Multipurpose protective case for portable electronic device

Abstract

A protective case for a portable electronic device includes a rear support portion providing a back support the portable electronic device, the rear support portion comprising a recess to receive and store therein an accessory. Accessories for storage within the recess of the protective case include: a cigarette lighter, a USB Flash drive, a set of earphones, a Bluetooth headset, or other suitable articles adapted to be held in place within the recess.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a protective case for a portable electronic device, the protective case comprising a rear support portion providing a back support the portable electronic device, the rear support portion comprising a recess to receive therein an accessory.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recess is generally rectangular, and wherein a long dimension of the recess is generally parallel to a long dimension of the protective case. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rear support portion comprises a pin to lock said accessory to the rear support portion. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rear support portion comprises a spring to release said accessory from said recess. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rear support portion comprises one or more support ribs generally perpendicular to a long dimension of the recess. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rear support portion comprises a latching mechanism to hold said accessory in said recess and to allow release of said accessory from said recess. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises an extension/retraction mechanism to allow extension of the accessory beyond a contour of the protective case while the accessory remains within said recess, and to allow retraction of a portion of said accessory subsequent to extension of said portion beyond said contour of the protective case. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of said recess is generally trapezoid. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a size of said accessory is generally identical to the size of said recess, wherein a shape of said accessory is generally identical to the size of said recess. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said accessory is held within said recess exclusively by a friction force between the accessory and an area of the protective case which surrounds the recess. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said rear support portion is generally flat in a first state in which the accessory is removed from the protective case; and wherein said rear support portion is non-flat in a second state in which the accessory is held by the protective case. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises an electric cigarette lighter. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a USB Flash drive. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a headset. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a pair of earphones. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a suction cup to connect the protective case via suction to a window. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises an article selected from the list consisting of:
 a medicine container, a money container, a candy container, a Swiss-army knife, a Laser pointer, a mirror, a make-up article, a perfume container, a tobacco container, a container for one or more cigarettes, a folding stand for said portable electronic device, a wristband, a miniature book made of paper, a miniature Bible book, a projector, and a contact lens container.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising said accessory. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising said portable electronic device;
 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of: a cellular phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a portable gaming device, a portable audio player, and a portable video player.