CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 14/675,067, filed March 31, 2015, and titled "PROTECTIVE BATTERY CASE," which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/093,339 (the '339 Provisional Application), filed December 17, 2014, and titled BATTERY CASE, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/130,553 (the '553 Provisional Application), filed March 9, 2015, and titled BATTERY CASE. This application claims the benefit of the '339 Provisional Application, the '553 Provisional Application, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/157,303, filed May 5, 2015, and titled BATTERY CASE. The entirety of each of the above-identified applications is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] This disclosure relates to battery cases for use with mobile electronic devices.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] Although various battery cases are available, there remains a need for improved battery cases for use with mobile electronic devices.

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0004] Certain embodiments are summarized below by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0005] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The battery case can include a rear case portion having a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, and a device interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery to provide electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The rear case portion can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power, and the charging interface can be electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The battery case can include a front case portion that can be configured to removably couple to the rear case portion to hold the mobile electronic device in the battery case. The front case portion can include a front opening through which a touchscreen display of the mobile electronic device can be visible when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case, and a screen membrane extending across at least a portion of the front opening for covering at least a portion of the touchscreen display. The screen membrane can be configured to waterproof the front opening. The screen membrane can be configured such that the touchscreen display registers touch input through the screen membrane. The battery case can include a gasket configured to provide a waterproof seal between the rear case portion and the front case portion when the front case portion is coupled to the rear case portion. The battery case can include a speaker opening configured to align with a speaker of the mobile electronic device to facilitate sound emitted by the speaker to exit the battery case. A speaker membrane can cover at least a portion of the speaker opening to waterproof the speaker opening. The speaker membrane can be angled relative to the speaker opening such that the surface area of the speaker membrane that is presented to sound vibrations from the speaker is larger than the cross-sectional area of the speaker opening.

[0006] The screen membrane can include a first sheet extending across the front opening for covering the touchscreen display. The first sheet can include a cutout configured to be positioned over an input interface of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The screen membrane can include a second sheet extending across the front opening for covering the touchscreen display. The second sheet can include a portion configured to cover the input interface of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case.

[0007] The gasket can provide a continuous, closed shape that lies on a single plane without bends towards a front or a back of the battery case. The speaker membrane can include stretched polytetrafluoroethylene. The battery case can include an outer covering that covers at least a portion of the speaker opening at a location that is further towards the outer periphery of the battery case than the speaker membrane such that the outer covering impedes debris from reaching the speaker membrane. The front case portion can include the speaker opening and the speaker membrane. The battery can be disposed inside the back wall. The rear case portion can include a bottom wall connected to the back wall and configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, and the device interface can extend upward from the bottom wall.

[0008] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The battery case can include a rear case portion having a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, and a device interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery to provide electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The rear case portion can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power. The charging interface can be electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The battery case can include a front case portion that is configured to removably couple to the rear case portion to hold the mobile electronic device in the battery case. The front case portion can include a front opening through which a touchscreen display of the mobile electronic device is visible when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. A screen membrane can extend across the front opening for covering the touchscreen display. The screen membrane can be configured to waterproof the front opening. The screen membrane can be configured such that the touchscreen display registers touch input through the screen membrane. The screen membrane can include a first sheet extending across the front opening for covering the touchscreen display. The first sheet can include a cutout configured to be positioned over an input interface of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The screen membrane can include a second sheet extending across the front opening for covering the touchscreen display. The second sheet can include a portion configured to cover the input interface of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The battery case can include a gasket configured to provide a waterproof seal between the rear case portion and the front case portion when the front case portion is coupled to the rear case portion.

[0009] The gasket can provide a continuous, closed shape that lies on a single plane without bends towards a front or a back of the battery case. The input interface can include a fingerprint identity sensor, and the second sheet can be configured to allow the fingerprint identity sensor to identify a fingerprint when the portion of the second sheet covers the input interface. The screen membrane can include a layer of adhesive between the first sheet and the second sheet to bond the first sheet and the second sheet together. The first sheet and the second sheet can be thermally bonded together. The screen membrane can include an anti-reflective coating on the first sheet. The second sheet can be closer to the touchscreen display of the mobile electronic device than the first sheet. A thickness of the first sheet can be between three (3) and ten (10) times larger than a thickness of the second sheet. A material of the first sheet can be the same material as the second sheet. One or both of the first sheet and the second sheet can include biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate.

