Protective case and methods of making

Abstract

Disclosed is a protective case for an electronic device. The protective case has three layers: an elastomeric liner that surrounds a portion of the electronic device, a cover and a cushion insert disposed between the liner and cover. The cushion insert includes raised impact portions that extend through the cover, and that are capable of absorbing shocks from impacts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective case, comprising:
 a cover having a back portion and a sidewall connected to the back portion, the cover comprising interconnected support members defined by a plurality of receiving apertures disposed in predetermined areas, the cover comprising a predetermined thickness;   a liner having a back portion and a sidewall connected to the back portion, the liner comprising a predetermined thickness; and   a cushion insert comprising raised impact regions disposed adjacent to first recessed impact regions, the raised impact regions disposed in predetermined areas corresponding to the plurality of receiving apertures and having a predetermined thickness greater than the thickness of the cover;   wherein the cushion is disposed between the cover and the liner, such that the plurality of interconnected support members engage with the first recessed impact regions, and the raised impact regions engage with the plurality of receiving apertures, such that the raised impact regions extend above the outer surface of the cover.   
     
     
         2 . The protective case of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more second recessed impact regions, wherein the thickness of the second recessed impact regions is less than the thickness of the first recessed impact regions. 
     
     
         3 . The protective case of  claim 2 , wherein the raised impact regions comprise grooves in an upper surface thereof, such that the thickness of the grooves is less than the thickness of the raised impact regions, and greater than the thickness of the first recessed impact regions. 
     
     
         4 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion insert comprises an impact absorbing material. 
     
     
         5 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion insert comprises a multi-layer laminated material. 
     
     
         6 . The protective case of  claim 4 , wherein the impact absorbing material is disposed between opposing upper and lower layers of a thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) material. 
     
     
         7 . The protective case of  claim 5 , wherein the laminated material further comprises a reinforcing layer disposed between the impact absorbing material and the lower layer of TPE material. 
     
     
         8 . The protective case of  claim 7 , wherein the laminated material further comprises a fabric layer disposed adjacent to the lower layer of TPE material, opposite the impact absorbing material. 
     
     
         9 . The protective case of  claim 4 , wherein the cushion insert is a rate dependent material. 
     
     
         10 . The protective case of  claim 9 , wherein the rate dependent material is a polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         11 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined thickness of the raised impact regions is sufficient to absorb impacts and/or prevent shocks from the impacts from being transferred to the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises an elastomeric material with a durometer of about 80 Shore A to about 100 Shore A. 
     
     
         13 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises an elastomeric material with a durometer of about 95 Shore A. 
     
     
         14 . The protective case of  claim 12 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         15 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the cover ranges from about 0.055″ to about 0.095″. 
     
     
         16 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the first recessed impact regions ranges from about 0.025″ to about 0.045″. 
     
     
         17 . The protective case of  claim 2 , wherein the thickness of the second recessed impact regions ranges from about 0.010″ to about 0.030″. 
     
     
         18 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the impact absorbing regions extend above the outer surface of the cover, when the case is in an assembled configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The protective case of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing layer is porous. 
     
     
         20 . The protective case of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing layer is a nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         21 . The protective case of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing layer is a hydro-entangled nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         22 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is unitary. 
     
     
         23 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion insert is unitary. 
     
     
         24 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is co-molded with the cushion insert. 
     
     
         25 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the cover and the cushion insert are adhesively connected. 
     
     
         26 . The protective case of  claim 6 , wherein the TPE layers are continuously bonded to the impact absorbing material. 
     
     
         27 . The protective case of  claim 5 , wherein the cushion insert comprises a cushioning material disposed between and continuously bonded to opposing adjacent layers. 
     
     
         28 . The protective case of  claim 2 , wherein, when the case is assembled, the raised impact regions are aligned with the receiving apertures. 
     
     
         29 . The protective case of  claim 28 , wherein, when the case is assembled, the raised impact regions are received into and at least partially through the receiving apertures and a portion of the raised impact regions extend above the upper surface of the cover. 
     
     
         30 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises an elastomeric material with a durometer ranging from about 80 Shore A to about 100 Shore A, and the case insert comprises a rate dependent polyurethane foam with a density ranging from about 5 to about 35 pounds per cubic foot.