Personal Device Case

Abstract

A personal device case for the secure containment and ergonomic manipulation of an electronic device is provided. The device case includes a vertically oriented, uninterrupted slot traversing from a bottom of the case, along an anterior side, and through to a top opening of the case. When closed, a top flap extends downward and substantially covers the slot at the anterior side. The slot forms two panels in the anterior side, which may each include stiffening members to support the electronic device. The device case may be secured to a part of a user and facilitates the insertion and removal of an electronic device without comprising a grip or damaging a display screen. The device case may assist users with disabilities and/or poor coordination.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a protective carrying case including at least an uninterrupted slot traversing from a bottom of the case, along an anterior side, and through to a top opening of the carrying case; and   a stiffening insert flanking the uninterrupted slot at the anterior side in a parallel plane, with flanks of the stiffening insert extending from the anterior side, along the bottom, and further along an posterior side of the carrying case, the flanks joined by a lengthwise section, the lengthwise section parallel to the flanks positioned in the anterior side.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the slot is vertically oriented. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the slot is at least as wide as a user's single finger. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the slot further includes an expanded opening region at the bottom of the carrying case. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  further including a top flap that, when closed, extends downward substantially covering the slot at the anterior side. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the slot forms at least two panels in the anterior side of the carrying case. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the carrying case is shaped to hold a handheld device, the carrying case further comprising stiffening members in the respective panels such that the panels support the handheld device, where edges of the slot are defined by edges of the panels. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5  further comprising a connection device having respective first and second portions on the anterior side and the top flap, the first and second portions releasably engageable with one another. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  further comprising an arch vertically aligned with the slot and arranged at an outer brim perimeter of the top flap. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the first portion is a first magnet and the second portion is a second magnet. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the first portion is a first Velcro section, and the second portion is a second Velcro section. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the first portion is a male snap section, and the second portion is a female snap section. 
     
     
         13 . A protective carrying case for holding a handheld device, comprising:
 a body having two separated anterior panels, side panels, a posterior panel and a top flap, the body defining a cavity, the top flap extending over the cavity and downward along at least a portion of both of the separated anterior panels, the top flap releasably secured to at least one of the separated anterior panels; and   a rigid member embedded within said case to provide a stable support structure for the separated anterior panels, the rigid member formed as a unitary component and having at least section within the posterior panel.   
     
     
         14 . The protective carrying case of  claim 13  wherein said releasably securing includes one or more of Velcro, snaps, and magnets. 
     
     
         15 . The protective carrying case of  claim 13  further comprising an interior lining, the rigid member formed between an outer layer and the interior lining. 
     
     
         16 . The protective carrying case of  claim 13  wherein an opening is positioned between the anterior panels, the opening shaped to allow a user to both:
 install the device into the protective carrying case by allowing the user's fingers to pass through the opening and between the separated panels without releasing the user's grasp of the handheld device until the device is completely installed within the protective case; and 
 remove the device from the protective carrying case by allowing the user's fingers to pass through the opening and between the separated panels without releasing the user's grasp of the handheld device until the device is completely removed from the case. 
 
     
     
         17 . A device configured to be affixed to a user, comprising:
 a protective carrying case including at least an anterior side facing away from the user and a posterior panel with an interior side adjacent to, and affixable to, a hip of the user, and a bottom side, the anterior side including a centrally positioned uninterrupted slot, the slot having a first end in the bottom and traversing from the bottom, and then upward along the anterior side, and through to a top opening of the carrying case such that the uninterrupted slot extends uninterruptedly from the first end to the top opening, the top opening sized to accept a handheld device into the carrying case; and   a stiffening insert having a rectangular u-shape comprising a lengthwise bracket section at least partially spanning the posterior panel, a pair of bottom sections at least partially spanning a bottom panel, and a pair of anterior sections at least partially spanning respective anterior panels, the pair of bottom sections symmetric, the pair of anterior sections symmetric, the lengthwise bracket section joining the pair of bottom sections convexly, the pair of bottom sections joining the pair of anterior sections convexly, the pair of anterior sections and the pair of bottom sections having an equal length, the pair of bottom sections having an equal width and an equal length, the lengthwise bracket section and the pair of anterior sections terminating at equal first and second ends, the lengthwise bracket section vertically terminating below a flexure of the posterior panel, the pair of anterior sections having an equal height, the pair of anterior sections centrally aligned with the respective anterior panels, the pair of bottom sections centrally aligned with respective portions of the bottom panel, the lengthwise bracket section vertically aligned with the posterior panel, and the stiffening insert disposed between an exterior surface and an interior surface of the carrying case.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising a top flap that, when closed, extends downward substantially covering the slot at the anterior side. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the uninterrupted slot defines the respective anterior panels, the panels being separated and including one or more stiffening members such that the panels support the handheld device, where edges of the slot are defined by edges of the panels. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising an arch vertically aligned with the slot and arranged at an outer brim perimeter of the top flap.