U.S. patent application number 17/316711 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-26 for protective case for mobile devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to Incipio, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Incipio, LLC. Invention is credited to Andy Fathollahi, Timothy Hemesath, Peter Tu.
Application Number | 20210266029 17/316711 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005572246 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210266029 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fathollahi; Andy ; et
al. |
August 26, 2021 |
PROTECTIVE CASE FOR MOBILE DEVICES
Abstract
A protective case for a portable mobile device is disclosed. The
protective case comprises a shell that defines a compartment for
receiving and retaining a mobile device, a cover panel, and a
connector component. The shell has a main panel that includes an
aperture and a subpanel that is hinged at a first side within the
aperture and reversibly attached to the aperture via mechanical
protrusions or detents at a second side so that it can rotatably
attach and detach, or snap, into and out of the main panel. The
hinge may be formed by one or more flexible layers overlaid on the
shell or via mechanical swivel joint such as a pin and socket
connection. A connector portion connects the cover panel to the
shell and forms a flexible spine between the cover panel and the
shell. The connector portion is comprised of opposing inner and
outer layers that are overlaid over the internal and external
facing surfaces of the shell and cover panel. The main panel of the
shell is configured to receive and retain the mobile device within
its compartment and may be snap-fitted over the mobile device. In
operation, the case can be opened and the subpanel detached from
the main panel to allow the main panel to rotate relative to the
subpanel and rest on the inner surface of the cover component to
provide varied viewing/operating positions to the user.
Inventors: |
Fathollahi; Andy; (Corona
Del Mar, CA) ; Tu; Peter; (Long Beach, CA) ;
Hemesath; Timothy; (Clovis, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Incipio, LLC |
Irvine |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Incipio, LLC
Irvine
CA
|
Family ID: |
1000005572246 |
Appl. No.: |
17/316711 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
17103932 |
Nov 24, 2020 |
|
|
|
17316711 |
|
|
|
|
16362233 |
Mar 22, 2019 |
10848195 |
|
|
17103932 |
|
|
|
|
15200372 |
Jul 1, 2016 |
10243608 |
|
|
16362233 |
|
|
|
|
62188438 |
Jul 2, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 1/3888
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 1/3888 20060101
H04B001/3888 |
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing a protective case for a mobile device,
comprising: providing a molded polymer shell contoured to the
external configuration of the mobile device and configured to
receive and retain the mobile device within a compartment defined
by the shell, said shell having a main panel and a subpanel that is
hinged at a first location within an aperture of said main panel;
providing a cover component; connecting the cover component to the
subpanel of the shell via a spine; and providing a mechanical
connection between the subpanel and the aperture in a second
location, wherein the mechanical connection is configured to allow
the subpanel to snap into and out of the main panel at the second
location so that when the subpanel is snapped into the main panel,
the position of the subpanel is fixed relative to the main panel
and when the subpanel is snapped out of the main panel, the
subpanel may rotate about a hinge at the first location.
2. The method of manufacturing of claim 1, wherein the shell is
formed of a different material than the cover component.
3. The method of manufacturing of claim 1, wherein the cover
opponent is attached to recessed regions provided in the shell.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 17/103,932, filed on Nov. 24, 2020, which is a
divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/362,233, filed on
Mar. 22, 2019 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,848,195 on Nov. 24,
2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/200,372, filed on Jul. 1, 2016 and issued as U.S. Pat. No.
10,243,608 on Mar. 26, 2019, which claims the benefit of and
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
62/188,438, filed on Jul. 2, 2015, the entireties of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present disclosure relates to user removable protective
cases for mobile devices, and particularly lightweight folio-type
cases.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] Mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and
the like are known to sustain damage from impact and from
contamination as a result of the ingress of water or other fluids.
Such damage may result, for example, in a cracked screen, scratches
on a finished surface, lost or damaged buttons or controls, cracked
or bent external body components, and/or foiled or malfunctioning
electrical components. Protective cases can protect mobile devices
from such damage and other types of damage.
[0004] There remains a continuing need for improved protective
cases for mobile devices.
