# US 2024/0204818 A1 · Protective cases for mobile devices

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- Number: US 2024/0204818 A1
- Document ID: US20240204818A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/587,944
- Filed: 2024-02-26
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2009-08-12
- Assignees: Onward Brands LLC
- Applicants: Onward Brands LLC
- Inventors: Andy Fathollahi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240204818A1

## CPC

- H04B 1/3888: Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
- A45C 11/001: {for storing portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or digital music players}
- A45C 11/002: {for storing portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones}
- A45C 11/003: {for storing portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators}
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A protective case for a mobile device having a multi-layered construction is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the protective case has two layers, which may include a flexible inner sleeve for conformingly surrounding the mobile device and a rigid shell for engaging the flexible inner sleeve. In some alternate embodiments, the protective case has three layers, which may include a back surface layer, an internal liner layer, and a perimeter bumper layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A protective case for a mobile device configured to be in contact with all sides of a mobile device, wherein the mobile device has a flat front surface, a flat back surface, and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, the protective case comprising:
a flexible inner sleeve configured to engage and surround a mobile device, including the back surface and the side surfaces of the mobile device, the flexible inner sleeve comprising a front surface, a back surface, and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including top, bottom, right, and left side surfaces, the flexible inner sleeve further comprising a mortise extending continuously from the back surface to at least two of the top, bottom, right, and left side surfaces of the flexible inner sleeve, wherein the height of said mortise on at least one of the top, bottom, right, and left side surfaces of the flexible inner sleeve, as measured between the front and back surfaces, is less than the height of the mortise extending on one or more of the other sides of the flexible inner sleeve, and wherein the flexible inner sleeve further includes at least one protrusion configured to overlie in contact with a control button on the mobile device; and
a rigid outer shell releasably engaged with the flexible inner sleeve to thereby form an integrated protective unit, wherein the outer shell is configured to reside within the mortise, wherein the outer shell includes an aperture dimensioned to receive the protrusion, wherein the outer shell includes multiple side walls that are configured to reside within the corresponding portions of the mortise that are located on the side surfaces of the inner sleeve, and wherein at least one side wall of the outer shell is configured to reside entirely below the front surface of the mobile device when the mobile device is fully inserted within the protective case such that the back surface of the mobile device is in contact with the flat back surface of the flexible inner sleeve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The protective case of claim 1, wherein when the outer shell is engaged with the flexible inner sleeve, the case has an exposed edge of the flexible inner sleeve extending beyond the outer shell that surrounds and thereby defines a screen opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The protective case of claim 1, wherein the flexible inner sleeve comprises a soft polymeric material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The protective case of claim 3, wherein the soft polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of a silicon-based polymer, a foamed polymer, or rubber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The protective case of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a hard plastic material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The protective case of claim 5, wherein the hard plastic material comprises acrylic.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The protective case of claim 1, wherein when the outer shell is engaged with the flexible inner sleeve, the case has an exposed edge of the flexible inner sleeve not covered by the outer shell that surrounds and thereby defines the aperture.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The protective case of claim 7, wherein the exposed edge includes a curved region.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The protective case of claim 1, wherein each of the top, bottom, right, and left sides of the flexible inner sleeve includes one or more apertures, and wherein the outer shell also includes one or more apertures that correspond to the one or more apertures of the top, bottom, right, and left sides of the flexible element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The protective case of claim 1, wherein the flexible inner sleeve is configured to be removable from the outer shell.