Preventing glare to camera from flash in smartphone case

• US 8,509,864 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Incase Designs Corporation (Incipio Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Diebel, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): PHU, SANH D
• Application Number:
  US13/185,200
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.8, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/566, 361/679.32, 361/679.41, 379/330
• US Class Current: 455/575.8
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0503 Built-in units
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A case for portable electronic devices including smartphones includes a feature to prevent glare from a flash from affecting images and video captured by a camera lens. Smartphones have telephony, Internet connectivity, and camera and video features. Photos and video can be uploaded through the Internet or sent to other phones. A case has hole for a camera flash of the smartphone to pass through. The edging of the hole is colored black or another dark color to prevent glare from appearing in the photos or video taken by the smartphone when using the camera flash.

Claims

1. A case for an electronic device comprising:

a first case portion comprising;

a first base surface upon which a back of a housing of the electronic device will be placed against, wherein the base surface comprises a top edge;

a lower sidewall, connected to the first base surface at an end opposite of the top edge, that will be positioned against a bottom side edge of the electronic device;

a second case portion comprising;

an upper sidewall that will be positioned against a top side edge of the electronic device when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion; and

an open side end, opposite the upper sidewall, wherein the second case portion slides onto the first case portion through the open side end,

wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions meet at and form a seam which extends across a back of the case, and

a camera-flash opening, comprising a hole through the back of the case, wherein the camera-flash opening has a length dimension greater than a width dimension, and an edging of the camera-flash opening comprises a first color that is darker than a second color of the back of the case;

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape, and

the back opening has a closed shape through which a camera flash and camera lens of the electronic device will be visible.

2. The case of claim 1 wherein the first color comprises a black pigment.

3. The case of claim 1 wherein the first color comprises a shade of gray sufficient to prevent glare.

4. The case of claim 1 wherein the first color is formed by a first material overmolded on edging of camera-flash opening.

5. The case of claim 1 wherein the first color is formed by a first material inserted into the camera-flash opening.

6. The case of claim 1 wherein the first color is formed by a first material glued to the camera-flash opening.

7. The case of claim 1 wherein the first color comprises a black pigment, and the black pigment is further applied as a border around the camera-flash opening on an inside of the case.

8. The case of claim 1 wherein the edging has a slope of greater than 0.

9. The case of claim 1 wherein the first color is formed by a material formed on the back of the case, forming the edging of the camera-flash opening having a slope greater than 0.

10. The case of claim 1 wherein the second color is white and the first color is black.

25. The case of claim 1 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is perpendicular to a surface of the back of the case.

26. The case of claim 1 wherein the first color comprises a black paint.

27. The case of claim 1 wherein the first color comprises a black ink.

28. The case of claim 1 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is rounded.

29. The case of claim 1 wherein the camera-flash opening comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being closer to the back of the case than to an interior side of the case, the second portion being closer to the interior side than to the back of the case, and a width of the first portion of the camera-flash opening is greater than for the second portion.

30. The case of claim 1 wherein the camera-flash opening comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being closer to the back of the case than to an interior side of the case, the second portion being closer to the interior side than to the back of the case, and a width of the first portion of the camera-flash opening is less than for the second portion.

31. The case of claim 1 wherein the camera-flash opening comprises a ring with the edging of the first color.

32. The case of claim 31 wherein the ring comprises an outer perimeter having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being closer to the back of the case than to an interior side of the case, the second portion being closer to the interior side than to the back of the case, and a width of the first portion of the outer perimeter is less than for the second portion.

33. The case of claim 31 wherein the ring comprises an outer perimeter having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being closer to the back of the case than to an interior side of the case, the second portion being closer to the interior side than to the back of the case, and a width of the first portion of the outer perimeter is greater than for the second portion.

