CROSS-REFERENCE

[0001] The present application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/563,539, entitled "Case for Portable Device", filed September 26, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present technology relates to cases for a portable devices, such as cellphones. BACKGROUND

[0003] Video and photograph capture devices and accessories for such devices are prevalent in the modern society. Individuals use such devices and accessories to not only capture video and photographs of the surrounding environment but also of themselves. One example of an existing device and accessory is an iPhone™ removably attached to a monopod that is commonly known as a "selfie-stick" for capturing videos or photographs of a user of the iPhone™, by the user themselves. "Selfie-sticks" are a popular accessory and are suitable for their purpose.

[0004] However, in in some circumstances, "selfie-sticks" and other existing accessories for video and photograph capture are inconvenient and/or may provide for a relatively limited number of possible positions for capturing a video or photograph. For example, in some cases, the combined length of a "selfie-stick" and a user's arm may be insufficient to allow the user to use the "selfie- stick" to capture a photograph of themselves that will encompass a desired amount of scenery behind the user. As another example, a "selfie-stick" needs to be held by at least one hand, and a user may want to have both hands free. Tripods allow a user to have both hands free, but are inconvenient to carry around.

[0005] Therefore, while existing technology is suitable for its intended purposes, improvements are desirable. SUMMARY

[0006] It is an object of the present technology to ameliorate at least some of the inconveniences present in the prior art. [0007] According to one aspect of the present technology, there is provided a case for a portable device, the case being adapted for removably attaching the portable device to an object, the case including: a portable device holding portion that is removably attachable to the portable device to cover at least a part of the portable device; a mounting portion that is removably attachable to the portable device holding portion; and an articulating arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the portable device holding portion, the second end being attached to the mounting portion, the articulating arm being operable to position the portable device holding portion relative to the mounting portion in any one of a plurality of angular adjustment positions, the articulating arm being stored between the portable device holding portion and the mounting portion when the portable device holding portion and the mounting portion are removably attached to each other such that the portable device holding portion contacts the mounting portion.

[0008] In some implementations, the first end of the articulating arm is removably attached to the portable device holding portion.

[0009] In some implementations, the second end of the articulating arm is removably attached to the mounting portion.

[0010] In some implementations, the case further includes a magnet attached to the mounting portion.

[0011] In some implementations, the case further includes a suction cup attached to the mounting portion.

[0012] In some implementations, the mounting portion includes a clip, the clip being operable between an open position and a closed position, one of the open position and the closed position permitting to removably attach the mounting portion to the object.

[0013] In some implementations, the portable device holding portion and the mounting portion define a cavity between the portable device holding portion and the mounting portion when the portable device holding portion is removably attached to the mounting portion such that the portable device holding portion contacts the mounting portion, and the cavity is sized to store at least a part of the articulating arm in the cavity.

[0014] In some implementations, the cavity is defined in the portable device holding portion.

[0015] In some implementations, the cavity is defined in the mounting portion. [0016] In some implementations, the: a) the case has: i) a portable configuration in which the portable device holding portion is removably attached to the mounting portion such that the portable device holding portion contacts the mounting portion, and ii) an expanded configuration in which the portable device holding portion is detached from the mounting portion and the articulating arm is attached at one of its ends to the portable device holding portion and at the other one of its ends to the mounting portion; and b) the articulating arm is stored inside the cavity when the case is in the portable configuration.

[0017] In some implementations, the articulating arm is non-removably attached the at one of its ends to the portable device holding portion and at the other one of its ends to the mounting portion.

[0018] In some implementations, the articulating arm is removably attached the at one of its ends to the portable device holding portion and at the other one of its ends to the mounting portion.

[0019] In some implementations, the portable device holding portion is removably attachable to the mounting portion by snap fit.

[0020] In some implementations, the portable device holding portion is removably attachable to the portable device by snap fit.

[0021] In some implementations, the portable device holding portion is removably attachable to the mounting portion by friction fit.

[0022] In some implementations, the articulating arm is removably attached at one of its ends to the portable device holding portion via a mating assembly, a first part of the mating assembly being attached to the portable device holding portion and a second part of the mating assembly being attached to the one of the ends of the articulating arm.

[0023] In some implementations, the first part of the mating assembly is removably attached to the second part of the mating assembly by one of: snap fit, and a threaded connection.

[0024] In some implementations, the mating assembly is a first mating assembly, and the articulating arm is removably attached at the other one of its ends to the mounting portion via a second mating assembly, a first part of the second mating assembly being attached to the mounting portion and a second part of the second mating assembly being attached to the other one of the ends of the articulating arm. [0025] In some implementations, the first part of the second mating assembly is removably attached to the second part of the second mating assembly by one of: snap fit, and a threaded connection.

[0026] In some implementations, the a plurality of male mating portions extends from the portable device holding portion toward the mounting portion, a plurality of recesses are defined in the mounting portion, each of the plurality of recesses is sized to removably receive a male mating portion of the plurality of male mating portions in that recess by snap fit, and the plurality of male mating portions are positioned on the portable device holding portion such that each of the plurality of male mating portions is removably receivable in one of the plurality of recesses by snap fit.

[0027] The foregoing examples are non-limiting.

[0028] Implementations of the present technology each have at least one of the above-mentioned object and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It should be understood that some aspects of the present technology that have resulted from attempting to attain the above-mentioned object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfy other objects not specifically recited herein.