[0010] The battery can be disposed inside the back wall. The rear case portion can include a bottom wall connected to the back wall and configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, and the device interface can extend upward from the bottom wall.

[0011] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The battery case can include a rear case portion having a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, and a device interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery to provide electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The rear case portion can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power, and the charging interface can be electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The battery case can include a front case portion that is configured to removably couple to the rear case portion to hold the mobile electronic device in the battery case. The front case portion can include a front opening through which a touchscreen display of the mobile electronic device is visible when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. A screen membrane can extend across at least a portion of the front opening for covering at least a portion of the touchscreen display. The screen membrane can be configured to waterproof the front opening. The screen membrane can be configured such that the touchscreen display registers touch input through the screen membrane. The battery case can include a gasket configured to provide a waterproof seal between the rear case portion and the front case portion when the front case portion is coupled to the rear case portion. The gasket can provide a continuous, closed shape that lies on a single plane without bends towards a front or a back of the battery case.

[0012] The rear case portion can include the gasket. The charging interface can be disposed rearward of the gasket and the device interface can be disposed forward of the gasket. The rear case portion can include a protrusion that extends rearward. The charging interface can be disposed in the protrusion. The rear case portion can include a channel, and the gasket can be positioned in the channel. The front case portion can include a flange that is configured to extend into the channel and compress the gasket when the front case portion is coupled to the rear case portion.

[0013] The rear case portion comprises one or more guides configured to engage the mobile electronic device to limit movement of the mobile electronic device to a direction in which the device interface extends as the mobile electronic device is coupled or decoupled from the device interface. The battery can be disposed inside the back wall. The rear case portion can include a bottom wall connected to the back wall and configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, and wherein the device interface extends upward from the bottom wall.

[0014] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a protective battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The protective battery case can include a lower case portion comprising a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, a lower right side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a lower right side of the mobile electronic device, a lower left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a lower left side of the mobile electronic device, and an open top side to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the lower case portion. The lower case portion of the protective battery case can include a device interface that can extend from the bottom wall and can be configured to electrically couple to a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the protective battery case. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery and can be configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The lower case portion of the protective battery case can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power and electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The lower case portion can include a left side bumper extending along at least a portion of an inside of the lower left side wall and at least a portion of an inside lower left corner of the protective battery case and configured to abut against at least a portion of the lower left side and at least a portion of the lower left corner of the mobile electronic device. The lower case portion can include a right side bumper extending along at least a portion of an inside of the lower right side wall and at least a portion of an inside lower right corner of the protective battery case and configured to abut against at least a portion of the lower right side and at least a portion of the lower right corner of the mobile electronic device.

[0015] The protective battery case can include an upper case portion, which can include a top wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device, an upper right side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of an upper right side of the mobile electronic device, and an upper left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of an upper left side of the mobile electronic device. The upper case portion can include a top side bumper extending along at least a portion of an inside of the top wall, at least a portion of an inside upper right corner, and at least a portion of an inside upper left corner of the protective battery case and configured to abut against at least a portion of the top, at least a portion of the upper right corner, and at least a portion of the upper left corner of the mobile electronic device. The lower case portion and the upper case portion can be configured to removably couple together to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device. A front opening of the protective battery case can be configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening.

[0016] The battery can be disposed inside the back wall, and the battery can be configured to be behind the back side of the mobile electronic device. The protective battery case can be configured to house a smartphone. The protective battery case can have an external shape that generally corresponds to an external shape of the mobile electronic device (e.g., the smartphone).

[0017] The right side bumper, the left side bumper, and the top side bumper can include an elastomeric material. The left side bumper, the right side bumper, and the top side bumper can have concave inward facing surfaces. The left side bumper, the right side bumper, and the top side bumper together can extend across at least about 50 percent of the side perimeter of the inside of the protective battery case.

[0018] The left side bumper can include a single integral bumper element that extends along the at least a portion of the inside of the lower left side wall and the at least a portion of the inside lower left corner of the protective battery case. The right side bumper can include a single integral bumper element that extends along the at least a portion of the inside of the lower right side wall and the at least a portion of the inside lower right corner of the protective battery case. The top side bumper can include a single integral bumper element that extends along the at least a portion of the inside of the top wall, the at least a portion of the inside upper right corner, and the at least a portion of the inside upper left corner of the protective battery case.

