Case with increased device retention from a micro-textured lip

A shell for retaining a portable electronic device, the shell comprising:

• a bottom wall and side walls that extend from the bottom wall at a first angle relative to the bottom wall, and the side walls cooperate to define a cavity with a width that is capable of accommodating the portable electronic device, wherein each of the side walls has an undercut cross section such that an upper edge of the side wall (i) is visible from an environment external to the bottom wall and the side walls, and (ii) defines an opening that leads to the cavity, and wherein the opening is less than the width of the cavity;
• and
• securing elements that protrude from an interior surface of at least one of the side walls in a direction towards the bottom wall and at a second angle different than the first angle, wherein each of the securing elements is arranged to independently flex at different angles relative to each other such as to hinder movement of the portable electronic device out of the cavity when the securing elements are engaged with an exterior surface of the portable electronic device carried within the cavity, and wherein the undercut cross section prevents the securing elements from being visible from the external environment.

A method for forming a case for an electronic device, the method comprising:

• shaping a substrate to form a bottom wall and side walls that extend from the bottom wall at a first angle relative to the bottom wall, wherein the side walls terminate at a first edge that extends from the side walls at a first angle, and the first edge defines an opening that leads to a cavity having a size and shape suitable for accommodating the electronic device;
• and
• forming a securing element that extends from at least one of the side walls and towards the cavity at a second angle, wherein the securing element terminates at a second edge different than the first edge, and the securing element is overlaid by the first edge, and wherein the second edge of the securing element is capable of contacting an external surface of the electronic device so as to (i) allow insertion of the electronic device through the opening and into the cavity, and (ii) prevent movement of the electronic device out of the cavity.