Protective case including cover deployable as an adjustable support structure and related devices, systems and methods

#The present technology is related to protective cases and other accessories useable with personal electronic devices. In particular, at least some embodiments are related to protective cases respectively including covers deployable as adjustable support structures.

#Many personal electronic devices (e.g., tablet computers, laptop computers, and mobile telephones) are relatively compact and streamlined in form. A typical example of such devices is slab-shaped with expansive front and back surfaces and a relatively narrow edge extending between respective perimeters of the front and back surfaces. A touchscreen may occupy nearly all of the front surface. Although devices of this form are often rectangular and flat with rounded or non-rounded corners, other shapes are also possible. In general, the form of these devices may facilitate mobility, such as by allowing the devices to be conveniently stowed in briefcases, purses, pockets, and other locations closely associated with a user. The same form, however, may also tend to exclude certain features that occupy space, such as features that serve protective and ergonomic functions. For example, many slab-shaped personal electronic devices lack even rudimentary features to protect the devices from impact damage. As another example, these and other devices may be designed to be used in different positions respectively corresponding to different viewing angles, but the devices may include few, if any, features that allow the devices to be self-supporting in these positions. Accessories, such as retrofitted after-market accessories, may be used to compensate for these and other deficiencies.

#Many aspects of the present technology can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on illustrating clearly the principles of the present technology. For ease of reference, throughout this disclosure identical reference numbers may be used to identify identical or at least generally similar or analogous components or features.

#FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, different perspective views of a protective case configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology and an associated electronic device. The case can include a backing, a cover, and a hinge therebetween. The backing and the cover can include, respectively, a first coupling component and a second coupling component.

#FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are, respectively, an inverse plan view, a plan view, a first side profile view, a second side profile view, a first end profile view, and a second end profile view of the case and the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

#The present technology is related to protective cases and other accessories useable with personal electronic devices, such as slab-shaped (e.g., tablet shaped) personal electronic devices. Examples of compatible devices include tablet computers, e-book readers, laptop computers, and smartphones, among others. Protective cases configured in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology allow an encased device to be conveniently positioned and repositioned in one of several self-supporting tilted positions well suited for viewing and operating the device. In these and other embodiments, the cases may also protect an encased device from impact damage. For example, a protective case configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a cover that, in a closed configuration, overlays a screen of an encased electronic device and, in an open configuration, forms a support structure capable of supporting the encased device at two or more different titled positions. Furthermore, these and other protective and ergonomic enhancements may be provided without unduly increasing the bulk of an encased device or otherwise compromising a streamlined form of the device. In contrast to conventional protective cases, protective cases configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can be more convenient, more versatile, more compact, and/or have other advantages.

#Specific details of protective cases and related devices, systems, and methods in accordance with several embodiments of the present technology are described herein with reference to FIGS. 1-32. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that protective cases and related devices, systems, and methods configured in accordance with other embodiments of the present technology can have other configurations, components, and/or procedures in addition to or instead of those disclosed herein and that the described protective cases and related devices, systems, and methods can be without several of the configurations, components, and/or procedures disclosed herein without deviating from the present technology. As used herein, the terms “distal” and “proximal” define a position or direction with respect to a reference position. The terms, “distal” and “distally” refer to a position distant from or in a direction away from a reference position. The terms “proximal” and “proximally” refer to a position near or in a direction toward a reference position. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the reference position is a position of a hinge between a backing and a cover of a protective case.

#FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, different perspective views of a protective case 100 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology and an associated electronic device 102. FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are, respectively, an inverse plan view, a plan view, a first side profile view, a second side profile view, a first end profile view, and a second end profile view of the case 100 and the device 102. With reference to FIGS. 1-8 together, the case 100 can include a backing 108, a cover 110, and a first hinge 112 extending therebetween. The device 102 can be slab-shaped with a front side 102a (FIG. 2), a back side 102b (FIG. 1) opposite to the front side 102a, a first edge 102c (FIG. 1), and a second edge 102d (FIG. 2) opposite to the first edge 102c. At its front side 102a, the device 102 can include a screen 104 (FIG. 2) and a peripheral region 106 (FIG. 2) around a perimeter of the screen 104. The backing 108 can be shaped to securely attach to the back side 102b of the device 102. Suitable materials for the backing 108 include plastics (e.g., injection-molded plastics), elastomers (e.g., low-, medium-, and high-durometer elastomers), sprung metal, cloth, elastomeric cloth, and combinations thereof.