11. A case for an electronic device comprising:

a first base surface upon which a back of a housing of the electronic device will be placed against; and

a camera-flash opening, comprising a hole through a back of the case comprising a back case color, wherein the camera-flash opening has a length dimension greater than a width dimension, a first material comprising a flash opening color is overmolded on an edging of the camera-flash opening, and the flash opening color is darker than the back case color, and

the camera-flash opening has a closed shape through which a camera flash and camera lens of the electronic device will be visible.

12. The case of claim 11 comprising:

a battery, enclosed between the first base surface and the back of the case.

13. The case of claim 11 wherein a slope of the edging of the camera-flash opening is greater than 0.

34. The case of claim 11 comprising:

a first case portion comprising the camera-flash opening; and

a second case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

35. The case of claim 11 back of the case comprises a plurality of different colors, and the flash opening color is darker than the plurality of different colors.

36. The case of claim 11 wherein the flash opening color comprises a black pigment.

37. The case of claim 11 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a uniform thickness from the second edging to the first edging.

38. The case of claim 11 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

39. The case of claim 38 wherein the first portion is closer to an interior side of the case than to the back of the case.

40. The case of claim 11 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging, and the second edging is perpendicular to a surface of the back of the case.

41. The case of claim 11 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the back of the case than to an interior side of the case.

42. The case of claim 11 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to an interior side of the case than to the back of the case.

14. A method of making a case for an electronic device comprising:

forming a back of the electronic device case having an inside surface and outside surface, wherein the electronic device case is adapted to hold an electronic device comprising a camera flash on its back surface, and a touch screen;

forming a camera-flash opening in the back of the case, wherein the camera-flash opening extends from the inside surface to the outside surface, and the camera-flash opening of the case is positioned so a flash emitted by the camera flash of the electronic device passes through the camera-flash opening; and

forming a dark coloring on an edging of the camera-flash opening of the case by overmolding a first material comprising the dark coloring on the edging of the camera-flash opening.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the dark coloring of the first material comprises a black pigment.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the back of the electronic device case comprises a first color, and the dark coloring comprises a second color that is darker than the first color.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the back of the electronic device case comprises a first finish having a first reflectivity, the dark coloring comprises a second finish having a second reflectivity, and the second reflectivity is less than the first reflectivity.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the dark coloring is black.

43. The method of claim 14 wherein the electronic device comprises a microphone on its side surface, wherein this side surface is coupled between the inside and outside surfaces.

44. The case of claim 14 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a uniform thickness from the second edging to the first edging.

45. The case of claim 14 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

46. The case of claim 45 wherein the first portion is closer to the inside surface than to the outside surface of the case.

47. The case of claim 14 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging, and the second edging is perpendicular to a surface of the back of the case.

48. The case of claim 14 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the outside surface than to the inside surface of the case.

49. The case of claim 14 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material overmolded on the first edging comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the inside surface than to the outside surface of the case.

19. A case for an electronic device comprising:

a first base surface upon which a back of a housing of the electronic device will be placed against; and

a camera-flash opening, comprising a hole through a back of the case comprising a back case color, wherein the camera-flash opening has a length dimension greater than a width dimension, a first material comprising a flash opening color is inserted into the camera-flash opening, and

the flash opening color is darker than the back case color, and

the camera-flash opening has a closed shape through which a camera flash and camera lens of the electronic device will be visible.

50. The case of claim 19 comprising:

a battery, enclosed between the first base surface and the back of the case.

51. The case of claim 19 wherein a slope of the edging of the camera-flash opening is greater than 0.

52. The case of claim 19 comprising:

a first case portion comprising the camera-flash opening; and

a second case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

53. The case of claim 19 back of the case comprises a plurality of different colors, and the flash opening color is darker than the plurality of different colors.

54. The case of claim 19 wherein the flash opening color comprises a black pigment.

55. The case of claim 19 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a uniform thickness from the second edging to the first edging.

56. The case of claim 19 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

57. The case of claim 56 wherein the first portion is closer to an interior side of the case than to the back of the case.

58. The case of claim 19 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, and the second edging is perpendicular to a surface of the back of the case.