SUMMARY
[0005] Disclosed are numerous aspects of unique and inventive
protective cases configured to receive, retain and protect a mobile
device. Such mobile devices typically include a front face and a
back face the difference between which defines the height or
thickness of the mobile device, a perimeter defined by top-end,
bottom-end, right, and left sides residing between the front and
back faces, and corners defined at the intersecting regions of the
sides. The cases may be for a mobile device that is in the form of
a tablet, a mobile phone, an MP3 audio player, a gaming device, or
other portable handheld electronic device and may have one or more
touchscreens, including on its front face and/or back face.
[0006] Such protective cases are, in a first aspect, generally
comprised of three primary components: as molded shell, a cover,
and a connector component. The shell component is configured to
include a compartment dimensioned to reversibly receive and retain
the mobile device. The compartment may include one or more openings
so that the user may access various user interfaces of the mobile
device (e.g., touch screen(s), home button, power and volume
buttons, speaker and charging connections, etc.) while the mobile
device is retained within the compartment.
[0007] The shell may be comprised of a main panel and a detachable
subpanel, each of which has corresponding inner and outer faces.
The main panel defines the compartment and includes an aperture
that is dimensioned to receive the subpanel. The subpanel is hinged
along a first side or location within the aperture formed in the
main panel and anchored on a second side to the cover via the
spine. One or more attachment protrusions are provided and
configured to mechanically engage, latch or clip the subpanel into
the aperture of the main panel at or near the second side or
location to thereby secure the subpanel to the main panel of the
shell.
[0008] When the subpanel is attached or otherwise secured at the
second location, the subpanel and main panel maintain a fixed
relative position and orientation to one another. The subpanel is
dimensioned such that when it is positioned within the aperture of
the main panel, there is a slot or gap between opposing edges of
the subpanel and the adjacent edge of the aperture. The aperture
also includes indentation or a lip at one or more regions along its
defining wall borders that is dimensioned to engage with the
corresponding edge or lip regions of the subpanel so as to serve to
stop the subpanel from swinging into the mobile device compartment
formed by the shell and its main panel.
[0009] The cover generally is comprised of a cover panel configured
or dimensioned to include a perimeter that is coextensive in
dimension with the front face of the mobile device so that it may
cover the entirety of the touch screen of the mobile device. The
connector component connects the cover panel to the shell via the
subpanel. The connector component can be comprised of two opposing
flexible inner and outer layers (e.g., synthetic and/or organic
fabrics or textiles) that are overlaid on respective opposing inner
and outer sides of the cover panel and shell, including the
subpanel. The overlaid layers may form the hinge that connects the
subpanel to the main panel of the shell portion and attaches the
shell component to the cover component. The connector component
further includes a flexible spine portion that is adapted to allow
relative movement between the shell and cover components and to
allow the cover to open and close over the shell when the case is
opened and closed.
[0010] The shell may be made of any suitable material that is
capable of retaining the mobile device within the shell
compartment, for example via a snap fit over the device. In one
aspect the shell may be manufactured of a flexible polymer such as
polycarbonate and/or fiber (e.g., carbon or Kevlar) reinforced
plastic. The shell may be more rigid, less rigid, or have generally
the same rigidity as the front cover or panel, which may be formed
of the same material as the shell or some other polymer or
cardboard or other material capable of having the planar stability
or rigidity suitable for maintaining sufficient perimeter area to
cover the screen surface area of the mobile device contained within
the shell. The main panel of the shell may be formed of the same or
different material than the subpanel of the shell.
[0011] In one aspect, the spine portion of the connector component
may be a region where the two flexible layers are directly adhered
to one another or otherwise attached or where there is an
interposed component that allows for flexibility in that region
akin to that of a book spine. Alternatively the spine portion may
be formed of a different material from that used in other regions
of the flexible layers all together or may be comprised of a more
conventional mechanical hinge that is attached or incorporated into
the connector component, like those used in a conventional door
mount, but with one side connected to the subpanel of the shell
portion and the other side connected to the cover panel, for
example via overlaying the inner and/outer flexible layers.
[0012] The inner and outer layers are generally configured to
overlay the mid-regions of opposing sides of the main and subpanel
panel and the cover panel and form a flexible spine between the
cover and shell as well as to form the hinge between the sub-panel
and main panel. Recessed attachment regions may be provided in the
shell component panels so that the outer surfaces of the attached
layers reside at or below the height of the adjacent regions of the
shell panels. Such a configuration can mitigate the layers catching
an edge during use or peeling-off as they would be effectively
embedded within the panels at or below the surrounding
surfaces.