[0029] Additional and/or alternative features, aspects and advantages of implementations of the present technology will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] For a better understanding of the present technology, as well as other aspects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:

[0031] Figure 1A is a right side schematic elevation view of a first implementation of a case for a portable device, the case being in an expanded configuration, a portable device holding portion of the case being in a first angular adjustment position;

[0032] Figure IB is a right side schematic elevation view of the case of Figure 1A, the portable device holding portion of the case being in a second angular adjustment position, and a mounting portion of the case being removably attached to a vertical steel member of a bench-press bench;

[0033] Figure 1C is a right side schematic elevation view of the case of Figure IB, the mounting portion of the case being removably attached to a horizontal steel member of a chin-up station; [0034] Figure 2 is a front schematic elevation view of the portable device holding portion of the case of Figure 1A;

[0035] Figure 3 is a perspective schematic view of a part of an articulating arm of the case of Figure 1A;

[0036] Figure 4 is front schematic elevation view of the mounting portion of the case of Figure IB;

[0037] Figure 5 is a right side schematic elevation view of the case of Figure 1A, the case being in a portable configuration;

[0038] Figure 6 is a right side schematic elevation view of a second implementation of a case for a portable device, the case being in an expanded configuration;

[0039] Figure 7 is front schematic elevation view of a mounting portion of the case of Figure 6;

[0040] Figure 8 is a right side schematic elevation view of the second implementation of the case of Figure 6, the case being in a portable configuration;

[0041] Figure 9 is a right side schematic elevation view of a third implementation of a case for a portable device, the case being in a portable configuration;

[0042] Figure 10 is a top plan schematic elevation view of a fourth implementation of a case for a portable device, the case being in a portable configuration;

[0043] Figure 11 is rear schematic elevation view of a portable device holding portion of the case of Figure 10;

[0044] Figure 12 is a front schematic elevation view of a mounting portion of the case of Figure 10;

[0045] Figure 13 is a rear schematic elevation view of the mounting portion of the case of Figure 12;

[0046] Figure 14 is a right side schematic elevation view of a fifth implementation of a case for a portable device, the case being in an expanded configuration; and

[0047] Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view of the portable device of Figures 1A and 6, taken from a front-left top side of the portable device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The present technology is described in the present specification as being used with a conventionally known smartphone 102. The smartphone 102 is shown schematically in Figure 15. The smartphone 102 has a screen 104, a home button 106, a rear view camera 105 and a front view camera 107 opposite the rear view camera 105. The smartphone 102 is an example of a portable device. The present technology could be used with other portable devices, including but not limited to other cellphones, tablets, video cameras, and other portable devices capable of displaying information to a user and/or capturing video and/or photographs and/or audio.

[0049] Now referring to Figure 1A, there is shown a case 100 for the smartphone 102. The case 100 includes a portable device holding portion 108 that has the smartphone 102 removably attached thereto, and a mounting portion 142 for removably attaching the case 100 to one or more objects. The case 100 further includes an articulating arm 128 and has two configurations: an expanded configuration (an example of which is shown in Figure 1A), and a portable configuration (an example of which is shown in Figure 5).

[0050] When the case 100 is in the expanded configuration, the articulating arm 128 connects the portable device holding portion 108 to the mounting portion 142 and allows a user to position the portable device holding portion 108, and therefore also the smartphone 102, in any one of a plurality of angular adjustment positions relative to the mounting portion 142. A user may therefore attach the mounting portion 142 to an object, such as a metal surface of a refrigerator, and position the smartphone 102 in any one of the plurality of angular adjustment positions relative to the object.

[0051] The user may then use the smartphone 102 to, for example, capture a photograph or a video of themselves by standing in sight of a camera of the smartphone 102 and without having to manually hold the smartphone 102 or the case 100. Once the user has taken a photograph or a video, the user may place the case 100 into its portable configuration by removably attaching the portable device holding portion 108 to the mounting portion 142. The articulating arm 128 is stored in a space between the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142 when the case 100 is in the portable configuration.

[0052] The case 100 will now be described in more detail. [0053] In the present implementation, the portable device holding portion 108 is removably attached to the smartphone 102 and covers a rear side 110 and a part of a peripheral side wall 112 of the smartphone 102. The portable device holding portion 108 is generally rectangular in shape and has a recess 114 defined in one side of the portable device holding portion 108 for removably receiving the smartphone 102 therein.

[0054] The recess 114 is defined by a peripheral interior wall 116 that is angled into the recess 114. The interior wall 116 defines an opening 118 into the recess 114. The opening 118 is slightly smaller than an interior footprint 120 of the recess 114. The interior footprint 120 is best shown in Figure 2. In the present implementation, the interior footprint 120 is planar and dimensioned such that when the smartphone 102 is received in the recess 114, the rear side 110 of smartphone 102 contacts the interior footprint 120.

[0055] The opening 118 and the interior footprint 120 are shaped and the material (in the present implementation, a conventionally known plastic) of the portable device holding portion 108 is selected using conventionally known engineering principles such that when the smartphone 102 is positioned over the opening 118 and pressed by hand into the opening 118, the smartphone 102 deforms at least a part of the interior wall 116 outwardly (away from the smartphone 102) and snap fits into the recess 114. Once the smartphone 102 snap fits into the recess 114, the interior wall 116 returns to its original position. It is contemplated that any other structure of the portable device holding portion 108 could be used to removably attach the portable device holding portion 108 to the smartphone 102 (or any other device for which the case 100 may be designed).

[0056] While the smartphone 102 is received in the recess 114, the interior wall 116 contacts the peripheral side wall 112 of the smartphone 102 and holds the smartphone 102 in the recess 114. Also, while the smartphone 102 is received in the recess 114, the front view camera 107 of the smartphone 102 points in a direction (shown with arrow 103 in Figure 1A) away from the portable device holding portion 108, and the rear view camera 105 points toward the portable device holding portion 108, in a direction opposite to the direction 103.

[0057] To this end, an aperture 111 is defined in the portable device holding portion 108 and aligns with the rear view camera 105 such that the view through the rear view camera 105 is unobstructed by the portable device holding portion 108. It is contemplated that the portable device holding portion 108 could have different and or other features, including a different shape, depending on each particular portable device that the portable device holding portion 108 may be designed to removably attach to. This may be done in order to, for example, not obstruct the view through one or more video and/or photo and/or voice capture sensor(s) of the particular portable device, and/or to provide access to volume buttons, power button and other switches of the particular portable device.

[0058] As another example, it is contemplated that the aperture 111 could be omitted in some implementations of the case 100. For example, where the case 100 is designed for a different cellphone that has a front view camera but no rear view camera, the aperture 111 could be omitted without affecting the functioning of the different cellphone. It is also contemplated that in implementations of the case 100 where the case 100 is designed for a different cellphone that has a rear view camera that is positioned differently relative to the different cellphone, the aperture 111 would be defined in a corresponding position in the portable device holding portion 108 to not obstruct the view through the rear view camera of the different cellphone.