59. The case of claim 19 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the back of the case than to an interior side of the case.

60. The case of claim 19 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to an interior side of the case than to the back of the case.

20. A case for an electronic device comprising:

a first base surface upon which a back of a housing of the electronic device will be placed against; and

a camera-flash opening, comprising a hole through a back of the case comprising a back case color, wherein the camera-flash opening has a length dimension greater than a width dimension, a first material comprising a flash opening color is snapped into the camera-flash opening, and the flash opening color is darker than the back case color, and

the camera-flash opening has a closed shape through which a camera flash and camera lens of the electronic device will be visible.

61. The case of claim 20 comprising:

a battery, enclosed between the first base surface and the back of the case.

62. The case of claim 20 wherein a slope of the edging of the camera-flash opening is greater than 0.

63. The case of claim 20 comprising:

a first case portion comprising the camera-flash opening; and

a second case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

64. The case of claim 20 back of the case comprises a plurality of different colors, and the flash opening color is darker than the plurality of different colors.

65. The case of claim 20 wherein the flash opening color comprises a black pigment.

66. The case of claim 20 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a uniform thickness from the second edging to the first edging.

67. The case of claim 20 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

68. The case of claim 67 wherein the first portion is closer to an interior side of the case than to the back of the case.

69. The case of claim 20 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, and the second edging is perpendicular to a surface of the back of the case.

70. The case of claim 20 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the back of the case than to an interior side of the case.

71. The case of claim 20 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to an interior side of the case than to the back of the case.

21. A case for an electronic device comprising:

a first base surface upon which a back of a housing of the electronic device will be placed against; and

a camera-flash opening, comprising a hole through a back of the case comprising a back case color, wherein the camera-flash opening has a length dimension greater than a width dimension, a first material comprising a flash opening color is glued to the camera-flash opening, the flash opening color is darker than the back case color, and

the camera-flash opening has a closed shape through which a camera flash and camera lens of the electronic device will be visible.

72. The case of claim 21 comprising:

a battery, enclosed between the first base surface and the back of the case.

73. The case of claim 21 wherein a slope of the edging of the camera-flash opening is greater than 0.

74. The case of claim 21 comprising:

a first case portion comprising the camera-flash opening; and

a second case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

75. The case of claim 21 back of the case comprises a plurality of different colors, and the flash opening color is darker than the plurality of different colors.

76. The case of claim 21 wherein the flash opening color comprises a black pigment.

77. The case of claim 21 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued on the first edging comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a uniform thickness from the second edging to the first edging.

78. The case of claim 21 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued to the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

79. The case of claim 78 wherein the first portion is closer to an interior side of the case than to the back of the case.

80. The case of claim 21 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued to the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, and the second edging is perpendicular to a surface of the back of the case.

81. The case of claim 21 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued to the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the back of the case than to an interior side of the case.

82. The case of claim 21 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued to the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to an interior side of the case than to the back of the case.

22. A method of making a case for an electronic device comprising:

forming a back of the electronic device case having an inside surface and outside surface, wherein the electronic device case is adapted to hold an electronic device comprising a camera flash on its back surface, and a touch screen;

forming a camera-flash opening in the back of the case, wherein the camera-flash opening extends from the inside surface to the outside surface, and the camera-flash opening of the case is positioned so a flash emitted by the camera flash of the electronic device passes through the camera-flash opening; and

forming a dark coloring on an edging of the camera-flash opening of the case by inserting a first material into the camera-flash opening.

83. The method of claim 22 wherein the dark coloring of the first material comprises a black pigment.

84. The method of claim 22 wherein the back of the electronic device case comprises a first color, and the dark coloring comprises a second color that is darker than the first color.

85. The method of claim 22 wherein the back of the electronic device case comprises a first finish having a first reflectivity, the dark coloring comprises a second finish having a second reflectivity, and the second reflectivity is less than the first reflectivity.

