PROTECTIVE FOLIO CASE WITH SPLITTER

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/626,332, filed Jan. 29, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002]Various types of electronic devices are used for communication, entertainment, and/or computing purposes. These devices may include one or more of a smartphone, a computer, a tablet computer, an electronic reader, a data entry device, a medical device, a camera, or the like. These devices often include components such as touchscreens, buttons, switches, and/or other interactive controls. Due to the sensitive nature and relatively high cost of these electronic devices, it is desirable to protect these devices from physical damage and/or other external forces.

[0003]There is sometimes a need to connect multiple accessories or cables to these types of electronic devices. Also, as electronic devices become smaller and/or more complex, their external electrical interfaces may also become smaller, more complex, and/or further integrated. In some situations, manufacturers of electronic devices may include multiple functions or electrical signals within a single electrical interface or within a smaller number of electrical interfaces on the electronic device. In some situations, the electrical interface may be proprietary from an electrical, mechanical, and/or protocol standpoint. Newer types and styles of connectors may make it difficult for users to connect the electronic devices to legacy peripherals, to multiple external devices, simultaneously, and/or to external devices that do not have connectors compatible with the electrical interface(s) which are integral to the electronic device.

SUMMARY

[0004]In one example, a protective case or cover is provided for use with an electronic device. The electronic device has a front surface, a back surface, side surfaces, an interactive touchscreen, and an electrical connector. The protective case includes a case back configured for receiving and at least partially covering the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case. The case back is configured to at least partially cover the back surface and at least partially cover respective side surfaces of the installed electronic device. The protective case also includes a case front configured to attach to the case back to retain the installed electronic in the protective case while still permitting access to the interactive touchscreen of the installed electronic device. The protective case also includes a folio cover having a plurality of folio panels and is pivotably attached to the case back. The folio cover is configured to cover the interactive touchscreen of the installed electronic device when the folio cover is in a closed position and permit access to the interactive touchscreen of the installed electronic device when the front panel is in an opened position. The folio panels of the folio cover are configured to fold into a stand for the protective case when the folio cover is in the opened position. The protective case also includes an electrical splitter having three or more electrical connectors, wherein a first electrical connector of the splitter is configured to interface to the electrical connector of the installed electronic device and provide subsets of the electrical signals from the electrical connector of the installed electronic device to each of second and third electrical connectors of the splitter, respectively. In some examples, the protective case or cover may also be an assembly that includes a soft cover or cushion cover that covers at least a portion of the assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

[0005]In the drawings,

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a protective case assembly in one embodiment of the improvements disclosed herein;

[0007]FIG. 2 illustrates a front isometric view of the protective case assembly of FIG. 1;

[0008]FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the protective case assembly of FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 4 illustrates a rear isometric view of the protective case assembly of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 5 illustrates a front isometric view of a portion of the protective case assembly of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of the protective case assembly of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded assembly view of the protective case assembly of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 8 illustrates the protective case assembly of FIG. 1 in a stand configuration; and

[0014]FIG. 9 illustrates the protective case assembly of FIG. 1 in an alternate stand configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015]The subject matter described herein relates to a protective enclosure, case, or cover for use with an electronic device. It is desired to have the electronic device protected from impact, adverse environmental conditions, mishandling, and/or damage from drops or falls. It is desirable that the protective enclosure for the electronic device be relatively easy to install and it is desirable for the protective enclosure to have a folio portion to cover and protect the touchscreen of the installed electronic device when not in use. The protective enclosure can be of any appropriate size and dimension so long as it is capable of housing an electronic device and protecting it, for instance from drops and scratches.

[0016]In certain embodiments, the protective enclosure can be a case for encasing a mobile or portable electronic device, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, electronic reader, medical device, camera, or the like. In other instances, the protective enclosure can be part of the electronic device, which protects the various components and/or electronic circuitry of the electronic device. For example, the protective enclosure can be or include some or all of the housing of a portable electronic device, smartphone, or medical device, which encases the electronic components of the mobile electronic device.

