Protective case with integral stand
View Patent ↗A protective case for an electronic device may have two rigid covers that are engaged with a clamping mechanism. The rigid covers, when engaged to the device, may be covered with a removable flexible cover. The protective case may also include a third component that may provide protection for the device in a closed position and operate as a stand in an open position. The third component may be opened and closed using a locking lever, and the third component may open to a stand position.
1. A protective case for a mobile electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a first rigid cover for covering a first portion of the mobile electronic device, the first rigid cover including mating surfaces;
a second rigid cover for covering a second portion of the mobile electronic device, the second rigid cover including mating surfaces, and the second rigid cover engageable with the first rigid cover to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device;
a link member permanently and rotatably attached to a back of the second rigid cover; and
a lever permanently and rotatably attached to the link member and permanently and rotatably attached to the first rigid cover such that the lever forms a clamping mechanism with the link member to removably clamp the first rigid cover to the second rigid cover, wherein the first rigid cover, the second rigid cover, the link member, and the lever comprise a single assembly configurable to multiple positions, and wherein:
rotating the lever in a first direction actuates the link member to draw the second rigid cover toward the first rigid cover to engage the mating surfaces of the second rigid cover to the mating surfaces of the first rigid cover such that the second rigid cover covers the second portion of the mobile electronic device, the first rigid cover and the second rigid cover forming an opening through which a display of the mobile electronic device is accessible, and
rotating the lever in a second direction disengages the mating surfaces of the second rigid cover from the mating surfaces of the first rigid cover such that the second rigid cover is rotatable relative to the mobile electronic device and relative to the first rigid cover to form a stand for the mobile electronic device and the first rigid cover.
2. The protective case of claim 1 further comprising a flexible cover mountable over at least a portion of the first rigid cover and the second rigid cover.
3. The protective case of claim 2 wherein the flexible cover includes an orifice providing access to the link member and the lever through the orifice.
4. The protective case of claim 1 further comprising a slip resistant pad disposed to contact the mobile electronic device when the first rigid cover is installed on the mobile electronic device.
5. The protective case of claim 1 further comprising a slip resistant pad disposed to contact the mobile electronic device when the second rigid cover is installed on the mobile electronic device.
6. The protective case of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first rigid cover and the second rigid cover have at least a 0.005 inch interference fit with the mobile electronic device.
7. A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a top cover for covering a top portion of the electronic device, the top cover including mating surfaces;
a bottom cover for covering a bottom portion of the electronic device, the bottom cover including mating surfaces, and the bottom cover engageable with the top cover to at least partially encase the electronic device and form, with the top cover, an opening through which a display of the electronic device is accessible when the electronic device is in the protective case;
a link member rotatably and permanently attached to a back of the bottom cover; and
a lever rotatably and permanently attached to the link member and rotatably and permanently attached to the top cover, the protective case being a single assembly comprising the top cover, the bottom cover, the link member, and the lever, and wherein:
rotating the lever in a first direction actuates the link member to draw the mating surfaces of the bottom cover to the mating surfaces of the top cover to engage the bottom cover to the top cover so that the bottom cover covers the bottom portion of the electronic device, and
rotating the lever in a second direction disengages the mating surfaces of the bottom cover from the mating surfaces of the top cover so that the bottom cover can be rotated relative to the electronic device and the top cover to form a stand for the electronic device and the top cover.
8. The protective case of claim 7 further comprising a flexible cover mountable over the top cover and the bottom cover.
9. The protective case of claim 8 wherein the flexible cover includes an aperture providing access to the link member and the lever when the flexible cover is mounted on the top cover and the bottom cover.
10. The protective case of claim 7 further comprising a slip resistant pad disposed to contact the mobile electronic device when the top cover is installed on the mobile electronic device.
11. The protective case of claim 7 further comprising a slip resistant pad disposed to contact the mobile electronic device when the bottom cover is installed on the mobile electronic device.
12. The protective case of claim 7 wherein the top cover and the bottom cover have at least a 0.005 inch interference fit with the mobile electronic device when the top cover and the bottom cover are installed on the mobile electronic device.
13. The protective case of claim 7 wherein the lever and the link member form a clamping mechanism to removably clamp the top cover to the bottom cover.
14. The protective case of claim 13 wherein the clamping mechanism removably clamps the top cover to the bottom cover by closing to an over center position.
15. A protective cover for a mobile electronic device, the protective cover comprising:
an assembly including:
a first rigid cover for covering a first portion of the mobile electronic device, the first rigid cover including mating surfaces;
a second rigid cover for covering a second portion of the mobile electronic device, the second rigid cover including mating surfaces, and the second rigid cover engageable with the first rigid cover to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device and form an opening through which a portion of the mobile electronic device is accessible when the mobile electronic device is in the protective cover;
a flexible cover mountable over at least a portion of the first rigid cover and the second rigid cover;
a link member permanently rotatably attached to a back of the second rigid cover; and
a lever permanently rotatably attached to the link member and permanently rotatably attached to the first rigid cover such that the lever forms a clamping mechanism with the link member to removably clamp the first rigid cover to the second rigid cover, wherein rotating the lever in a first direction actuates the link member to draw the mating surfaces of the second rigid cover toward the mating surfaces of the first rigid cover to engage the second rigid cover to the first rigid cover such that the second rigid cover covers the second portion of the mobile electronic device, and rotating the lever in a second direction disengages the mating surfaces of the second rigid cover from the mating surfaces of the first rigid cover such that the second rigid cover can be rotated relative to the mobile electronic device and relative to the first rigid cover to form a stand for the mobile electronic device and the first rigid cover.