Protective enclosure for encasing an electronic device
A protective enclosure for an electronic device includes a first case portion that may be adapted to surround at least a portion of a top device portion and a second case portion that may be adapted to surround at least a portion of a bottom device portion. The protective enclosure may also include a first hinge member coupled to a portion of the first case portion and a portion of the second case portion, and the first hinge member may pivot about a first hinge axis that is coaxially aligned with or parallel to a device hinge axis.
1. A protective case configured for use with a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having a first portion attached to a second portion with a device hinge such that the first portion of the portable electronic device articulates relative to the second portion between an opened position and a closed position, wherein each of the first and second portions of the portable electronic device has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces facing each other when the portable electronic device is in the closed position, the protective case comprising:
a first case member configured to be removably attached over at least a portion of the outer surface of the first portion of the portable electronic device, wherein the first case member is configured to provide access to a display area on the inner surface of the first portion of the portable electronic device when the protective case is installed on the portable electronic device;
a second case member configured to be removably attached over at least a portion of the outer surface of the second portion of the portable electronic device, wherein the second case member is configured to provide access to a display area on the inner surface of the second portion of the portable electronic device when the protective case is installed on the portable electronic device; and
a flexible hinge portion configured to extend over the device hinge and configured to articulate with the portable electronic device when the protective case is installed on the portable electronic device, wherein the flexible hinge portion extends between the first case member and the second case member, wherein the flexible hinge member is fixedly attached to one of the first and the second case member and slidably attached to the other of the first and the second case member such that the flexible hinge portion slides in and out of the other of the first and the second case member when the installed portable electronic device articulates.
2. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the first and second case members are configured to removably snap onto the first and second portions of the portable electronic device, respectively.
3. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the first and second case members each include an inner cushion member configured for cushioning respective portions of the installed portable electronic device.
4. The protective case of claim 1 further comprising an aperture configured for providing optical access to a camera of the installed portable electronic device.
5. The protective case of claim 4 wherein the aperture is covered by a substantially transparent film.
6. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the first case member is not directly attached to the second case member.
7. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the flexible hinge portion includes one or more slots enabling the flexible hinge portion to slide in and out of the other of the first and the second case member.
8. The protective case of claim 7 wherein the other of the first and the second case member includes one or more engagement features each configured to slide within a respective one of the one or more slots.
9. The protective case of claim 1 wherein the other of the first and the second case member includes one or more slots enabling the flexible hinge portion to slide in and out of the other of the first and the second case member.
10. The protective case of claim 9 wherein the flexible hinge member includes one or more engagement features each configured to slide within a respective one of the one or more slots.
11. The protective case of claim 1 wherein one of the first and the second portions of the portable electronic device includes an additional display area on the outer surface and a corresponding one of the first and the second case members includes an opening providing visual access to the additional display area.
12. A protective case configured for use with a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having a first portion attached to a second portion with a device hinge such that the first portion of the portable electronic device articulates relative to the second portion of the portable electronic device between an opened position and a closed position, wherein each of the first and second portions of the portable electronic device has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces facing each other when the portable electronic device is in the closed position, the protective case comprising:
two case members each adapted to be removably attached to a respective one of the first portion and the second portion of the portable electronic device, wherein each of the two case members is adapted to cover at least a portion of the outer surface of the respective one of the first portion and the second portion of the portable electronic device, wherein the two case members are adapted to provide access to respective display areas on the inner surfaces of the first and second portions of the portable electronic device when the protective case is installed on the portable electronic device and the portable electronic device is in the opened position; and
a flexible hinge portion that extends between the two case members, wherein the flexible hinge portion is adapted to at least partially cover the device hinge and articulate with the portable electronic device when the protective case is installed on the portable electronic device, wherein the flexible hinge member is slidably attached to one of the two case members and non-slidably attached to the other of the two case members such that the flexible hinge portion slides in and out of an interior portion of one of the two case members when the installed portable electronic device articulates.
13. The protective case of claim 12 further comprising an aperture adapted to provide optical access to a camera of the installed portable electronic device.
14. The protective case of claim 12 wherein the two case members each include an inner cushion member configured for cushioning respective portions of the installed portable electronic device.
15. The protective case of claim 12 wherein the flexible hinge portion includes one or more slots enabling the flexible hinge portion to slide in and out of one of the case members.
16. The protective case of claim 15 wherein the other case member includes one or more engagement features that each slide within a respective one of the one or more slots.
17. The protective case of claim 12 wherein one of the case members includes one or more slots enabling the flexible hinge portion to slide in and out of the other case member.
18. The protective case of claim 17 wherein the flexible hinge portion includes one or more engagement features that each slide within a respective one of the one or more slots.
19. The protective case of claim 12 wherein one of the first and the second portions of the electronic device includes an additional display on the outer surface and a corresponding one of the case members includes an opening providing visual access to the additional display.
20. The protective case of claim 12 wherein one of the case members includes a flexible portion extending over a side portion of the installed portable electronic device that includes a control feature, and wherein the control feature of the portable electronic device is operable through the flexible portion of the case member.