CASE FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING RIMS AND A MATERIAL

Abstract

Provided a case having interchangeable parts that are coupled together to provide a protective casing for an electronic device, such as a smartphone. The case parts may comprise a first rim, a second rim and a material, such as a flexible material, to extend across a surface of the portable electronic device. The first rim includes one or more protrusions to extend through corresponding one or more openings of the material to extend the material across at least a side portion of the first rim between the first rim and the second rim. In further embodiments, the material may comprise a flexible material may be formed of a composite material comprising at least one mesh material and an additional layer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a case for a portable electronic device having rims and a material.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cases for portable electronic devices, such as smart phones, computer tablets, and hand held digital music players provide a protective cover to absorb shock when the covered device is dropped or subject to damaging forces. Case designers also spend considerable effort on creating the aesthetics of the case design because many people view their smart phone as an extension or expression of their individuality.

Certain case designs provide interchangeable parts to allow a user to select parts to incorporate into the case based on personal preferences and individual expression. Further, users may want to change the appearance of their smartphone case because they become “bored” of the same look. Providing different appearing interchangeable parts allows the user to vary the appearance to maintain interest in the “look” of the case. This is particularly important because the smartphone is continually used throughout the day which increases the likelihood that users will lose interest and become “bored” with a fixed design.

To address the need for users to alter the appearance of their cases and also provide a case that protects from shocks, scratches, and debris, the Apollo Series cases by AFC Trident, Inc. provide interchangeable back plates having different colors that the user may “mix and match” to modify the appearance of the case. This allows the user to easily alter the design and appearance of the case to maintain their interest and add individual expression to the appearance of the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not drawn to scale, wherein:

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 provide exploded perspective views of a first embodiment of the case.

FIGS. 4 and 5 provide plan views of a material of the case of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 provides a perspective of the case of the first embodiment.

FIGS. 10 and 16 provide top plan views of the case of the first embodiment.

FIGS. 11 and 15 provide bottom plan views of the case of the first embodiment.

FIGS. 12, 13, 14, and 17 provide side views of the case of the first embodiment.

FIGS. 18 and 19 provide exploded perspective views of a second embodiment of the case.

FIG. 20 provides an exploded perspective view of a material of the second embodiment of the case.

FIGS. 21, 23, and 24 provide perspective views of a back rim of the second embodiment of the case.

FIG. 22 provides a top plan view of the back rim of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments provide a case having interchangeable parts that are coupled together to provide a protective casing for an electronic device, such as a smartphone. The case parts may comprise a first rim, a second rim and a material, such as a flexible material, to extend across a surface of the portable electronic device. The first rim includes one or more protrusions to extend through corresponding one or more openings of the material to extend the material across at least a side portion of the first rim between the first rim and the second rim. In further embodiments, the material may comprise a flexible material may be formed of a composite material comprising at least one mesh material and an additional layer.

In a further embodiment, the case may include a first rim configured to couple with a first surface of a portable electronic device and including at least two protrusions, a second rim configured to couple with the second surface of the portable electronic device and the first rim, and a material configured to extend at least partially across the first surface of the portable electronic device. The material may include at least two openings configured to receive the at least two protrusions that are adapted to extend through the at least two openings when the first rim, the material, and the second rim are coupled to the portable electronic device to form the case.

Reference below will be made to the drawings wherein like structures may be provided with like reference designations. In order to show the structures of various embodiments most clearly, the drawings included herein include diagrammatic representations of components of a case and an electronic device with a speaker and camera lens(es). Thus, the actual appearance of the case and electronic device structures may appear different while still incorporating the claimed structures of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, the drawings may show only the structures necessary to understand the illustrated embodiments. Additional structures known in the art have not been included to maintain the clarity of the drawings.

FIGS. 1-17 illustrate different views of a first embodiment of a case for a portable electronic device. FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 7 illustrate exploded views of an embodiment of components of a case 2, including a back rim 4, a material 6, and a front rim 8 that are coupled to together to form a case 2 for a portable electronic device 10, such as a smartphone, tablet, hand held computer, hand held digital music player, video recorder, camera, etc. FIGS. 6, 10-17 provide an embodiment of how the back rim 4, the material 6, and the front rim 8 couple together to form the case 2 of the portable electronic device 10.

