Bumpers For Protective Cases

Abstract

A storage case for an electronic device includes a front panel and a back panel attached to the front panel along a first side, a second side, and a bottom edge, forming an interior. The front and back panels include an outer layer, an inner lining, and a foam layer disposed between the outer layer and the inner lining. A protective bumper extending along a length of the interior is disposed between the front panel and the back panel and between the first side and the second side. The protective bumper can have a cushioning member and an attachment element extending below the cushioning member. A seam along the bottom edge can attach the front panel, the back panel, and the attachment element of the protective bumper so that the protective bumper is affixed within the interior of the storage case.

1 . A storage case for an electronic device, comprising:
 a front panel;   a back panel attached to the front panel along a first side, a second side, and a bottom edge, forming an interior;   a protective bumper disposed between the front panel and the back panel and extending along a length of the interior between the first side and the second side, the protective bumper having a cushioning member and an attachment element extending below the cushioning member; and   a seam along the bottom edge attaching the front panel, the back panel, and the attachment element such that the protective bumper is affixed within the interior.   
     
     
         2 . The storage case of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element comprises a sleeve disposed around and extending below the cushioning member. 
     
     
         3 . The storage case of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         4 . The storage case of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         5 . The storage case of  claim 1 , wherein the front and back panels each comprise an outer layer, an inner lining, and a padding layer disposed between the outer layer and the inner lining. 
     
     
         6 . The storage case of  claim 1 , further comprising a first side panel attaching the back panel to the front panel along the first side, and a second side panel attaching the back panel to the front panel along the second side. 
     
     
         7 . The storage case of  claim 6 , wherein the first side panel attaches to a right edge of the back panel and to a left edge of the front panel, and wherein the second side panel attaches to a left edge of the back panel and to a right edge of the front panel. 
     
     
         8 . The storage case of  claim 1 , further comprising an edge binding disposed along the bottom edge and substantially covering the seam. 
     
     
         9 . The storage case of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member forms a concave surface extending upward along an interior surface of the front panel and an interior surface of the back panel. 
     
     
         10 . The storage case of  claim 1 , wherein the seam comprises a stitched seam. 
     
     
         11 . The storage case of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element comprises a stem integral with the cushioning member, and wherein the seam extends along the stem. 
     
     
         12 . The storage case of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning member comprises a first wing and a second wing, wherein the first wing extends along an interior surface of the front panel and the second wing extends along an interior surface of the back panel. 
     
     
         13 . The storage case of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member is shaped to cradle an electronic device and prevent the electronic device from entering space between the cushioning member and the front and back panels. 
     
     
         14 . The storage case of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of the stem extends beyond the seam, protrudes to an exterior of the storage case, and is visible from the exterior of the storage case. 
     
     
         15 . The storage case of  claim 14 , wherein the cushioning member comprises a first wing and a second wing, wherein the first wing extends along an interior surface of the front panel and the second wing extends along an interior surface of the back panel. 
     
     
         16 . A storage case for an electronic device, comprising:
 a front panel having a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge;   a back panel having a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge;   a first side panel having a front edge, a back edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge;   a second side panel having a front edge, a back edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge,   wherein the left and right edges of the front panel are attached to the front edges of the first and second side panels, respectively, and   wherein the left and right edges of the back panel are attached to the back edges of the second and first side panels, respectively;   a cushioning member comprising a foam cylinder disposed between the front panel and the back panel and extending along a length between the first side panel and the second side panel;   a sleeve disposed around the cushioning member and having an attachment portion extending below the cushioning member; and   a seam attaching the bottom edges of the front panel, the back panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the attachment portion of the sleeve.   
     
     
         17 . The storage case of  claim 16 , wherein seams attach the left and right edges of the front panel to the front edges of the first and second side panels, respectively, and wherein seams attach the left and right edges of the back panel to the back edges of the second and first side panels, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The storage case of  claim 16 , further comprising a zipper along the top edges of the front panel, back panel, first side panel, and second side panel. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a storage case for an electronic device, comprising:
 forming an exterior cover of the storage case by:
 attaching a left edge of a front panel to a front edge of a left side panel; 
 attaching a right edge of the front panel to a front edge of a right side panel; 
 attaching a right edge of a back panel to a back edge of the left side panel; 
 attaching a left edge of the back panel to a back edge of the right side panel; 
   forming an inner lining of the storage case by:
 attaching a left edge of a front liner portion to a right edge of a back liner portion; 
 attaching a right edge of the front liner portion to a left edge of the back liner portion; 
   inserting the inner lining within the exterior cover;   inserting at least one padding member between the inner lining and the exterior cover;   attaching top edges of the exterior cover, the padding member, and the inner lining;   wrapping a cushioning member in a sleeve, the sleeve having a portion extending below the cushioning member;   inserting the cushioning member between the front liner portion and the back liner portion;   attaching bottom edges of the exterior cover, the inner lining, and the sleeve.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein attaching the edges comprises stitching. 
     
     
         21 . The storage case of  claim 1 , wherein the seam extends through an exterior surface of the front panel and the back panel. 
     
     
         22 . The storage case of  claim 16 , wherein the seam extends through an exterior surface of the front panel and the back panel.