[0013] The inner and outer layers may be made of a flexible natural
or synthetic material (e.g., a synthetic leather) or fabric. The
inner layer, which is configured to be in direct contact with the
mobile device may be formed of a soft lining, felt or micro-fiber
material that is not abrasive to avoid imparting blemishes or
scratches to the mobile device. The outer layer may be formed of a
more durable textured material, such as textured leather
polyurethane.
[0014] The inner layer may be configured to cover some, all, or
most of the mobile device compartment defined by the shell portion
including the inner faces of the main and subpanels of the shell.
The inner layer may also cover the inner face of the cover panel,
which is configured to be in contact with the front face of the
mobile device when the case is in the closed position.
[0015] In operation, when the case is open, the subpanel, which is
anchored to the spine and the cover, may be detached by the user
from the main panel. Detaching the subpanel from the main panel
allows the main panel to pivotally rotate relative to the subpanel
at the hinge so that the case can be folded over itself to form
different viewing or operating positions. For example, once the
subpanel is detached or disengaged from main panel, the main panel
can rotate at the hinge (between the subpanel and main panel) away
from the spine over the inner face of the cover. Once rotated over
the inner face of the cover, the proximate edge (e.g., left edge)
of the main panel of the shell can be position to sit atop the
inner face of the cover panel to provide the desired an angled
viewing position.
[0016] Rather than adding weight to the case to bias the retention
of the selected viewing position, retention of the case in the
desired viewing position, is facilitated by the force resulting
from the weight of the mobile device contained within the case.
Thus, the case may be manufactured or configured with light-weight
materials and so that it would not hold an angled viewing position
by itself without the mobile device contained therein. Rather, in
one aspect, the case is preferably configured to be bias to a
closed position where the subpanel and main panel are generally
parallel to one another and not rotated relative to one another.
This may be achieved by securing the layers over the main and
subpanel of the shell while the subpanel is closed and thus the
overlaid layers would naturally be in tension when the when the
subpanel is opened and therefor bias the subpanel into the closed
position. The inner face of the cover may include one or more slots
or openings in the inner layer so as to create a wallet for credit
cards and the like.
[0017] A corresponding method of manufacture is also disclosed. A
shell component (including a main panel and subpanel) and a cover
component as each is described above is molded or formed and then
overlaid on their inner and outer faces with the flexible inner and
outer layers. A hinge, which connects the subpanel to an aperture
in the main panel of the shell, is provided between the subpanel
and the main panel along a first side or location. The hinge may be
formed by the overlaid inner and/or outer layers. The inner and/or
outer layers may be overlaid when the subpanel and the main panel
are in the closed position to bias those panels into the closed
position. Slots are formed in the inner layer over the cover panel
to form a wallet or credit card holder. Regions of the inner layer
adjacent to the slot are configured to be free to separate from the
underlying layer to allow the credit card or similar item to slide
through the slot and at least partially into the gap or space
between the two layers and/or the cover panel.
[0018] Each of the foregoing and various features, constructions,
configurations, and aspects, together with those set forth in the
claims and summarized above or otherwise disclosed herein,
including the drawings, may alone or in any combination form claims
for a case device, apparatus, system, method of manufacture, and/or
use without limitation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a line drawing of a perspective view of a
protective case in a completely closed position with the cover side
up.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a line drawing of a perspective view of the
protective case of FIG. 1 in a completely closed position with the
cover side down and the shell-side up.
[0021] FIG. 3A is an external perspective view of the protective
case of FIG. 1 showing the external faces of the case, the cover is
swung open at the spine that resides between the cover and the
shell with the subpanel of the shell remaining attached to the main
panel of the shell.
[0022] FIG. 3B is an internal perspective view of the protective
case of FIG. 1 showing the internal faces of the case and a first
viewing/operating position or configuration, the cover is swung
open at the spine that resides between the cover and the shell with
the subpanel of the shell remaining attached to the main panel of
the shell.
[0023] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate internal and external views
respectively of the shell component of the protective case of FIG.
1 alone without the cover panel or the overlaid layers. The
subpanel is attached to the main panel of the shell in the closed
position.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the protective case of FIG.
1 with the shell folded outwardly at the spine and the main panel
of the shell detached from the subpanel and rotated away from the
subpanel along the hinge residing between the subpanel and main
panel so as to form a second viewing/operating position or
configuration.
