Case for enclosing a personal electronic device and a card

Abstract

Cases for enclosing a personal electronic device may also enclose one or more cards, such as credit cards, payment cards, coupons, receipts, identification cards, merchandise credit cards, gift cards, or business cards through the use of a retaining system. Exemplary cases may include a personal device portion and a card portion that may be co-molded into a one-piece device for holding the personal electronic device and the inserted cards.

1 . A one-piece case for enclosing a personal electronic device and one or more cards comprising a personal electronic device portion and a card portion that is co-molded with the personal electronic device portion, the one-piece case being sufficiently flexible to deform and thereby accept insertion of the personal electronic device and sufficiently rigid to reform around and securely retain the inserted personal electronic device, wherein:
 the personal electronic device portion includes a bottom surface and side surfaces joined to the bottom surface and extending upward therefrom, thereby forming a first fitted cavity and a top surface of an adjacent second fitted cavity, wherein the first fitted cavity is configured to accept and retain the inserted personal electronic device such that the bottom surface of the personal electronic device portion covers a bottom surface of the inserted personal electronic device and the side surfaces cover at least a portion of side surfaces of the inserted personal electronic device; and   the card portion includes a bottom surface and side surfaces joined to the bottom surface and extending upward therefrom, wherein the bottom and a first portion of the side surfaces of the card portion form the second fitted cavity and a second portion of the side surfaces of the card portion substantially cover the side portions of the personal electronic device portion, wherein the second fitted cavity is configured to accept and retain at least one card and at least one of the first portion of the side surfaces includes an opening via which the card is inserted in the one-piece case, and   a retaining feature to exert pressure on the one or more cards to retain the one or more cards in the card portion.   
     
     
         2 . The one-piece case of  claim 1 , wherein the second cavity is configured to accept and retain at least one of a credit card, a payment card, an identification card, a business card, a coupon, a receipt, a merchandise credit card, and a gift card. 
     
     
         3 . The one-piece case of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining feature is manufactured from a material with a coefficient of friction sufficient to hold the inserted card in place within the second fitted cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The one-piece case of  claim 3  where the material is selected from the group comprising rubber, silicon, plastic, and fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The one-piece case of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining feature extends into the second fitted cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The one-piece case of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the personal electronic device portion includes the retaining feature that extends into the second fitted cavity so as to exert pressure on the one or more cards and retains the one or more cards in the second fitted cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The one-piece case of  claim 6  wherein the retaining feature comprises a deformable flap. 
     
     
         8 . The one-piece case of  claim 6  wherein the retaining feature comprises a spring. 
     
     
         9 . The one-piece case of  claim 6  wherein the retaining feature comprises a contoured edge. 
     
     
         10 . The one-piece case of  claim 9  wherein the contoured edge is beveled. 
     
     
         11 . The one-piece case of  claim 6  wherein the retaining feature comprises two or more elastomeric materials.