[0019] The left side bumper can extend substantially up the inside of the lower left side wall from the inside lower left corner toward the open top side of the lower case portion. The right side bumper can extend substantially up the inside of the lower right side wall from the inside lower right corner towards the open top side of the lower case portion. The left side bumper can extend at least half way up the inside of the lower left side wall from the inside lower left corner toward the open top side of the lower case portion. The right side bumper can extend at least half way up the inside of the lower right side wall from the inside lower right corner towards the open top side of the lower case portion. The left side bumper, the right side bumper, and the top side bumper can include an elastomeric and/or soft material configured to provide impact absorption to protect the mobile electronic device. The device interface can be positioned between the left side bumper and the right side bumper such that a line from a portion of the left side bumper at the inside lower left corner to a portion of the right side bumper at the inside lower right corner intersects the device interface. [0020] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a protective battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The protective battery case can include a first case portion that has a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, an open top side to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the lower case portion, and a device interface configured to electrically couple to a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the protective battery case. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery and can be configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The first case portion can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power and electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The protective battery case can include a second case portion configured to removably couple to the first case portion to provide a closed configuration for housing the mobile electronic device, and configured to decouple from the first case portion to provide an open configuration to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the protective battery case. The second case portion can include a top wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device. The protective battery case can include one or more bumpers disposed at least at a lower right inside corner, a lower left inside corner, an upper right inside corner, and an upper left inside corner of the protective battery case such that the one or more bumpers are configured to abut against at least a lower right corner, a lower left corner, an upper right corner, and an upper left corner of the mobile electronic device. A front opening of the protective battery case can be configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening.

[0021] The battery can be disposed inside the back wall, and the battery can be configured to be behind the back side of the mobile electronic device. The protective battery case can be configured to house a smartphone. The protective battery case can have an external shape that generally corresponds to an external shape of the mobile electronic device (e.g., the smartphone).

[0022] The one or more bumpers can extend across at least about 50 percent of the side perimeter of the inside of the protective battery case. The one or more bumpers can include an elastomeric material. The one or more bumpers can have concave inward facing surfaces. The one or more bumpers can include an elastomeric and/or soft material configured to provide impact absorption to protect the mobile electronic device. In some embodiments, the one or more bumpers are not exposed on the outside of the protective battery case when the mobile electronic device is in the protective battery case.

[0023] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a protective battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The protective battery case can include a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, a top wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device, a right side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device, a left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device, and a front opening through which a display of the mobile electronic device is visible when the mobile electronic device is in the protective battery case. The protective battery case can include a device interface configured to electrically couple to a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the protective battery case. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery and can be configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The protective battery case can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power and electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The protective battery case can include one or more bumpers configured to abut against the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the protective battery case. The one or more bumpers can be configured to support the top of the mobile electronic device, the right side of the mobile electronic device, the left side of the mobile electronic device, and the bottom of the mobile electronic device.

[0024] The one or more bumpers can have concave inward facing surfaces. The one or more bumpers can cover at least a portion of a lower right inside corner, at least a portion of a lower left inside corner, at least a portion of an upper right inside corner, and/or at least a portion of an upper left inside corner of the protective battery case. The one or more bumpers can extend across at least about 50 percent of the side perimeter of the inside of the protective battery case. The one or more bumpers can include an elastomeric material. The one or more bumpers can include an elastomeric and/or soft material configured to provide impact absorption to protect the mobile electronic device. In some embodiments, an outer shell of the battery case can completely cover the one or more bumpers.

[0025] The battery can be disposed inside the back wall, and the battery can be configured to be behind the back side of the mobile electronic device. The protective battery case can be configured to house a smartphone, and the protective battery case can have an external shape that generally corresponds to an external shape of the mobile electronic device (e.g., the smartphone).

[0026] Various embodiments disclosed herein can include a battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The battery case can include a rear case portion having a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, and a device interface extending upward from the bottom wall along a direction. The device interface can be configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery to provide electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The rear case portion can include a right side guide and a left side guide that are configured to guide the mobile electronic device to slide parallel to the direction as the mobile electronic device engages or disengages the device interface. The battery case can include a front case portion that is configured to removably couple to the rear case portion to hold the mobile electronic device in the battery case.