[0025] FIGS. 6A-6B are perspective views of the protective case of
FIG. 1 with the shell folded at the spine over the cover and the
main panel of the shell detached from the subpanel of the shell and
rotated along the hinge there-between. The left edge of the main
panel of the shell resting on the inner face of the cover so as to
form a third viewing/operating position(s) or configuration(s).
[0026] FIGS. 6C-6F are line drawings of various perspective views
of the protective case of FIG. 1 in the general configuration
illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
protective case in a completely closed position such that the cover
is folded over the shell component. In this second embodiment, the
inner and outer layers do not cover as much of the faces of the
shell component as the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
1-6F.
[0028] FIG. 8 is an opposite perspective view of the protective
case of FIG. 7 in the completely closed position such that the
shell is folded over the cover component.
[0029] FIG. 9 is an internal perspective view of the protective
case of FIG. 7 showing the internal faces of the case and a first
viewing/operating position or configuration with the cover swung
open at the spine with the subpanel of the shell remaining attached
to the main panel of the shell.
[0030] FIG. 10 is a perspective views of the protective case of
FIG. 7 with the shell folded at the spine over the cover and the
main panel of the shell detached from the subpanel of the shell and
rotated along the hinge there-between and the edge of the main
panel of the shell resting on the inner face of the cover so as to
form a third viewing/operating position(s) or configuration(s) like
that depicted in FIGS. 6A-6F.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Various features, aspects, and advantages of the protective
cases disclosed are described below with reference to the drawings,
which are intended to illustrate but not to limit the invention. In
the drawings, like reference characters denote corresponding
features consistently throughout similar embodiments.
[0032] As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the protective
case 100 is generally configured to receive and protect a mobile
device. The case 100 generally includes a shell component 200
comprised of multiple interlocking panels and a cover component 300
comprised of a cover panel 305 that is attached to the shell via a
spine 450. The two components are in the illustrated embodiments
attached to one another via a connector component 400, which is
comprised of inner and outer layers 410, 430 that overlay the shell
and cover panels.
[0033] The protective case 100 may be for a mobile device that is
in the form of a tablet, a smart or mobile phone, an MP3 audio
player, a gaming device, or other portable handheld electronic
device. Such mobile devices typically include a front face and a
back face the difference between which defines the height or
thickness of the mobile device, a perimeter defined by top-end,
bottom-end, right, and left sides residing between the front and
back faces, and corners defined at the intersecting regions of the
sides. The entirety, most or a portion of the front face of the
mobile device may be comprised of a touch screen. Screens may be
provided on other sides as well including the back face. The device
may have one or more buttons, controls and/or ports included along
its perimeter walls and a camera lens or window and speaker or
microphone port on its back lace.
[0034] The shell component 200 is generally defined by a top 232,
bottom 234, left 236 and right 238 sides and front (inner faces)
and opposing rear (outer faces) sides 210 and 230 respectively. The
shell component 200 may be in the form of contoured molded polymer
panels including a main panel 220 and a rotatable subpanel 240
residing therein. The front side or face 210 of the shell 200
defines a compartment 205 that is configured to receive and retain
the portable electronic device, while allowing users to access the
touchscreen on the front face of the electronic device and to
control buttons and ports on the perimeter walls of the device.
[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the inner face of the main
panel 220 of the shell 200 defines a compartment that is configured
to snap onto and retain an LG G4.TM. smartphone (not shown)
securely within the cavity or compartment defined by the contoured
walls of the main panel 220. Notably, the shell 200 is configured
such that the main panel 220 alone, without the subpanel 240,
defines a retention compartment that covers at least partially all
or most of the four sides and the back face of the mobile device
and is adapted to snapping onto or over the mobile device and
securely retaining the electronic device for which it is configured
to receive. The subpanel 240, therefore, is not required for
retention of the mobile device in the shell 200. Rather, the main
panel 220 can accomplish this undertaking without contribution from
the subpanel 240.
[0036] The main panel 220 includes an aperture 221 wherein the
subpanel 240 resides and is connected thereto via a binge 420 on
one side and mechanical protrusions 246, 248 or detents on an
opposing side. The combination of the hinged connection on one side
and the mechanical detents on the other, allows the subpanel 240 to
rotatably lock and unlock into and out of the main panel 220.
