Cases for mobile electronic devices for use with auxiliary lenses

Abstract

In some embodiments, high-performance, rugged, or damage-resistant cases for mobile electronic devices, such as mobile communication devices, are provided to enclose and/or protect mobile electronic devices and/or one or more auxiliary products for mobile electronic devices, such as one or more auxiliary lenses, from various hazards, such as impact, shock, and/or ingress of potentially damaging substances, such as water, other liquids, dust, dirt, sand, and/or other debris, etc.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A case configured to receive and to protect a mobile electronic device with an auxiliary lens attached to the mobile electronic device, the case comprising:
 a housing comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being configured to move with respect to each other from an open position to a closed position; and   a cavity within the case configured to receive and to closely conform to the shape of both a mobile electronic device and an auxiliary lens attached to the mobile electronic device in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of the case of  claim 1  and the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the case is shock-resistant. 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the case is water-resistant. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the case is shock-resistant and water-resistant. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 5 , wherein the case complies with one or more industry standards for shock-resistant and water-resistant electronic cases. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 6 , wherein the case complies with one or more military standards for shock-resistance and water-resistances for electronic cases. 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary lens is configured to be positioned entirely within the housing in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of the case and mobile electronic device of  claim 2  and the auxiliary lens. 
     
     
         10 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the close conformance of the cavity with the mobile electronic device and an auxiliary lens is configured to prevent shock damage to the mobile electronic device and the auxiliary lens. 
     
     
         11 . The case of  claim 10  further comprising a flexible or resilient layer positioned within at least a portion of the housing, the flexible or resilient layer. 
     
     
         12 . A water-resistant case for a mobile electronic device, the case comprising:
 a first housing portion;   a second housing portion configured to move relative to the first housing portion; and   a seal positioned between the first and second housing portions in a closed position of the case, at least a portion of the seal being configured to extend along at least a portion of an exterior portion of an auxiliary lens that extends from a region near an onboard lens of a mobile electronic device inside of the case to a region outside of the case.   
     
     
         13 . The combination of the case of  claim 12  with the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of the case and mobile electronic device of  claim 13  and the auxiliary lens. 
     
     
         15 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary lens attaches to the case. 
     
     
         16 . A mobile electronic device case comprising:
 a main case portion that is configured to receive and to protect a majority of a mobile electronic device; and   one or more removably attachable functional case portions, each functional case portion comprising an exterior edge that is configured to generally conform with and generally match an outer edge of the main case portion when the functional case portion is attached to the main case portion, at least one of the functional case portions comprising an auxiliary lens configured to be positioned in optical communication with an onboard camera or onboard lens of a mobile electronic device positioned within the main case portion.   
     
     
         17 . The combination of the mobile electronic device case of  claim 16  and the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile electronic device case of  claim 16 , wherein at least one removably attachable functional case portion is configured to attach to the mobile electronic device case at a corner region of the mobile electronic device case. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile electronic device case of  claim 16 , wherein the removably attachable functional case portion is attachably secured to the mobile electronic device case by way of one or more latches. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile electronic device case of  claim 16 , in combination with a plurality of different removably attachable function case portions comprising lenses with different optical capabilities. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile electronic device case of  claim 16 , wherein the removably attachable functional case portion is configured to receive a plurality of different lenses with different optical capabilities. 
     
     
         22 . A case for a mobile electronic device, comprising:
 a main case portion with a front surface and a rear surface, the main case portion comprising an interior space configured to receive a mobile electronic device; and   a cover portion pivotally attached to the rear surface of the main case portion in a region that is configured to cover a region of the mobile electronic device with an onboard lens or an onboard camera in the mobile electronic device, the surface area of the cover portion being substantially smaller than the surface area of the rear surface, the cover being configured to receive an auxiliary lens;   wherein the cover is configured to move from an open position that permits a mobile electronic device to be inserted in the interior space and a closed position that retains a mobile electronic device in the interior space.   
     
     
         23 . The combination of the case of  claim 22  with the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         24 . The combination of the case of  claim 22  with an auxiliary lens. 
     
     
         25 . The combination of the case of  claim 22  with a plurality of auxiliary lenses with different optical capabilities. 
     
     
         26 . A protective enclosure for a mobile electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising:
 a housing with an open position and a closed position, the housing configured to receive a mobile electronic device in the open position and the housing configured to enclose, to protect, and to seal the mobile electronic device within the housing in the closed position; and   a removable housing portion attached or attachable to an auxiliary lens, the removable housing portion configured to removably attach to the housing in a region of the housing that is configured to be near a region of the mobile electronic device with an onboard lens or onboard camera of the mobile electronic device;   wherein, when the housing is in the closed position and the removable housing portion is removed from the housing, the housing still protects, seals, and encloses the mobile electronic device within the housing.   
     
     
         27 . The combination of the protective enclosure of  claim 26  with the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         28 . The protective enclosure of  claim 26 , further comprising a plurality of removable housing portions comprising lenses with different optical capabilities. 
     
     
         29 . A method of providing protection for a mobile electronic device, comprising:
 providing a case for a mobile electronic device with an internal cavity that is configured to receive a mobile electronic device, wherein the case permits the mobile electronic device to utilize an auxiliary lens while providing shock-resistance and water-resistance to the mobile electronic device.