[0027] The front case portion can include a front opening through which a display of the mobile electronic device can be visible when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The rear case portion can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power, and the charging interface can be electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The battery case can include an opening through the bottom wall. The opening can have a side wall with a gap. An insert piece can be disposed inside the opening and can cover the gap. [0028] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The battery case can include a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, a top wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device, a right side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device, a left side wall configured to extend along at least a left side of the mobile electronic device, and a device interface configured to electrically couple to a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery and can be configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The battery case can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power, and the charging interface can be electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The battery case can include one or more bumpers configured to abut against the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The one or more bumpers can be configured to support the top of the mobile electronic device, the right side of the mobile electronic device, the left side of the mobile electronic device, and/or the bottom of the mobile electronic device.

[0029] The one or more bumpers can have concave inward facing surfaces. The one or more bumpers can cover a lower right inside corner, a lower left inside corner, an upper right inside corner, and/or an upper left inside corner of the battery case.

[0030] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The battery case can include a rear case portion having a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, a bottom wall connected to the back wall and configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, and a device interface (e.g., extending upward from the bottom wall). The device interface can be configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device, and the device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery to provide electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The rear case portion can include a channel circumscribing at least a portion of the bottom wall. The channel can be configured to extend about a perimeter of the mobile electronic device. A gasket can be positioned in the channel. The gasket can be substantially equidistantly positioned from a first plane extending along the back wall. The battery case can include a front case portion that is configured to removably couple to the rear case portion to hold the mobile electronic device in the battery case. The front case portion can include a flange configured to extend into the channel against the gasket to provide a seal between the rear case portion and the front case portion when the front case portion is coupled to the rear case portion.

[0031] The gasket can be substantially equidistantly positioned from a second plane extending along an exterior wall configured to face an environment of the battery case when the front case portion is coupled to the rear case portion. The second plane can be substantially parallel to the first plane. The rear case portion can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power. The charging interface can be electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The charging interface can extend between the first plane and the second plane. The charging interface can be positioned between the exterior wall and the device interface (e.g., perpendicularly to first plane). The charging interface can extend into the rear case portion along the first plane away from the channel. The charging interface can extend into the rear case portion along the first plane away from the gasket.

[0032] The front case portion can include a front opening through which a display of the mobile electronic device can be visible when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The gasket can be positioned substantially equidistantly relative to a third plane extending along a longitudinal length of the front opening. The third plane can be substantially parallel to the first plane. The gasket can be flat relative to the third plane. A periphery of the gasket can be straight when the periphery of the gasket is projected onto a plane that is perpendicular to the first plane. The gasket can be flat relative to the front case portion when the front case portion is coupled to the rear case portion.

[0033] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The battery case can include a rear case portion having a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, a bottom wall connected to the back wall and configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device, a channel circumscribing at least a portion of the bottom wall, the channel extending about a periphery of the mobile electronic device, and a gasket positioned in the channel, the gasket substantially flat relative to the back wall. The battery case can include a front case portion that is configured to removably couple to the rear case portion to hold the mobile electronic device in the battery case. The front case portion can include a flange configured to extend into the channel against the gasket to provide a seal between the rear case portion and the front case portion when the front case portion is coupled to the rear case portion.

[0034] The front case portion can include a front opening through which a display of the mobile electronic device can be visible when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The gasket can be positioned substantially equidistantly relative to a plane passing through front opening, and the plane can be substantially parallel to the back wall. The gasket can be substantially equidistantly positioned from a plane extending along the back wall. The gasket can be flat relative to the plane. A periphery of the gasket can be straight when the periphery of the gasket is projected onto another plane that is perpendicular to the plane.

[0035] The rear case portion can include a charging interface configured to receive electrical power, and the charging interface can be electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery. The charging interface can extend substantially along a side of the plane between an exterior surface of the back wall and the plane. The charging interface extending along a side of the plane facing the rear case portion without intersecting the channel. The charging interface can be positioned between the exterior surface of the rear case portion and the gasket. The gasket can be positioned between the charging interface and the front case portion.