The rims 4 and 8 are described with respect to an orientation of the electronic device 10 as a back rim 4 and a front rim 8 coupled at a back surface 10h and front surface 10i (FIG. 16) of the portable electronic device 10, respectively. The orientation may be determined such that the front 10i refers to a surface of the electronic device 6 that has user interface controls, such as a display screen 10j (as shown in FIG. 16), switches and buttons, etc., that are normally directly in the line of vision of a user when manipulating the user interface to control the device 6 and the back surface 10h (FIGS. 1 and 7) refers to the side of the electronic device 6 opposite the side that is intended to be viewed when controlling the device 6. In alternative orientations, the rim 4 may be characterized as a front rim, rim 8 as a back rim, and front 10i and back 10h surfaces of the electronic device as back and front surfaces, respectively. The rims may be described as first and second rims where orientation is not specified with respect to a surface of the electronic device 10. The rims 4 and 8 are shown as extending round a circumference of the electronic device 10. In alternative embodiments, the rims 4 and 8 may extend around only a portion of the circumference electronic device 10.

With respect to FIGS. 1-9, 12, and 17, The rims 4, 8 and material 6 further include a top 4j, 8j, 6j side and a bottom 4k, 8k, 6k side, respectively, with respect to a top 10j and bottom 10k sides of the electronic device 10. The back rim 4 has openings 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e formed in side portions 4f, 4g of the back rim 4, the material 6 has a body 6h and openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e formed in side portions 6f, 6g of the material 6, and the front rim 8 has protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e are formed on side portions 8f, and 8g and extend outward from the electronic device 10 when the rim 8 is coupled to the electronic device 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, 6-9, 12, 17, when the parts 4, 6, and 8 are coupled together to form the case 2, the openings 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, the openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, and the protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e are aligned so that the protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e extend first through the corresponding openings of the material 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e and then through the openings 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e of the back rim 6. The protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e extend perpendicular in an outward direction from the sides 8f and 8g of the front rim 8 and from a plane formed by the sides 10f, 10g of the electronic device when the front rim 8 is coupled to the electronic device 10. In this way, the parts 4, 6, and 8 are fastened together by the protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e extending through the openings 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e and 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e,

Although five openings are shown on each of the back rim 4 and material 6 and five protrusions are shown on the front rim 8, there may be more or fewer openings and protrusions than shown, and there may be a different arrangement of the protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e and the openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e on the sides 8f, 8g and 4f, 4j, respectively, than shown in the Figures. However, in certain embodiments, there are at least two openings on the material 6 and at least two corresponding positioned protrusions on the front rim 8 to allow the material 6 to be anchored across the back surface 10h of the electronic device 10. Further, in certain embodiments when the material 6 comprises a flexible material, the protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e when extending through the openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e may stretch the material 6 across a back surface 10a and sides 10b, 10c of the electronic device 10 to form a tight fit across the back surface 10a and sides 10b, 10c such that the body 6h and sides 6f, 6g of the flexible material 6 contact the back surface 10h and sides 10f, 10g of the electronic device 10 (FIGS. 1, 15).

The back rim 4 has an opening 4h that extends across a body 6h of the material 6. In this way, when the back rim 4, material 6, and front rim 6 are coupled together, the body 6h of the material 6 extends across the opening 4h of the back rim 4 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 15, such that the material 6h appears through the opening 4h. In this way, the material body 6h contributes significantly to the aesthetics of the case 2 because usually the back surface of a smart phone or tablet is unadorned, whereas the described embodiments provide mechanisms for allowing the user to interchangeably modify the appearance and design of a substantial surface of the smart phone or tablet.

The front rim 8 has an opening 8h that may extend across a front surface 10i of the electronic device 10 having a display screen 10j, such as shown in FIG. 16, to provide the user access to the display screen 10j. In certain embodiments with a flexible material 6, the flexible material 6, including the body 6h and side portions 6f, 6g, remain relatively in a flat or planar shape when not positioned between the back rim 4 and the electronic device 10 such as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 8. When the case is formed by placing the material 6 over the back surface 10a of the electronic device 10 and then positioning the back rim 4 over the flexible material 6 to couple to the electronic device 10, the back rim side portions 4f, 4g, and 4j direct downward force to the flexible material side portions 6g, 6h, 6j of the flexible material 6 to position them to be perpendicular to a plane formed by the body 6h of the flexible material and extend across sides 10f, 10g, 10j of the electronic device.

In an alternative embodiment, the material 6 may be formed of materials other than flexible materials, such as a rigid material, e.g., a polycarbonate material, where the side portions 6f, 6g remain fixed in a perpendicular position with respect to a plane defined by the body 6h.

Further, when the material 6 comprises a flexible material and is positioned over the surface 10h of the electronic device 10, the protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e are designed to extend through the openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e to anchor the flexible material 6 to the electronic device 10 and cause the flexible material 6 to stretch across the back surface 10h of the electronic device 10. The side portions 8f, 8g of the front rim 8 extend perpendicular in an upward direction from the opening 8h of the front rim 8 along the sides 10f, 10g of the electronic device when coupled to the electronic device 10.

