PROTECTIVE CASE FOR MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH FINGER GESTURE RUNWAY

Abstract

A protective case for a mobile device is disclosed. The case includes a finger gesture runway that is comprised of a channel that is positioned and configured into the walls of the case to facilitate control of the device via screen edge finger gesture. Various aspects of the construction and configuration of the case and finger gesture runway are disclosed.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/609,240, filed on Dec. 21, 2017, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to accessories for electronic devices and more specifically to user removable protective enclosures or cases for mobile electronic devices.

Description of the Related Art

Mobile consumer electronic products, such as smart and cellular phones, computing tablets, MP3/audio/video players, gaming devices and laptops are continuously and rapidly evolving to meet expanding consumer demands. Conventionally, many such mobile electronic devices include what is commonly referred to as a home button, which is a button on the front face of a smartphone or tablet (or other electronic device) that takes the user from a particular application that is in use or running on the device to the home screen or some starting point that allows the user to access another application or settings on the device. Thus, for example, when a video is playing on the electronic device, engaging the home button of that device will typically pause or stop the video and provide the user with a home screen that will allow the user to access other applications or functions on the device, such as the internet browser, photos, text messages, cell-phone calendar, or contacts. Similarly, when the device is in sleep or inactive mode, engaging the home button can awaken or activate the device thereby allowing the user to interface with the device.

Such physical home buttons, however, are being removed and replaced with expanded interactive touchscreens. For example, the most recent generation of Apple's iPhone X, introduced in late 2017, includes planar all glass front and back faces that are separated by a thin metallic perimeter bezel. The front face of the device is comprised of an interactive touchscreen that extends to the perimeter of the bottom of the device. The home button, which on prior models was located in the bottom region, is now removed iPhone X device to facilitate the inclusion of a larger touchscreen without increasing the overall dimensions of the device. As a substitute for the home button, the iPhone X device employs operating software that facilitates user interaction with the device via what is referred to as screen edge or screen swipe finger gestures, which allow the user to access the home screen, application switcher, control center and notifications of the device. In operation, the user interface software of the device basically looks for panning or swiping gestures that start near or at the edge of the screen. For example, the user interface software of the iPhone X facilitates access to the home screen on the iPhone X when it detects that the user has swiped the screen from the bottom edge of the screen upward.

While mobile electronic devices are continuingly advancing, becoming more powerful, interactive and connected, they also are not cheap and can be quite expensive. For example, the price for an Apple iPhone X can be more than $1,000, which is a significant financial investment. In an effort to protect their investments, consumers frequently accessorize their mobile device with protective cases that are dimensioned and configured for their particular device (e.g., iPhone X). Such protective cases, however, typically are configured to extend over the perimeter regions of the front face of the device to protect the device from damage resulting from impact while retaining the device within the case.

The invention here recognizes that while conventional cases are capable of providing protection, they can interfere with functionality of the device and thereby degrade the user experience. In the context of gesture controlled devices, like the Apple iPhone X, the invention here recognizes that there is a need for user removable protective cases that are capable of facilitating screen edge swipe gestures, yet provide high level protection that consumers desire.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed are numerous aspects of a unique and inventive protective case configured to receive, retain and protect a mobile device. The case may be for a mobile electronic device that is in the form of a smartphone, tablet, an MP3 audio player, a gaming device, or other portable handheld electronic device having an interactive touchscreen display with screen edge finger gesture control capability. In an illustrated implementation the protective case is configured for the Apple iPhone X.

Such mobile devices typically include a front and back opposing faces, which define the thickness of the mobile device, a perimeter that defines the top, bottom, right, and left sides of the device with intersecting regions of the sides defining the corners of the device. The perimeter may comprise a metallic bezel that resides between the front and back faces, while the front face comprises an interactive touchscreen display adapted, in one or more locations, to being responsive to screen edge finger gesture control, such as in the Apple iPhone X.