[0036] The exterior surface can beconfigured to face an environment of the battery case. The gasket can be positioned substantially equidistantly relative to a plane passing through the rear case portion and the front case portion along a longitudinal length of the rear case portion or the front case portion, and the plane can be substantially equidistant to the rear case portion and the front case portion. The gasket can be flat relative to the plane. The gasket can be straight when a perimeter of the gasket is projected onto another plane (e.g., that is perpendicular to the plane). The gasket can be flat relative to the rear case portion. The gasket can be flat relative to the front case portion when the front case portion is coupled to the rear case portion.

[0037] The battery case can include a device interface that can be configured to electrically couple to a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery and can be configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The charging interface can be positioned between an exterior surface of the battery case and the device interface relative to a plane extending along the exterior surface. The exterior surface can be configured to face an environment of the battery case. The gasket can be positioned between the charging interface and the device interface along the plane.

[0038] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a battery case for use with a mobile electronic device. The battery case can include a battery, a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of the mobile electronic device, a top wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device, a gasket that is flat along a plane extending along the back wall or the top wall, and a charging interface configured to receive electrical power and electrically coupled to the battery for charging the battery.

[0039] The battery case can include a device interface that can be configured to electrically couple to a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. The device interface can be electrically coupled to the battery and can be configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device. The charging interface can be positioned between the back wall and the device interface (e.g., perpendicular to the plane). The gasket can be between the charging interface and the device interface (e.g., perpendicular to the plane). At least a portion of the charging interface can extend substantially parallel to the plane to overlap the gasket without intersecting the gasket.

[0040] Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a screen membrane for covering a touch screen of a mobile electronic device. The screen membrane can include a first sheet having a first width and a first length. The first sheet can include a cutout configured to be positioned over an input interface of the mobile electronic device when the screen membrane covers the touch screen of the mobile electronic device. The screen membrane can include a second sheet extending in parallel to the first membrane. The second sheet can have substantially the first width and substantially the first length. The second sheet can include a portion configured to cover the input interface.

[0041] The input interface can include a fingerprint identity sensor, and the second sheet can be configured to allow the fingerprint identity sensor to identify a fingerprint when the portion of the second sheet covers the input interface. The input interface can include a push button, and the second sheet can be configured to allow the push button to be depressed when the portion of the second sheet covers the input interface. The cutout can circumscribe a perimeter of the input interface. The perimeter of the input interface can be substantially circular, and the cutout can be correspondingly substantially circular. The first sheet and the second sheet can be thermally bonded together. The screen membrane can include a layer of adhesive between the first sheet and the second sheet to bond the first sheet and the second sheet. The cutout can be stamped into or laser cut from the first sheet. The screen membrane can include an anti-reflective coating on the first sheet. The second sheet can cover the touch screen of the mobile electronic device. The first sheet can be positioned over the second sheet.

[0042] A thickness of the first sheet can be at least five times that of a thickness of the second sheet. The thicknesses of the first and second sheets can extend substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the first sheet or the second sheet. The thickness of the first sheet can be 0.010 inches. The thickness of the second sheet can be 0.002 inches. A material of the first sheet can be the same material as the second sheet. The first sheet and/or the second sheet can include a Mylar material.

[0043] The screen membrane can be configured to be connected to a protective case. The protective case can be configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device. The protective case can include a battery and a device interface connected to the battery. The device interface can be configured to connect to the mobile electronic device when the protective case encloses the mobile electronic device to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The following drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate example embodiments of the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the claims.

[0045] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a battery case for use with a mobile electronic device.

[0046] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of an example embodiment of a battery case in a closed configuration.

[0047] Figure 3 is a rear perspective view the battery case of Figure 2 in the closed configuration.

[0048] Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the battery case of Figure 2 in an open configuration.

[0049] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the battery case of Figure 2.

[0050] Figure 6 is a front perspective view of an example embodiment of a battery case in a closed configuration.

[0051] Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the battery case of Figure 6 in an open configuration.

[0052] Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the battery case of Figure 6 in the open configuration.

[0053] Figure 9 is a top-down view of a first case portion (e.g., a rear case portion) of the battery case of Figure 6.

[0054] Figure 10 is a partial exploded view of the first case portion of the battery case of Figure 6.

[0055] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a battery case with a side bumper removed.

[0056] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the side bumper removed from the battery case of Figure 11. [0057] Figure 13 schematically shows an example embodiment of a side bumper that can be removably coupled to the housing of the battery case.

[0058] Figure 14 shows a perspective view of a bumper.