[0037] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6F the hinge 420 is
formed by the opposing inner and/or outer layers 410, 430 of the
connector component that extends between the main panel 220 and the
subpanel 240 of the shell 200. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 7-10 the hinge 410 is formed via a mechanical pin and socket
connection molded into respective regions of the main panel 220 and
subpanel 240. Other rotatable joint connections or conventional
hinge connections maybe be employed.
[0038] The main panel 220 may also include additional apertures
including a camera lens aperture 226 and a speaker and/or
microphone aperture 228. Apertures may also be included in the
subpanel 240, for example if the subpanel is configured to cover
features on the mobile device.
[0039] The inner faces of the main panel 220 and subpanel 240 of
the shell 200 include recessed regions or attachment areas 222 and
242 that are dimensioned to receive correspondingly dimensioned
inner layer 410 liner regions of the connector component 400.
Similarly, the outer faces of the main panel 220 and subpanel 240
of the shell 200 include recessed regions 224 and 244 that are
dimensioned to receive correspondingly dimensioned outer layer 430
regions of the connector component 400. Incorporating recessed
regions 222, 242, 224, 244 in the inner and outer faces can
mitigate the likelihood that the overlying layers 410 and 430 will
peel-off from the underlying shell surface with use. The recessed
regions are configured such that the outer surfaces of the overlaid
layers would reside at or below the outer surfaces of the adjacent
surrounding regions of the shell 200. In this way the inner and
outer layers are effectively protected by being embedded within the
corresponding inner and outer surfaces of the shell 200. Notably,
in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7-10 there are no recessed
regions on the outer or inner faces of the main panel 220 in that
the outer and inner layers 430, 410 are not configured to overlay
the main panel 220 but only the subpanel 240.
[0040] The subpanel 240 on one side is anchored to the cover via
the connector portion 400 and on the other side is connected to the
main panel 220 via a hinge 410. In order to avoid having the
subpanel 240 rotate or swing inwardly through the aperture and into
the compartment 205 defined by the main panel 220, the subpanel 240
includes lips 258 along its opposing top and bottom edges 252, 254
that are configured to engage correspondingly dimensioned
indentations on the outer surface of the main panel 240 around the
perimeter of the aperture 221 so as to provide a mechanical
stop.
[0041] The shell component 200 may be made of any suitable
material. For example, the shell component 200 may be manufactured
via injection molding using a suitable polymer such as
polycarbonate and/or fiber (e.g., carbon or Kevlar) reinforced
plastic. The main panel 220 of the shell 200 may be formed of the
same or different material than the subpanel 240 of the shell. For
example, the main panel may be formed of a more rigid material than
the subpanel or vice versa.
[0042] The cover component 300 is configured to cover the front
face of the mobile device when the case 100 is completely closed
and is defined by top 332, bottom 334, left 336 and right 338 sides
that correspond to the top 232, bottom 234, left 236, and right 238
sides of the shell 200 when the case 100 is in the completely
closed position and the cover 300 is on top of the shell 200. The
cover component 300 is comprised of a cover panel 305, which is
overlaid on opposing sides with the inner and outer layers 410 and
430.
[0043] One or more slots or openings 412 may be formed into the
inner layer 410 over the cover panel 305 to form a wallet or credit
card holder. Regions of the inner layer 410 adjacent to the slot
412 are configured to be free to separate from the underlying layer
or cover panel 305 to allow the credit card or similar item to
slide through the slot 412 and be sandwiched at least partially
into the gap or space between the inner layer 410 and the cover
panel 305.
[0044] The cover component 300 may be made of any suitable material
capable of having the planar stability or rigidity suitable for
maintaining sufficient perimeter area to cover the screen surface
area of the mobile device contained within the shell. Accordingly,
the cover panel may be formed of any suitable polymer, such as
those described in the construction of the shell, metal, paper,
wood, or cardboard, or combination thereof.
[0045] The connector component 400 interconnects the cover to the
shell component and is comprised of overlaid opposing outer and
inner layers 430, 410 that sandwich the cover panel 305 and attach
to the recessed regions of the shell component 200 as previously
described. The connector component 400 may form the spine portion
450 in the regions between the cover and the shell. The spine 450
is configured to be flexible and adapted to allow relative movement
between the shell and cover components and to allow the cover 300
to open and close over the shell 200 when the case is opened and
closed.