In one embodiment, when the components 4, 6, and 8 are coupled to the electronic device 10, the side portions 8f, 8g of the front rim 8 couple and contact the sides 10f, 10g of the electronic device and the side portions 6f, 6g of the flexible layer 6 extend over the side portions 8f, 8g of the front rim 8 so that the protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e of the front rim 8 are directed through the openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e. The side portions 4f, 4g of the back rim 4 extend over the side portions 6f, 6g of the material 6 and the side portions 8f, 8g of the front rim 8 so that the protrusions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e extending through the openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e on the side portions 6, 6g of the material 6 also extend through the openings 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e on the side portions 4f, 4g of the back rim 4. In this way, the material 6 is coupled between the front rim 8 and back rim 4 when the case 2 is formed. The material sides 6f, 6g may extend across the sides of the electronic device 10f, 10g without contacting the sides of the electronic device 10f, 10g due to the sides 8f, 8g of the front rim 8 positioned between the electronic device sides 10f, 10g and the material sides 6f, 6g.

FIGS. 18-24 illustrate an alternative second embodiment of a case for a portable electronic device having front 108 and back 104 rims, and a material 106 positioned between the back rim 104 and a back side of the portable electronic device 110, such as a smartphone or tablet. The back rim 104 includes inner protrusions 104a, 104c, 104d, 104e, 104f, 104g, 1048h, 104i, 104j on ledges 104k, 104l, 104m, 104n of the back rim 104 that are configured to extend through openings 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, 106e, 106f, 106g, 106h, 106i, 106j of the material 106 when the material 106 is positioned between the electronic device 110 and the back rim 104. The ledges 104k, 104k, 104m, 104n of the back rim 104 extend orthogonal, i.e., perpendicular, from side walls 104o, 104p, 104q, 104r of the back rim 104.

The back rim 104 further includes outer protrusions 104s, 104t, 104u, 104v, 104w on side walls 104o and 104q that are configured to extend through openings 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, 108e on side walls 108f and 108g of the front rim 108 to couple the front rim 108 to the back rim 104.

FIG. 20 shows how the material 106 is formed of two components, a polycarbonate material 106k and a less rigid mesh material 106l that are fused together to form the single material 106. Both these combined materials 106k and 106l may have openings corresponding to openings 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, 106e, 106f, 106g, 106h, 106i, 106j in the final composite material 106.

FIG. 21 shows a rear view of the case 100 when the material 106 is coupled to the back rim 104.

FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate views of the back rim 104 including the protrusions 104a-104j on the ledges 104k, 104l, 104m, 104n as being separated by a distance, e.g., 104s, from the side walls 104o, 104p, 104q, 104r. This allows the openings 106a-106j of the material 106 to mate with the corresponding protrusions 104a-104j. The outer protrusions 104s, 104t, 104u, 104v, 104w on side walls 104o and 104q are further shown. FIG. 23 shows the side walls 104o, 104p, 104q, and 104r as not having a uniform planer inner surface but has an uneven surface that is beveled or has changing angles.

FIG. 24 shows a view of the material 106 coupled to the back rim 104 with the protrusions 104a-104j extending through the material openings 106a-106j. The material 106 may be removably coupled to the back rim 104, such that a person may separate the material 106 coupled to the back rim 104 when the openings 106a-106j are mated with the protrusions 104a-104j by exerting force toward the back side of the material 106, on the side opposite the view shown in FIG. 24, such as on the side of the material 106 shown in FIG. 21. In an alternative embodiment, the material 106 may be permanently fastened to the back rim 104 by use of an adhesive or bonding process.

Although a certain number of openings are shown on each of the material 106 and back rim 108, there may be more or fewer openings 108a-108e, 106a-106j and protrusions 104a-104v than shown, and there may be a different arrangement of the protrusions 104a-104j and corresponding openings 106a . . . 106j and protrusions 104s-104v and corresponding openings 108a . . . 108e, than shown in the Figures. However, in certain embodiments, there are at least two openings on the material 106 and at least two corresponding positioned protrusions on the back rim 104 to allow the material 106 to be anchored across the back surface of the electronic device 110. Further, in certain embodiments when the material 106 comprises a flexible material, the protrusions 104a . . . 104j when extending through the openings 106a . . . 106j may stretch the material 106 across a back surface of the electronic device 110 to form a tight fit across the back surface of the electronic device 110, such that the material 106 contacts the back surface of the electronic device 10 (FIG. 18).