[0059] Figure 15 is a side view of an example embodiment of a bumper having a first height.

[0060] Figure 16 is a side view of an example embodiment of a bumper having a second height that is larger than the first height.

[0061] Figure 17 is a side front, perspective, exploded view of an example embodiment of a battery case.

[0062] Figure 18 is front, exploded view of an example embodiment of a battery case.

[0063] Figure 19A is a side, exploded view of an example embodiment a battery case.

[0064] Figure 19B is a side back, perspective view of an example embodiment of a battery case.

[0065] Figure 20 is bottom, exploded view of an example embodiment of a battery case.

[0066] Figure 21 illustrates a top view of an example embodiment of a screen membrane over a mobile electronic device.

[0067] Figures 22-25 illustrate cross-sectional views of example embodiments of a screen membrane taken along lines A-A in Figure 21.

[0068] Figure 26 is a rear perspective view of an example embodiment of a lower part of the second case portion (e.g., the front case portion).

[0069] Figure 27 is a cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a lower part of the second case portion (e.g., the front case portion).

[0070] Figure 28 is a rear perspective view of an example embodiment of a lower part of the second case portion (e.g., the front case portion).

[0071] Figure 29 is a rear perspective view of an example embodiment of a protective case with a cover in a separated position. [0072] Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a lower portion of a protective case.

[0073] Figure 31 shows an example embodiment of a housing and shock absorber for a second case portion (e.g., the front case portion).

[0074] Figure 32 shows an example embodiment of a housing and shock absorber for a first case portion (e.g., the back case portion).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0075] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a battery case 100 for use with a mobile electronic device. Figure 2 is a front perspective view of an example embodiment of a battery case 100 in a closed configuration. Figure 3 is a rear perspective view the battery case 100 of Figure 2 in the closed configuration. Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the battery case of Figure 2 in an open configuration. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the battery case 100 of Figure 2.

[0076] The battery case 100 (e.g., a protective case) can include a first case portion 102 and a second case portion 104, which can be configured to removably couple together. In the open configuration, the battery case 100 can permit a mobile electronic device (e.g., a cell phone such as an iPhone®, other smartphone, or tablet computer) to be inserted into, and/or removed from, the battery case 100. In the closed configuration, the battery case 100 can be configured to secure the mobile electronic device in place inside the battery case 100. The battery case 100 can provide protection to the mobile electronic device that is disposed therein.

[0077] The battery case 100 can include a back wall 106 that is configured to extend across a back side of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. The battery case 100 can include a top wall 108 that is configured to extend across a top side of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. The battery case 100 can include a bottom wall 110 that is configured to extend across a bottom side of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. The battery case 100 can include a left-side wall 1 12 that is configured to extend across a left side of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. The battery case 100 can include a right- side wall 114 that is configured to extend across a right side of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. The battery case 100 can include a front opening 116 through which a display (e.g., a touchscreen configured to receive a user input such as a touch input via a finger(s) or hand(s)) of the mobile electronic device is visible when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100.

[0078] The battery case 100 can include a battery 118, which can be a supplemental battery different than a battery in the mobile electronic device. The battery 1 18 can be disposed inside the back wall 106, for example, such that the battery 118 is disposed directly rearward of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. By way of example, the battery 118 can be seen in the cross-sectional view of Figure 5. The back wall 106 of the battery case 100 can include a front portion 106a (e.g., configured to be positioned closer to the mobile electronic device) and a back portion 106b (e.g., configured to be position further from the mobile electronic device), with a cavity disposed between the front portion 106a and the back portion 106b. The battery 118 can be disposed inside the cavity between the front portion 106a and the back portion 106b. In some embodiments, other electrical components (e.g., one or more processors, controllers, circuits, printed circuit boards, wires) can be disposed in the cavity between the front portion 106a and the back portion 106b. Various electrical components can be disposed in the bottom wall 1 10, for example, such as to be positioned under a bottom side of the mobile electronic device. The battery 118 can be used to provide electrical power to the mobile electronic device, such as to recharge the battery of the mobile electronic device, as described herein.

