Case for an Electronic Device

Abstract

A case ( 100 ) for an electronic device comprising: a front cover portion ( 101 ) including a first, external front cover panel comprising a hard material and a second external cover panel ( 101 b ), the second, smaller external cover panel ( 101 b ) and an internal, flexible material cover portion ( 104 ). The case comprises a rear portion ( 102 ) attached to the front cover portion ( 101 ), comprising an outer chassis portion ( 112 ) comprising the hard material and an inner chassis portion ( 114 ) comprising the flexible material, and one or more hinges ( 103 ) configured to allow the cover to open and close over an electronic device when the device is in the case ( 100 ), and wherein the one or more hinges ( 103 ) are formed by channel or groove ( 119 ) formed on an inside face of the flexible material cover portion. The case includes an opening ( 117 ) in the rear portion ( 102 ) case ( 100 ) to allow operation of a camera for the device, wherein the front cover when in a fully open position does not block the camera opening.

1 . A case ( 100 ) for an electronic device comprising:
 a front cover portion ( 101 ) comprising
 a first, external front cover panel ( 101   a ), the first external cover panel ( 101   a ) comprising a hard material; 
 a second external cover panel ( 101   b ), the second, external cover portion ( 101   b ) comprising the hard material, the second external panel cover ( 101   b ) being smaller than the first external cover panel ( 101   a ); 
 an internal, flexible cover portion ( 104 ), 
   a rear portion ( 102 ) attached to the front cover portion ( 101 ), comprising:
 an outer chassis portion ( 112 ) comprising the hard material 
 an inner chassis portion ( 114 ) comprising the flexible material, 
   one or more hinges ( 103 ), the one or more hinges ( 103 ) configured to allow the cover to open and close over an electronic device when the device is in the case ( 100 ), the one or more hinges being configured to allow the first and second panels ( 101   a ,  101   b ) of the front cover portion ( 100 ) to open and be rotated about a spine ( 106 ) and the rear portion ( 102 ) of the case  100 .   
     
     
         2 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , the case ( 100 ) further comprising:
 a plurality of hinges ( 103   a ,  103   b ) including:   a spine hinge ( 103   a ) along an axis between the stiffener and the second cover portion, and   a face cover hinge ( 103   b ) along an axis between the first external, cover panel and the second external cover panel.   
     
     
         3 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 2 , wherein the spine hinge ( 103   a ) allows the cover ( 101 ) to open from the case ( 100 ), and the second face cover hinge allows the cover ( 101 ) to bend around the case ( 100 ) to a parallel position. 
     
     
         4 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hinges ( 103 ) are formed by channel or groove ( 119 ) formed on an inside face of the flexible material cover portion 
     
     
         5 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , the case ( 100 ) further comprising:
 a stiffener portion ( 105 ), the stiffener portion ( 105 ) adapted to connect to the inner flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) along a spine ( 106 ) of the case ( 100 ) and connect to rear portion ( 102 ).   
     
     
         6 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the spine is formed by the stiffener portion ( 105 ) and the inner flexible material portion ( 104 ). 
     
     
         7 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the stiffener portion ( 105 ) connects to the outer chassis portion ( 112 ) of the rear portion. 
     
     
         8 . The case ( 100 )  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner chassis portion ( 114 ) and the internal flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) includes a texture formed in the flexible material. 
     
     
         9 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the inner chassis portion ( 114 ) includes an open area ( 115 ) for attaching the cover to the outer chassis portion ( 112 ). 
     
     
         10 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1  wherein the case ( 100 ) is substantially opaque. 
     
     
         11 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1  wherein the case ( 100 ) is at least partially transparent. 
     
     
         12 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the external front cover ( 101 ) and internal flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) form a flush external surface of the cover ( 101 ) of the case at the one or more hinges ( 103 ). 
     
     
         13 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the case ( 100 ) is constructed with at least one opening positioned such that a phone function of the electronic device can be used when the cover is closed. 
     
     
         14 . The case ( 100 )  claim 1 , wherein the inner flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) forms an inner layer along the portion of the stiffener portion ( 105 ) that attaches to the rear portion ( 102 ) such that it completes the opening ( 115 ) formed by the inner chassis portion ( 114 ). 
     
     
         15 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the hard material is an engineering plastic, hardened plastic, or metal. 
     
     
         16 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the engineering plastic is selected from the group of polycarbonate and ABS. 
     
     
         17 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 2 , further comprising the plurality of hinges ( 103   a ,  103   b ) having a bend radius of at least about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the case further comprises:
 an opening ( 117 ) in the rear portion ( 102 ) case ( 100 ) to allow operation of a camera for the device, wherein the front cover ( 101 ) when in a fully open position does not block the camera opening ( 117 ).   
     
     
         19 . The case ( 100 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the device includes a flash insert ( 111 ) in the camera opening ( 117 ). 
     
     
         20 . A method of making a case as described in each of the above claims ( 100 ) comprising:
 molding an outer chassis portion ( 112 ) comprising a hard material; overmolding the outer chassis portion ( 112 ) with an inner chassis portion ( 114 ) comprising an flexible material to form a rear portion ( 102 ) of the case ( 100 );   molding the one or more face covers ( 101   a , 101   b );   affixing a stiffener portion ( 105 ) in a molding tool;   overmolding the one or more face covers ( 101   a ,  101   b ) with the internal, flexible material cover portion ( 104 ), such that the external front cover ( 101 ) and internal flexible material cover portion ( 104 ) form an external surface of the cover ( 101 ) of the case comprising one or more hinges ( 103   a ,  103   b ) configured to allow the one or more face covers ( 101   a ,  101   b ) to open and close over an electronic device when the device is in the case ( 100 ); and   connecting the cover including the stiffener to the rear portion ( 102 ).