Case for portable electronic device

Abstract

A case for a portable electronic device that includes a base layer and a perimeter bumper coupled to the base layer for protecting the device is disclosed herein. The base layer is made from a first material and a perimeter bumper is made of a second material, different from the first material. The perimeter bumper has a different elasticity than the base layer. The elastic frame perimeter bumper extends around a perimeter of the case to provide cushioning or padding for side edges of the case.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A case for a portable electronic device comprising:
 a rigid base formed of a first plastic material having a first elasticity;   a flexible perimeter wall connected to an edge of the rigid base formed of a second plastic material having a second elasticity,
 wherein the first elasticity is different from the second elasticity, 
 wherein the rigid base and flexible perimeter wall define an interior space that is adapted to hold a portable electronic device, 
 wherein a first interior surface of the flexible perimeter wall faces toward the interior space, 
 wherein a second interior surface of the flexible perimeter wall faces towards the interior space and comprises a plurality of apertures formed therein, 
 wherein the first and second interior surfaces are transverse, and 
 wherein the flexible perimeter wall is overmolded over the rigid base; and 
   a plurality of fasteners coupled to the first surface of the flexible perimeter wall and integrally formed with the rigid base,
 wherein each of the fasteners includes a top ledge that extends into the interior space and each of the fasteners is formed of the first plastic material having the first elasticity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the first interior surface of the flexible perimeter wall that faces towards the interior space is a scalloped surface that has a regular pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 2  wherein the scalloped surface has a regular pattern of protrusions that extends toward the interior space. 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 1  wherein second interior surface of the flexible perimeter wall comprises a plurality of aperture walls, wherein one of the aperture wall surrounds a corresponding apertures formed in the second surface. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 1  wherein each of the apertures formed in the second wall and each of the aperture walls are obround. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the first plastic material is polycarbonate and the second plastic material is thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the first plastic material is polycarbonate and the second plastic material is a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the first plastic material is polycarbonate and the second plastic material is a combination of a thermoplastic polyurethane and a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the rigid base and flexible perimeter wall are coupled by a tongue-and-groove connection. 
     
     
         10 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the flexible perimeter wall comprises:
 a first wall portion; 
 a second wall portion; 
 a third wall portion; 
 a fourth wall portion; and 
 a plurality of fasteners, 
 wherein the first and third wall portions are connected to first opposite edges of the base, the second and third wall positions are connected to second opposite edges of the base, and the first, second, and third walls each include at least one of the fasteners. 
 
     
     
         11 . The case of  claim 10  wherein the ledge of each fastener is substantially transverse to the first interior sidewall of the flexible perimeter wall. 
     
     
         12 . A case for a portable electronic device comprising:
 a rigid base formed of a first plastic material having a first elasticity; and   a flexible perimeter wall connected to an edge of the rigid base formed of a second plastic material having a second elasticity,
 wherein the first elasticity is different from the second elasticity, 
 wherein the rigid base and flexible perimeter wall define an interior space that is adapted to hold a portable electronic device, 
 wherein a first interior surface of the flexible perimeter wall that faces towards the interior space is a scalloped surface where the scalloped surface has a regular pattern, 
 wherein a second interior surface of the flexible perimeter wall that faces towards the interior space comprises a plurality of apertures formed in the second interior surface, 
 wherein the first and second interior surfaces of the flexible perimeters wall are transverse, 
 wherein the flexible inner wall is overmolded over the rigid base, and 
 wherein the flexible perimeter wall comprises a first wall portion, a second wall portion, a third wall portion, a fourth wall portion; and 
   a plurality of fasteners coupled to the first interior surface of the flexible perimeter and integrally formed with the rigid base,
 wherein the first and third wall portions are connected to first opposite edges of the base, the second and third wall portions are connected to second opposite edges of the base, a least one fastener is coupled to each of the first, second, and third wall portions, each of the fasteners includes a ledge that extends into the interior space, each of the ledges of each of the fasteners is substantially transverse to the first interior surface of the flexible perimeter wall, and the interior sidewall faces towards the interior space and is substantially transverse to the base. 
   
     
     
         13 . The case of  claim 12  wherein each of the fasteners is formed of the first material. 
     
     
         14 . The case of  claim 12  wherein the second interior surface of the flexible perimeter wall comprises a plurality of aperture walls, wherein one of the aperture walls surrounds a corresponding one of the apertures formed in the second surface. 
     
     
         15 . The case of  claim 12  wherein each of the apertures formed in the second wall and each of the aperture walls is obround. 
     
     
         16 . The case of  claim 12  wherein the scalloped surface has a regular pattern of protrusions that extends toward the interior space. 
     
     
         17 . The case of  claim 16 , wherein each of the fasteners comprises a fastener sidewall coupled to the first interior surface of the flexible perimeter wall and a surface of each of the fastener sidewalls faces towards the interior space and is recessed from the interior space with respect to the peaks of the protrusions. 
     
     
         18 . The case of  claim 12  wherein the first plastic material is polycarbonate and the second plastic material is a thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplastic elastomer, or a combination of a thermoplastic polyurethane and a thermoplastic elastomer.