[0059] In the present implementation, to remove the smartphone 102 from the recess 114, a user may bend a part of the interior wall 116 of the portable device holding portion 108 outward (away from the smartphone 102) by hand to move the part of the interior wall 116 away from a part of the peripheral side wall 112 of the smartphone 102. The user may then pull the smartphone 102 out of the recess 114.

[0060] Referring back to Figure 1A, a rear side 109 of the portable device holding portion 108 of the case 100 that is opposite the recess 114 has a male mating connector 122 attached thereto (i.e. to the rear side 109). The male mating connector 122 includes an aluminum base 124 that is attached to the rear side 109 by an epoxy-based adhesive. It is contemplated that any other suitable attachment could be used. The male mating connector 122 includes a male mating portion 126 that extends from the base 124, away from the rear side 109, and is orthogonal to the base 124. In the present implementation, the male mating portion 126 is threaded and is integral with the base 124. It is contemplated that the male mating portion 126 need not be integral with the base 124, and need not be threaded. It is also contemplated that other materials and/or manufacturing and/or assembly methods could be used. For example, the base 124 could be molded with the portable device holding portion 108, or the portable device holding portion 108 could be overmolded over the base 124. [0061] The case 100 further includes an articulating arm 128. As shown in Figure 1A, the articulating arm 128 is removably attached at one end to the male mating connector 122, and therefore also to the portable device holding portion 108. In the present implementation, the removable attachment is achieved as follows.

[0062] The articulating arm 128 has a flexible portion 129 and two aluminum female mating portions 130, 132. Each of the female mating portions 130, 132 of the articulating arm 128 is rotationally attached to one end of the flexible portion 129 via a conventionally known rotation connector (not shown). It is contemplated that any suitable conventionally known rotation connectors could be used to attach the female mating portions 130, 132 to corresponding ones of the ends of the flexible portion 129 of the articulating arm 128.

[0063] In the present implementation, each of the female mating portions 130, 132 is rotatable via corresponding ones of the rotation connectors by hand relative to the flexible portion 129 about a respective one of two rotation axes 134, 136. In the present implementation, the female mating portion 130 is a mirror image of the female mating portion 132. Therefore, only the female mating portion 130 is described in detail herein.

[0064] Now referring to Figure 3, the female mating portion 130 has an aperture 302 defined in an end of the female mating portion 130. The aperture 302 extends into the female mating portion 130 and is threaded such that the female mating portion 130 can be removably threaded onto the male mating portion 126 of the male mating connector 122. The female mating portion 130 is thereby removably attachable to the male mating connector 122.

[0065] In the present implementation, this removable attachment is made by hand, by positioning the female mating portion 130 over the male mating connector 122 such that the male mating portion 126 is received in the aperture 302, and turning the female mating portion 130 in a corresponding direction about the axis 134 while pressing the female mating portion 130 against the male mating portion 126. The turning is done until the female mating portion 130 abuts the outer surface of the base 124 of the male mating connector 122. It is contemplated that the male mating connector 122 and the female mating portion 130 could be any other structures, such as magnets, that are removably mateable to each other to provide for the functionality of the case 100, as it is described in this specification. [0066] Referring back to Figure 1A, the case 100 further includes a mounting portion 142. In the present implementation, the mounting portion 142 is made of plastic and has a male mating connector 123 attached thereto. In the present implementation, the male mating connector 123 is a mirror image of the male mating connector 122, and is connected to the front side of the mounting portion 142. The male mating connector 123 is therefore not described herein in detail.

[0067] The end of the articulating arm 128 that has the female mating portion 132 is removably attached to the male mating connector 123, and therefore also to the mounting portion 142, via the female mating portion 132. In the present implementation, this removable attachment is achieved in the same way as the removable attachment between the female mating portion 130 and the male mating connector 122 described above. It is contemplated that the male mating connector 123 and the female mating portion 130 could be any other structures that are removably mateable to each other to provide for the functionality of the case 100, as it is described in this specification.

[0068] Now referring to Figures 1A and 4, three magnets 143, 144, 145 are received and attached with an epoxy-based adhesive in corresponding ones of three recesses defined in a rear side 150 of the mounting portion 142. It is contemplated that the magnets 143, 144, 145 could be attached to the mounting portion 142 using any other suitable attachment.

[0069] The magnets 143, 144, 145 are selected such that the mounting portion 142 is removably attachable to at least one object which contains ferromagnetic material such as, for example, iron, nickel, and steel. For example, Figure IB shows the mounting portion 142 being removably attached to a vertical steel member 147 of a bench-press bench (not shown) of the type that is typically found in modern gyms.

[0070] As shown in Figure 4, the magnets 143, 144, 145 are positioned symmetrically about a center of the mounting portion 142. In other implementations, the magnets 143, 144, 145 are positioned in other arrangements relative to the mounting portion 142 which are suitable to each particular application of the case 100. It is contemplated that the mounting portion 142 could have any other number of magnets, including a single magnet.

[0071] As shown in Figure 4, in the present implementation, the mounting portion 142 also includes six suction cups 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156 attached with an epoxy-based adhesive to an front side 158 of the mounting portion 142, opposite the magnets 143, 144, 145. It is contemplated that any other suitable attachment could be used. The suction cups 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156 are selected such that the mounting portion 142 is removably attachable to at least one object by pressing at least one of the suction cups 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156 against a surface of the object.

[0072] For example, Figure 1C shows the mounting portion 142 being removably attached to a horizontal steel member 170 of a chin-up station (not shown) of the type that is typically found in modern gyms, via suction cups 154 and 156. It is contemplated that at least one of the suction cups 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156 could also be used to removably attach the mounting portion 142 to other types of surfaces, including a plastic surface, and a glass surface for example. In the present implementation, each of the suction cups 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156 is the same as the other ones of the suction cups 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156. It is contemplated that the case 100 could include two or more different suction cups.

[0073] In the present implementation, the mounting portion 142 has an aperture 190 defined therein. The aperture 190 aligns with the aperture 111 when the case 100 is in the portable position and allows a user to use the rear view camera 105 while the case 100 is in the portable configuration.