[0017]The folio portion of the cover for the electronic device can provide an outer layer of protection for the electronic device. Folio-style cases can have a portion of the protective enclosure that flips open for easy access to the installed electronic device and flips closed to protect portions of the electronic device when not in use, such as the touchscreen of the electronic device. A folio-style protective enclosure can be similar to the outer cover of a book, with one portion comprising a portion of the back of the protective enclosure and another portion comprising a portion of the front of the protective enclosure, with one portion able to flip open, to provide access the electronic device.

[0018]In certain exemplary instances, a protective enclosure can provide a measure of shock absorbance for the electronic device housed within the protective enclosure. The protective enclosure can also provide protection against droppage, scratching, chipping, breaking, fracturing, mishandling, and/or damage of the electronic device and/or a touchscreen associated therewith, when housed within the protective enclosure. Another advantage of the protective enclosure provided herein is that, in various particular embodiments, it may be a one-piece assembly with a folio cover, although in other embodiments it may be a multi-part assembly that has been engineered to easily fit together thereby making assembly easy. The folio cover of the protective enclosure can cover the front surface of the electronic device and the touchscreen of the electronic device, while allowing or permitting access to the touchscreen when desired.

[0019]Also, as electronic devices become smaller and/or more complex, their external electrical interfaces may also become smaller, more complex, and/or further integrated. In some situations, manufacturers of electronic devices may include multiple functions within a single electrical interface or within a smaller number of electrical interfaces on the electronic device. In some situations, the electrical interface may be proprietary from an electrical, mechanical, and/or protocol standpoint. Newer types and styles of connectors may make it difficult for users to connect the electronic devices to legacy peripherals, to multiple peripherals simultaneously, and/or to external devices which do not have connectors compatible with the electrical interface(s) on the electronic device. In some embodiments, the case or covers disclosed herein may include an electrical splitter which allows multiple external devices or cables to be simultaneously, electrically connected to the installed electronic device.

[0020]It is to be understood that although particular embodiments are presented herein, such as a protective enclosure for an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a smartphone, tablet computer, electronic reader, camera, fitness monitor, or the like, the device housed may be any number of different shapes, sizes, and configurations, and as such, the herein disclosed enclosures can be of any number of different shapes, sizes, and configurations without departing from the nature of the disclosure. Hence, the scope of the protective enclosures described herein with respect to the particular embodiments set forth in reference to the Figures is not intended to be unduly limiting.

[0021]The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. The Figures illustrate various protective enclosures that can include a one-piece multi-layered case with a folio cover that retains and houses an electronic device and can cover the front surface of the electronic device, or a case that is assembled from multiple pieces.

[0022]FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a protective case assembly 100 in one embodiment of the invention. Case assembly 100 includes a case back 110 (see FIGS. 2-9) and a case front 120. Case back 110 and case front 120 are configured to at least partially and/or temporarily receive and encase an electronic device 900 (see FIGS. 7 and 9). Case back 110 may include a back and one or more side portions configured to at least partially cover a back and sides of electronic device 900. In one example, electronic device 900 may be a tablet computer. Case front 120 removably attaches to case back 110 through a snap fit, an interference fit, and/or other attachment features to temporarily or selectively retain electronic device 900 in case assembly 100. In some examples, a case assembly may not necessarily include a case front 120 and electronic device may snap into or be held by only case back 110 through use of an interference fit or a flexible fit to electronic device 900.

[0023]The material(s) used to create and form each of case back 110 and case front 120 can include any suitable material such as a thermoplastic polymer, a synthetic polymer, a polycarbonate, plastic, nylon, metal, ceramic, wood, and/or glass-filled nylon. Alternatively, any other material, or combination of materials, that provide beneficial performance characteristics may be used. These components may be formed using any suitable process, such as an injection molding process. The materials used may be scratch resistant, water resistant, chemical resistant, and/or anti-microbial.

[0024]In some examples, case front 120 may have an aperture configured or adapted for accessing the interactive touchscreen of installed electronic device 900. In other examples, the aperture may be covered with a transparent, or substantially transparent, film or glass that protects electronic 900 and further allows operation of the interactive touchscreen through the film or glass. Each of case back 110 and case front 120 may also include one or more cushioning members, such as a compressible foam, for further securing and protecting installed electronic device 900.

