Electronic device case and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9489020-B2
Application number	US-201414474586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2014
Priority date	May 6, 2010
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved protective cases for hand-held electronic devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to cases that protect and modify the functionality of an electronic device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device case comprising:
a lower portion having a front edge, a rear edge, and two substantially parallel side edges and including an inner surface located between the edges, the inner surface having-a keyboard insert;
an upper portion connected to the lower portion; the upper portion including:
i. a frame portion having one or more edges;
ii. a compartment defined within the frame portion and dimensioned to receive and be in contact with a back surface and perimeter surfaces of a hand-held electronic device;
iii. a surface configured to receive an edge of the hand-held electronic device, the surface located substantially parallel to at least one edge of the one or more edges of the frame portion;
iv. one or more lips extending over and dimensioned to prevent dislodgment of the hand-held electronic device, the one or more lips connected to at least one edge of the one or more edges of the frame portion;
v. one or more openings in the frame portion configured to provide access to one or more exterior buttons, an audio socket, a charging port, or a combination thereof, of the hand-held electronic device; and
vi. a Bluetooth system adapted to allow the keyboard insert to communicate with the hand-held electronic device; and

a hinge portion including four pin structures so that two upper structures are attached to the upper portion of the case and two lower pin structures are attached to the lower portion of the case.

2. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the pin structures include a means for attaching the hinge portion to the lower portion or the upper portion of the electronic device case.

3. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pin structures rotate within the hinge portion when the upper portion of the case is moved.

4. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the pin structures each include a substantially planar end including one or more apertures that receive an attachment means for attaching the pin structures to the lower portion and upper portion of the case.

5. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the lower portion further comprises a planar portion.

6. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hinge portion provides support and elevates the rear edge of the lower portion when the electronic device case is in a partially extended position.

7. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the hinge portion is generally flush with the upper portion and the lower portion when the electronic device case is in a closed position.

8. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the hinge portion is generally flush with the upper portion and the lower portion when the electronic device case is in a fully extended position.

9. The electronic device case of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the keyboard insert is flush with the planar portion.

10. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes one or more elastomeric pads to prevent the electronic device case from slipping from a surface during use.

11. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device case includes a latch for securing the upper portion to the lower portion.

12. The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device case includes a power switch to enable and disable the Bluetooth system of the electronic device case.

13. The electronic device case of claim 2 , wherein the hinge portion allows for about 360° movement of the upper portion about the hinge portion.

14. The electronic device case of claim 1 , including a hinge portion having an exterior with a tactile or textured coating.

15. An electronic device case comprising:
a lower portion having a front edge, a rear edge, and two substantially parallel side edges
a lower outer shell portion and an inner surface located between the edges, the inner surface having:
i. a planar portion; and
ii. a keyboard;

an upper portion connected to the lower portion, the upper portion including:
i. a frame portion having one or more edges;
ii. a recessed area for receiving a hand-held electronic device located within the confines of the frame portion;
iii. a pocket for receiving an edge of the hand-held electronic device, the pocket located substantially parallel to at least one edge of the one or more edges of the frame portion;
iv. one or more lips to prevent dislodgment of the hand-held electronic device, the one or more lips connected to at least one edge of the one or more edges of the frame portion;

wherein the lower portion, upper portion, or both, includes one or more elastomeric pads to prevent the electronic device case from slipping from a surface during use;
a hinge portion including a substantially planar front face, a substantially planar rear face opposing the front face and parallel to the front face, and one or more pin structures,
wherein the hinge portion allows for about 325° to about 360° movement of the upper portion about the hinge portion when the case is in a fully extended position,
wherein the hinge portion is generally flush with the upper portion and the lower portion when the electronic device case is in a closed position, and
wherein the hinge portion is generally flush with the upper portion and the lower portion when the electronic device case is in the fully extended position.

16. The electronic device case of claim 15 , wherein the one or more pin structures each include a substantially planar end including one or more apertures that receive an attachment means for attaching the one or more pin structures to the lower portion and upper portion of the case; and wherein the hinge portion includes four pin structures so that two upper pin structures are attached to the upper portion of the case and two lower pin structures are attached to the lower portion of the case.

17. The electronic device case of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the hinge portion provides support and elevates the rear edge of the lower portion when the electronic device case is in a partially extended position.

18. The electronic device case of claim 15 , wherein the lower outer shell portion has a contoured shape.

19. A case for a hand-held electronic device comprising:
a first portion defining a first compartment to house a keyboard insert;
a second portion connected to the first portion; the second portion including:
i. a frame portion having one or more edges;
ii. a second compartment defined within the frame portion and dimensioned to receive and be in contact with a back surface and perimeter surfaces of the hand-held electronic device;
iii. one or more lips extending over and dimensioned to prevent dislodgment of the hand-held electronic device, the one or more lips connected to at least one edge of the one or more edges of the frame portion;
iv. a Bluetooth system adapted to allow the keyboard insert to communicate with the hand-held electronic device; and

a hinge portion having a substantially planar body, the hinge portion including four pin structures so that two second pin structures are attached to the second portion of the case and two first pin structures are attached to the first portion of the case.

20. The electronic device case of claim 19 , wherein the second compartment removably couples to the hand-held electronic device.

Assignees

• Incipio Llc

Inventors

• Ahee Anthony
• Schoenith John M

Classifications

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title