[0074] As schematically shown in Figures 1A to 1C and 4, the mounting portion 142 also has a clip 157 attached thereto. In the present implementation, the clip 157 is made of plastic and is operable by pivoting between an open position 159 and a closed position 161. The open position 159 permits to removably attach the mounting portion 142 to an object by hanging the mounting portion 142 onto, for example, a nail in a wall. It is contemplated that the clip 157 could be slidable, or omitted.

[0075] It is contemplated that the case 100 could have a different clip, such as for example a compression clip that uses compression to removably attach the mounting portion 142 to an object. In some such implementations, the closed position of such different clips could be the position in which the different clips attach the mounting portion 142 to an object. It is contemplated that the case 100 could have structures in addition to or instead of the magnets 143, 144, 145 and/or suction cups 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156 and/or the clip 157 for removably attaching the mounting portion 142, and therefore also the case 100, to one or more objects.

[0076] In the present implementation, the flexible portion 129 of the articulating arm 128 of the case 100 is selected such that when the portable device holding portion 108 is removably attached to the mounting portion 142 via the articulating arm 128 and the smartphone 102 is received in the recess 114, the articulating arm 128 is operable (by hand) to position the portable device holding portion 108, and therefore also the smartphone 102, relative to the mounting portion 142 in any one of a plurality of angular adjustment positions. An example of one angular adjustment position in shown in Figure 1A. An example of another angular adjustment position in shown in Figures IB and 1C.

[0077] In the present implementation, the flexible portion 129 of the articulating arm 128 is a conventionally known flexible member made of aluminum that, when bent by hand into a desired shape, maintains that or a similar shape. The shape of the flexible member 129 may change to some degree under gravity after a user lets go of the flexible member 129. This type of flexible member is sometimes referred to as a "gooseneck" and is often used in lighting apparatuses such as table lamps and flashlights.

[0078] Examples of similar flexible members 129 are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,874,908 B2, filed on May 13, 2002, and U.S. Patent No. 9,206,951 B2, filed on December 20, 2013. It is contemplated that the flexible portion 129 could be any suitable flexible member or assembly, such as a plurality of interconnected sub-members, that is operable by hand into a desired shape. For example, the articulating arm 128 could include a plurality of pivotably interconnected rigid members that are pivotable relative to each other such that the articulating arm 128 is flexible into a plurality of angular adjustment positions.

[0079] As another example, the articulating arm 128 could include a single rigid member connected at one end to one of the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142. A ball joint or knuckle could pivotably connect the other end of the rigid member to the other one of the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142. As yet another example, the articulating arm 128 could include a single rigid member and two ball joints or knuckles. The ball joints or knuckles could pivotably connect the ends of the rigid member to corresponding ones of the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142.

[0080] In the present implementation of the case 100, a user may position the smartphone 102 in a desired position relative to the mounting portion 142 to thereby point and maintain the front view camera 107 of the smartphone 102 in a desired direction relative to the mounting portion 142. More particularly, a user may removably attach the mounting portion 142 to an object, as described above and as shown in Figures IB and 1C for example, and position the portable device holding portion 108, and therefore also the smartphone 102, relative to the mounting portion 142 in a desired angular adjustment position by manually bending the flexible member 129 to a desired shape.

[0081] The user may thereby point and set the front view camera 107 of the smartphone 102 in a desired direction. An example of a desired direction of the front view camera 107 relative to the mounting portion 142 is shown with arrow 103 in Figure IB. In implementations in which the flexible member 129 changes shape to at least some degree under gravity after it is set into a desired shape, a user would set the flexible member 129 into a preliminary shape that the user would estimate would result in the desired shape after the user lets go of the case 100. In some cases, the user may need to re-adjust the shape of the flexible member 129 at least one time until the desired shape of the flexible member 129 is obtained.

[0082] Once the user sets the front view camera 107 in a desired direction, the user may set the front view camera 107 into a video recording mode, for example. The user may then, for example, perform exercises in front of the front view camera 107 to capture the exercised on video without needing to manually hold the smartphone 102 in the desired position and without needing another person to hold the smartphone 102 in the desired position. In another aspect, this method may allow the user to stand relatively farther away from the smartphone 102 than if the user were holding the smartphone 102, with both hands free. In yet another, this method may allow the user to conduct video calls using the smartphone 102 while having both hands free.

[0083] Once the user has finished using the camera of the smartphone 102, the user may disconnect the articulating arm 128 from the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142. In this implementation, this is done by unthreading each of the female mating portions 130, 132 from corresponding ones of the male mating connectors 122, 123 by rotating each of the female mating portions 130, 132 in corresponding directions relative to corresponding ones of the male mating connectors 122, 123. Once this is done, the user sets the case 100 into a portable configuration. An example of a portable configuration of the case 100 is shown in Figure 5. An example of an expanded configuration of the case 100 is shown in Figure 1A.

[0084] As best shown in Figures 1A to 2, in the present implementation, the portable device holding portion 108 has four recesses 146, 148, 202, 204 defined in the portable device holding portion 108 in the rear side 109 of the portable device holding portion 108. As best shown in Figures 1A and 4, the mounting portion 142 has four male mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 extending from the front side 158 of the mounting portion 142.

[0085] The recesses 146, 148, 202, 204 and the male mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 are dimensioned and positioned relative to each other such that when aligned and when the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142 are pressed together by hand, the male mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 snap fit into the recesses 204, 202, 148, 146, respectively. The snap fit holds the mounting portion 142 removably attached to the portable device holding portion 108.

[0086] In the present implementation, in order to fit the male connectors 122, 123 into the cavity 502, prior to snap fitting the male mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 into corresponding ones of the recesses 204, 202, 148, 146, the mounting portion 142 is disposed relative to portable device holding portion 108 such that the male connectors 122, 123 do not line up. In present implementation, this is achieved by aligning the male mating portion 160 with the recess 204, the male mating portion 162 with the recess 202, the male mating portion 402 with the recess 148, and the male mating portion 404 with the recess 402 before snap locking the mounting portion 142 to the portable device holding portion 108 as described herein above. It is contemplated that the recesses 204, 202, 148, 146 and the male mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 could be any other suitable structures, such as magnets, that are removably attachable to each other such that the portable device holding portion 108 is removably attachable to the mounting portion 142 to place and hold the case 100 in a portable configuration.