[0025]Case assembly 100 also includes a folio cover 130 which includes a plurality of folio panels, such as first folio panel 131, second folio panel 132, and third folio panel 133. Folio cover 130 also includes first folio tab 134 and second folio tab 135 which are attached at opposite or opposing edges of folio cover 130. Folio panels 131-133 are pivotably, flexibly, hingedly, and/or foldably attached to each other and to folio tabs 134 and 135 such that these elements are attached to each other but can fold or pivot relative to each other as described in further detail below. FIG. 1 illustrates folio cover 130 in a closed position covering the interactive touchscreen of installed electronic device 900. As described in further detail below, folio cover 130 can be transitioned to an opened position to access electronic device 900 and/or transitioned to other various configurations.

[0026]FIG. 2 illustrates a front isometric view of case assembly 100. Folio cover 130 is pivotably attached to case back 120 with or at first folio tab 134. Folio cover 130 is configured or adapted to pivot around first folio tab 134 to be positioned to the side of or behind case back 120. Second folio tab 135 also extends around to a side and/or back of case back 120 to temporarily hold folio cover 130 in the illustrated closed position. As described in further detail below, second folio tab 135 may also serve as or include a stylus holder or storage location. Folio cover 130 may also include one or more magnets or metallic elements configured to interact with installed electronic device 900 for activating wake and/or sleep functions on installed electronic device 900. Folio cover 130 may also include one or more magnets or metallic elements configured to temporarily or selectively hold folio cover 130 in the closed position.

[0027]FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of case assembly 100. The back surface of case back 110 includes a label area 170 which may be used for displaying or attaching identifying information, a barcode, an rfid tag, ownership information, and/or an asset tag. Label area 170 may be recessed and/or may include a substantially transparent window for protecting any tag or information placed in or on label area 170. The back surface of case assembly 100 also includes an opening 172 for providing optical access for a camera on a back surface of installed electronic device 900. In some examples, opening 172 may be covered with a transparent film or glass.

[0028]FIG. 3 also illustrates optional soft cover 140 which extends around at least the perimeter or edges of case assembly 100. In some examples, soft cover 140 may also extend over some or all of the back of case assembly 100. Soft cover 140 comprises a cushioning or compliant material that absorbs shocks or impacts to case assembly 100 and/or installed electronic device 900. Soft cover 140 may be stretchable and may be optional and/or removable. As illustrated in FIG. 4, soft cover 140 may also have raised or extended portions to raise case assembly 100 relative to a surface it is placed on and/or provide clearance underneath it. The extended portions of soft cover 140 may act as legs or feet to raise the assembly off of a desk or surface and/or provide clearance for splitter 160 such that the case assembly is not resting on splitter 160 on the surface. These extended portions of soft cover 140 may also serve a non-slip function.

[0029]Case assembly 100 also includes a splitter 160 which extends through a back wall of case back 110 into the internal cavity of case assembly 100 to interface with installed electronic device 900 through electrical connector 165 (see FIG. 5). Electrical connector 165 may be or may include a USB connector, a mini USB connector, a micro USB connector, a USB type C connector, an APPLE LIGHTNING connector, a proprietary connector, and/or another type of connector.

[0030]As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, splitter 160 branches, splits, separates, and/or demultiplexes electrical signals received from electrical device 900 at electrical connector 165 out to two or more electrical connectors on an outside surface of case assembly 100, such as first connector 161 and second connector 162. Electrical connectors 161 and 162 may each have a different format than electrical connector 165 and may be compatible with legacy or other external devices, cables, and/or connectors that will not interface directly with electrical connector 165. The described splitting function may also occur in the opposite direction. In other words, signals from connectors 161 and 162 on the outside of case assembly 100 may be combined, joined, and/or multiplexed together and routed to electrical connector 165 on the inside of case assembly 100 and routed to electrical device 900 through electrical connector 165.

[0031]Splitter 160 may combine, separate, multiplex, demultiplex, modulate, demodulate, interlace, interleave, reorder, encode, decode, change the timing of, change the sequence of, and/or authenticate any of the signals or combinations of the signals to convert the signals between a format/protocol associated with any of the electrical connectors to any of the other electrical connectors. Splitter 160 may include any combination of discrete components, integrated circuits, electrical conductors, passive analog components, active analog components, passive digital components, active digital components, programmable devices, a printed circuit board, a microcontroller, programmable logic, and/or a computer processor.

