PROTECTIVE CASE FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20150097009A1
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thule Organization Solutions Incorporated (Thule Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Thule Organization Solutions Incorporated (Thule Group AB)
• Inventors: Burgess, Andrew A., O'Rourke, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 9,578,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/191
• 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 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: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers

Abstract

A protective case for receiving and retaining a portable electronic device is provided. The case comprises dampening features disposed in at least two corners of the case to protect the electronic device from inadvertent impact and the resultant forces. Various embodiments of the case comprise multi-materials designs and features that allow utilize of various controls and features of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A case for a portable electronic device comprising:

a back panel having an inner surface;

at least one sidewall having an inner surface, said at least one sidewall extending from said back panel, wherein said inner surface of said at least one sidewall and said inner surface of said back panel at least partially define a storage volume for receiving a portable electronic device; and

at least one dampening member interconnected to said at least one sidewall, said dampening member comprising an elastic member capable of elastic deformation.

2. The case of claim 1, further comprising a lip disposed on a distal end of said at least one sidewall and extending inwardly to at least partially define said storage volume.

3. The case of claim 1, wherein said case comprises four sidewalls and wherein said at least one dampening member is provided at an intersection of two of said four sidewalls.

4. The case of claim 1, wherein four dampening members are provided, each of said dampening members disposed proximate to the intersection of each of said four sidewalls.

5. The case of claim 1, wherein said dampening member comprises a cylindrical member having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis provided substantially parallel to a plane of a planar screen of an electronic device when the electronic device is provided within the case.

6. The case of claim 5, wherein said dampening member comprises at least one support member extending radially from said cylindrical member.

7. The case of claim 3, wherein the inner surfaces of said sidewalls and said at least one dampening member forms a perimeter, and wherein said perimeter is less than a perimeter of an electronic device to be received within the case.

8. A case for a portable electronic device comprising:

a back panel having an inner surface;

a plurality of sidewalls extending from said flexible back panel, wherein said sidewalls and said flexible back panel at least partially define a storage volume for receiving a portable electronic device;

an intersection of at least two of said plurality of sidewalls comprising a dampening member, the dampening member comprising an elastically deformable material;

a lip disposed on a distal end of at least one of said sidewalls, wherein said lip is configured to retain said portable electronic device within said storage volume;

wherein at least a portion of said back panel and at least a portion of said sidewalls comprise a first material and said dampening member comprises a second material, said first material comprising at least one of a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the second material.

9. The case of claim 8, wherein four dampening members are provided, each of said dampening members disposed proximate to the intersection of each of said four sidewalls.

10. The case of claim 8, wherein said dampening member comprises a cylindrical member having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis provided substantially parallel to a plane of a planar screen of an electronic device when the electronic device is provided within the case.

11. The case of claim 10, wherein said dampening member comprises at least one support member extending radially from said cylindrical member.

12. The case of claim 8, wherein the inner surfaces of said sidewalls and said dampening member form a perimeter, and wherein said perimeter is less than a perimeter of an electronic device to be received within the case.

13. A case for a portable electronic device comprising:

a back panel, at least a portion of said back panel comprising a first material, at least a portion of said back panel comprising a second material, wherein said first material is more rigid than said second material;

a plurality of sidewalls extending from said back panel, each of said plurality of sidewalls extending from said back panel, wherein inner surfaces of said back panel and said plurality of sidewalls at least partially define a storage volume for receiving a portable electronic device;

a lip disposed on a distal end of said plurality of sidewalls, wherein said lip is configured to retain said portable electronic device within said storage volume

at least one dampening member comprising an elastomeric material, each of said at least one dampening members comprise a cylinder with a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to said back panel, and a plurality of supports extending radially from said cylinder;

wherein said case comprises four sidewalls extending from said back panel and wherein a dampening member is provided at the intersection of each of said four sidewalls, said dampening members adapted to contact corners of a substantially rectangular electronic device and partially deflect to create an interference fit between said case and said electronic device.

14. The case of claim 13, wherein said dampening member comprises a lower hardness than at least one of said back panel and said plurality of sidewalls.

15. A case for a portable electronic device comprising:

a back panel having an inner surface;

a plurality of sidewalls extending from said flexible back panel, wherein said sidewalls and said flexible back panel at least partially define a storage volume for receiving a portable electronic device;

an intersection of at least two of said plurality of sidewalls comprising a dampening member, the dampening member comprising an elastically deformable material;

a lip disposed on a distal end of at least one of said sidewalls, wherein said lip is configured to retain said portable electronic device within said storage volume, said lip defining an opening area;

a membrane having an area less than said opening area, wherein said membrane is disposed between said lip and said portable electronic device;

wherein at least a portion of said back panel and at least a portion of said sidewalls comprise a first material and said dampening member comprises a second material, said first material comprising at least one of a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the second material.