Protective case for mobile electronic device with integrated camera ring stand

Abstract

A protective case for an electronic device having an integrated camera ring stand is disclosed. The protective case includes a device compartment defined by multiple walls including a back face wall that is configured to overlie the back face of the device when the device is in the case. The back face wall includes a first aperture that is configured to encompass the camera feature on the back face of the mobile device when the device is in the case and a hinged stand that is coupled to the back face wall and movable from a fixed closed position to fixed open positions. The stand includes a second aperture that is configured to overlie the first aperture to facilitate camera operation in both the closed and open positions. The stand may be retained within a stand housing that is housed within a camera ring housing that may be a separate component from the stand housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective case for a mobile electronic device having a touchscreen on its front face and a camera lens on an opposing back face, the protective case comprising:
 a mobile device compartment configured to retain and be reversibly attachable to the mobile electronic device, the mobile device compartment is defined by multiple walls including a back face wall, the back face wall has a first aperture configured to encompass the camera lens on the back face of the mobile device when the device is in the case; and   a stand coupled by a hinge to the back face wall and adapted to be movable from a closed position to an open position, the stand further comprising a first end section and a second end section, wherein the first end section is closer to the hinge than the second end section, and wherein the second end section further including a second aperture that is dimensioned to at least partially encompass the camera lens when the stand is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second apertures are each configured to encompass both the camera lens and a flash module on the back face of the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the second aperture is coextensive with the first aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the second aperture is defined by a perimeter beveled surface. 
     
     
         5 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the first aperture includes a first width and a first length, the first width is greater than the first length, and wherein the second aperture includes a second width and a second length, the second width is greater than the second length. 
     
     
         6 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the first aperture is defined by a first perimeter surface and the second aperture is defined by a second perimeter surface, and wherein the first and second perimeter surfaces are black in color. 
     
     
         7 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein in the closed position, the stand is fixed in position relative to the back face wall. 
     
     
         8 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein in the closed position, the stand is magnetically fixed in position relative to the back face wall. 
     
     
         9 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein a first magnetic element is coupled to the back of the protective case and wherein the stand includes a second magnetic element adapted to be attracted to the first magnetic element, wherein the first and second magnetic elements are positioned adjacent to one another when the stand is in the closed position, and wherein the attraction between the first and second magnetic elements retains the stand in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein when the stand is in the open position, the stand is fixed in position relative to the back face wall. 
     
     
         11 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein when the stand is in the open position, the stand is mechanically fixed in position relative to the back face wall by a detent that resists rotation of the stand. 
     
     
         12 . The protective case of  claim 1 , wherein the first end section of the stand is coupled by the hinge to the back face wall. 
     
     
         13 . A protective case for a mobile electronic device having a touchscreen on its front face and a camera lens on an opposing back face, the protective case comprising:
 a mobile device compartment configured to retain and be reversibly attachable to the mobile electronic device, the mobile device compartment is defined by multiple walls including a back face wall, the back face wall has a first aperture configured to encompass the camera lens on the back face of the mobile device when the device is in the case; and   a stand coupled by a hinge to the back face wall and adapted to be movable from a closed position to an open position, the stand further comprising a first end section and a second end section, the second end section further including a second aperture that is dimensioned to at least partially encompass the camera lens when the stand is in the closed position, wherein the back face wall includes a camera ring housing that is configured to surround the camera lens of the mobile device when the device is in the case, and wherein the camera ring housing further defining a second compartment that is dimensioned to receive a camera ring stand housing and the stand when the stand is in the closed position.   
     
     
         14 . The protective case of  claim 13 , wherein the stand is hinged to the back face by the stand housing that is coupled within the camera ring housing, wherein the stand housing further defining a third compartment that is dimensioned to receive the stand when the stand is in the closed position and a third aperture that is configured to encompass the camera lens on the back face of the mobile device when the device is in the case. 
     
     
         15 . The protective case of  claim 14 , wherein the first, second and third apertures are each defined by perimeter surfaces that are black in color. 
     
     
         16 . The protective case of  claim 14 , wherein the camera ring housing is molded into the back face wall. 
     
     
         17 . The protective case of  claim 14 , wherein the stand and stand housing is formed of metal. 
     
     
         18 . A protective case for a mobile electronic device having a touchscreen on its front face and a camera lens and flash module on an opposing back face, the protective case comprising:
 a mobile device compartment configured to retain and be reversibly attachable to the mobile electronic device, the mobile device compartment is defined by multiple walls including a back face wall which including a first aperture configured to encompass the camera lens and flash module on the back face of the mobile device when the device is in the case; and   a stand having a first end section and a second end section, wherein the first end section is coupled to the back face wall by a hinge and the second end section including a second aperture which has a beveled outer perimeter surface, wherein the stand is configured to surround the first aperture and is movable from a fixed closed position to a fixed open position.   
     
     
         19 . The protective case of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second apertures are each configured to encompass both the camera lens and a flash module on the back face of the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The protective case of  claim 18 , wherein the second aperture is coextensive with the first aperture.