The protective case is generally comprised of an open-faced compartment that is configured to receive and retain the mobile device. The compartment includes a plurality of walls corresponding to the outer configuration of the device that are configured to surround the sides and/or the back of the mobile device and a touchscreen opening that is defined in the front face wall of the case by a perimeter lip or projecting edge that is configured to overlie the front face of the device to facilitate user access to the touchscreen of the device while also capable of serving to retain the device in the compartment. The perimeter lip of the case includes a finger gesture runway or channel that is configured to position or align a user's finger with the edge of the touchscreen of the device so that the user's finger may engage the edge of interactive touchscreen to facilitate a screen edge finger gesture (e.g., swipe) control with minimal or no obstruction or interference by the case.

The finger gesture runway may be positioned in any region or section of the case that corresponds with an adjacent region of the mobile device's interactive touchscreen that is adapted to being responsive to screen edge finger gesture control. In one implementation for a protective case configured for an Apple iPhone X smartphone device, the finger gesture runway is positioned to extend from the front face of the case into the bottom side wall of the case midway between the bottom corners of the case. The channel that defines the finger gesture runway may extend downward all the way to the back face of the case or only partially to the back face of the case and may be in the form of a slot or opening and/or a depression formed in the walls of case or a combination thereof. When the channel extends only partially down to the back face, the bottom side wall of the case residing there below is capable of protecting the corresponding bottom perimeter region of the device. Apertures and/or buttons are provided on the side walls and back face wall of the case to facilitate access and/or operation of the mobile device (e.g., volume buttons, silent switch, power and data port, on/off button, silent switch, speaker and microphone, and camera and flash/illumination controls).

The protective case may be manufactured using polymers or any suitable material such as wood and/or metal or combinations thereof. In one implementation, the protective case is formed of one or more molded polymer materials, such as polycarbonate (PC), theimoplastic urethane (TPU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, silicone rubber or a combination thereof.

Softer more elastic or flexible materials (such as TPU, TPE, or rubber) may form all or portions of the top face perimeter lip of the case, while relatively more rigid materials (such as PC) may be employed to form other portion of the case including all or portions of the (i) top, bottom, right and/or left sides; (ii) the back face, and/or (iii) one or more corners defined at the intersecting regions of the sides. In one embodiment the back face of the protective case is formed of a relatively rigid material (e.g., PC), the sides walls and front face wall of the protective case are formed of a relatively more elastic or flexible material (e.g., TPU, TPE, rubber).

Some or all of the walls that define the finger gesture runway channel may be formed of: (i) the same material as the front face wall (e.g., the perimeter lip) of the case, (ii) a more rigid material (e.g., PC) relative to the material that forms the perimeter lip (e.g., TPU or TPE), or (iii) a relatively softer, pliable or more elastic material relative to the material that forms the perimeter lip. Employing relatively harder materials to form the outer surfaces of the runway channel may allow for greater durability with continued use.

The shape, contour and dimensions of the gesture runway are also aspects of the invention. The configuration of the protective case walls and overall configuration of the protective case including with respect to the finger gesture runway are also aspects of the invention.

It should be understood that each of the foregoing and various aspects, together with those set forth in the claims and summarized above and/or otherwise disclosed herein, including the drawings, may be combined to support claims for a device, apparatus, system, method of manufacture, and/or use without limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages are described below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the invention. In the drawings, like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments.

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of a protective case with a finger gesture runway for a mobile device, which is depicted above the case. The mobile device depicted is an iPhone X.

FIGS. 2A-2H are front perspective, back perspective, front face, back face, left side, right side, top side and bottom side views, respectively, of a protective case for a mobile device illustrated in FIG. 1 with the mobile device in the case.

FIGS. 3A-3H are front perspective, back perspective, front face, back face, left side, right side, top side and bottom side views, respectively, of a protective case for a mobile device illustrated in FIG. 1 with the mobile device removed from the case.

FIGS. 4A-4C are close-up bottom side, front face, and back face views, respectively, of a bottom end region of the protective case for a mobile device illustrated in FIG. 1 with the mobile device removed from the case to allow for better views of the finger gesture runway.

FIG. 5 is an exploded front perspective view of the protective case depicted in FIG. 1 illustrating the bottom and upper portions of the case separated from one another.

