# US 11,121,735 B2 · Protective case for foldable mobile device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,121,735 B2 - Document ID: US11121735B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/669,352 - Filed: 2019-10-30 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-26 - Assignees: Spigen Korea Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Spigen Korea Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Dae-Young Kim; Jae Hong Cho; Sun Woo Yun; Jong Hwa Lee; Kyung Joon Lee; Gang Il Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121735B2 ## CPC - H04B 1/3888: Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers - H04M 1/0214: {Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position (combined with translation movement H04M1/0235)} - H04M 1/185: {Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a protective case for foldable mobile device which has a first portion, a second portion, and a joining portion wherein the joining portion connects the first portion and the second portion, comprising: a first case for protecting the first portion of the foldable mobile device installed therein; a connecting portion for covering the joining portion and fixedly attached to the first case; and a second case for protecting the second portion of the foldable mobile device installed therein wherein the second case includes a second outer frame. The second outer frame comprises a recess to receive the connecting portion wherein the connecting portion slidably moves in the recess, and the second case further comprises a recess cover for covering the recess. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protective case for a foldable mobile device which has a first portion, a second portion, and a joining portion wherein the joining portion connects the first portion and the second portion, comprising: a first case for protecting the first portion of the foldable mobile device installed therein; a connecting portion for covering the joining portion of the foldable mobile device; and a second case for protecting the second portion of the foldable mobile device installed therein wherein the second case includes a second outer frame, wherein the connecting portion is fixedly attached to the first case, wherein the second outer frame includes a recess to receive the connecting portion, wherein the second case further comprises a recess cover for covering the recess, wherein the connecting portion slidably moves in the recess such that a portion of the connecting portion is covered by the recess cover when the portion is slidably moved in the recess, and wherein the portion of the connecting portion lies between the recess and the recess cover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the second case further comprises a second inner shell, wherein the second outer frame is constructed to removably mount over the second inner shell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The protective case of claim 2, wherein the second inner shell has an opening such that the recess cover is removably or fixedly received in the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The protective case of claim 3, wherein the second inner shell is made of soft material, the second outer frame is made of hard material, and the recess cover is made of hard material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The protective case of claim 4, wherein the second inner shell is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), the second outer frame is made of polycarbonate (PC), and the recess cover is made of polycarbonate (PC). ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The protective case of claim 2, wherein the second inner shell is made of soft material, the second outer frame is made of hard material, and the recess cover is made of hard material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The protective case of claim 6, wherein the second inner shell is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), the second outer frame is made of polycarbonate (PC), and the recess cover is made of polycarbonate (PC). ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The protective case of claim 6, wherein the second inner shell and the recess cover are integrally constructed by over-molding such that the recess cover is made by a molding and then the second inner shell is made by a molding around an outer perimeter of the recess cover. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The protective case of claim 2, wherein a first side of the recess is open towards an exterior of the second case, wherein the recess comprises a guiding portion formed on a second side thereof to guide sliding movement of the connecting portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The protective case of claim 9, wherein the connecting portion comprises a protruding member projecting from one side thereof, wherein the protruding member slides along the guiding portion, wherein a projection is protruded from the second side of the recess to prevent the connecting portion from being dislodged. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The protective case of claim 10, wherein the recess further comprises a locking groove, wherein the locking groove is constructed such that at least part of the protruding member fits in or is removed from the locking groove. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The protective case of claim 2, wherein the second inner shell has a non-slip second pad attached to one surface of the second inner shell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the first case comprises a first inner shell made of soft material, wherein the connecting portion is made of soft material, wherein the first inner shell and the connecting portion are integrally constructed by a single molding. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The protective case of claim 13, wherein the first case further comprises a first outer frame made of hard material, wherein the first outer frame is constructed to removably mount over the first inner shell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The protective case of claim 13, wherein the first inner shell has a non-slip first pad attached to one surface of the first inner shell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has a plurality of grooves. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is attached to the first case at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane of the first case, in a range of about 2° to about 3°. ### Claim 18 A protective case for a foldable mobile device which has a first portion, a second portion, and a joining portion wherein the joining portion connects the first portion and the second portion, comprising: a first case for protecting the first portion of the foldable mobile device installed therein; a connecting portion for covering the joining portion of the foldable mobile device; and a second case for protecting the second portion of the foldable mobile device installed therein, which includes a second inner shell and a second outer frame wherein the second outer frame is constructed to removably mount over the second inner shell, wherein the connecting portion is fixedly attached to the first case, wherein the second outer frame includes a recess to receive the connecting portion and the second inner shell covers the recess, wherein the connecting portion slidably moves in the recess such that a portion of the connecting portion is covered by the second inner shell when the portion is slidably moved in the recess, and wherein the portion of the connecting portion lies between the recess and the second inner shell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The protective case of claim 18, wherein the first case comprises a first outer frame made of hard material and a first inner shell made of soft material, wherein the first outer frame is constructed to removably mount over the first inner shell, wherein the connecting portion is made of soft material, wherein the first inner shell and connecting portion are integrally constructed by a single molding, wherein the second inner shell is made of soft material and the second outer frame is made of hard material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The protective case of claim 18, wherein a first side of the recess is open towards an exterior of the second case, wherein the recess comprises a guiding portion formed on a second side thereof to guide sliding movement of the connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion comprises a protruding member projecting from one side thereof, wherein the protruding member slides along the guiding portion, wherein a projection is protruded from the second side of the recess to prevent the connecting portion from being dislodged, wherein the recess further comprises a locking groove, wherein the locking groove is constructed such that at least part of the protruding member fits in or is removed from the locking groove.