In one embodiment, the rims 4, 104 and 8, 108 may be supplied, e.g., sold and marketed, with a plurality of interchangeable material 6, 106 parts having different appearances. This allows the user to “mix and match” different appearing material 6, 106 parts functioning as the back plate on the back surface 10h, 110h (FIGS. 14, 18) of the electronic device 10, 110 based on personal aesthetic preferences. The provided material 6, 106 parts may have different visual appearances, texture, etc. In further embodiments, multiple interchangeable rims 4, 104 and 8, 108 that have different appearances may be supplied to provide the user further increased aesthetic combinations to use to form the case 2. Because the material 6, 106 may cover a substantial portion of the visually exposed surface of the portable electronic device, described embodiments provide a design and configuration that allows the user to adorn and modify the appearance of a substantial portion of their smart phone or tablet to provide individualized expression of a device so ubiquitous in modern life.

In one embodiment, the material 6, 106 extends across substantially most of the back surface 10h, 110h of the electronic device 10, 110 (FIGS. 14, 18). In an alternative embodiment, the material 6, 106 may extend across less than substantially most of the back surface 10h, 110h of the electronic device 10, 110. In certain embodiments, the material 6, 106 has an opening 6i, 106k for a camera 10m (FIG. 10) on the back surface of the electronic device 10, not shown in the embodiment of FIG. 18.

In one embodiment, the front 4, 104 and back 8, 108 rims are formed of a rigid material, such as a hardened polycarbonate and the material 6, 106 is formed of a material more flexible than the firms 4, 104, 8, 108. In a further embodiment, the material 6, 106 is formed, in whole or in part, of a composite material comprising at least one mesh material fused with at least two film layers. In another embodiment, the material 6, 106 may be formed of a thermoplastic or polyurethane material fused with a textile or mesh, which is less rigid, to create a composite material. In an alternative embodiment, the material 6, 106 may be formed of other materials, such as silicon, fabric, etc. The material 6, 106 may be formed of a material suitable for absorbing shock or providing protection from dust, water and other elements. In alternative embodiments, other materials may be used to form the rims 4, 104 and 8, 108 and the material 6, 106. In an alternative embodiment the material 6, 106 may be as rigid as the rim 4, 104, 8, 108.

In the described embodiments, the rims 4, 104, 8, 108 and material 6, 106 have a configuration that enables them to be easily detached from the electronic device 10, 110 to maintain as separate parts and then reattach to the electronic device 10, 110 in the manner described above. In an alternative embodiment, the material 6, 106 may be more permanently fixed to the back rim 4, 104, such as by means of adhesive material or bonding, so that the material 6, 106 is not intended to be detachable from the back rim 4. In a further alternative embodiment, the front rim 8, 108 and back rim 4, 104 may be bonded together using an adhesive or bonding process, such that they are not designed to be detachable from the electronic device 10, 110 thus providing a more permanent case 2, 100.

Described embodiments provide a design of a front rim, back rim and material, such as a material, that are coupled together to form a case for an electronic device. The material may extend over side portions of the front rim such that protrusions of the front rim extend through openings in the material and the back rim. In further embodiments, the material may comprise a composite material having at least two film layers heat fused with a mesh material.

Terms such as “top”, bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “rear”, “front”, “back”, “outer”, “inner”, “bottom”, “left”, and the like may be used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. Embodiments may be manufactured, used, and contained in a variety of positions and orientations.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments of the invention require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive, and that embodiments are not restricted to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described since modifications may occur to those having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. A case for a portable electronic device including a first surface, a second surface, and sides between the first surface and the second surface, comprising:

a first rim configured to couple with the portable electronic device and including at least one protrusion;

a second rim configured to couple with the portable electronic device and the first rim; and

a material configured to extend at least partially across the first surface of the portable electronic device and including at least one opening configured to receive the at least one protrusion extending through the at least one opening when the first rim, the material, and the second rim are coupled to the portable electronic device to form the case.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein the first rim is configured to couple with respect to the first surface of the portable electronic device and the second rim is configured to couple with the second surface of the portable electronic device.

3. The case of claim 2, wherein the first rim includes side walls that are configured to extend across sides of the portable electronic device and ledge portions including the at least one protrusion and extending orthogonal with respect to the side walls, wherein the material is configured to be positioned between the ledge portions and the first surface of the portable electronic device.

4. The case of claim 3, wherein two of the ledge portions of the first rim opposite each other include the protrusions that are adapted to extend through the openings in the material to anchor the material when the material is positioned to extend across the first surface of the portable electronic device.

5. The case of claim 1, wherein the first rim includes the protrusions on an outer surface of side walls of the first rim, wherein at least one side portion of the material is configured to extend at least partially across the outer surface at least one of the side walls of the first rim when the protrusion on the outer surface of the side walls extend through the openings in the material.

