Protective case for articulating electronic device
View Patent ↗A protective cover for a portable computing device includes a first hardshell component, a second hardshell component, and a hinging element. The first hardshell component removably snaps onto a first portion of the portable computing device to protect the first portion of the portable computing device. The second hardshell component removably snaps onto a second portion of the portable computing device to protect the second portion of the portable computing device. The hinging element comprises a flexible material and is attached to the first hardshell component and the second hardshell component such that the hinging element of the protective cover aligns with the hinging structure of the portable computing device. The hinging element flexes to allow the second portion of the portable computing device to remain articulable relative to the first portion of the portable computing device when the protective cover is installed on the portable computing device.
1. A protective cover for a portable computing device, the portable computing device having a plastic shell that includes at least a first portion and a second portion, the second portion of the plastic shell connected to the first portion of the plastic shell through a hinge such that the second portion of the plastic shell of the portable computing device articulates relative to the first portion, the protective cover comprising:
a first hardshell component configured to removably attach to the first portion of the plastic shell of the portable computing device by snapping onto the first portion of the portable computing device to cover and protect at least one surface of the first portion of the portable computing device;
a second hardshell component configured to removably attach to the second portion of the plastic shell of the portable computing device by snapping onto the second portion of the portable computing device to cover and protect at least one surface of the second portion of the portable computing device; and
a silicone hinge attached to the first hardshell component and the second hardshell component such that the silicone hinge of the protective cover is configured to align with the hinge of the portable computing device when the first and the second hardshell components are snapped onto the first and the second plastic shell portions of the portable computing device, respectively, wherein the silicone hinge of the protective cover flexes to allow second hardshell component to articulate relative to the first hardshell component and enables the second portion of the portable computing device to remain articulable relative to the first portion of the portable computing device when the protective cover is installed on the first and second plastic shell portions of the portable computing device.
2. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the silicone hinge of the protective cover protects at least a portion of the hinge of the portable computing device when the protective cover is installed on the portable computing device.
3. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the silicone hinge of the protective cover extends under at least one of the first and the second hardshell components to further protect at least one of the first and the second portions of the plastic shell when the protective cover is installed on the portable computing device.
4. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first hardshell component and the second hardshell component includes an opening providing access to a feature of the portable computing device when the protective cover is installed on the portable computing device.
5. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the silicone hinge is molded onto the first hardshell component and the second hardshell component.
6. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the silicone hinge is comolded with at least one of the first hardshell component and the second hardshell component.
7. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the silicone hinge includes one or more pads for accessing a button of the portable computing device.
8. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the portable computing device is a smartphone.
9. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the portable computing device is a laptop computer.
10. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the portable computing device is a tablet computer.
11. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the first hardshell component protects at least a second surface of the first portion of the portable computing device when the protective cover is installed on the portable computing device.
12. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the silicone hinge extends around to a side portion of the portable computing device to protect the side portion when the protective cover is installed on the portable computing device.
13. A case for protecting a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having a plastic shell comprising a first portion and a second portion that is hingedly attached to the first portion with a hinging portion such that the second portion articulates relative to the first portion, the case comprising:
a first hardshell member removably attachable to the first portion of the plastic shell of the portable electronic device for protecting the first portion of the portable electronic device;
a second hardshell member removably attachable to the second portion of the plastic shell of the portable electronic device for protecting the second portion of the portable electronic device, wherein the first hardshell member and the second hardshell member removably snap onto the first portion of the portable electronic device and the second portion of the portable electronic device, respectively; and
a flexible hinge member permanently affixed to the first hardshell member and permanently affixed to the second hardshell member, wherein the first hardshell member is attached to the second hardshell member through the flexible hinge member, and wherein the flexible hinge member is in proximity to the hinging portion of the portable electronic device when the first and the second hardshell members of the case are attached to the respective first and second shell portions of the portable electronic device, the flexible hinge member permitting articulation of the second portion of the portable electronic device relative to the first portion of the portable electronic device when the case is attached to the portable electronic device due to flexing of a flexible elastomeric material that comprises the flexible hinge member.
14. The case of claim 13 wherein the flexible hinge member of the case protects the hinging portion of the portable electronic device when the case is attached to the portable electronic device.
15. The case of claim 13 wherein the flexible elastomeric material comprises silicone.
16. The case of claim 13 wherein the flexible hinge member extends around a side portion of the portable electronic device to protect the side portion of the portable electronic device when the case is attached to the portable electronic device.
17. The case of claim 13 wherein the flexible hinge member of the case is molded onto the first and the second hardshell members.
18. The case of claim 17 wherein the flexible hinge member of the case is molded onto the first and the second hardshell members using a two shot molding process.
19. A case for protecting a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having a shell comprising a first portion and a second portion that is hingedly attached to the first portion with a hinging portion such that the second portion articulates relative to the first portion, the case comprising:
a first hardshell member removably attachable to the first portion of the shell of the portable electronic device for protecting the first portion of the portable electronic device;
a second hardshell member removably attachable to the second portion of the shell of the portable electronic device for protecting the second portion of the portable electronic device; and
a flexible hinge member permanently affixed to the first hardshell member and permanently affixed to the second hardshell member, wherein the first hardshell member is attached to the second hardshell member through the flexible hinge member, wherein the flexible hinge member is in proximity to the hinging portion of the portable electronic device when the first and the second hardshell members of the case are attached to the respective first and second shell portions of the portable electronic device, the flexible hinge member permitting articulation of the second portion of the portable electronic device relative to the first portion of the portable electronic device when the case is attached to the portable electronic device due to flexing of a flexible elastomeric material that comprises the flexible hinge member, and wherein the flexible elastomeric material that comprises the flexible hinge member extends under at least one of the first hardshell member and the second hardshell member and between the at least one of the hardshell members and a respective one of the first portion and the second portion of the shell of the portable electronic device when the case is attached to the portable electronic device.