Granted Patent B2

US 9,622,556 · App. 14/210,411 · Granted Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

Claims (83)

1. A protective case for a mobile device, the mobile device having front and back surfaces and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the mobile device having a screen on the front surface and at least one of a headphone jack, a power connector, a data connector, a speaker, and a microphone, the protective case comprising:

a shell configured to engage and substantially surround at least three of the surfaces of the mobile device, the shell comprising a first material co-molded with a second material, the first material being flexible and the second material being harder than the first material;

a first cap configured to engage and disengage with the shell to thereby prevent or allow access to a portion of the mobile device;

a first hinge extending from the shell and connecting the first cap and the shell, the first hinge comprising the first material and configured to permit the first cap to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position with the shell;

a second cap configured to engage and disengage with the shell to thereby prevent or allow access to a portion of the mobile device;

a second hinge extending from the shell and connecting the second cap and the shell, the second hinge comprising the first material and configured to permit the second cap to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position with the shell; and

wherein the first cap is configured to engage the shell and the second cap when the second cap and the first cap are in their respective engaged positions.

2. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the first cap is configured to cover at least one of a headphone jack, a power connector, a data connector, a speaker, and a microphone on the mobile device.

3. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a base unit and a back plate configured to engage the base unit via a snap fit connection.

4. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a button formed of the first material that passes through the second material and that is configured to engage a button on the mobile device.

5. A protective case for a mobile device, the mobile device having front and back surfaces and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the mobile device having a screen on the front surface and at least one of a headphone jack, a power connector, a data connector, a speaker, and a microphone, the protective case comprising:

a shell configured to engage and substantially surround at least three of the surfaces of the mobile device, the shell comprising a first material co-molded with a second material, the first material being flexible and the second material being harder than the first material;

a first cap configured to engage and disengage with one of a bottom portion and a top portion of the shell to thereby prevent or allow access to a portion of the mobile device; and

a first hinge extending from a side of the shell and connecting the first cap and the shell, the first hinge comprising the first material and configured to permit the first cap to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position with the shell;

a second cap configured to engage and disengage with the shell to thereby prevent or allow access to a portion of the mobile device;

a second hinge extending from the shell and connecting the second cap and the shell, the second hinge comprising the first material and configured to permit the second cap to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position with the shell; and

wherein the first cap is configured to engage the shell and the second cap when the second cap and the first cap are in their respective engaged positions.

6. The protective case of claim 5 , wherein the first cap is configured to cover at least one of a headphone jack, a power connector, a data connector, a speaker, and a microphone on the mobile device.

7. The protective case of claim 5 , wherein the second hinge extends from a side of the shell and the second cap is configured to engage and disengage with one of a bottom portion and a top portion of the shell.

8. A protective case for a mobile device, the mobile device having front and back surfaces and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the mobile device having a screen on the front surface and at least one of a headphone jack, a power connector, a data connector, a speaker, and a microphone, the protective case comprising:

a shell configured to engage and substantially surround at least three of the surfaces of the mobile device, the shell comprising:

a first headphone jack hole configured to allow a headphone connector to pass through the shell and connect to a headphone jack on the mobile device;

a headphone jack cover configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position wherein the headphone jack cover is respectively engaged or disengaged with the shell at the first headphone jack hole to thereby prevent or allow access to the first headphone jack hole;

a first hinge connecting the headphone jack cover and the shell, the first hinge configured to permit the headphone jack cover to move between its engaged and disengaged positions;

a cap configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position wherein the cap is respectively engaged or disengaged with the shell, the cap comprising:

a second headphone jack hole configured to allow a headphone connector to pass through the cap to the first headphone jack hole and to connect to a headphone jack on the mobile device when the headphone jack cover is in its disengaged position and the cap is in its engaged position;

a second hinge connecting the cap and the shell, the second hinge configured to permit the cap to move between its engaged and disengaged positions; and

wherein the cap and the headphone jack cover are configured such that when the headphone jack cover is at the first headphone jack hole but not properly aligned with the second headphone jack hole, the headphone jack cover prevents the cap from fully engaging with the shell.

9. The protective case of claim 8 , wherein the cap is configured to cover at least one of a power connector, a data connector, a speaker, and a microphone on the mobile device.

10. The protective case of claim 8 , wherein the shell comprises a base unit and a back plate configured to engage the base unit via a snap fit connection.

11. A protective case for a mobile device having at least one of a headphone jack, a power connector, a data connector, a speaker, and a microphone comprising:

a shell configured to engage and substantially surround at least three surfaces of a mobile device, the shell comprising:

a first hole configured to allow an electrical connector to pass through the shell and connect to an electrical plug on the mobile device;

a cover configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position wherein the cover is respectively engaged or disengaged with the shell at the first hole to thereby prevent or allow access to the first hole;

a first hinge connecting the cover and the shell, the first hinge configured to permit the cover to move between its engaged and disengaged positions;

a cap configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position wherein the cap is respectively engaged or disengaged with the shell, the cap comprising:

a second hole configured to allow an electrical connector to pass through the cap to the first hole and to connect to a electrical plug on the mobile device when the cover is in its disengaged position and the cap is in its engaged position;

a second hinge connecting the cap and the shell, the second hinge configured to permit the cap to move between its engaged and disengaged positions; and

wherein the cap and the cover are configured such that when the cover is at the first hole but not properly aligned with the second hole, the cover prevents the cap from fully engaging with the shell.

