Control feature of a protective case for engaging a switch of an electronic device

• US 9,831,905 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pelican Products Incorporated (Pelican Products Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pelican Products Incorporated (Pelican Products Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Flores, Jesse, Chen, Jianzhi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandiford, Devan
• Application Number:
  US15/291,550
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units

Abstract

According to various embodiments, there is provided a case for an electronic device. The case includes a cover having a peripheral wall defining an interior for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device, the cover having a protrusion extending in a length dimension. The case further includes a control feature extending through the peripheral wall of the cover. The control feature has a first body portion configured to engage a switch of the electronic device, when the electronic device is received in the interior of the cover. The control feature further has a second body portion accessible from outside of the interior of the cover. The control feature further has a central body portion between the first body portion and the second body portion, the central body portion having a channel in which the protrusion is received, wherein the control feature is moveable along the length dimension of the protrusion, relative to the cover.

Claims

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

a cover having a peripheral wall defining an interior for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device, the cover having a protrusion extending in a length dimension; and

a control feature extending through the peripheral wall of the cover, the control feature having;

a first body portion configured to engage a switch of the electronic device, when the electronic device is received in the interior of the cover;

a second body portion accessible from outside of the interior of the cover; and

a central body portion between the first body portion and the second body portion, the central body portion having a channel in which the protrusion is received,

wherein the control feature is slideably moveable linearly along the length dimension of the protrusion, relative to the cover.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein the control feature extends through an opening in the peripheral wall of the cover and the protrusion extends at least partially into the opening.

3. The case of claim 2, wherein the protrusion extends into the channel a length sufficient to inhibit the control feature from separating from the cover, throughout a full range of motion of the control feature relative to the cover.

4. The case of claim 1, wherein the first body portion has a chamber having an interior volume for receiving a portion of the switch of the electronic device, when the electronic device is received in the interior of the cover.

5. The case of claim 4, wherein the channel in the central body portion has a depth dimension that extends in a direction transverse to a direction of a depth dimension of the chamber in the first body portion.

6. The case of claim 1, wherein the control feature including the first body portion, the second body portion, and the central body portion is formed as a single, unitary structure.

7. The case of claim 1, wherein the first body portion has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the control feature further having a lip extending from the first end of the first body.

8. The case of claim 7, wherein the lip is configured to provide a concave curvature of the first body portion such that the curvature substantially conforms to a convex curvature of a body of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed in the case.

9. The case of claim 7, wherein the second end of the first body portion has an angled edge, the angled edge being angled away from the electronic device when the electronic device is housed in the protective case.

10. The case of claim 1, further comprising a second cover configured to couple with the cover having the peripheral wall for housing the electronic device between the second cover and the cover having the peripheral wall.

11. The case of claim 10, wherein the cover having the peripheral wall is a front cover configured to be positioned at an interactive display of the electronic device, and the control feature is located at the front cover.

12. The case of claim 10, wherein the second cover is a rear cover configured to be positioned at a rear surface of the electronic device, and the control feature is located at the rear cover.

13. The case of claim 1, wherein the control feature is configured to be positioned at a first position and at a second position different from the first position.

14. The case of claim 13, wherein the first position is below the second position along a height defined by a length of the protrusion.

15. A method of manufacturing a case for an electronic device, the method comprising:

providing a cover having a peripheral wall defining an interior for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device, the cover having a protrusion extending in a length dimension; and

providing a control feature extending through the peripheral wall of the cover, the control feature having;

a first body portion configured to engage a switch of the electronic device, when the electronic device is received in the interior of the cover;

a second body portion accessible from outside of the interior of the cover; and

a central body portion between the first body portion and the second body portion, the central body portion having a channel in which the protrusion is received,

wherein the control feature is slideably moveable linearly along the length dimension of the protrusion, relative to the cover.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the control feature extends through an opening in the peripheral wall of the cover and the protrusion extends at least partially into the opening.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the protrusion extends into the channel a length sufficient to inhibit the control feature from separating from the cover, throughout a full range of motion of the control feature relative to the cover.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first body portion has a chamber having an interior volume for receiving a portion of the switch of the electronic device, when the electronic device is received in the interior of the cover.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the channel in the central body portion has a depth dimension that extends in a direction transverse to a direction of a depth dimension of the chamber in the first body portion.

20. A protective case configured to house an electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a front cover having a peripheral wall defining an interior for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device, the front cover having a protrusion extending in a length dimension;

a rear cover configured to couple with the front cover; and

a control feature extending through the peripheral wall of the front cover, the control feature having;

a first body portion configured to engage a switch of the electronic device, when the electronic device is received in the interior of the cover;

a second body portion accessible from outside of the interior of the cover; and

a central body portion between the first body portion and the second body portion, the central body portion having a channel in which the protrusion is received,

wherein the control feature is slideably moveable linearly along the length dimension of the protrusion, relative to the cover.