot on an inner surface of the second section.