Mobile device case

摘要

A protective case for housing a mobile device is provided. The protective case comprises a top shell that seals against a top surface of a device and a bottom shell that cradles the back of the device. The top shell provides a downward extension along its perimeter that fits within a pocket formed around at least a portion of the perimeter of the bottom shell. At least the top shell forms an outward extending protrusion that is gripped by one or more backing elements that slide over the exterior of the bottom shell and extend up around the protrusion to grip the top shell and secure it to the bottom shell. Where upper and lower backing elements are used that meet at a parting line along the outer (exterior) surface of the bottom shell, a locking mechanism may be used to pull the backing elements together and hold them in place.

主权项

1. A case for a generally rectangular mobile device having a front surface with an interactive control panel thereon, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface and first and second side surfaces, the case comprising:
a top shell forming a perimeter around the interactive control panel of the mobile device and comprising a first side wall extending toward the back surface of the device along the first side surface of the device, and a second side wall extending toward the back surface of the device along the second side surface of the device, each of the first and second side walls comprising a downward extension and an outward protrusion, each outward protrusion forming a rail that marks the furthest outward point of the top shell away from the interactive control panel along the side wall from which the outward protrusion extends; a bottom shell forming a cradle for the bottom surface of the mobile device and comprising a first upstanding perimeter wall along at least a portion of the first side surface of the mobile device and a second upstanding perimeter wall along at least a portion of the second side surface of the mobile device, wherein:
the first upstanding perimeter wall forms a first trench outward of the first side surface of the mobile device for receiving at least a portion of the downward extension of the first side wall of the top shell; andthe second upstanding perimeter wall forms a second trench outward of the second side surface of the mobile device for receiving at least a portion of the downward extension of the second side wall of the top shell; an upper backing element configured to slide along the rails of the top shell from the top surface of the mobile device; and a lower backing element configured to slide along the rails of the top shell from the bottom surface of the mobile device; wherein the upper and lower backing elements join together along a parting line between the top surface and bottom surface of the mobile device to at least partially encompass the bottom shell, and extend substantially parallel to the first and second side surfaces of the mobile device, beyond the first and second perimeter walls of the bottom shell, and around the rails formed by the outward protrusions of the top shell to hold the top shell and bottom shell together around the mobile device.