Mobile device accessory
An accessory case for a mobile device includes a housing, a channel, and an input board. The housing has a base wall and a perimeter wall extending away from the base wall, which together define a cavity to receive a mobile device. The channel is formed within the base wall, and extends inward from but not through the base wall to define a pocket that is separate from the cavity. The input board is received within the pocket. The input board is formed by folded segments that have one or more inputs. The input board is configured to transition between a folded position and an unfolded position. In the folded position, a width of the input board is less than a width of the channel. In the unfolded position, the width of the input board is greater than the width of the channel.
1. An accessory case for a mobile device, comprising:
a housing having a base wall and a perimeter wall extending away from the base wall, the perimeter wall and base wall together defining a cavity to receive a mobile device therein;
a channel formed within the base wall, the channel being defined by a plurality of walls extending inward from a first perimeter side of the base wall or, toward but not through a second perimeter side of the base wall, wherein the channel defines a pocket within the base wall separated from the cavity; and
an input board received within the pocket, the input board being formed by:
a first panel section,
a second panel section connected to the first panel section along a first fold line,
a third panel section connected to the first panel section along a second fold line extending approximately parallel to the first fold line, and
a fourth panel section connected to the first panel section along a third fold line extending approximately perpendicular to the first fold line,
wherein each of the panel sections includes at least one input, wherein the input board is configured to transition between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein in the folded position, a width of the input board is less than a width of the channel, wherein in the unfolded position, the width of the input board is greater than the width of the channel, and wherein in the folded position, the second panel section and the third panel section extend along a front side of the first panel section and the fourth panel section extends along a back side of the first panel section.
2. The accessory case of claim 1 , wherein a depth of the cavity is greater than a width of the pocket, and wherein the input board is defined by a thickness less than the width of the pocket in both the folded position and the unfolded position.
3. The accessory case of claim 1 , wherein the input board is selectively electrically coupled to and powered by a battery of the mobile device, wherein when the input board is received within the pocket, the input board is decoupled from the battery of the mobile device.
4. The accessory case of claim 3 , wherein an electrical coupling extends from the battery of the mobile device and through at least one of the perimeter wall or the base wall to form an externally accessible coupling that can be selectively contacted by the input board to create an electrical connection between the battery and the input board.
5. The accessory case of claim 1 , wherein in the folded position, the second panel section and the third panel section extend along the first panel section.
6. The accessory case of claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of the first panel section is approximately twice a perimeter of the second panel section, and wherein in the folded position, the second panel section extends in a plane offset from the first panel section, and wherein in the unfolded position, the second panel section extends coplanar with the first panel section.
7. The accessory case of claim 1 , wherein the input board further comprises a fifth panel section, the fifth panel section extending away from the fourth panel section and connected to the fourth panel section along a fourth fold line, the fourth fold line extending parallel to the third fold line, wherein the fourth and fifth panels do not have inputs received thereon.
8. The accessory case of claim 1 , wherein the first perimeter side of the base wall is a rear side of the base wall and the second perimeter side of the base wall is a front side of the base wall, and wherein in the folded position, the input board defines at least a portion of an outermost surface of the accessory case, and wherein the input board is hingedly coupled to the base wall.
9. The accessory case of claim 1 , wherein the input board includes at least one track pad.