FIG. 6 is a graphical rendering of the protective case depicted in the line drawings in FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7A-7B are graphical renderings of the protective case depicted in the line drawings in FIGS. 1-6 with the mobile device contained therein taken from the bottom end and including dimensions of the finger gesture runway channel.

Each drawing is generally to scale and hence relative dimensions of the various layers can be determined from the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As summarized above and illustrated in the drawings, disclosed herein are various aspects of a protective case for a mobile device capable of providing user storage for personal items and different user viewing/operation positions while minimizing bulkiness and weight without sacrificing protection. Many of those aspects are summarized above and illustrated in the drawings.

Commonly illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is a protective enclosure or case 200 for a mobile device 100. FIGS. 1-5 illustrate, by way of example only, various configuration and construction aspects of the case 200. In the particular implementation illustrated, the case 200 is configured for an Apple iPhone X mobile or smart phone device 100. It should be understood, however, that the case 200 may be configured for any mobile device or electronic device, including but not limited to portable or cellular phones, PDAs, MPS or audio/video devices, gaming devices, laptop computers or computing tablet devices having an interactive touchscreen display with screen edge finger gesture control capability.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-2H, the iPhone X mobile device 100 includes a front face 110, a back face 120, a left side 130, a right side 140, a top side 150 and a bottom side 160. The front face 110 includes an interactive touchscreen 112 with screen edge finger gesture control capability, a top end region 114, and a bottom end region 116. The top end region 116 includes a notched region 118 that defines an area that contains forward facing light and proximity sensors, cameras, illumination, speaker, microphone and a Dot projector to facilitate the operations of various features in the phone. The touchscreen 112 is configured to detect when the user swipes a finger from the bottom edge 119 of the touchscreen 112 upward, which is what is referred to as screen edge finger gesture control capability. The back face 120 includes a dual camera and flash aperture 121 best depicted in FIGS. 2B and 2D. The left side 130 includes volume up/down buttons 131 and a ring/silent switch 132. The right side 140 includes a side button 141 that can turn off the device and/or touchscreen 112. The bottom side 160 includes two sets of a plurality of apertures 161 to facilitate communication of sound for the built-in stereo speakers and microphone that are housed at the bottom end region 116 of the mobile device 100. Each set apertures 161 is defined by medial 161(a) and lateral 161(b) extents. The bottom side 160 also includes a data and power port (specifically female Apple lightening connector) 162, which resides centrally on the mobile device 100 between the medial extents 161(a) of the two sets of apertures 161 and facilitates wired charging and communications with the device. A metallic bezel 170 separates the front and back faces of the device 100 and defines the perimeter thereof. The thickness 180 of the device 100 is the distance between the front face 110 and back face 120 of the device 100.

As best depicted in FIGS. 1-5, the protective case 200 is comprised of a device compartment 205 that is defined by front and back face walls 210 and 220, left-side and right-side walk 230 and 240, and top-side and bottom-side walls 250 and 260. The side walk, 230, 240, 250, and 260 reside between the front and back face walls 210, 220. Each of the front face, back face, left-side, right-side, top-side, and bottom-side walls 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260 include inner surfaces 211, 221, 231, 241, 251, 261 respectively and outer surfaces 212, 222, 232, 242, 252, 262 respectively. The inner surfaces 211, 221, 231, 241, 251, 261 of the walls 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260 respectively are dimensioned to correspond in dimension to the front and back faces, and left, right, top and bottom sides of a mobile device 100, respectively.

