CO-MOLDED MULTI-LAYERED PROTECTIVE CASE FOR MOBILE DEVICE

摘要

A protective case for a mobile device having a multi-layered construction is disclosed. The multi-layered construction includes three layers that are co-molded to one another and is capable of being lightweight and low-profile, yet provide a high level of impact protection. The first layer generally forms the external back face surface of the case, the third layer generally forms the perimeter bumper of the case and the second layer forms the internal liner of the case and includes an elevated pattern of walls upon which the back face of the mobile device rest upon. The first layer is comprised of material that has a hardness greater than the other two layers. The third layer is comprised of a material that has a hardness that is greater than the second layer. The layers are configured to interact with one another so that they are capable of distributing and absorbing impact forces to mitigate damage to the mobile device.

主权项

1. A protective case for a mobile device configured to be user removable from said mobile device, wherein said mobile device includes a height that is defined as the distance between a front face and a back face of the mobile device, a perimeter defined by top, bottom, right, and left sides residing between the front and back faces, and corners defined at the intersecting regions of the sides, said protective case comprising:
a first layer defined by first inner and outer surfaces and dimensioned to cover a majority of the back face of the mobile device and extend around a majority of the perimeter of the mobile device at the back face boundary, said first inner surface including a first plurality of protrusions extending in a direction away from said outer surface; a second layer defined by second inner and outer surfaces and dimensioned to cover a majority of the back face of the mobile device and extend around a majority of the perimeter of the mobile device at the back face boundary, said second layer further including a second plurality of corner protrusions positioned along the perimeter region of the second layer to correspond in location with a plurality of the corners of the mobile device, said second plurality of corner protrusions being dimensioned to extend at, below, or above the height of the mobile device; said second layer further including an elevated pattern of interconnected walls extending from said second inner surface a height above and in a direction away from said second outer surface, and a plurality of apertures extending into said second outer surface, wherein one or more of said apertures are dimensioned and positioned to at least partially surround and be in contact with one or more of said plurality of first plurality of protrusions; and a third layer defined by third inner and outer surfaces and dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the top, bottom, right and left sides of the mobile device, said third layer having one or more control apertures that are dimensioned and positioned to allow access to control buttons or ports on the mobile device; said third layer further having indentations in said third inner surface at regions configured to reside at the corners of the mobile device, said indentations being dimensioned to engage one or more of the second plurality of corner protrusions; wherein said first, second, and third layers are co-molded to form an integrated construction and wherein said first layer is made of a first material that has a first hardness, said second layer is made of a second material that has a second hardness, and said third layer is made of a third material that has a third hardness, and wherein said first hardness is greater than said third hardness and said third hardness is greater than said second hardness.