86. The method of claim 22 wherein the dark coloring is black.

87. The case of claim 22 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the first edging comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a uniform thickness from the second edging to the first edging.

88. The case of claim 22 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

89. The case of claim 88 wherein the first portion is closer to the inside surface than to the outside surface of the case.

90. The case of claim 22 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, and the second edging is perpendicular to a surface of the back of the case.

91. The case of claim 22 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the outside surface than to an inside surface of the case.

92. The case of claim 22 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material inserted into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the inside surface than to the outside surface of the case.

23. A method of making a case for a electronic device comprising:

forming a back of the electronic device case having an inside surface and outside surface, wherein the electronic device case is adapted to hold an electronic device comprising a camera flash on its back surface, and a touch screen;

forming a camera-flash opening in the back of the case, wherein the camera-flash opening extends from the inside surface to the outside surface, and the camera-flash opening of the case is positioned so a flash emitted by the camera flash of the electronic device passes through the camera-flash opening; and

forming a dark coloring on an edging of the camera-flash opening of the case by snapping a first material into the camera-flash opening.

93. The method of claim 23 wherein the dark coloring of the first material comprises a black pigment.

94. The method of claim 23 wherein the back of the electronic device case comprises a first color, and the dark coloring comprises a second color that is darker than the first color.

95. The method of claim 23 wherein the back of the electronic device case comprises a first finish having a first reflectivity, the dark coloring comprises a second finish having a second reflectivity, and the second reflectivity is less than the first reflectivity.

96. The method of claim 23 wherein the dark coloring is black.

97. The case of claim 23 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a uniform thickness from the second edging to the first edging.

98. The case of claim 23 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

99. The case of claim 98 wherein the first portion is closer to the inside surface than to the outside surface of the case.

100. The case of claim 23 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, and the second edging is perpendicular to a surface of the back of the case.

101. The case of claim 23 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped into the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the outside surface than to the inside surface of the case.

102. The case of claim 23 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material snapped on the first edging comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the inside surface than to the outside surface of the case.

24. A method of making a case for a electronic device comprising:

forming a back of the electronic device case having an inside surface and outside surface, wherein the electronic device case is adapted to hold an electronic device comprising a camera flash on its back surface, and a touch screen;

forming a camera-flash opening in the back of the case, wherein the camera-flash opening extends from the inside surface to the outside surface, and the camera-flash opening of the case is positioned so a flash emitted by the camera flash of the electronic device passes through the camera-flash opening; and

forming a dark coloring on an edging of the camera-flash opening of the case by gluing a first material to the camera-flash opening.

103. The method of claim 24 wherein the dark coloring of the first material comprises a black pigment.

104. The method of claim 24 wherein the back of the electronic device case comprises a first color, and the dark coloring comprises a second color that is darker than the first color.

105. The method of claim 24 wherein the back of the electronic device case comprises a first finish having a first reflectivity, the dark coloring comprises a second finish having a second reflectivity, and the second reflectivity is less than the first reflectivity.

106. The method of claim 24 wherein the dark coloring is black.

107. The case of claim 24 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued to the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a uniform thickness from the second edging to the first edging.

108. The case of claim 24 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued to the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, a cross section of the first material comprises a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

109. The case of claim 108 wherein the first portion is closer to the inside surface than to the outside surface of the case.

110. The case of claim 24 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued to the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging, and the second edging is perpendicular to a surface of the back of the case.

111. The case of claim 24 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued to the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the outside surface than to the inside surface of the case.

112. The case of claim 24 wherein the edging of the camera-flash opening is a first edging, the first material glued to the camera-flash opening comprises a second edging,

a first portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a first opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

a second portion of the camera-flash opening comprises a second opening distance from the second edging of the first material on one side of the camera-flash opening to an opposite side of the camera-flash opening,

the first distance is greater than the second distance, and

the first portion is closer to the inside surface than to the outside surface of the case.