IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,628,131

Granted Patent B2

US 9,628,131 · App. 14/727,110 · Granted Apr 18, 2017

Case for electronic device with surface for attaching building elements

Inventors: Hunter S. Thompson (Austin, TX); Jamie L. Thompson (Austin, TX); James W. Thompson (Austin, TX); Frazier Newlin (Austin, TX)

Assignee: Pono Paani, LLC

H04B1/3888 A45C11/00 A45F5/00 A63H33/04 A63H33/086 G06F1/1613 H04M1/0283 A45C2011/001 A45C2011/002 A45C2011/003 Y10T29/49826

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,628,131
App. No.: 14/727,110
Granted: Apr 18, 2017
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A case for a portable electronic device includes a cavity and one or more studded surfaces. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is removable from the cavity through an opening in the cavity. The studded surfaces can be coupled with one or more building elements.

Claims (69)

1. A case for a working portable electronic device, comprising:

a cavity comprising one or more openings, wherein the cavity is configured to receive at least a portion of the working portable electronic device such that the working portable electronic device is removable from the cavity through at least one of the openings,

wherein the cavity is at least partially defined by a cavity bottom surface and one or more rims of the case,

wherein the one or more rims of the case comprise a pair of opposing side rim portions along the long dimension of the case,

wherein each of the pair of opposing side rim portions comprises:

an interior groove comprising a groove bottom, an upper edge, and a lower edge;

an upper elongated projection that projects inwardly relative to the groove bottom; and

a lower elongated projection that projects inwardly relative to the groove bottom and at least a portion of which is above the cavity bottom surface,

wherein the upper edge of the interior groove is formed by the upper elongated projection,

wherein the pair of opposing side rim portions are configured to resiliently receive opposing edges of the working portable electronic device in the interior grooves in the pair of side rim portions on the long dimension of the case to couple the working electronic portable device in the cavity of the case; and

one or more studded surfaces comprising one or more arrays of studs configured to couple with one or more standard building elements of a play set, wherein at least one of the studded surfaces of the case is on a side of the case that is opposite to a display screen of the working portable electronic device when the working portable electronic device is installed in the cavity,

wherein the upper elongated portion on at least one of the side rims is an inwardly projecting lip configured to retain the working portable electronic device in the case.

2. The case of claim 1 , wherein the lower elongated projection of at least one of the side rims comprises a ledge above the cavity bottom surface.

3. The case of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the side rims of the case comprises a flexible material configured to resiliently couple with the working portable electronic device, wherein the case further comprises, on at least one end of the case, an open slot between the pair of opposing flexible side rim portions.

4. The case of claim 1 , further comprising at least one opening for a connector in the working portable electronic device.

5. The case of claim 1 , wherein the working portable electronic device is a cellular phone.

6. The case of claim 1 , wherein the working portable electronic device is a tablet computer.

7. A case for a working portable electronic device, comprising:

wherein the cavity is at least partially defined by a cavity bottom surface and one or more rims of the case,

wherein the one or more rims of the case comprise a pair of opposing side rim portions along the long dimension of the case,

wherein each of the pair of opposing side rim portions comprises:

an interior groove comprising a groove bottom, an upper edge, and a lower edge;

an upper elongated projection that projects inwardly relative to the groove bottom; and

a lower elongated projection that projects inwardly relative to the groove bottom and at least a portion of which is above the cavity bottom surface,

wherein the upper edge of the interior groove is formed by the upper elongated projection,

wherein at least one of the grooves comprises a substantially flat bottom.

8. The case of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the side rims of the case comprises a flexible material configured to resiliently couple with the working portable electronic device, wherein the case further comprises, on at least one end of the case, an open slot between the pair of opposing flexible side rim portions.

9. The case of claim 7 , further comprising at least one opening for a connector in the working portable electronic device.

10. The case of claim 7 , wherein the lower elongated projection of at least one of the side rims comprises a ledge above the cavity bottom surface.

11. The case of claim 7 , wherein the lower elongated projection of at least one of the side rims comprises a ledge above the cavity bottom surface.

12. The case of claim 7 , wherein the working portable electronic device is a cellular phone.

13. The case of claim 7 , wherein the working portable electronic device is a tablet computer.

14. A case for a working portable electronic device, comprising:

wherein the cavity is at least partially defined by a cavity bottom surface and one or more rims of the case,

wherein the one or more rims of the case comprise a pair of opposing side rim portions along the long dimension of the case,

wherein each of the pair of opposing side rim portions comprises:

an interior groove comprising a groove bottom, an upper edge, and a lower edge;

an upper elongated projection that projects inwardly relative to the groove bottom; and

a lower elongated projection that projects inwardly relative to the groove bottom and at least a portion of which is above the cavity bottom surface,

wherein the upper edge of the interior groove is formed by the upper elongated projection,

wherein at least one of studded surfaces of the case on the side of the case that is opposite to the display screen of the working portable electronic device is on a back of the case and comprises an array of studs that substantially covers the back of the case.

15. The case of claim 14 , wherein the building elements are configured to couple to at least one of the studded surfaces by way of a press fit.

16. The case of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the side rims of the case comprises a flexible material configured to resiliently couple with the working portable electronic device, wherein the case further comprises, on at least one end of the case, an open slot between the pair of opposing flexible side rim portions.

17. The case of claim 14 , further comprising at least one opening for a connector in the working portable electronic device.

18. The case of claim 14 , wherein the lower elongated projection of at least one of the side rims comprises a ledge above the cavity bottom surface.

19. The case of claim 14 , wherein the lower elongated projection of at least one of the side rims comprises a ledge above the cavity bottom surface.

20. The case of claim 14 , wherein the working portable electronic device is a cellular phone.

21. The case of claim 14 , wherein the working portable electronic device is a tablet computer.

22. A case for a working portable electronic device, comprising:

wherein the cavity is at least partially defined by a cavity bottom surface and one or more rims of the case,

wherein the one or more rims of the case comprise a pair of opposing side rim portions along the long dimension of the case,

wherein each of the pair of opposing side rim portions comprises:

an interior groove comprising a groove bottom, an upper edge, and a lower edge;

an upper elongated projection that projects inwardly relative to the groove bottom; and

a lower elongated projection that projects inwardly relative to the groove bottom and at least a portion of which is above the cavity bottom surface,

wherein the upper edge of the interior groove is formed by the upper elongated projection,

wherein the working portable electronic device is a cellular phone.

23. The case of claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the side rims of the case comprises a flexible material configured to resiliently couple with the working portable electronic device, wherein the case further comprises, on at least one end of the case, an open slot between the pair of opposing flexible side rim portions.

24. The case of claim 22 , wherein the lower elongated projection of at least one of the side rims comprises a ledge above the cavity bottom surface.

25. The case of claim 22 , wherein the lower elongated projection of at least one of the side rims comprises a ledge above the cavity bottom surface.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2017

From: RUBICON COMMUNICATIONS, LP

To: PONO PAANI, LLC

Reel/Frame 043990/0353 →

Continuity (3)

Continuation 13927911 · Jun 26, 2013

Continuation 13098106 · Apr 29, 2011

Related Publication 20160119011A1 · Apr 28, 2016