Protective case with internal suspension system
View Patent ↗A protective case for a mobile electronic device can include a sliding back portion that permits quick and easy installation and removal of the mobile device. The protective case can include a chassis that resists bending or flexing during an impact event, thereby reducing stresses imparted to components of the mobile device housed in the protective case during the impact event. The protective case can include surface coverings to absorb and dissipate impact energy resulting from the impact event, thereby reducing impact forces transmitted to the mobile device. The protective case can include an internal suspension system configured to protect the electronic device from drop-induced damage and to preserve the resale value of an electronic device by minimizing cosmetic damage to external surfaces of the electronic device while housed in the case. In some examples, the protective case can be waterproof.
1. A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a chassis comprising a cavity configured to receive the electronic device, the cavity comprising an inner left side surface, an inner right side surface, an inner top side surface, an inner bottom side surface, and an inner front side surface, the chassis further comprising a left side rail receiver disposed in the inner left side of the chassis and a right side rail receiver disposed in the inner right side of the chassis;
a sliding back portion comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the sliding back portion configured to slidably attach to the chassis, the sliding back portion comprising a left side rail extending from a left side of the sliding back portion and a right side rail extending from a right side of the sliding back portion, the left side rail configured to slidably engage the left side rail receiver of the chassis and the right side rail configured to slidably engage the right side rail receiver of the chassis; and
an internal suspension system comprising a back side suspension portion extending into the cavity from an inner surface of the sliding back portion and configured to contact a back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, a right side suspension portion extending into the cavity from the inner right side surface of the chassis and configured to contact a right side surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, a left side suspension portion extending into the cavity from the inner left side surface of the chassis and configured to contact a left side surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, and a front side suspension portion extending into the cavity from the inner front side surface of the chassis and configured to contact a front surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
2. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the back side suspension portion is configured to provide a first air gap of at least 0.005 in., wherein the first air gap is measured between the back surface of the electronic device and the inner surface of the sliding back portion when the electronic device is installed in the protective case and the sliding back portion is installed on the protective case.
3. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the right side suspension portion is configured to provide a second air gap of at least 0.005 in., wherein the second air gap is measured between the right side surface of the electronic device and the inner right side surface of the chassis when the electronic device is installed in the protective case and the sliding back portion is installed on the protective case.
4. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the left side suspension portion is configured to provide a third air gap of at least 0.005 in., wherein the third air gap is measured between the left side surface of the electronic device and the inner left side surface of the chassis when the electronic device is installed in the protective case and the sliding back portion is installed on the protective case.
5. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the front side suspension portion is configured to provide a fourth air gap of at least 0.005 in., wherein the fourth air gap is measured between the front surface of the electronic device and the inner front side surface of the chassis when the electronic device is installed in the protective case and the sliding back portion is installed on the protective case.
6. The protective case of claim 1 , further comprising a transparent layer attached to the inner front surface of the chassis, the transparent layer configured to be positioned proximate an interactive touchscreen of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
7. The protective case of claim 6 , wherein the transparent layer comprises sapphire glass.
8. A waterproof protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a chassis comprising a cavity configured to receive the electronic device, the cavity comprising an inner left side surface, an inner right side surface, an inner top side surface, an inner bottom side surface, and an inner front side surface, the chassis further comprising a left side rail receiver disposed in the inner left side of the chassis and a right side rail receiver disposed in the inner right side of the chassis;
a sliding back portion comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the sliding back portion configured to slidably attach to the chassis, a first seal disposed in a channel in the sliding back portion, the first seal configured to provide a liquid-tight seal between the sliding back portion and the chassis when the sliding back portion is installed on the protective case; and
an internal suspension system comprising a back side suspension portion extending into the cavity from the inner surface of the sliding back portion and configured to contact a back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, a right side suspension portion extending into the cavity from the inner right side surface of the chassis and configured to contact a right side surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, and a left side suspension portion extending into the cavity from the inner left side surface of the chassis and configured to contact a left side surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
9. The waterproof protective case of claim 8 , wherein the sliding back portion comprises a left side rail extending from a left side of the sliding back portion and a right side rail extending from a right side of the sliding back portion, the left side rail configured to slidably engage the left side rail receiver of the chassis and the right side rail configured to slidably engage the right side rail receiver of the chassis.