12. The protective case of claim 11 , wherein the cap is configured to cover at least one of a power connector, a data connector, a speaker, and a microphone on the mobile device.

13. The protective case of claim 11 , wherein the shell comprises a base unit and a back plate configured to engage the base unit via a snap fit connection.

14. The protective case of claim 11 , wherein the second hole is configured to allow an electrical connector with the dimensions of a headphone plug to pass through the cap to the first hole.

15. The protective case of claim 11 , wherein in the engaged position, the cover is configured to fit within the first hole.

16. The protective case of claim 11 , wherein in the engaged position, the cap is configured to fit over the shell.

17. A protective case for a mobile device, the mobile device having front and back surfaces and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the mobile device having a screen on the front surface, the protective case comprising:

a shell configured to engage and substantially surround at least three of the surfaces of the mobile device, the shell comprising:

a first hole passing through the shell and configured to be near a microphone on the mobile device;

a second hole passing through the shell and configured to be near a speaker on the mobile device;

a first layered membrane covering the first hole and configured to seal the first hole while allowing sound to flow through;

a second layered membrane covering the second hole and configured to seal the second hole while allowing sound to flow through, wherein each layered membrane comprises at least two materials and the materials being different for each layered membrane; and

wherein both the first and second layered membranes comprise a first layer of PTFE and at least one other layer being different between the two membranes.

18. The protective case of claim 17 , wherein one of the either the first layered membrane or the second layered membrane comprises a first layer of PTFE, a second layer being a PET spacer and a third layer of a metal mesh.

19. The protective case of claim 18 , wherein the other of the first layered membrane and the second layered membrane comprises a first layer of PTFE and a second layer of a nylon like mesh.

20. The protective case of claim 17 , wherein the shell further comprises a third hole passing through the shell and configured to be near at least one of a microphone and a speaker on the mobile device, and a third layered membrane covering the third hole and configured to seal the third hole while allowing sound to flow through.

21. The protective case of claim 20 , wherein the shell further comprises a fourth hole passing through the shell and configured to be near at least one of a microphone and a speaker on the mobile device, and a fourth layered membrane covering the fourth hole and configured to seal the fourth hole while allowing sound to flow through.

22. The protective case of claim 21 , wherein the third layered membrane comprises the same materials as the first layered membrane.

23. The protective case of claim 21 , wherein the third layered membrane comprises the same materials as the second layered membrane.

24. The protective case of claim 22 , wherein the fourth hole is configured to be near a microphone and the fourth layered membrane comprises the same materials as the first layered membrane.

25. The protective case of claim 22 , wherein the fourth hole is configured to be near a microphone and the fourth layered membrane comprises the same materials as the second layered membrane.

26. A watertight protective case for a mobile device, the mobile device having front and back surfaces and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the mobile device having a screen on the front surface, the protective case comprising:

a shell configured to engage and substantially surround at least four of the surfaces of the mobile device, the shell having an opening;

a glass panel covering the opening and configured to engage with the screen on the front surface of the mobile device, the glass panel comprising a hole passing through the glass panel and configured to be near a microphone or a speaker on the mobile device; and

a flexible membrane covering the hole;

wherein the watertight protective case is configured to receive the mobile device and prevent liquid from entering the case, the flexible membrane configured to expand or retract to accommodate a pressure difference between pressure inside and outside of the case; and

a user interface that includes a conductive element attached to the glass panel and configured to correspond in shape and be in proximate electrical contact with an electrode element of a fingerprint sensor of a mobile device to facilitate communication of an electric energy emitted by the electrode element to a user's finger overlying said conductive element.

27. The protective case of claim 26 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the glass panel and the membrane.

28. The protective case of claim 26 , wherein the glass panel comprises a second hole passing through the glass panel, the second hole configured to be near a button on the mobile device.

29. The protective case of claim 28 , further comprising a deformable button configured to cover the second hole of the glass panel.

30. The protective case of claim 29 , wherein the deformable button is on the shell.

31. A watertight protective case for a mobile device, the protective case comprising:

a shell configured to engage and substantially surround at least four surfaces of a mobile device, the shell having an opening;

a glass panel covering the opening and configured to engage with a screen on a front surface of the mobile device, the glass panel comprising a hole passing through the glass panel; and

a flexible covering over the hole;

wherein the watertight protective case is configured to receive the mobile device and prevent liquid from entering the case, the flexible covering configured to expand or retract to accommodate a pressure difference between pressure inside and outside of the case; and

a user interface that includes a conductive element attached to the glass panel and configured to correspond in shape and be in proximate electrical contact with an electrode element of a fingerprint sensor of a mobile device to facilitate communication of an electric energy emitted by the electrode element to a user's finger overlying said conductive element.

32. The protective case of claim 31 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the glass panel and the membrane.

33. The protective case of claim 31 , wherein the glass panel comprises a second hole passing through the glass panel.

34. The protective case of claim 33 , further comprising a deformable button configured to cover the second hole of the glass panel.

35. The protective case of claim 34 , wherein the deformable button is on the shell.

36. The protective case of claim 31 , wherein the first hole is configured to be near a microphone or a speaker on the mobile device and the second hole.

37. The protective case of claim 31 , wherein the flexible covering comprises a membrane configured to seal the hole while allowing sound to flow through.

38. The protective case of claim 37 , wherein the membrane comprises a layered membrane.

39. The protective case of claim 31 , wherein the conductive element is comprised of one or more layers of conductive ink and wherein said conductive ink is hardened upon opposing sides of a substrate element.

Assignments (14)