Case for a mobile telephone
Apparatus comprising a body having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the inner surface being arranged to be placed adjacent an object, the outer surface including first and second retaining elements extending outwardly therefrom and defining a retaining groove therebetween.
1. Apparatus comprising a body having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the inner surface being arranged adjacent to a mobile electronic device, the outer surface including first and second retaining elements extending outwardly therefrom and defining a retaining groove therebetween, wherein the first and second retaining elements are made of a flexible material that is adaptable to the shape and dimensions of an item to be retained therebetween and wherein the first and second retaining elements gradually increase in height away from the outer surface from one end of the retaining groove toward an opposite end, the first and second retaining elements converging toward each other, along their whole length or only part thereof, from the one end to the opposite end, wherein the item is unrelated to the operation of the mobile electronic device, wherein the retaining groove is open at the one end, and wherein the first and second retaining elements are longest along axes parallel to the outer surface.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second retaining elements are integral with the body.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the body is a mobile telephone protective case.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining groove is uncovered.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the body is a planar item detachably connected to the mobile electronic device.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second retaining elements are wall portions.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining groove includes a closed end opposite the one end and closed by a joining wall section joining the first and second retaining elements.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second retaining elements define a substantially U-shaped or substantially V-shaped retaining groove.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a shape of the retaining groove substantially mimics the shape of an item to be retained therein.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining groove is configured to contact the item only partially along a length of the item.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining groove is configured to contact the item only partially along a length of the item and wherein the item to be retained is arranged to project beyond the one end.
12. A method comprising fitting to a mobile electronic device a body having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the inner surface being arranged to be placed adjacent the mobile electronic device and inserting an item unrelated to the operation of the mobile electronic device into a retaining groove between first and second retaining elements extending outwardly from the outer surface, wherein the first and second retaining elements are made of a flexible material that is adaptable to the shape and dimensions of the item to be retained therebetween, wherein the first and second retaining elements gradually increase in height away from the outer surface from one end of the retaining groove toward an opposite end, the first and second retaining elements converging toward each other, along their whole length or only part thereof, from the one end to the opposite end, and wherein the retaining groove is open at the one end, an end region of the item configured to project beyond the retaining groove open end where the height of the retaining elements is lowest, the arrangement allowing the item retained in the retaining groove to be readily removed from the retaining groove for use, and wherein the first and second retaining elements are longest along axes parallel to the outer surface.
13. Apparatus comprising a mobile telephone case having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the inner surface being arranged adjacent to a mobile telephone, the outer surface including integral first and second retaining elements extending outwardly therefrom and defining a retaining groove therebetween, wherein the first and second retaining elements are made of a flexible material that is adaptable to the shape and dimensions of an item to be retained therebetween, wherein the first and second retaining elements gradually increase in height away from the outer surface from one end of the retaining groove toward an opposite end, the first and second retaining elements converging toward each other, along their whole length or only part thereof, from the one end to the opposite end, wherein the item is unrelated to the operation of the mobile telephone, wherein the retaining groove is open at the one end, and wherein the first and second retaining elements are longest along axes parallel to the outer surface.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the retaining groove is configured to contact the item only partially along a length of the item.
15. Apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the retaining groove is configured to contact the item only partially along a length of the item and wherein the item to be retained is arranged to project beyond the one end.