As illustrated in the drawings, the front face wall 210 includes a touchscreen aperture 216 that is defined by a perimeter lip or projecting edge 214. The touchscreen aperture 216 facilitates visibility and user access to the interactive touchscreen 112 of the device 100 and may also allow for insertion and removal of the device into and out of the case 200. The device compartment 205, which is defined by the inner surfaces of the walls 210 220, 230, 240, 250 260 is dimensioned and constructed to receive and retain the mobile device 100 within the case 200 as depicted in the drawings. When the device 100 is inserted in the case 200, the inner surfaces 211, 221, 231, 241, 251, 261 of the case 200 are in contact with the corresponding outer surfaces of the device 100.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2D and 3A-3D, the back face wall 220 includes a camera lens and flash opening 224 that is dimensioned to surround the dual camera and flash aperture 121 on the back face 120 of the device 100. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A-2E and 3A-3E, the left side wall 230 includes (i) volume control buttons 234 that are positioned, dimensioned, configured and adapted to interface with the volume buttons 131 on the mobile device 100 and (ii) a ringer silent switch opening 236 positioned and dimensioned to correspond with the ringer silent switch 132 on the mobile device 100 to facilitate access thereto. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2C, 2D, 2F, 3A, 3C, 3D and 3F, the right side wall 240 includes a power button 243 positioned, dimensioned, configured, and adapted to interface with the side-button 141 on the mobile device 100. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2H, 3A, 3H, 4A and 5, the bottom side wall 260 includes apertures 264 that are positioned and dimensioned to surround the two sets of plurality of apertures 161 for the built-in microphone and speakers.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2H, 3A, 3C, 3D, 3H, 4A-4C and 5, a finger gesture runway channel 270 is provided at the bottom of the case 200 that extends from the front face wall 210 into the bottom side wall 260 towards the back face wall 220 of the case 200. The runway channel 270 as depicted in the drawings is in the form of an opening or slot that extends entirely through the bottom side wall 260 and the front face wall 210 including the perimeter lip 214. Alternatively, however, it should be understood that the runway channel 270 may extend only partially into the front face wall 210 and/or bottom side wall 260, in either of which cases, the channel 270 would be in the form of a dimple or depression formed in the wall as opposed to a slot or opening that fully traverses the wall.

As depicted, the runway channel 270 is in the form of an opening or a slot that is dimensioned to be configured to reside between the medial extent 161(a) of the speaker/microphone apertures 161 to allow access to the data and charging port aperture 162 on the mobile device 100. To the extent that the runway channel 270 is formed as a depression in the bottom side wall 260 as previously discussed, then an aperture may be included in the depression to allow access to the data and power port 162. The width dimension W of the runway channel 270 (best illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 7A-7B) is preferably ergonomically dimensioned to receive and interface with a user's thumb and smoothly guide the user's thumb to the bottom edge 119 of the touchscreen 112 when the user swipes up to perform a screen edge finger gesture. In a preferred embodiment, the width dimension W ranges from 15 mm+/−7 mm; and more narrowly from 15 mm+/−5 mm, and even more narrowly from 15 mm+/−2.5 mm.

The runway channel 270 is, in the illustrated embodiment, defined by top and bottom sets of opposed surfaces (272(a), 272(b) and 274(a), 274(b)). The opposed surfaces extend entirely through the front face wall 210 and bottom side wall 260 so as to define a channel opening therein. However, as previously described, the top and/or bottom sets of opposed surfaces 272, 274 may not extend entirely through either the front face wall 210 or bottom side wall 260 and even if it extends through either wall it may not extend through the wall the entire length of the runway channel 270.

In the illustrated implementation, the top set of opposed surfaces 272 is defined in the front face 210 of the case 200 and is comprised of a first wall surface 272(a) and a second wall surface 272(b). The first and second wall surfaces 272(a) and 272(b) are symmetrical relative to one another and are each comprised of angled surface regions that extend away from one another as they extend away from the inner surface 211 of the front face wall 210 toward the outer surface 212 of the front face wall 210 and each is curved to define a convex exterior shape 272(c) (best illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B). It should be understood, however, that while the opposed first wall surface 272(a) and a second wall surface 272(b) define a smooth convex exterior shape 272(c) they may also define concave, linear, curve-linear surfaces.

The bottom set of opposing wall surfaces 274 are comprised of symmetrical first and second wall surfaces 274(a) and 274(b) that are defined in the bottom side wall 260. The first and second wall surfaces 274(a) and 274(b) also each include angled surface regions that extend away from one another as they extend away from the inner surface 261 of the bottom side wall 260 toward the outer surface 262 of the bottom side wall 260.

