AESTHETIC AND PROTECTIVE CASE

• US 20080119244A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rohit Malhotra
• Original Assignee: Rohit Malhotra
• Inventors: Malhotra, Rohit
• Application Number:
  US11/562,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119244A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/0058 removing material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0053 combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping injection-compression moulding B29C45/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate

Abstract

A case for a portable electronic device comprises a solid portion bonded to a pliable layer. The solid portion comprises a solid inner surface, a solid outer surface, and a solid edge. The pliable layer comprises a pliable inner surface, a pliable outer surface, and a pliable edge. The pliable layer is positioned over the solid portion so that the pliable edge and solid edge are aligned. A dye covers the pliable edge and the solid edge. The pliable layer comprises decoration.

Claims

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

a solid portion comprising a solid inner surface, a solid outer surface, and a solid edge; and

a pliable layer comprising a pliable inner surface, a pliable outer surface, and a pliable edge, wherein the pliable layer is positioned over and bonded to the solid portion, such that, the pliable edge and the solid edge are aligned.

2. The case of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive bonding the solid outer surface to the pliable inner surface.

3. The case of claim 2 wherein the adhesive comprises a synthetic rubber contact adhesive.

4. The case of claim 1 further comprising a dye covering the pliable edge and the solid edge.

5. The case of claim 4 wherein the dye comprises a color substantially matching a color of the pliable layer.

6. The case of claim 1 further comprising a decoration on the pliable outer surface.

7. The case of claim 6 wherein the decoration comprises at least one of stitching, beads, charms, embroidery, buckles, rivets, dyes, and insignias.

8. The case of claim 1 wherein the solid inner surface is smooth and the solid outer surface is rough.

9. The case of claim 1 wherein the solid portion comprises at least one of polypropylene, polypropylene co-polymer, and a co-polymer.

10. The case of claim 1 wherein the solid portion comprises clip-on means for releaseably engaging the portable electronic device.

11. The case of claim 1 wherein the pliable layer comprises at least one of leather, vinyl, fabric, cloth, neoprene, and rubber.

12. The case of claim 1 further comprising a belt clip attached to the solid portion.

13. The case of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device comprises at least one of a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a digital music player, and a portable communication device.

14. The case of claim 1 wherein the solid portion and the pliable layer further comprises one or more apertures.

15. The case of claim 1 wherein the pliable layer comprises a plurality of sub-pliable layers.

16. A case for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a first unit comprising,

a first solid portion comprising a first portion inner surface and a first portion outer surface, the first portion inner surface and the first portion outer surface extending to form a first portion edge;

at least one first pliable layer comprising a first layer inner surface and a first layer outer surface, the first layer inner surface and the first layer outer surface extending to form a first layer edge, and the first layer inner surface bonded to the first portion outer surface;

a second unit comprising,

a second solid portion comprising a second portion inner surface and a second portion outer surface, the second portion inner surface and the second portion outer surface extending to form a second portion edge; and

at least one second pliable layer comprising a second layer inner surface and a second layer outer surface, the second layer inner surface and the second layer outer surface extending to form a second layer edge, and the second layer inner surface bonded to the second portion outer surface;

wherein the first unit and the second unit of the case are combined, such that, the first portion edge is aligned with the second portion edge, for securely housing the portable electronic device therebetween.

17. The case of claim 16 wherein the first unit releaseably engages a front of the portable electronic device, and the second unit releaseably engages a back of the portable electronic device.

18. The case of claim 16 wherein the first unit covers a first portion of the portable electronic device, and the second unit covers a remaining portion of the portable electronic device.

19. The case of claim 16 wherein the first pliable layer and the second pliable layer comprise at least one of leather, vinyl, fabric, cloth, neoprene, and rubber.

20. The case of claim 16 wherein the first solid portion and the second solid portion comprise at least one of polypropylene, polypropylene co-polymer, and a co-polymer.

21. The case of claim 16 wherein the first pliable layer and the second pliable layer are bonded to the first portion outer surface and the second portion outer surface respectively using at least one of adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, and pressure bonding.

22. The case of claim 16 wherein the first pliable layer and the second pliable layer are bonded to the first portion outer surface and the second portion outer surface respectively with a synthetic rubber contact adhesive.

23. The case of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first pliable layer and the second pliable layer comprises at least one of stitching, beads, charms, embroidery, buckles, rivets, dyes, and insignias.

24. The case of claim 16 wherein the first portion edge, the second portion edge, the first layer edge, and the second layer edge are covered with a dye.

25. The case of claim 16 wherein the first portion inner surface and the second portion inner surface are smooth and the first portion outer surface and the second portion outer surface are rough.

26. The case of claim 16 further comprising at least one clip disposed on at least one of the first unit and the second unit.

27. The case of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first pliable layer and the second pliable layer comprises a plurality of sub-pliable layers.

28. A case for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a solid portion comprising a solid inner surface, a solid outer surface, and a solid edge;

a pliable layer comprising a pliable inner surface, a pliable outer surface, and a pliable edge, wherein the pliable layer is positioned over the solid portion, such that, the pliable edge and the solid edge are aligned;

an adhesive bonding the solid outer surface to the pliable inner surface;

a dye covering the pliable edge and the solid edge; and

a decoration on the pliable outer surface.

29. The case of claim 28 wherein the adhesive comprises a synthetic rubber contact adhesive.

30. The case of claim 28 wherein the dye comprises a color substantially matching a color of the pliable layer.

31. The case of claim 28 wherein the decoration comprises at least one of stitching, beads, charms, embroidery, buckles, rivets, dyes, and insignias.

32. The case of claim 28 wherein the solid inner surface is smooth and the solid outer surface is rough.

33. The case of claim 28 wherein the solid portion comprises at least one of polypropylene, polypropylene co-polymer, and a co-polymer.

34. The case of claim 28 wherein the solid portion comprises clip-on means for releaseably engaging the portable electronic device.

35. The case of claim 28 wherein the pliable layer comprises at least one of leather, vinyl, fabric, cloth, neoprene, and rubber.

36. The case of claim 28 further comprising a belt clip attached to the solid portion.

37. The case of claim 28 wherein the portable electronic device comprises at least one of a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a digital music player, and a portable communication device.

38. The case of claim 28 wherein the solid portion and pliable layer further comprises one or more apertures.

39. The case of claim 28 wherein the pliable layer comprises a plurality of sub-pliable layers.

40. A method of forming a case for a portable electronic device, comprising:

molding a solid portion, the solid portion comprising a solid inner surface, a solid outer surface, and a solid edge;

grinding the solid outer surface;

cleaning the solid outer surface;

cutting a pliable layer, the pliable layer comprising a pliable inner surface, a pliable outer surface, and a pliable edge;

bonding the solid outer surface to the pliable inner surface, such that, the solid edge and the pliable edge are substantially aligned;

smoothening the solid edge and the pliable edge; and

sealing the smoothened solid edge and the smoothened pliable edge.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the sealing comprises applying a dye over the solid edge and the pliable edge.

42. The method of claim 40 further comprising decorating the pliable outer surface.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the decorating comprises at least one of:

sewing stitches through the pliable outer surface, attaching beads to the pliable outer surface, coloring the pliable outer surface, attaching charms to the pliable outer surface, embroidering the pliable outer surface, attaching rivets to the pliable outer surface, and marking insignias on the pliable outer surface.

44. The method of claim 40 further comprising forming a second case portion by repeating molding, grinding, cleaning, cutting, bonding, smoothening and sealing.

45. The method of claim 40 wherein the bonding comprises at least one of adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, and pressure bonding.