Protective case for electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10827809-B2
Application number	US-201916364469-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2019
Priority date	Apr 5, 2018
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A protective case for an electronic device is provided. The protective case includes a first portion configured to receive a bottom portion of the electronic device and a second portion attached to the first portion and configured to receive a top portion of the electronic device. The second portion includes a primary portion and a secondary portion. The primary portion is movable relative to the secondary portion between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The open configuration includes an opening formed between the primary portion and the secondary portion for receiving the electronic device in the protective case.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a first portion configured to receive a bottom portion of the electronic device;
a second portion attached to the first portion and configured to receive a top portion of the electronic device, the second portion including a primary portion and a secondary portion, the primary portion movable relative to the secondary portion between a closed configuration and an open configuration including an opening formed between the primary portion and the secondary portion for receiving the electronic device in the protective case; and
a case key rotatably attached to one of the first portion and the second portion, the case key movable from a first position in which the case key is at least partially positioned within a recess of the protective case to a second position in which the case key is configured to release the secondary portion from the primary portion, wherein the case key remains directly and rotatably attached to the one of the first portion and the second portion in both the first position and the second position.

2. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the primary portion is configured to cover at least a portion of a back surface of the electronic device and the secondary portion is configured to cover at least a portion of the front surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is received in the protective case.

3. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the primary portion is attached to the secondary portion with a living hinge, the primary portion movable about the living hinge between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

4. The protective case of claim 3 , wherein a ratio of the distance between the living hinge and a closer edge selected from a top edge and a bottom edge of the protective case to an overall height of the protective case is between 20% and 75%.

5. The protective case of claim 1 , the protective case further comprising a transition point positioned between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the primary portion and the secondary portion are each formed from a resilient flexible material, the primary portion and the secondary portion each configured to resiliently flex away from each other about the transition point to form the opening.

6. The protective case of claim 5 , wherein a ratio of the distance between the transition point and a closest edge of the protective case to an overall height of the protective case is between 20% and 75%.

7. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the primary portion includes a first clasping mechanism configured to selectively engage a second clasping mechanism of the secondary portion to secure the protective case in the closed configuration.

8. The protective case of claim 1 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the primary portion and the secondary portion, the gasket forming a waterproof seal when the protective case is in the closed configuration.

9. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the case key includes a wedge at a distal end of the case key, wherein the wedge is configured to be wedged into a slot between the first portion and the second portion to release the first portion from the second portion.

10. A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a first portion configured to cover at least a portion of a rear of the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the protective case;
a second portion configured to cover at least a portion of the front of the electronic device when the electronic device is positioned within the protective case, the second portion including a plurality of clasping mechanisms configured to selectively engage with a corresponding plurality of clasping mechanisms on the first portion;
a recess formed in at least one of the first portion and the second portion; and
a case key rotatably attached to one of the first portion and the second portion, the case key movable from a first position in which the case key is at least partially positioned within the recess to a second position in which the case key is configured to release at least some of the plurality of clasping mechanisms of the second portion from the corresponding clasping mechanisms of the first portion, wherein the case key remains directly and rotatably attached to the one of the first portion and the second portion in both the first position and the second position.

11. The protective case of claim 10 , wherein the case key is configured to rotate and slide relative to the first portion and the second portion between the first position and the second position, and wherein the case key is configured to release at least some of the plurality of clasping mechanisms of the second portion from the corresponding clasping mechanisms of the first portion by inserting a wedge of the case key into a slot formed between the first portion and the second portion.

12. The protective case of claim 10 , wherein a rear surface of the protective case includes a plurality of hooks integrally molded into the rear surface of the protective case, the plurality of hooks configured to releasably attach the protective case to corresponding loops of an accessory module.

13. The protective case of claim 10 , wherein the second portion includes a screen protector configured to at least partially cover a display of the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the protective case, the screen protector including a reduced thickness area having a thickness less than a thickness of a remainder of the screen protector, the reduced thickness area configured to align with a button or a fingerprint sensor of the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the protective case.

Assignees

• Otter Products Llc

Inventors

• Skahan Michael S

Classifications

• A45C11/003

  for storing portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators · CPC title

• A45C11/002

  for storing portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones · CPC title

• A45C11/001

  for storing portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or digital music players · CPC title

• A45F5/1525

  Holders or carriers for portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators · CPC title

• A45F5/1516

  Holders or carriers for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones · CPC title