[0079] The battery case 100 can include a device interface 120, which can be configured to interface with an interface on the mobile electronic device. For example, the device interface 120 can be a Tightning™ connector, a Micro-USB connector, or other type of electrical connector, which can be configured to engage a corresponding Lightning™ port, Micro-USB port, or other electrical port on the mobile electronic device. The device interface 120 can be electrically coupled to the battery 118 (e.g., via electrical circuitry inside the battery case 100) so that electrical power from the battery 118 can be transferred to the mobile electronic device via the device interface 120. In some embodiments, the device interface 120 can be an electrical connector that extends upward from the bottom wall 110 of the battery case 100, although other locations can be used, such as extending inward from the left-side wall 112 or the right-side wall 114. The device interface 120 can be an internal interface disposed on an inside of the battery case 100. In some embodiments, the device interface 120 can be an electrical connector that is positioned on a flexible electrical cable such that the electrical connector can be positioned at various different orientations. In some embodiments, the device interface 120 can be a wireless charging interface, which can be configured to wirelessly charge the mobile electronic device (e.g., via inductive charging).

[0080] The battery case 100 can include a charging interface 122, which can be used to charge the battery 1 18 of the battery case 100, as described herein. The charging interface 122 can be a Lightning™ port, a Micro-USB port, or other electrical port that is configured to receive a corresponding Lightning™ connector, Micro-USB connector, or other electrical connector that can deliver electrical power (e.g., from a power source such as a wall outlet or external battery). The charging interface 112 can be electrically coupled to the battery 118 (e.g., via electrical circuitry inside the battery case 100) so that electrical power can be delivered from the charging interface 122 to the battery 1 18, such as for recharging the battery 118. In some embodiments, the charging interface 122 can be a wireless charging interface configured to receive wireless charging signals for charging the battery 1 18 (e.g., via inductive charging). In some embodiments, the battery case 100 can be configured to use electrical power received by the charging interface 120 to charge the mobile electronic device first and to charge the battery 118 of the battery case 100 when the mobile electronic device is fully charged or when there is surplus electrical power not being used by the mobile electronic device.

[0081] The charging interface 122 can be an external interface disposed on an outside of the battery case 100. The charging interface 122 can be disposed on a bottom side of the battery case 100, such as generally opposite the device interface 120, although the charging interface 122 can be positioned at other locations such as on the right external side or the left external side of the battery case 100. The charging interface 122 can be electrically coupled to the device interface 118 (e.g., via electrical circuitry inside the battery case 100) so that electrical power can be delivered from the charging interface 122 to the device interface 120, such as for passing electrical power through the battery case 100 to the mobile electronic device. In some embodiments, the battery case 100 can be configured to use electrical power received by the charging interface 120 to charge the mobile electronic device first and to charge the battery 1 18 of the battery case 100 when the mobile electronic device is fully charged or when there is surplus electrical power not being used by the mobile electronic device.

[0082] The battery case 100 can include a charge indicator 124, which can be configured to indicate a charge level of the battery 1 18. The charge indicator 124 can include a plurality of lights, such as light emitting diodes (TEDs), and the number of lights that are illuminated can indicate the amount of charge that the battery 1 18 has. For example, four lights can be used and one illuminated light can correspond to about 25% charge, two lights can correspond to about 50% charge, 3 illuminated lights can correspond to about 75% charge, and four illuminated lights can correspond to about 100%) charge. In some embodiments, the charge indicator can use different colors, the intensity of light, or a display with a text or image representation to indicate the charge level of the battery 118.

[0083] The battery case 100 can include a user input element 126, such as a button. The charge indicator 124 can provide an indication of the battery charge level in response to input received by the user input element 126. For example, the lights of the charge indicator 124 can be turned off until the user provides input to the user input element 126 (e.g., by pushing the button), and in response to the input one or more of the lights of the charge indicator 124 can illuminate for a time to communicate the battery charge level information.

[0084] The battery case 100 can include a user input element 128, which can be used to turn the charging from the battery 118 to the mobile electronic device on and/or off. In some embodiments, the user input element 128 can be a switch (e.g., a sliding or pushdown switch), which can have an "on" setting and an "off setting. When the switch is at the "on" setting, the battery case 100 can deliver electrical power from the battery 118 to the mobile electronic device, such as via the device interface 120. When the switch is at the "off setting, the battery case 100 does not deliver electrical power from the battery 118 to the mobile electronic device. Accordingly, the user input element 128 can enable the user to control when the battery case 100 charges the mobile electronic device. Various other types of user input elements 128 can be used to control the charging, such as, for example, a button that can be the same button can be used for the user input element 126 that controls the charge indicator 124 and for the user input element 128 that controls the charging. For example, the button can be pressed or held down for a first, relatively shorter time (e.g., less than two seconds) to operate the charge indicator 124, and the button can be pressed or held down for a second, relatively longer time (e.g., more than two seconds) to start or stop the charging. In some embodiments, the battery case 100 can provide output to the user to indicate that the charging has started or stopped (e.g., by flashing lights of the charge indicator 124).

