Magnetically connected case for electronic device

Abstract

A protective or decorative case for an electronic device includes at least a first shell portion and a second shell portion. The first and second shell portions each comprise at least one magnetic coupling element to provide for removably coupling the shells together in an assembled configuration to house an electronic device therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A case for an electronic device comprising:
 a first shell portion comprising a first magnetic coupling element; and   a second shell portion comprising a second magnetic coupling element,   wherein the first and second magnetic coupling elements releasably engage one another to retain the first and second shell portions in an assembled case configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second shell portions define an internal chamber adapted to house the electronic device in the assembled configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic coupling element comprises a magnet and the second magnetic coupling element comprises a magnetically attracted material. 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnetic coupling elements both comprise magnets, and wherein the magnets are aligned with opposite polarities facing one another in the assembled configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second shell portions define an interface therebetween, and wherein the first and second magnetic coupling elements are aligned across the interface. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 5 , comprising at least two aligned pairs of first and second magnetic coupling elements aligned across the interface from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises a top/bottom split configuration, the first shell portion comprising a top portion and the second shell portion comprising a bottom portion. 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises a right/left split configuration, the first shell portion comprising a right portion and the second shell portion comprising a left portion. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises a front/back split configuration, the first shell portion comprising a front portion and the second shell portion comprising a back portion. 
     
     
         10 . A two-piece mobile device case for protecting an electronic device, wherein the case comprises a first shell portion having at least one first magnetic coupling element and a second shell portion having at least one second magnetic coupling element, wherein the at least one first and second magnetic coupling elements releasably couple together to retain the electronic device between the first and second shell portions in an assembled configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 10 , wherein an internal chamber is defined between the first and second shell portions, and wherein the internal chamber is adapted to house the electronic device in the assembled configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one first magnetic coupling element comprises a magnet and the at least one second magnetic coupling element comprises a magnetically attracted material. 
     
     
         13 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one first and second magnetic coupling elements both comprise magnets, and wherein the magnets are aligned with opposite polarities facing one another in the assembled configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second shell portions define an interface therebetween, and wherein the at least one first and second magnetic coupling elements are aligned across the interface. 
     
     
         15 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 14 , comprising at least two aligned pairs of first and second magnetic coupling elements aligned across the interface from one another. 
     
     
         16 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 10 , wherein the first and/or second shell portions comprises one or more cutout portions for allowing access to or use of controls, ports or other features of the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more buttons for operating within the cutout portions to allow for operation of the controls, ports, or other features of the electronic device while at least partially housing or covering the same. 
     
     
         18 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 10 , wherein the case comprises a top/bottom split configuration, the first shell portion comprising a top portion and the second shell portion comprising a bottom portion. 
     
     
         19 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 10 , wherein the case comprises a right/left split configuration, the first shell portion comprising a right portion and the second shell portion comprising a left portion. 
     
     
         20 . The two-piece mobile device case of  claim 10 , wherein the case comprises a front/back split configuration, the first shell portion comprising a front portion and the second shell portion comprising a back portion.