Case for a mobile electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10893131-B2
Application number	US-201816225700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	Jan 8, 2018
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A protective case for a mobile electronic device includes a case body and a protection element. The case body is sized to receive a mobile electronic device. The protection element can be coupled to the case body and include a chamber filled with air.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A protective case for a mobile electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a case body sized to receive a mobile electronic device, wherein the case body has a front surface arranged to engage the mobile electronic device, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a perimeter edge extending outward from the front surface and away from the rear surface; and
a protection element coupled to the rear surface of the case body and configured to define an exterior contact surface that is disposed at a distance from the rear surface and the perimeter edge for protecting the case body and the mobile electronic device, the protection element comprising:
a first chamber filled with a fluid, the first chamber centrally located on the rear surface of the case body, such that the first chamber covers a portion of the rear surface of the case body.

2. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the protection element is integrally formed with the case body.

3. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the protection element is removably coupled to the case body.

4. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the case body is made from a first material and the protection element is made from a second material.

5. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the protection element is manufactured using blowmolded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

6. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the protection element comprises a plurality of chambers filled with a gas or a liquid.

7. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the protection element covers an entirety of the rear surface of the case body.

8. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the protection element further comprises a second chamber that forms a portion of the perimeter edge of the protective case.

9. The protective case of claim 8 , wherein the protection element forms an entirety of the perimeter edge of the protective case.

10. The protective case of claim 8 , wherein the second chamber is fluidly isolated from the first chamber.

11. The protective case of claim 1 , further comprising an expandable grip accessory coupled to the case body or the protective element.

12. The protective case of claim 11 , wherein the expandable grip accessory is coupled to the protective element.

13. The protective case of claim 11 , wherein the expandable grip accessory comprises:
a base;
a button spaced relative to the base, wherein the button is movable relative to the base.

14. The protective case of claim 13 , wherein the expandable grip accessory further comprises a skin coupled to the base, wherein the button is coupled to the skin opposite the base, and wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

15. A protective case for a mobile electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a case body sized to receive a mobile electronic device, wherein the case body has a front surface arranged to engage the mobile electronic device, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a perimeter edge extending outward from the front surface and away from the rear surface;
a protection element coupled to the rear surface of the case body and configured to define an exterior contact surface that is disposed at a distance from the rear surface and the perimeter edge for protecting the case body and the mobile electronic device, the protection element comprising:
a first chamber filled with a fluid, the first chamber centrally located on the rear surface of the case body, such that the first chamber covers a portion of the rear surface of the case body; and

an expandable grip accessory coupled to an outer surface of the first chamber.

16. The protective case of claim 15 , wherein the expandable grip accessory comprises:
a base;
a button spaced relative to the base, wherein the button is movable relative to the base.

17. The protective case of claim 16 , wherein the expandable grip accessory further comprises a skin coupled to the base, wherein the button is coupled to the skin opposite the base, and wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

18. The protective case of claim 15 , wherein the protection element further comprises a second chamber that forms a portion of a perimeter edge of the protective case.

19. A protective case for a mobile electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a case body sized to receive a mobile electronic device, wherein the case body has a front surface arranged to engage the mobile electronic device, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a perimeter edge extending outward from the front surface and away from the rear surface;
a protection element coupled to the rear surface of the case body and configured to define an exterior contact surface that is disposed at a distance from the rear surface and the perimeter edge for protecting the case body and the mobile electronic device, the protection element comprising a single chamber filled with a fluid, the single chamber centrally located on the rear surface of the case body, such that the single chamber covers a portion of the rear surface of the case body; and
an expandable grip accessory directly coupled to an outer surface of the single chamber, wherein the expandable grip accessory comprises:
a base;
a button spaced relative to the base, wherein the button is movable relative to the base; and
a skin coupled to the base, wherein the button is coupled to the skin opposite the base, and wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

20. The protective case of claim 19 , wherein the base of the expandable grip accessory is directly coupled to the outer surface of the single chamber.

Assignees

• Popsockets Llc

Inventors

• Chiang Randy Yang

Classifications

• H04M1/04 Primary

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• H04B1/3888

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• G06F2200/1633

  Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer · CPC title

• H04M1/185

  Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity · CPC title

• H04M1/0279

  Improving the user comfort or ergonomics · CPC title