Protective case for mobile electronic device with storage compartment and pivot stand
View Patent ↗A protective case for a mobile device having a storage compartment for a user's personal items such as credit cards, license, cash, etc. is disclosed. The protective case includes a first or main panel and a second or sub-panel that are configured to cover the storage compartment and provide access thereto, via a hinged connection. Each panel may also function as independent pivot stand that can position the case in one or more operating/viewing positions.
1. A user removable protective case for a mobile electronic device, said protective case comprising:
a device compartment including an aperture;
a bottom shell portion;
an upper portion that is co-molded to the bottom shell portion;
a user storage compartment defined by the bottom shell portion and the upper portion, said user storage compartment being dimensioned to receive one or more credit cards;
a first panel that is co-molded to the upper portion at a first hinge, the first panel being configured to lock closed into the bottom shell portion at a first end and swing outwardly at a second end along said first hinge to allow access to said storage compartment; and
a second panel that is co-molded to the upper portion at a second hinge, the second panel being configured to swing open and closed along said second hinge independently from said first panel, wherein when said second panel is moved independently from said first panel, said second panel forms a support stand configured to allow positioning of the case in a first operating position,
wherein the bottom shell portion being comprised of a first material and the upper portion, being comprised of a second material different than said first material, and wherein said first material is more rigid than said second material, and wherein said second panel is lockable within said first panel.
2. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein when said first panel is pivoted outwardly along said first hinge, said first panel forms a pivot stand configured to allow positioning of the case in a second operating position, which is different than the first operating position.
3. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are aligned in the same direction.
4. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the first panel has one or more stops to provide an end position for the second panel when the second panel is locked into the first panel.
5. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the first panel includes a hinged-end that is connected to the upper portion at the first hinge and an opposing free-end that is configured to swing outward when released from the bottom shell portion, the bottom shell portion includes a recessed region located at an area surrounding at least a portion of the free-end when the first panel is locked closed into the bottom shell portion.
6. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the bottom shell portion has one or more stops that support perimeter regions of the first panel when the first panel is in a closed position.
7. The protective case of claim 2 , wherein the second operating position is configured to position in a more vertically upright angle than the first operating position.
8. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the first material is polycarbonate.
9. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the second material is thermoplastic urethane.
10. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said first and second panels are comprised of said first material.
11. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said first and second hinges are formed of said second material.
12. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are aligned along a linear straight line.
13. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said upper portion defines the device compartment.
14. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said bottom shell portion and upper portion defines the device compartment.
15. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said upper portion extends beyond the edges of said bottom shell portion to form a wall structure.
16. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said bottom shell portion and upper portions include an aperture extending through each of said portions.
17. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said upper portion includes one or more depressible buttons.
18. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said upper portion includes one or more apertures.
19. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said bottom shell portion has a Shore A durometer hardness of 100+/−15 as measured using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard D2240.
20. The protective case of claim 19 , wherein said upper portion has a Shore A durometer hardness of 65+/−15 as measured using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard D2240.
21. A user removable protective case for a mobile electronic device, said protective case comprising:
a device compartment including an aperture;
a bottom shell portion;
an upper portion that is co-molded to the bottom shell portion;
a user storage compartment defined by the bottom shell portion and the upper portion, said user storage compartment being dimensioned to receive one or more credit cards;
a first panel that is co-molded to the upper portion at a first hinge, the first panel being configured to lock closed into the bottom shell portion at a first end and swing outwardly at a second end along said first hinge to allow access to said storage compartment; and
a second panel that is co-molded to the upper portion at a second hinge, the second panel being configured to swing open and closed along said second hinge independently from said first panel, wherein when said second panel is moved independently from said first panel, said second panel forms a support stand configured to allow positioning of the case in a first operating position,
wherein the bottom shell portion being comprised of a first material and the upper portion being comprised of a second material different than said first material, and wherein said first material is more rigid than said second material, and wherein the bottom shell portion includes one or more indents for receiving protrusions on perimeter of said first panel to snap lock the first panel.
22. A user removable protective case for a mobile electronic device, said protective case comprising:
a device compartment including an aperture;
a bottom shell portion;
an upper portion that is co-molded to the bottom shell portion;
a user storage compartment defined by the bottom shell portion and the upper portion, said user storage compartment being dimensioned to receive one or more credit cards;
a first panel that is co-molded to the upper portion at a first hinge, the first panel being configured to lock closed into the bottom shell portion at a first end and swing outwardly at a second end along said first hinge to allow access to said storage compartment; and
a second panel that is co-molded to the upper portion at a second hinge, the second panel being configured to swing open and closed along said second hinge independently from said first panel, wherein when said second panel is moved independently from said first panel, said second panel forms a support stand configured to allow positioning of the case in a first operating position,
wherein the bottom shell portion being comprised of a first material and the upper portion being comprised of a second material different than said first material, and wherein said first material is more rigid than said second material, and wherein the second panel includes a hinged-end that is connected to the upper portion at the second hinge and an opposing free-end that is configured to be locked closed into said first panel.
23. The protective case of claim 22 , wherein said first panel includes a recessed region located at an area surrounding at least a portion of the free-end of said second panel when said second panel is locked closed into said first panel.
24. The protective case of claim 23 , wherein said free-end of said second panel is formed of a material that is over-molded with a second softer material.