Case for an Electronic Device

1 . A case ( 100 ) for an electronic device comprising:

a front cover portion ( 101 ) comprising

a first, external front cover panel ( 101 a ), the first external cover panel ( 101 a ) comprising a hard material;

a second external cover panel ( 101 b ), the second, external cover portion ( 101 b ) comprising the hard material, the second external panel cover ( 101 b ) being smaller than the first external cover panel ( 101 a );

an internal, flexible cover portion ( 104 ),

a rear portion ( 102 ) attached to the front cover portion ( 101 ), comprising:

an outer chassis portion ( 112 ) comprising the hard material

an inner chassis portion ( 114 ) comprising the flexible material,

one or more hinges ( 103 ), the one or more hinges ( 103 ) configured to allow the cover to open and close over an electronic device when the device is in the case ( 100 ), the one or more hinges being configured to allow the first and second panels ( 101 a , 101 b ) of the front cover portion ( 100 ) to open and be rotated about a spine ( 106 ) and the rear portion ( 102 ) of the case 100 .

2 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 , the case ( 100 ) further comprising:

a plurality of hinges ( 103 a , 103 b ) including:

a spine hinge ( 103 a ) along an axis between the stiffener and the second cover portion, and

a face cover hinge ( 103 b ) along an axis between the first external, cover panel and the second external cover panel.

3 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 2 , wherein the spine hinge ( 103 a ) allows the cover ( 101 ) to open from the case ( 100 ), and the second face cover hinge allows the cover ( 101 ) to bend around the case ( 100 ) to a parallel position.

4 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hinges ( 103 ) are formed by channel or groove ( 119 ) formed on an inside face of the flexible material cover portion

5 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 , the case ( 100 ) further comprising:

a stiffener portion ( 105 ), the stiffener portion ( 105 ) adapted to connect to the inner flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) along a spine ( 106 ) of the case ( 100 ) and connect to rear portion ( 102 ).

6 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 5 , wherein the spine is formed by the stiffener portion ( 105 ) and the inner flexible material portion ( 104 ).

7 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 5 , wherein the stiffener portion ( 105 ) connects to the outer chassis portion ( 112 ) of the rear portion.

8 . The case ( 100 ) claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner chassis portion ( 114 ) and the internal flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) includes a texture formed in the flexible material.

9 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the inner chassis portion ( 114 ) includes an open area ( 115 ) for attaching the cover to the outer chassis portion ( 112 ).

10 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 wherein the case ( 100 ) is substantially opaque.

11 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 wherein the case ( 100 ) is at least partially transparent.

12 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the external front cover ( 101 ) and internal flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) form a flush external surface of the cover ( 101 ) of the case at the one or more hinges ( 103 ).

13 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the case ( 100 ) is constructed with at least one opening positioned such that a phone function of the electronic device can be used when the cover is closed.

14 . The case ( 100 ) claim 1 , wherein the inner flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) forms an inner layer along the portion of the stiffener portion ( 105 ) that attaches to the rear portion ( 102 ) such that it completes the opening ( 115 ) formed by the inner chassis portion ( 114 ).

15 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the hard material is an engineering plastic, hardened plastic, or metal.

16 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 14 , wherein the engineering plastic is selected from the group of polycarbonate and ABS.

17 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 2 , further comprising the plurality of hinges ( 103 a , 103 b ) having a bend radius of at least about 90 degrees.

18 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the case further comprises:

an opening ( 117 ) in the rear portion ( 102 ) case ( 100 ) to allow operation of a camera for the device, wherein the front cover ( 101 ) when in a fully open position does not block the camera opening ( 117 ).

19 . The case ( 100 ) of claim 18 , wherein the device includes a flash insert ( 111 ) in the camera opening ( 117 ).

20 . A method of making a case as described in each of the above claims ( 100 ) comprising:

molding an outer chassis portion ( 112 ) comprising a hard material; overmolding the outer chassis portion ( 112 ) with an inner chassis portion ( 114 ) comprising an flexible material to form a rear portion ( 102 ) of the case ( 100 );

molding the one or more face covers ( 101 a , 101 b );

affixing a stiffener portion ( 105 ) in a molding tool;

overmolding the one or more face covers ( 101 a , 101 b ) with the internal, flexible material cover portion ( 104 ), such that the external front cover ( 101 ) and internal flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) form an external surface of the cover ( 101 ) of the case comprising one or more hinges ( 103 a , 103 b ) configured to allow the one or more face covers ( 101 a , 101 b ) to open and close over an electronic device when the device is in the case ( 100 ); and

connecting the cover including the stiffener to the rear portion ( 102 ).