The second set of opposing walls 274(a) and 274(b) merge seamlessly together at their bottom regions and define an upper edge 274(c) of a retention wall 278 that extends above the back face wall 220 and resides below the channel 270. The retention wall 278 is configured to extend upward from the back face wall 220 a height (h) (See FIGS. 4A and 5). In the illustrated embodiment the height of the retention wall 278 is less than half the thickness of the phone 100 and serves to provide added protection to bottom face perimeter of the phone. It should be understood, however, that the height of the retention wall 278 may be increased or decreased. For example, the height of the retention wall 278 may be increased to extend from the back face wall 220 greater than half way to the front face wall 210, in which case an aperture may be included in the retention wall 278 to allow access to the data and power port 162 that would otherwise be provided by the channel 270 opening extending below the data and power port 162. In contrast, and by way of another example, the retention wall 278 may be removed all together, in which case the second set of opposing walls 274(a) and 274(b) would merge into the perimeter of the back face wall 220.

The first opposed wall 272(a) of the first set of opposed walls 272 and the first opposed wall 274(a) of the second set of opposed walls 274 merge seamlessly together to form a contiguous curved smooth surface. Similarly, the second opposed wall 272(b) of the first set of opposed walls 272 and the second opposed wall 274(b) of the second set of opposed walls 274 merge seamlessly together to form a contiguous curved smooth surface.

The case 200 is configured and constructed with sufficient flexibility to allow for the user to insert and remove the device 100 through the aperture 216. The protective case 200 may be manufactured using polymers or any suitable material such as wood and/or metal or combinations thereof to facilitate its operation. In one implementation, best illustrated in FIG. 5, the protective case 200 is formed of a multi-layered polymer construction comprised of back component 320 and a top component 310 co-molded to one another. The back component 320 is comprised of the back face wall 220 and the top component 310 is comprised of the side walls 230, 240, 250, 260 and the front face wall 210.

Each of the components 310, 320 of the case 200 may be formed of one or more polymer materials, such as polycarbonate (PC), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, silicone rubber or a combination thereof. Softer more elastic or flexible materials (such as TPU, TPE, or rubber) may form all or portions of the top component 310 including the front face wall 210 of the case 200, while relatively more rigid materials (such as PC) may be employed to form other portion of the case including all or portions of the (i) top, bottom, right and/or left side walls 250, 260, 240, 230; (ii) the back face wall 220, and/or (iii) one or more corners defined at the intersecting regions of the sides. In one embodiment the back face wall 220 of the protective case 200 is formed of a relatively rigid material (e.g., PC), the sides walls 230, 240, 250, 260 and front face wall 210 of the protective case 200 are formed of a relatively more elastic or flexible material (e.g., TPU, TPE, rubber).

Some or all of the walls that define the finger gesture runway channel 270 may be formed of: (i) the same material as the front face wall 210 of the case, (ii) a more rigid material (e.g., PC) relative to the material that forms the perimeter lip 214 (e.g., TPU or TPE), or (iii) a relatively softer, pliable or more elastic material relative to the material that forms the perimeter lip 214. Employing relatively harder materials to form the outer surfaces of the runway channel 270 may allow for greater durability with continued use.

In operation, the user would insert the mobile electronic device 100 into the case 200 through the aperture 216 by flexing the case 200. Once inserted into the case 200, the finger gesture channel 270 is aligned adjacent with the bottom edge 119 of the touchscreen 216 in a region thereof that is adapted to being responsive to screen edge finger gesture control. When the user desires to interact with the device 100 using a screen edge finger gesture, the user swipes upward toward the touchscreen 112 and in doing so the user's tactile senses identify the runway channel 270 which guides the user's finger into direct contact with the bottom edge 119 of the touchscreen 112.

Each of the foregoing and various aspects, or teachings herein together with those set forth in the claims and described in connection with the embodiments of the protective cases summarized above or otherwise disclosed herein including the drawings may be combined to form claims for a device, apparatus, system, method of manufacture, and/or use without limitation.

Although the various inventive aspects are herein disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments, implementations, and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the various aspects have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within their scope will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It should be also understood that the scope this disclosure includes the various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, such that the various features, modes of implementation, and aspects of the disclosed subject matter may be combined with or substituted for one another. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments or implementations described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.