6. The case of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one opening in at least one side portion of the second rim configured to receive the at least one protrusion extending through the at least one opening in the at least one side portion of the material when the first rim, material, and second rim are coupled to the portable electronic device to form the case.

7. The case of claim 5, wherein the first rim includes the protrusions on at least two of the side walls of the first rim opposite each other and adapted to stretch the material having the openings through which the protrusions extend across the first surface between the at least two side walls of the first rim when the material and the first and second rims are coupled to the portable electronic device to form the case.

8. The case of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a flexible material, wherein the first rim and the second rim are formed of a rigid material, and wherein the first rim includes a plurality of protrusions adapted to extend through a plurality of openings of the flexible material and adapted to flex and extend the flexible material across the sides of the portable electronic device when the back rim, flexible material, and front rim are coupled to the portable electronic device to form the case.

9. The case of claim 1, wherein the first rim, second rim and material are configured to be separated into separate parts and to be coupled with the portable electronic device to form the case.

10. A case for a portable electronic device including a first surface, a second surface, sides between the first surface and the second surface, comprising:

a first rim for coupling to the first surface of the portable electronic device;

a second rim for coupling to the second surface of the portable electronic device; and

a flexible composite material configured to extend at least partially across the first surface of the portable electronic device, wherein the flexible composite material is positioned between the first rim and the first surface when the first rim and the second rim are coupled to the portable electronic device, and wherein the flexible composite material comprises at least one mesh material fused with at least one additional layer comprised of a material different from the mesh material.

11. The case of claim 10, wherein the at least one additional layer comprises at least two film layers.

12. The case of claim 11, wherein the at least two film layers are comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane.

13. The case of claim 10, wherein the at least one additional layer comprises a polyurethane plastic material that is more rigid than the mesh material.

14. The case of claim 10, wherein the at least one mesh material is heat fused with the at least one additional layer.

15. The case of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of protrusions on opposite sides of the first rim or the second rim;

a plurality of openings in the flexible composite material, wherein the openings and the protrusions are configured to have the protrusions extend through the openings to stretch the flexible composite material across the first surface.

16. The case of claim 15, wherein the wherein the flexible composite material is permanently attached to the first rim.

17. The case of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of interchangeable material bodies each comprised of the flexible composite material, wherein each of the interchangeable material bodies are configured to be separately positioned between the first rim and the first surface and extend across the first surface when the first rim and the second rim are coupled to the portable electronic device with the interchangeable material body between the first rim and the first surface.

18. The case of claim 10, wherein the first surface comprises a back surface of the portable electronic device, the second surface comprises a front surface of the portable electronic device having user interface controls accessible through the case, the first rim comprises a back rim and the second rim comprises a front rim.

19. A case for a portable electronic device including a first surface, a second surface, and sides between the first and the second surfaces, comprising:

a first rim configured to couple with the first surface of the portable electronic device and including at least two protrusions;

a second rim configured to couple with the second surface of the portable electronic device and the first rim; and

a material configured to extend at least partially across the first surface of the portable electronic device and including at least two openings configured to receive the at least two protrusions that are adapted to extend through the at least two openings when the first rim, the material, and the second rim are coupled to the portable electronic device to form the case.

20. The case of claim 19, wherein the first rim includes side walls that are configured to extend across sides of the portable electronic device and ledge portions including the at least two protrusions, wherein the ledge portions extend orthogonal with respect to the side walls, wherein the material is adapted to be positioned between the ledge portions and the first surface of the portable electronic device.

21. The case of claim 20, wherein two of the ledge portions of the first rim opposite each other include the protrusions that are adapted to extend through the openings in the material to anchor the material when the material is positioned to extend across the first surface of the portable electronic device.

22. The case of claim 21, wherein there is a space between the protrusions on the ledges and the side walls of the first rim.

23. The case of claim 19, wherein the first rim includes an opening, wherein the material is configured to extend across the opening of the first rim when the protrusions extend through the openings in the material.

24. The case of claim 19, wherein the second rim includes side walls having openings, wherein the protrusions on the ledge portions of the first rim comprise inner protrusions, wherein an outer surface of the side walls of the first rim include outer protrusions that are configured to extend through the openings on the side walls of the second rim to couple the first rim to the second rim when the first rim, the second rim, and the material are coupled to the portable electronic device to form the case.

25. The case of claim 19, wherein the first surface comprises a back surface of the portable electronic device, the second surface comprises a front surface of the portable electronic device having user interface controls accessible through the case, the first rim comprises a back rim and the second rim comprises a front rim.