Mobile device case having tension elements

Abstract

A housing sized to at least partially retain the mobile device, the housing defining an interior and a plurality of side wall portions substantially surrounding the interior; and at least one resiliently movable tension element molded to a portion of the side wall portions, the at least one resiliently movable tension element extending into the interior of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A case for a mobile device, comprising:
 a housing sized to at least partially retain the mobile device, the housing defining an interior and a plurality of side wall portions substantially surrounding the interior; and   at least one resiliently movable tension element coupled to a portion of the plurality of side wall portions, the at least one resiliently movable tension element being biased in a first position in which the at least one resiliently movable tension element extends into the interior of the housing, and the at least one resiliently movable tension element being displaceable from the first position to a second position, the second position being one of farther into the interior of the housing than in the first position and outward from the plurality of side wall portions.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a bottom portion, and wherein the bottom portion includes an interior surface facing the interior and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension element is included on the interior surface of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 2 , wherein the interior surface of the bottom portion includes a substantially rigid material, the exterior surface includes a substantially resilient material, and at least a portion of the substantially rigid material is molded to at least a portion of the substantially rigid material. 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension element defines a junction with the plurality of side wall portions, the junction having a resilient strip connecting the at least one resiliently movable tension element to the plurality of side wall portions. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension element is a nub. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension element contacts and applies tension to the mobile device when the mobile device is inserted within the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one movable tension element extends through a portion of the plurality of side wall portions when biased in the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a first portion removeably securable to a second portion, and wherein the plurality of side wall portions are included on the first portion. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of side wall portions include an interior surface facing the interior and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and wherein the plurality of side wall portions includes four side wall portions, and wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension element is included on the exterior surface of each of the four sides walls. 
     
     
         10 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of side wall portion includes an interior surface facing the interior and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and wherein the exterior surface of the plurality of side wall portions defines a major axis, and wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension element is operable to extend an outward distance away from the major axis of the exterior surface when a pushing force is applied to the at least one resiliently movable tension element. 
     
     
         11 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of side wall portion includes an interior surface facing the interior and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension elements operate to space the mobile device a distance away from the interior surface when the mobile device is retained within the housing. 
     
     
         12 . A case for a mobile device, comprising:
 a housing sized to at least partially retain the mobile device, the housing defining an interior, an interior surface facing the interior, an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and a plurality of side wall portions surrounding the interior;   at least one resiliently movable tension element affixed to the exterior surface of each of the plurality of side wall portions, the at least one resiliently movable tension element being biased in a first position extending into the interior of the housing; and   the at least one resiliently movable tension element being displaceable from the first position to a second position, the second position being farther into the interior of the housing than in the first position, and displaceable from the first position to a third position, the third position being outward from the plurality of side wall portions.   
     
     
         13 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension element includes a nub. 
     
     
         14 . The case of  claim 13 , wherein the nub defines a blunt surface, and wherein the blunt surface contacts the mobile device when the mobile device is retained within the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein when the at least resiliently movable tension element is in the first position the at least one resiliently movable tension element applies a force to the mobile device when the mobile device is retained within the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension element defines a junction with a corresponding side wall, the junction having a resilient strip connecting the resiliently movable tension element to the corresponding side wall portion. 
     
     
         17 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least one resiliently movable tension element is molded to each of the plurality of side wall portions. 
     
     
         18 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein the housing further includes a bottom portion, and wherein the at least one resiliently movable tension is included on the bottom portion. 
     
     
         19 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of side wall portions includes a resilient material molded to the exterior surface, and wherein the at least resiliently movable tension element is coupled to the resilient material. 
     
     
         20 . A case for a mobile device, comprising:
 a housing sized to at least partially retain a mobile device, the housing defining an interior, a plurality of side wall portions substantially surrounding the interior, each of the plurality of side wall portions including an interior surface facing the interior and having a substantially rigid layer, the substantially rigid layer having a plurality of openings;   a nub molded to each of the plurality of side wall portions and the bottom portion, each nub defining a blunt surface in contact with the mobile device when the mobile device is retained within the housing, each nub being displaceable into and out of a corresponding opening in the substantially rigid layer; and   each nub being configured to space the mobile device a distance away from the plurality of side wall portions when the mobile device is retained within the housing.