[0087] In some applications, the different orientations of the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142 relative to each other in which the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142 are removably attachable to each other via the articulating arm 128 allow the case 100 to be removably attached to a relatively larger number of different objects. In some cases, this also allows for a relatively larger range of different angular adjustment positions of the portable device holding portion 108 relative to the mounting portion 142.

[0088] Now referring to Figure 5, the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142 define a cavity 502 between the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142 when the portable device holding portion 108 is removably attached to the mounting portion 142 via the mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 and the recesses 204, 202, 148, 146 (i.e. when the case 100 is in the portable configuration). In the present implementation, the cavity 502 is open about a periphery of the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142. In other implementations, the cavity 502 is closed about at least a part of the periphery of the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142.

[0089] To place the case 100 into a portable configuration, a user detaches the articulating arm 128 from the male connectors 122, 123, holds flat one of the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142, coils and places the articulating arm 128 onto the one of the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142, orients the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142 relative each other such that the male connectors 122, 123 do not line up (as described above), and snap locks that portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142 together.

[0090] In the present implementation, the cavity 502 is shaped such that the articulating arm 128 will be retained in the cavity 502 as a result of its contact with at least one of the male connectors 122, 123, at least one of the suction cups 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, the front side 158 of the mounting portion 142 and the rear side 109 of the portable device holding portion 108. It is contemplated that one or both of the portable device holding portion 108 and the mounting portion 142 could be provided with ribs (not shown), or other features, arranged to removably receive and retain the articulating arm 128 in the cavity 502.

[0091] A case 600, which is an alternative implementation of the case 100, is shown in Figures 6 to 8. In these Figures, elements that are the same as elements of the case 100 have been labeled with the same reference numerals as the corresponding elements of the case 100. One difference between the case 100 and the case 600 is that the cavity 804 defined by the case 600 in the portable configuration is closed about the periphery of the portable device holding portion 616 and the mounting portion 602. Another difference from the case 100 is that the case 600 has no suction cups. Another difference from the case 100 is that the case 600 has no clip.

[0092] As shown in Figure 6, the mounting portion 602 of the case 600 has a recess 604 defined in the mounting portion 602. As best shown in Figure 7, the recess 604 is defined by a peripheral wall 606 that extends about a periphery of the mounting portion 602. In the present implementation, the recess 604 is generally rectangular in shape and is shaped and sized to match the shape and size of the periphery of the portable device holding portion 616. In other implementations, the recess 604 has different sizes and shapes. In some implementations, the recess 604 is smaller, for example.

[0093] Similar to the mounting portion 142 of the case 100, the mounting portion 602 has four male mating portions 608, 610, 612, 614 extending from the mounting portion 602 toward the portable device holding portion 616 of the case 600. In this implementation, the male mating portions 608, 610, 612, 614 extend from the peripheral wall 606 of the mounting portion 602. The male mating portions 608, 610, 612, 614 are removably mateable by snap fit with corresponding ones of the recesses of the portable device holding portion 616, in the same way that the male mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 and corresponding ones of the recesses 204, 202, 148, 146 are removably mateable by snap fit.

[0094] In this implementation, the male mating portions 608, 610, 612, 614 are dimensioned such that when they are removably received in corresponding ones of the recesses 802 of the portable device holding portion 616, the peripheral wall 606 contacts a rear side 618 of the portable device holding portion 616. The recesses 802 of the portable device holding portion 616 are the same as the recesses 204, 202, 148, 146 of the portable device holding portion 108 and are therefore not all shown and not described in any more detail.

[0095] As shown in Figure 8, when the mounting portion 602 of the case 600 is removably attached to the portable device holding portion 616 of the case 600 via the male mating portions 608, 610, 612, 614 (i.e. when the case 600 is in the portable configuration), the portable device holding portion 616 and the mounting portion 602 define a cavity 804. In this implementation, the cavity 804 is defined by the recess 604 of the mounting portion 602 and the rear side 618 of the portable device holding portion 616. It is contemplated that the cavity 804 could be defined by a recess defined in a rear side 618 of the portable device holding portion 616, in addition to or instead of being defined by the recess 604. The recess in the rear side 618 of the portable device holding portion 616 could be, for example, a mirror image of the recess 604. In some such implementations, the male mating connector 122 of the case 600 is in the recess defined in the rear side 618 of the portable device holding portion 616.

[0096] In the present implementation, the recess 604, and therefore also the cavity 804, is sized such that when the case 600 is in the portable configuration (Figure 8), the articulating arm 128 of the case 600 is stored in the cavity 804. To store the articulating arm 128, a user may detach the articulating arm 128 from the male connectors 122, 123 of the case 600 and position the articulating arm 128 in the recess 604 as schematically shown in Figure 8 before snap fitting the portable device holding portion 616 and the mounting portion 602 together.

[0097] The user may then re-orient the mounting portion 602 (as described above) relative to the portable device holding portion 616 so that the male connectors 122, 123 fit into the cavity 804 as shown in Figure 8. The user may then snap lock the mounting portion 602 to the portable device holding portion 616 via the male mating portions 608, 610, 612, 614 and corresponding ones of the recesses 802. It is contemplated that the user may perform the foregoing steps in any suitable order.

[0098] It is contemplated that the user could operate the case 600 via any other suitable combination of steps. It is also contemplated that the male connectors 122, 123 could be sized and/or positioned relative to each other such that the portable device holding portion 616 and the mounting portion 602 could be snap fitted to each other both when the mounting portion is in the orientation, relative to the portable device holding portion 616, shown in Figure 6, and when the mounting portion is in the orientation, relative to the portable device holding portion 616, shown in Figure 8.

[0099] In the present implementation, the male mating portions 608, 610, 612, 614 are similar to the male mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 of the case 100, respectively, and are therefore not described herein in detail. It is contemplated that any other suitable structure(s) of the portable device holding portion 616 and the mounting portion 602 could be used for removably attaching the portable device holding portion 616 to the mounting portion 602 to define the cavity 804. For example, the recess 604 could be dimensioned to friction fit over a part of the portable device holding portion 616 to define the cavity 804, in which case the mating portions 608, 610, 612, 614 and the recesses of the case 600 could be omitted.

