ELECTRONICS CASE WITH THERMOCHROMIC PANEL
A case for an electronic device according to an example embodiment of the invention. The case defines a space or housing for receiving an electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet computer. At least a portion of the case is formed from a thermochromatic material. As used herein, the term thermochromic refers to a material that changes color in response to a change in temperature of the material and/or a temperature of an object contacting the material.
1 . A case for an electronic device, at least a portion of the case comprising a color-changing thermochromic material having an original color and being temperature responsive to change the color of at least a portion of the thermochromic panel to a color differing from the original color upon exposure to a change in temperature.
2 . The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the thermochromic material is temperature-responsive to change color in response to a user handling the case.
3 . The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein a change in temperature of the thermochromic material occurs when the thermochromic material is contacted by an object having a temperature greater or lower than room temperature.
4 . The electronic device case of claim 3 , wherein the thermochromic material only changes color in areas directly contacted by the object having a temperature greater or lower than room temperature.
5 . The electronic device case of claim 3 , wherein the thermochromic material returns to its original color upon reversal of the change in temperature.
6 . The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the thermochromic material passes through a series of different colors in response to passing through a range of different temperatures.
7 . The electronic device case of claim 6 , wherein the series of different colors comprises colors in the spectrum of visible light.
8 . The electronic device case of claim 6 , wherein the series of different colors comprises red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
9 . The electronic device case of claim 1 , wherein the thermochromic material comprises one or more color-changing, temperature-responsive inks.
10 . The electronic device case of claim 9 , wherein the thermochromic material comprises three color-changing, temperature-responsive inks.
11 . The electronic device case of claim 10 , wherein the three inks exhibit different colors at the same temperature.
12 . The electronic device case of claim 11 , wherein the different colors exhibited by the three inks blend and appear as one color.
13 . The electronic device case of claim 6 , wherein the thermochromic material changes color over a temperature range of from about 68° F. to about 108° F.
14 . An electronic device case comprising:
an inner bumper comprising thermoplastic polyurethane;
an outer shell comprising polycarbonate;
a soft padding layer; and
a temperature-responsive thermochromic panel.
15 . The electronic device case of claim 14 , wherein the thermochromic panel comprises thermochromic liquid crystals.
16 . The electronic device case of claim 14 , wherein the thermochromic panel comprises a leuco dye.
17 . The electronic device case of claim 14 , wherein the thermochromic panel comprises a thermochromic ink.
18 . The electronic device case of claim 14 , further comprising a second thermochromic panel having a different base color than the first thermochromic panel.
19 . The electronic device case of claim 14 , further comprising a protective film situated over the thermochromic panel.
20 . The electronic device case of claim 19 , wherein the protective film is thermally conductive.