[0046] The outer layer 430 is preferably formed of a flexible yet
durable material (e.g., polyurethane or synthetic leather). The
inner layer 410, on the other hand, is configured to be in contact
with the surfaces of the mobile device and therefore may be made of
a soft lining material such as a micro fabric or synthetic felt to
further protect and/or avoid scratching the mobile device
[0047] The inner and outer layers 410, 430 may be attached or
adhered to one another and the interposed components (e.g., the
shell panels and cover panel) via any suitable method including
mechanical stitching, chemical adhesion, glue, heat sealing, or
combination thereof. In order to bias the subpanel to the closed
position, the layers 410, 430 may be adhered to each of the shell
panels 220 and 240 when they are oriented in the closed position.
The outer layers will therefore be biased (perhaps only slightly)
against the subpanel 240 opening or hinging away from the main
panel 220 of the shell 200.
[0048] In operation, when the case 100 is open, the subpanel 240,
which is anchored to the spine 450 and therefore the cover 300, may
be detached by the user from the main panel 220 of the shell 200
and thereby allow the main panel 220 to pivotally rotate at the
hinge 420 relative to the subpanel 240 so that the case 100 can be
folded over itself to form different viewing or operating positions
as illustrated in the drawings. Hence snapping the subpanel 240
into and out of the main panel 220 of the shell 200 allows for
additional or more versatile operating configuration of the
case.
[0049] For example, once the subpanel 240 is detached or disengaged
from main panel 220, the main panel 220 can rotate at the hinge 420
(between the subpanel and main panel) away from the spine 450 over
the inner face of the cover 300. Once rotated over the inner face
of the cover 300, the proximate edge of the main panel 220 of the
shell 200 (i.e., the left side edge 236) can be position to sit
atop the inner face of the cover panel 305 to provide the desired
an angled viewing position.
[0050] Retention of the case in the desired viewing position, is
facilitated by the force resulting from the weight of the mobile
device contained within the case. Thus, the case may be
manufactured or configured so that it would not hold an angled
viewing position by itself without the mobile device contained
therein. Rather, the case 100, as previously described, may be
configured to be bias to a closed position where the subpanel 240
and main panel 220 are generally parallel to one another and not
rotated relative to one another. By using the weight of the mobile
device to provide the added weight or force necessary to bias the
case into a desired viewing or operating position, the case can be
manufactured using light-weight materials.
[0051] A corresponding method of manufacture is also disclosed. A
shell component (including a main panel and subpanel) and a cover
component as each is described above is molded or formed and then
overlaid on their inner and outer faces with the flexible inner and
outer layers. A hinge, which connects the subpanel to an aperture
in the main panel of the shell, is provided between the subpanel
and the main panel along a first side or location. The hinge may be
formed by the overlaid inner and/or outer layers. The inner and/or
outer layers may be overlaid when the subpanel and the main panel
are in the closed position to bias those panels into the closed
position. Slots are formed in the inner layer over the cover panel
to form a wallet or credit card holder. Regions of the inner layer
adjacent to the slot are configured to be free to separate from the
underlying layer to allow the credit card or similar item to slide
through the slot and at least partially into the gap or space
between the two layers and/or the cover pane.
[0052] Although various aspects are herein disclosed in the context
of certain preferred embodiments, implementations, and examples, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present
invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to
other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventive aspects
and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition,
while a number of variations of the aspects have been noted, other
modifications, which are within their scope, will be readily
apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure.
It should be also understood that the scope this disclosure
includes the various combinations or sub-combinations of the
specific features and aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein,
such that the various features, modes of implementation and
operation, and aspects of the disclosed subject matter may be
combined with or substituted for one another. Thus, it is intended
that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not
be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments or
implementations described above, but should be determined only by a
fair reading of the claims.
[0053] Similarly, this method of disclosure, is not to be
interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more
features than are expressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the
following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of
fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed
embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are
hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with
each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
[0054] This in this regard, it should be understood that each of
the foregoing and various features, constructions, configurations,
and aspects, together with those set forth in the claims and
summarized above or otherwise disclosed herein, including the
drawings, may alone or in any combination form claims for a case
device, apparatus, system, method of manufacture, and/or use
without limitation.
* * * * *