[00100] In some implementations of the case 600, the articulating arm 128, the male connectors 122, 123, and the cavity 804 are sized and positioned relative to each other such that the articulating arm 128 could be positioned inside the cavity 804 when the case 600 is in the portable configuration while remaining attached at its ends to corresponding ones of the male connectors 122, 123.

[00101] It is contemplated that the articulating arm 128 could be non-removably attached, using any suitable conventionally known attachment, at both of its ends to corresponding ones of the male connectors 122, 123. It is also contemplated that the articulating arm 128 could be non-removably attached, using any suitable conventionally known attachment, at one of its ends to a corresponding one of the male connectors 122, 123.

[00102] It is also contemplated that in some implementations, the articulating arm 128 could be non-removably attached at its ends directly to corresponding ones of the portable device holding portion 616 and the mounting portion 602 and that in such implementations the male connectors 122, 123 would be omitted. It is contemplated that in some such implementations, the cavity 804 and the articulating arm 128 could be dimensioned and selected such that the articulating arm 128 would be storable inside the cavity 804 while the case 600 is in the portable configuration and the articulating arm 128 is attached at its ends, directly, without mating connectors, to corresponding ones of the portable device holding portion 616 and the mounting portion 602.

[00103] Three magnets 624, 626, 628 are attached to the mounting portion 602. As shown in Figure 7, the magnets 624, 626, 628 are positioned differently relative to the mounting portion 602 than the magnets 143, 144, 145 are positioned relative to the mounting portion 142. It is contemplated that the magnet(s), if any are present on a given implementation of the case 600, could be in any suitable arrangement depending on each particular application of the given implementation of the case 600. For example, one or more magnets could be disposed inside the mounting portion 602 and/or be positioned on the front side 630 of the mounting portion 602.

[00104] A case 900 is shown in Figure 9. The case 900 another alternative implementation of the case 100. As shown in Figure 9, the portable device holding portion 902 of the case 900 has a recess 904 defined in the portable device holding portion 902 when the case 900 is in the portable configuration. The recess 904 is defined by a peripheral wall 908 extending from a peripheral ledge 910 of the portable device holding portion 902 about the peripheral ledge 910.

[00105] In turn, the recess 912 of the mounting portion 914 is defined by a peripheral wall 916 that extends about a periphery of the mounting portion 914, and has a first, larger, recess portion 918 and a second, smaller, recess portion 920 extending into the mounting portion 914 from a bottom of the first recess portion 918. The first recess portion 918 and the peripheral wall 908 are shaped relative to each other such that the mounting portion 914 is removably attachable to the portable device holding portion 902 by positioning the first recess portion 918 over the peripheral wall 908 and pressing, by hand, the portable device holding portion 902 and the mounting portion 914 together to friction fit the first recess portion 918 onto the peripheral wall 908 until the wall 916 abuts the peripheral ledge 910.

[00106] In this implementation, the cavity 922 of the case 900 is defined by the recess 912 and the recess 904. The articulating arm 924 is non-removably attached at one of its ends, directly, without an intermediate attachment assembly, to the portable device holding portion 902 and at the other one of its ends, directly, without an intermediate attachment assembly, to the mounting portion 914. As shown in Figure 9, the cavity 922 and the articulating arm 924 are sized and selected such that the articulating arm 924 fits into the cavity 922 for storage when the case 900 is in the portable configuration (shown in Figure 9).

[00107] In this implementation, the mounting portion 914 of the case 900 has a single magnet 926 attached thereto. It is contemplated that the mounting portion 914 could have multiple magnets attached thereto.

[00108] Now referring to Figures 10 to 13 a case 1000, which is another alternative implementation of the case 100, is described next.

[00109] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the portable device holding portion 1002 of the case 1000 is removably attached on one side to a cellphone 1006. As shown in Figure 10, the cellphone 1006 has a rear view camera 1008, a front view camera 1010, and a touchscreen 1011. As best shown in Figure 11, the portable device holding portion 1002 of the case 1000 has an aperture 1003 defined therethrough. The aperture 1003 is aligned with the rear view camera 1008 such that it does not obstruct the view from the rear view camera 1008. As shown in Figure 12, the mounting portion 1018 also has an aperture 1218 defined therein.

[00110] The aperture 1218 of the mounting portion 1018 is positioned in the mounting portion 1018 such that, when the case 1000 is in the portable configuration (shown in Figure 10), the view through the rear view camera 1008 of the cellphone 1006 is unobstructed. In an aspect, this allows a user to use the rear view camera 1008 without detaching the portable device holding portion 1002 from the mounting portion 1018. It is contemplated that at least one of the aperture 1003 and the aperture 1218 could be positioned and/or sized to partially obstruct the view through the rear view camera 1008. [00111] Referring now to Figure 11, four plastic blocks 1012, 1014, 1102, 1104 extend from the rear side 1016 of the portable device holding portion 1002. Male mating portions 1013, 1015, 1103, 1105 extend from the blocks 1012, 1014, 1102, 1104. As best shown by Figures 10 and 12, each of the male mating portions 1013, 1015, 1103, 1105 is removably received via snap fit in a corresponding aperture 1020, 1022, 1202, 1204 defined in the mounting portion 1018 of the case 1000 and thereby removably attaches the mounting portion 1018 to the portable device holding portion 1002 to place the case 1000 into the portable configuration.

[00112] Referring now to Figure 12, a receiving recess is defined in the mounting portion 1018 around each of the apertures 1020, 1022, 1202, 1204. Each of the receiving recesses 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212 has the shape of a corresponding one of the blocks 1014, 1012, 1104, 1102 and is sized to have a slightly larger footprint than the corresponding block 1014, 1012, 1104, 1102 to receive the corresponding block 1014, 1012, 1104, 1102 therein. In some cases, this assists a user of the case 1000 in aligning the male mating portions 1013, 1015, 1103, 1105 with corresponding ones of the apertures 1020, 1022, 1202, 1204 for placing the case 1000 into the portable configuration. In some implementations, this improves resistance of the removable attachment between the portable device holding portion 1002 and the mounting portion 1018 against shear forces between the portable device holding portion 1002 and the mounting portion 1018.