Similarly, this method of disclosure, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than are expressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claims

1. A protective case for a mobile electronic device configured to be user attachable and removable from said mobile electronic device, wherein said mobile electronic device includes a thickness that is defined as the distance between a planar front face and a planar opposing back face of the mobile electronic device, a perimeter defined by top, bottom, right, and left sides residing between the front and back faces of the mobile electronic device, and corners defined at the intersecting regions of the sides, the front face of the mobile electronic device comprising an interactive touchscreen display adapted, in one or more locations, to being responsive to an screen edge finger gesture, said protective case comprising:

a device compartment configured to receive and retain the mobile electronic device;

an aperture in the device compartment that is positioned to overlie the interactive touchscreen display when the mobile electronic device is received and retained within the device compartment;

said aperture being defined by a projecting lip that is configured to overlie the front face of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is received and retained within the device compartment, said projecting lip being defined by an inner surface that is configured to face the mobile electronic device and an opposing outer surface; and

a finger gesture runway comprising a channel transversely defined in said projecting lip in a position configured to be adjacent to a location on the interactive touchscreen display of the mobile device that is adapted to being responsive to and edge screen gesture when the mobile electronic device is received and retained within the device compartment;

wherein said channel is defined by top set of opposing first and second surfaces, the first surface being formed in a first portion of said projecting lip, the second surface being formed in second portion of said projecting lip, said first and second portions being spaced apart and opposed to one another, said first and second surfaces including angled surface regions that extend away from one another as they extend away from the inner surface of the projecting lip toward the outer surface of the projecting lip and each of said surfaces being symmetric relative to one another and shaped to include curvilinear surface.

2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein said device compartment is defined a front face, back face, left-side, right-side, top-side, and bottom side walls each having internal and external surfaces, wherein each of said walls correspond to protect corresponding front face and back faces and left, right, top and bottom sides respectively of the mobile device and wherein said finger gesture runway channel extends into said bottom side wall.

3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein said finger gesture runway channel is in the form of a slot.

4. The protective case of claim 1, wherein said finger gesture runway channel is in the form of a depression.

5. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces that define said finger gesture runway channel are smooth.

6. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces that define the finger gesture runway channel are formed of more rigid materials than adjacent regions of the case.

7. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces that define the finger gesture runway channel are formed of less rigid materials than adjacent regions of the case.

8. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces that define the figure gesture runway channel are formed of the same materials as the projecting lip.

9. The protective case of claim 2, wherein the finger gesture runway channel is further formed of a bottom set of two opposing wall surfaces that are defined in the bottom side wall, wherein said bottom set of two opposing wall surfaces are symmetrical relative to one another and each includes angled surface regions that extend away from one another as they extend away from the inner surface of the bottom side wall toward the outer surface of the bottom side wall and each of said two opposing wall surfaces includes a curvilinear surface.

10. The protective case of claim 9, wherein the distance between the bottom set of opposing wall surfaces taken along an axis perpendicular thereto is between 15 millimeters+/−5 millimeters.

11. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the distance between the top set of opposing wall surfaces taken along an axis perpendicular thereto is between 110 15 millimeters+/−7.5 millimeters.

12. The protective case of claim 2, wherein the side walls are formed of a less rigid materials than the back face wall.

13. The protective case of claim 12, wherein the surfaces that define the gesture runway channel are formed of the same material as the side walls.

14. The protective case of claim 13, wherein the protective case is formed of a multi-layered polymer construction comprised of back component and a top component co-molded to one another. The back component includes the back face wall and the top component includes the side walls and the front face wall.

15. The protective case of claim 14, wherein the back component is comprised of polycarbonate material and the top component is formed of a different material selected from a group consisting of thermoplastic urethane, thermoplastic elastomer, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, nylon, silicone rubber, and any combination thereof.

16. The protective case of claim 9 wherein the finger gesture runway channel is configured to be centered about a central longitudinal axis of the mobile device.

17. The protective case of claim 9 wherein the finger gesture runway channel is configured to be centered about a central longitudinal axis of the protective case.

18. The protective case illustrated in the drawings and the various aspects described herein.