Case having an interchangeable cover

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting an electronic device includes a first protective cover component and a second protective component that may be removably coupled to one another. The second protective cover component includes a hinge component having a flexible hinge portion extending from a peripheral portion of the second protective cover component, wherein the hinge component facilitates coupling of the second protective cover component to the first protective cover component. One of the first protective cover component and the second protective cover component include a region configured to receive the electronic device.

1 . An apparatus for protecting an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
 a first protective cover component including a peripheral portion having a channel disposed therein, the channel having a longitudinal axis and one or more peripheral walls extending along the longitudinal axis in the peripheral portion of the first protective cover component, the channel having an opening in at least one of the one or more peripheral walls, the opening extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially along the one or more peripheral walls, at least a portion of the opening being narrower than at least a portion of the channel, the first protective cover component including a recessed region configured to receive the electronic device; and   a second protective cover component including a hinge component extending from a peripheral portion of the second protective cover component, the hinge component including a hinge portion shaped to correspond to the channel in the first protective cover component, the second protective component removably and rotatably coupled to the first protective component via the hinge component,   wherein the first protective cover component is composed of a first material and the second protective cover component is composed of a second material distinct from the first material.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a rubber, and a polymer and wherein the second material is selected from the group consisting of a fabric, a leather, a canvas, a vinyl, and a polyurethane. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge component includes a flexible hinge portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the hinge portion shaped to correspond to the channel in the first portion includes a rod coupled to the flexible hinge portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rod includes a flange positioned at an end of the rod. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the channel includes a counter-bore configured to receive the flange positioned at the end of the rod. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is open on at least one end of the channel,
 wherein the second protective cover component is formed as a panel having more than one layer, the more than one layer composed of a plurality of materials, the more than one layer including an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein the inner layer has a padded surface, wherein the hinge component includes a flexible hinge portion, wherein the hinge portion shaped to correspond to the channel in the first protective cover component is a rod coupled to the flexible hinge portion, the rod including a tapered flanged positioned at the end of the rod, the tapered flange having at least one curved face.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for protecting an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
 a first protective cover component including a peripheral portion having a channel disposed therein, the channel having a longitudinal axis and one or more peripheral walls extending along the longitudinal axis in the peripheral portion of the first protective cover component, the channel having an opening in at least one of the one or more peripheral walls, the opening extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially along the one or more peripheral walls, at least a portion of the opening being narrower than at least a portion of the channel, the first protective cover component including a recessed region configured to receive the electronic device, the first; and   a second protective cover component formed as a panel, the second protective component including a hinge component extending from a peripheral portion of the second protective cover component, the hinge component including a hinge portion shaped to correspond to the channel in the first protective cover component, the second protective component removably and rotatably coupled to the first protective component via the hinge component.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second protective cover component is formed as a plurality of panels. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of panels includes an outer printed layer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of panels includes an inner structural panel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of panels is shaped to correspond to the recessed region. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second protective cover component formed as a panel includes a padded interior layer. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the hinge component includes a flexible hinge portion. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the panel is a continuous planar surface structured for coplanar engagement with a surface of the first protective cover component in an open configuration of the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising the electronic device positioned in the recessed region of the first protective cover component. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second protective cover component includes a foldable flap coupled thereto, the foldable flap configured such that in a folded state the flap is parallel to a surface of the second protective cover component and in an unfolded state the flap extends from the surface. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second protective cover component includes a magnet disposed therein, the magnet positioned in the cover to retain the flap in the folded state. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first protective cover component includes a first material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a rubber, and a polymer and wherein the second protective cover component includes a second material selected from the group consisting of a fabric, a leather, a canvas, a vinyl, and a polyurethane. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of interchanging protective components of an apparatus for protecting an electronic device, the method comprising:
 detaching a first front protective cover component from a rear protective cover component, the rear protective cover component including a peripheral portion having a channel disposed therein, the channel having a longitudinal axis and one or more peripheral walls extending along the longitudinal axis in the peripheral portion of the rear protective cover component, the channel having an opening in at least one of the one or more peripheral walls, the opening extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially along the one or more peripheral walls, at least a portion of the opening being narrower than at least a portion of the channel, the rear protective cover component including a recessed region configured to receive the electronic device, the first front protective cover component including a hinge component extending from a peripheral portion of the first front protective cover component, the hinge component including a hinge portion shaped to correspond to the channel in the rear protective cover component; and   slidably coupling a second front protective component to the rear protective cover component such that the second front protective cover component is rotatable with respect to the rear protective cover component, the second front cover component including a hinge component extending from a peripheral portion of the second front protective cover component, the hinge component including a hinge portion shaped to correspond to the channel in the rear protective cover component, the second front protective cover component having a visually distinct appearance from the first front protective cover component.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each hinge component include a flexible hinge portion. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each hinge portion shaped to correspond to the channel in the rear portion includes a rod coupled to the flexible hinge portion. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the rod includes a flange positioned at an end of the rod. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the channel includes a counter-bore configured to receive the flange positioned at the end of the rod. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the rear protective cover component is composed of a first material and the first and second front protective cover components are composed of a second material distinct from the first material, wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a rubber, and a polymer and wherein the second material is selected from the group consisting of a fabric, a leather, a canvas, a vinyl, and a polyurethane. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of panels includes a foldable flap, the foldable flap configured such that in a folded state the flap is parallel to a surface of the front protective cover component and in an unfolded state the flap extends from the surface. 
     
     
         31 . A method of interchanging cover components of an apparatus for protecting an electronic device, the method comprising:
 A) slidably decoupling a first front cover component from a rear cover component of the apparatus, wherein:
 the first front cover component includes a first coupling edge and a first coupling element disposed at the first coupling edge; 
 the rear cover component includes a second coupling edge and a second coupling element disposed at the second coupling edge; and 
 the first coupling element and the second coupling element are configured to engage and disengage with each other via a sliding motion and permit rotation of the first front cover component relative to the rear cover component about an axis parallel to at least the second coupling edge of the rear cover component; and 
   B) slidably coupling a second front cover component to the rear cover component, wherein:
 the second front cover component includes a third coupling edge and a third coupling element disposed at the third coupling edge; 
 the third coupling element is substantially identical to the first coupling element of the first front cover component; and 
 the second front cover component has a visually distinct appearance from the first front cover component. 
   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the rear cover component of the apparatus includes a recessed region configured to receive the electronic device, and wherein the method further comprises:
 prior to A), inserting the electronic device in the recessed region of the rear cover component.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the rear cover component of the apparatus includes a recessed region configured to receive the electronic device, and wherein the method further comprises:
 after A) and prior to B), inserting the electronic device in the recessed region of the rear cover component.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the rear cover component of the apparatus includes a recessed region configured to receive the electronic device, and wherein the method further comprises:
 after B), inserting the electronic device in the recessed region of the rear cover component.