[00113] In some implementations, the male mating portions 1013, 1015, 1103, 1105 and the apertures 1020, 1022, 1202, 1204 are replaced with conventionally known magnets (not shown) and corresponding conventionally known metal plates (not shown) that are removably attachable to corresponding ones of the magnets. In such implementations, the magnets (not shown) and corresponding metal plates (not shown) are for removably attaching the portable device holding portion 1002 to the mounting portion 1018 to place the case 1000 into the portable configuration.

[00114] In some implementations, the magnets (not shown) take the place of the male mating portions 1013, 1015, 1103, 1105 and the metal plates (not shown) take the place of the apertures 1020, 1022, 1202, 1204. In other implementations, the magnets (not shown) take the place of the apertures 1020, 1022, 1202, 1204 and the metal plates (not shown) take the place of the male mating portions 1013, 1015, 1103, 1105.

[00115] In the present implementation, and as best shown in Figure 11, a peripheral wall 1106 extends around parts of a periphery of the portable device holding portion 1002 between the blocks 1012, 1014, 1102, 1104 (the peripheral wall 1106 has been omitted from Figure 10 for clarity). Accordingly, when the case 1000 is in the portable configuration, the rear side 1016 of the portable device holding portion 1002, the peripheral wall 1106, the blocks 1012, 1014, 1102, 1104, and the mounting portion 1018 define the cavity 1026 of the case 1000.

[00116] The cavity 1026 is dimensioned such that the articulating arm of the case 1000 can be stored inside the cavity 1026. In this implementation, and as best shown in Figure 12, eleven suction cups 1216 and an articulating arm magnet 1214 are attached to the mounting portion 1018. The suction cups 1216 are sized such that when a given articulating arm is stored in the cavity 1026, there remains space in the cavity 1026 that could be used for storage of items such as cash and credit cards.

[00117] As best shown in Figure 10, another articulating arm magnet 1024 is attached to the portable device holding portion 1002. In this implementation, each of the articulating arm magnets 1024, 1214 is selected to removably attach, via magnetic attraction, to any one of the ends of the articulating arm 1306 of the case 1000. To this end, the articulating arm 1306 has flat metallic ends (not shown) that are selected to be magnetically attracted to the articulating arm magnets 1024, 1214.

[00118] As shown in Figure 13, in this implementation, the mounting portion 1018 includes two additional articulating arm magnets 1302, 1304 that are opposite the articulating arm magnet 1214. The articulating arm magnets 1302, 1304 are selected to removably attach, via magnetic attraction, to any one of the ends of the articulating arm 1306 of the case 1000. In this implementation, a user may, for example, detach the articulating arm 1306 from the articulating arm magnets 1024, 1214, and removably attach the articulating arm 1306 at one or both of its ends to the articulating arm magnets 1302, 1304 as shown in Figure 13 with phantom lines 1306 and 1306b.

[00119] When the articulating arm 1306 is removably attached at both of its ends to the articulating arm magnets 1302, 1304, the articulating arm 1306 could be used to hang the mounting portion 1018, and therefore also the case 1000 and the cellphone 1006, onto a door handle (not shown) for example. When the articulating arm 1306 is attached at both of its ends to the articulating arm magnets 1302, 1304, or when the articulating arm 1306 is attached only at one of its ends to one of the articulating arm magnets 1024, 1214, 1302, 1304, the articulating arm 1306 could support the case 1000 on a surface, such as a top surface of a table, at a desired angle relative to the surface when the case 1000 is in the portable configuration. This may be done to orient the portable device (in this implementation, the cellphone 1006) with which the case 1000 is used in a desired orientation relative to the surface.

[00120] Also, when the articulating arm 1306 is removably attached at its ends to the articulating arm magnets 1024, 1214 and the case 1000 is in the expanded configuration, the mounting portion 1018 could be placed flat onto a surface, such as a top surface of a table, and could thereby support the portable device holding portion 1002 at a desired angle relative to the surface. A user of the case 1000 may need to manually reshape the articulating arm 1306 for each particular use.

[00121] As another example, a user may attach one end of the articulating arm 1306 to one of the articulating arm magnets 1302, 1304 and the other end of the articulating arm 1306 to the articulating arm magnet 1024, such that the suction cups 1216 face away from the rear side 1016 of the portable device holding portion 1002. In this configuration, the mounting portion 1018 could be, for example, removably attached to surfaces such as, but not limited to, a plastic surface of a light switch or a glass surface of a window or a mirror, using at least one of the suction cups 1216. A user could then manipulate the articulating arm 1306 to position the cellphone 1006 in any one of a plurality of angular adjustment positions relative to that surface.

[00122] To this end, it is contemplated that the mounting portion 1018 need not have both of the articulating arm magnets 1302, 1304 and could have one of the articulating arm magnets 1302, 1304. Also, the articulating arm magnets 1024, 1214, 1302, 1304 are an example of one suitable type of a removable attachment feature for the articulating arm 1306. It is contemplated that any other suitable removable attachment feature(s), or a combination of different types of suitable removable attachment features, could be used instead of or in addition to the articulating arm magnets 1024, 1214, 1302, 1304, depending on each particular implementation of the articulating arm 1306 for example. For example, it is contemplated that in some implementations the articulating arm 1306 could have a magnet at one or both of its ends and that one or both of the portable device holding portion 1002 and the mounting portion 1018 could have one or more metal parts selected for magnetic attachment of the magnet(s) of the articulating arm 1306 thereto.

[00123] It is contemplated that the case 1000 could include two articulating arms 1028, 1030, or more than two articulating arms, selected to be storable inside the cavity 1026 such that a first one of the articulating arms 1028, 1030 could be removably attached to one or both of the articulating arm magnets 1302, 1304 and such that a second one of the articulating arms 1028, 1030 could be removably attached to one or both of the articulating arm magnets 1024, 1214 simultaneously with the first one of the articulating arms 1028, 1030. In some applications, this provides for a combination of the functionalities described herein above.

[00124] Referring to Figure 13, six magnets 1308, 1310, 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318 are attached to a rear side of the mounting portion 1018 via a suitable conventionally known attachment, for removably attaching the mounting portion 1018 to at least one magnet-responsive object. Lastly, it is contemplated that a foldable stand 1320 could be attached to either side of the mounting portion 1018. The foldable stand 1320 would be operable between a folded position (shown in Figure 13) for storage, and an open position in which the foldable stand 1320 would support the mounting portion 1018 on a surface, such as a top surface of a table.

