Case for a mobile device with a screen

Abstract

A case for a mobile device with a screen, the case comprising a band arranged to surround the edge of the device. The band comprises a layer of flexible polymer and a layer of a damping material which is softer than the flexible polymer provided within the flexible polymer layer. The damping material has a plurality of integrally formed protrusions projecting inwardly protrusions projecting inwardly from a substantial portion of the inner periphery of the band to engage with the device. The protrusions are provided at least in the corner regions of the case and the protrusions are arranged such that, in normal use there is substantially no contact between the band and the device other than through the protrusions.

1 . A case for a mobile device with a screen, the case comprising a band arranged to surround the edge of the device, the band comprising a layer of flexible polymer and a layer of a damping material which is softer than the flexible polymer provided within the flexible polymer layer, the damping material having a plurality of integrally formed protrusions projecting inwardly from a substantial portion of the inner periphery of the band to engage with the device, wherein the protrusions are arranged such that, in normal use there is substantially no contact between the band and the device other than through the protrusions; wherein the protrusions are provided at least in the corner regions of the case. 
     
     
         2 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein there are no protrusions, or shorter protrusions along portions of the longer edges of the case such that the case will not contact the device in these regions in normal use. 
     
     
         3 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are ribs extending generally across the depth of the band and have a curved cross-section when viewed in a section taken in the plane of the device. 
     
     
         4 . A case according to  claim 3 , wherein the curved cross-section is substantially semi-circular. 
     
     
         5 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the damping material is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting protrusions which are imbedded in the flexible polymer material. 
     
     
         6 . A case according to  claim 5 , wherein the outwardly projecting protrusions are ribs which are rectangular in cross-section when viewed in a section taken in the plane of the device. 
     
     
         7 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein a layer of material harder than the flexible polymer material is provided outside of the flexible polymer material. 
     
     
         8 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible polymer layer has a Shore A hardness range of 70 to 90. 
     
     
         9 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the layer of damping material has a Shore A hardness range of 0 to 70. 
     
     
         10 . A case according to  claim 7 , wherein the layer of material harder than the flexible polymer material has a hardness range of 75 Shore A to 85 Shore D. 
     
     
         11 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are robust enough, so that, when dropped from 7 meters onto a hard surface, the protrusions will prevent contact between the device and the material between adjacent protrusions. 
     
     
         12 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein each protrusion protrudes for a depth at least 0.5 mm from the band, has a width greater than the depth and a pitch between adjacent protrusions which is greater than twice the width. 
     
     
         13 . A case according to  claim 12 , wherein the depth of each protrusion is at least 1 mm. 
     
     
         14 . A case according to  claim 8 , wherein the protrusions are robust enough, so that, when dropped from 7 meters onto a hard surface, the protrusions will prevent contact between the device and the material between adjacent protrusions. 
     
     
         15 . A case according to  claim 9 , wherein the protrusions are robust enough, so that, when dropped from 7 meters onto a hard surface, the protrusions will prevent contact between the device and the material between adjacent protrusions.