10. The waterproof protective case of claim 8 , further comprising a front side suspension portion extending into the cavity from the inner front side surface of the chassis and configured to contact a front surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
11. The waterproof protective case of claim 8 , further comprising a transparent layer attached to the inner front surface of the chassis, the transparent layer configured to be positioned proximate an interactive touchscreen of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
12. The protective case of claim 11 , further comprising an opening in the transparent layer, the opening in the transparent layer being occupied by a home button cover connected to the transparent layer, the home button cover permitting actuation of a home button of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
13. The waterproof protective case of claim 8 , further comprising a second seal extending from the inner front surface of the chassis, the second seal configured to provide a liquid-tight seal between the second seal and the front surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the waterproof protective case.
14. A protective case configured to preserve resale value of an electronic device, the protective case comprising:
a chassis comprising a cavity configured to receive the electronic device, the cavity comprising an inner left side surface, an inner right side surface, an inner top side surface, an inner bottom side surface, and an inner front side surface, the chassis further comprising a left side rail receiver and a right side rail receiver;
an internal suspension system comprising a first cushion layer covering at least a portion of the inner left side surface of the cavity, a second cushion layer covering at least a portion of the inner right side surface of the cavity, a third cushion layer covering at least a portion of the inner top side surface of the cavity, a fourth cushion layer covering at least a portion of the inner bottom side surface of the cavity, and a fifth cushion layer covering at least a portion of the inner front side surface of the cavity; and
a sliding back portion configured to slidably attach to the chassis, the sliding back portion comprising a left side rail and a right side rail, the left side rail configured to slidably engage the left side rail receiver and the right side rail configured to slidably engage the right side rail receiver,
wherein the sliding back portion comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, a channel formed in the inner surface of the sliding back portion, a back side cushion layer disposed in the channel, the back side cushion layer comprising a back side raised portion extending from the back side cushion layer and configured to provide a back air gap between the inner surface of the sliding back portion and a back surface of an electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
15. The protective case of claim 14 , further comprising a left side suspension portion extending from the first cushion layer covering, the left side suspension portion configured to provide a left side air gap between the first cushion layer and a left side of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, wherein the left side air gap is about 0.005-0.1, 0.005-0.08, 0.01-0.05, 0.02-0.04, or 0.01-0.03 in.
16. The protective case of claim 14 , further comprising a right side suspension portion extending from the second cushion layer covering, the right side suspension portion configured to provide a right side air gap between the second cushion layer and a right side of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, wherein the right side air gap is about 0.005-0.1, 0.005-0.08, 0.01-0.05, 0.02-0.04, or 0.01-0.03 in.
17. The protective case of claim 14 , further comprising a front side suspension portion extending from the fifth cushion layer covering, the front side suspension portion configured to provide a front side air gap between the fifth cushion layer and a right side of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, wherein the front side air gap is about 0.005-0.1, 0.005-0.08, 0.01-0.05, 0.02-0.04, or 0.01-0.03 in.
18. The protective case of claim 14 , further comprising a camera air gap between the inner surface of the sliding back portion and a back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, the camera air gap configured to prevent abrasion to a camera lens and camera flash located on the back surface of the electronic device during installation of the sliding back portion, wherein the camera air gap is about 0.005-0.1, 0.005-0.08, 0.01-0.05, or 0.01-0.03 in.
19. The protective case of claim 14 , wherein the chassis further comprises an outer left side surface, an outer right side surface, an outer top side surface, a left side surface covering attached to the outer left side surface of the chassis, a right side surface covering affixed to the outer right side surface of the chassis, and a top side surface covering affixed to the outer top side surface of the chassis.
20. The protective case of claim 14 , further comprising a transparent layer attached to the inner front surface of the chassis, the transparent layer configured to be positioned proximate an interactive touchscreen of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.