[00125] A case 1400, which is an alternative implementation of the case 100, is shown in Figure 14. In this Figure, elements that are the same as elements of the case 100 have been labeled with the same reference numerals as the corresponding elements of the case 100. One difference between the case 100 and the case 1400 is that the four recesses 146, 148, 202, 204 have been moved from the portable device holding portion 108 to the mounting portion 142, and the four male mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 have been moved from the mounting portion 142 to the portable device holding portion 108.

[00126] In other words, the portable device holding portion 108 of the case 1400 has four male mating portions 1406, 1408 extending from the rear side 109 of the portable device holding portion 108 case 1400, and the mounting portion 142 of the case 1400 has four recesses 1402, 1404 defined in the front side 158 of the mounting portion 142 of the case 1400. The four male mating portions 1406, 1408 are removably mateable with the four recesses 1402, 1404 in the same way that the four male mating portions 160, 162, 402, 404 of the case 100 are removably mateable with the four recesses 146, 148, 202, 204 of the case 100, as described herein above. Therefore, only two of the four male mating portions 1406, 1408 and only two of the four recesses 1402, 1404 of the case 1400 are shown in Figure 14, and the four male mating portions 1406, 1408 and the four recesses 1402, 1404 of the case 1400 are not described herein in any more detail.

[00127] Some non-limiting implementations of the present technology can be represented as presented in the following numbered clauses: [00128] CLAUSE 1. A case for a portable device, the case being adapted for removably attaching the portable device to an object, the case comprising: a portable device holding portion that is removably attachable to the portable device to cover at least a part of the portable device; a mounting portion that is removably attachable to the portable device holding portion; and an articulating arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the portable device holding portion, the second end being attached to the mounting portion, the articulating arm being operable to position the portable device holding portion relative to the mounting portion in any one of a plurality of angular adjustment positions, the articulating arm being stored between the portable device holding portion and the mounting portion when the portable device holding portion and the mounting portion are removably attached to each other such that the portable device holding portion contacts the mounting portion.

[00129] CLAUSE 2. The case of clause 1, wherein the first end of the articulating arm is removably attached to the portable device holding portion.

[00130] CLAUSE 3. The case of clause 1 or 2, wherein the second end of the articulating arm is removably attached to the mounting portion.

[00131] CLAUSE 4. The case of any one of clauses 1 to 3, further comprising a magnet attached to the mounting portion.

[00132] CLAUSE 5. The case any one of clauses 1 to 4, further comprising a suction cup attached to the mounting portion.

[00133] CLAUSE 6. The case of any one of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the mounting portion includes a clip, the clip being operable between an open position and a closed position, one of the open position and the closed position permitting to removably attach the mounting portion to the object.

[00134] CLAUSE 7. The case of any one of clauses 1 to 6, wherein the portable device holding portion and the mounting portion define a cavity between the portable device holding portion and the mounting portion when the portable device holding portion is removably attached to the mounting portion such that the portable device holding portion contacts the mounting portion, and the cavity is sized to store at least a part of the articulating arm in the cavity. [00135] CLAUSE 8. The case of clause 7, wherein the cavity is defined in the portable device holding portion.

[00136] CLAUSE 9. The case of clause 7 or 8, wherein the cavity is defined in the mounting portion.

[00137] CLAUSE 10. The case of any one of clauses 7 to 9, wherein: a) the case has: i) a portable configuration in which the portable device holding portion is removably attached to the mounting portion such that the portable device holding portion contacts the mounting portion, and ii) an expanded configuration in which the portable device holding portion is detached from the mounting portion and the articulating arm is attached at one of its ends to the portable device holding portion and at the other one of its ends to the mounting portion; and b) the articulating arm is stored inside the cavity when the case is in the portable configuration.

[00138] CLAUSE 11. The case of clause 10, wherein the articulating arm is non-removably attached the at one of its ends to the portable device holding portion and at the other one of its ends to the mounting portion.

[00139] CLAUSE 12. The case of clause 10, wherein the articulating arm is removably attached the at one of its ends to the portable device holding portion and at the other one of its ends to the mounting portion.

[00140] CLAUSE 13. The case of any one of clauses 1 to 12, wherein the portable device holding portion is removably attachable to the mounting portion by snap fit.

[00141] CLAUSE 14. The case of any one of clauses 1 to 13, wherein the portable device holding portion is removably attachable to the portable device by snap fit.

[00142] CLAUSE 15. The case of any one of clauses 1 to 14, wherein the portable device holding portion is removably attachable to the mounting portion by friction fit.

[00143] CLAUSE 16. The case of any one of clauses 1 to 10, wherein the articulating arm is removably attached at one of its ends to the portable device holding portion via a mating assembly, a first part of the mating assembly being attached to the portable device holding portion and a second part of the mating assembly being attached to the one of the ends of the articulating arm. [00144] CLAUSE 17. The case of clauses 16, wherein the first part of the mating assembly is removably attached to the second part of the mating assembly by one of: snap fit, and a threaded connection.

[00145] CLAUSE 18. The case of clauses 16 or 17, wherein the mating assembly is a first mating assembly, and the articulating arm is removably attached at the other one of its ends to the mounting portion via a second mating assembly, a first part of the second mating assembly being attached to the mounting portion and a second part of the second mating assembly being attached to the other one of the ends of the articulating arm.

[00146] CLAUSE 19. The case of clauses 18, wherein the first part of the second mating assembly is removably attached to the second part of the second mating assembly by one of: snap fit, and a threaded connection.

[00147] CLAUSE 20. The case of any one of clauses 1 to 20, wherein a plurality of male mating portions extends from the portable device holding portion toward the mounting portion, a plurality of recesses are defined in the mounting portion, each of the plurality of recesses is sized to removably receive a male mating portion of the plurality of male mating portions in that recess by snap fit, and the plurality of male mating portions are positioned on the portable device holding portion such that each of the plurality of male mating portions is removably receivable in one of the plurality of recesses by snap fit.

[00148] It is contemplated that each particular implementation of the case 100 could have any combination of the various features described herein above with respect to the different implementations of the case 100.

[00149] Modifications and improvements to the above-described implementations of the present technology may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting.