Protective case for electronic device with retractable home button protective cover

Abstract

A protective case for a mobile device having a retractable home button protective cover is disclosed. The home button cover is configured to allow the user to reversibly cover and uncover the home button of the mobile electronic device by moving the home button cover from a fully open position to a fully closed position. When in the closed position, the home button cover physically protects or isolates the home button from user interaction. A child-proof locking mechanism is provided to secure and lock the home button in the closed position. In one implementation, the protective case is configured to have a front portion that includes the retractable home button cover and a back portion to which the front portion is reversibly secured. The front portion is configured to retain the mobile device for insertion into the back portion. Various aspects of the construction and implementation of the protective case and the home button mechanism and its use are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a protective case for a mobile electronic device having a touchscreen display and a home button, said method comprising:
 providing a first portion of a case configured to overlie the touch screen display and the home button of the mobile device and including a retractable home button cover;   attaching the mobile device to the first portion of the case;   providing a second portion of the case;   attaching the second portion of the case to the first portion of the case; and   moving the home button cover back and forth from a first open position to a second fully closed position that is configured to shield the home button from user interaction when the device is in the case.   
     
     
         2 . A method of using a protective case for a mobile electronic device having a touchscreen display and a home button, said method comprising:
 providing a user removable compartment configured to receive and cover said mobile electronic device; and   providing a retractable home button cover configured to move back and forth in the case from a fully open position to a fully closed position,   wherein the home button cover includes a locking mechanism that locks the cover in a fixed position when the cover is in the fully closed position,   wherein the locking mechanism of the home button cover includes a catch and a latch that is configured to engage the catch and thereby lock the home button cover, and   wherein the home button cover includes a protective panel that slides along a first slot formed within the case and oriented in a first direction and wherein the latch is compressible along a second slot formed within the case and oriented in a second direction, and wherein said first direction is transversely oriented relative to said second direction.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism of the home button cover is configured to require the application of simultaneous and coordinated action to unlock and retract the home button cover from the fully closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the catch and the latch are mounted within recessed cavities of a front portion of the case. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the catch is configured to extend from a protective panel that is configured to physically shield the home button when the home button cover is in the fully closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the case includes a right side and a left side and the latch is position in a recessed cavity that is configured to reside on the right side of the case. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first slot and the second slot are configured to be positioned on opposing sides of the home button. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said latch is pinned within a recessed cavity formed within a front portion of the case. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said protective panel slides within a recessed cavity formed within a front portion of the case. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the recessed cavity is configured to extend across the home button so as to reside on opposing sides of the home button. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the protective case is formed of a bottom portion and a front portion, the front portion being configured to overlie the touchscreen of the mobile device and house the home button cover. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the front portion includes a transparent panel that is configured to reside adjacent to the touchscreen display of the mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the home button cover is configured to include a friction fit that fixes the position of the home button in an open position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the strength of the friction fit varies depending on the position of the home button cover. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using a protective case for a mobile electronic device having a touchscreen display, said method comprising:
 providing a user removable compartment configured to receive and cover said mobile electronic device; and   providing a retractable cover configured to move back and forth in the case from a fully open position to a fully closed position,   wherein the retractable cover includes a locking mechanism that locks the cover in a fixed position when the cover is in the fully closed position, wherein the locking mechanism of the retractable cover includes a catch and a latch that is configured to engage the catch and thereby lock the retractable cover, and   wherein the retractable cover includes a protective panel that slides along a first slot formed within the case and oriented in a first direction and wherein the latch is compressible along a second slot formed within the case and oriented in a second direction, and wherein said first direction is transversely oriented relative to said second direction.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism of the retractable cover is configured to require the application of simultaneous and coordinated action to unlock and retract the retractable cover from the fully closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the catch and the latch are mounted within recessed cavities of a front portion of the case. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said latch is pinned within a recessed cavity formed within a front portion of the case. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said protective panel slides within a recessed cavity formed within a front portion of the case. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the protective case is formed of a bottom portion and a front portion, the front portion being configured to overlie the touchscreen of the mobile device and house the retractable cover.