[0032]In one specific example, third connector 165 may be a USB-C connector. Splitter 160 splits the signals received at third connector 165 from the installed electronic device 900 out to two different connectors. In this example, first connector 161 may be another USB connector or another type of power connector for providing charging power to installed electronic device 900 through splitter 160. At the same time, second connector 162 may be a conventional headphone jack for connecting a set of headphones. FIG. 6 illustrates cables 902 and 903 connected to connectors 161 and 162, respectively. FIG. 6 also illustrates a stylus 901 stored in and/or held in place by second folio tab 135. Stylus 901 may be retained with one or more magnets, with an interference fit, with a hook and loop fastener, and/or with another type of attachment mechanism.

[0033]In other examples, any of the connectors discussed herein may alternately be other types of connectors. Further, splitter 160 may include one more additional electrical connectors such that it includes a total of four, five, six, or more electrical connectors. In one embodiment, splitter 160 may include a display connector, such as a DisplayPort connector, in addition to connectors 161 and 162. In this way, additional peripherals or devices may be simultaneously connected to installed electronic device 900 while also providing electrical power to installed electronic device 900. Beneficially, even though an electronic device may include a new type of connector with integrated functions, splitter 160 enables the user to still make use of legacy peripherals, devices, peripherals, or accessories with legacy connectors. In some examples, splitter 160 is removable and may be replaced or substituted with another instance of an electrical splitter which interfaces to the installed electronic device and includes different types of electrical connectors and/or different numbers of electrical connectors which may include or perform different functions than those of splitter 160.

[0034]FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded assembly view of case assembly 100. As illustrated, case front 120 captures electronic device 900 inside protective case 100 by attaching to or removably snapping onto case back 110. Folio cover 130 may be permanently attached or removably attached to the rest of the assembly. Case assembly 130 may also include a screen protector for protecting the interactive display of installed electronic device 900. Any component of case assembly 100 may also include a security component, such as an rfid tag or an anti-theft device.

[0035]FIG. 8 illustrates a rear view of case assembly 100 in a stand configuration. In FIG. 8, folio cover 130 has been transitioned to an open position such that it makes the interactive touchscreen of electronic device 900 accessible by a user and also acts as a stand for holding the entire case assembly in a viewing position on a horizontal, or near horizontal, surface. When folio cover 130 is opened as illustrated in FIG. 8, folio panels 131-133 move, pivot, or fold relative to each other due to living hinges, or other similar elements, attaching them to each other. Folio cover 130 may be folded back to form the triangular cross sectional shape illustrated in FIG. 8. Each of folio panels 131-133 and folio tabs 134 and 135 may include one or more magnets and/or one or more metallic elements that are positioned such that they are adjacent to other of the magnets and/or metallic elements when in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 8. The magnets and/or metallic elements are attracted to each other to tend to hold folio cover 130 in the stand position illustrated in FIG. 8 until a user intentionally applies sufficient force to overcome the magnetic forces. One or more magnets and/or metallic elements may also be positioned and used to hold folio cover 130 in the closed position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0036]FIG. 9 illustrates case assembly 100 in an alternate stand configuration. Similar to FIG. 8, folio cover 130 is opened and positioned to hold installed electronic device 900 at a preferred viewing angle while sitting on a horizontal surface. Various magnets and metallic elements may be embedded in various locations of case assembly 100 to alternately hold folio cover 130 in various stand positions.

[0037]The Figures may depict exemplary configurations for an apparatus of the disclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the enclosures described herein. The apparatus is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure, especially in any following claims, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

[0038]Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read to mean “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as “conventional”, traditional”, “standard”, “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although item, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more”, “at least”, “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. Additionally, where a range is set forth, the upper and lower limitations of the range are inclusive of all of the intermediary units therein.

[0039]The foregoing disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Other modifications and variations may be possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments described in the foregoing disclosure were chosen to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention. It is intended that the claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except as limited by the prior art.