[0085] The battery case 100 can be configured to not interfere with normal operation of the mobile electronic device when in the battery case 100. For example, the front opening 116 can permit viewing and/or providing input to the display (e.g., touchscreen) of the mobile electronic device. The battery case 100 can include one or more features (e.g., openings, button covers, and/or switch covers) that are configured to provide access to one or more corresponding features (e.g., buttons, ports, and/or switches) on the mobile electronic device. For example, an opening 130a through a wall of the battery case 100 can be disposed to align with an input port (e.g., a headphone jack) on the mobile electronic device. An opening 130b through a wall of the battery case 100 can be disposed to align with a button or switch (e.g., a mute switch) on the mobile electronic device to enable a user to operate the button or switch through the opening 130b. Button covers 130c can be disposed to align with buttons (e.g., volume buttons and/or an on/off button) on the mobile electronic device to enable a user to operate the buttons via the button covers. In some embodiments, the battery case 100 can include a switch cover that is configured to interface with a switch on the mobile electronic device to operate the switch. One or more openings 130d can be disposed to transfer sound from a speaker on the mobile electronic device out of the battery case 100 and/or to transfer sound to a microphone on the mobile electronic device. A camera opening 130e can be positioned (e.g., through the back wall 106) to align with a camera and/or camera flash on the mobile electronic device so that the camera of the mobile electronic can operate while the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. [0086] The battery case 100 can have an external shape that generally corresponds to the external shape of the mobile electronic device. Accordingly, a battery case 100 designed for use with a smartphone can have an external shape that generally corresponds to the external shape of the smartphone. Accordingly, the battery case 100 with the smartphone therein can be used in the same manner as the smartphone without the battery case 100. For example, the battery case 100 with the smartphone therein can be placed in a user's pocket, can be held in a single hand with the thumb operating the touchscreen, can comfortably be held to the user's face when talking on the phone, etc.

[0087] The battery case 100 can be configured to transfer data to and/or from the mobile electronic device while the mobile electronic device is in the battery case. Accordingly, the mobile electronic device can sync with or otherwise communicate with an external computing device while in the battery case 100. For example, a cable can connect the external computing device to the charging interface 122 on the battery case 100. Data can be sent from the external computing device via the cable to the charging interface 122, and the charging interface 122 can be electrically coupled to the device interface 120 (e.g., via electrical circuitry in the battery case 100) such that the data can be transferred to the mobile electronic device via the device interface 120. Data from the mobile electronic device can be received by the device interface 120, can be transferred to the charging interface 122, and can be output from the charging interface 122 to the external computing device via the cable. Although the discussion above describe data being transferred to and/or from the battery case via the same charging interface 122 that is used to receive electrical power, in some embodiments, the battery case 100 can include a data interface (e.g., an electrical port or connector configured to receive data) that is different than the charging interface 122.

[0088] The battery case 100 can include a controller 132, which can be used to implement various features and processes discussed herein. The controller 132 can include one or more computing devices (e.g., computer processors). The controller 132 can be implemented using one or more general purpose computer processors, which can be configured to execute computer-executable instructions that can be stored on memory (e.g., non-transitory memory that is not shown in Figures 1-5) to implement various features and processes discussed herein. In some embodiments, the controller 132 can include one or more specialized computing devices (e.g., integrated circuits) which can be configured to implement various features and processes disclosed herein. The controller 132 can be configured to control the transfer of electrical power and/or data to and/or from the mobile electronic device and/or an external computing device, to control the charge indicator 124, to control charging of the battery 1 18, etc.

[0089] The battery case 100 can include a housing that can provide protection to a mobile electronic device that is disposed in the battery case 100. The battery case 100 can be configured to permit the mobile electronic device to be removably inserted into the battery case 100 and to be removed from the battery case 100. In some embodiments, the device interface 120 can couple to a corresponding interface (e.g., an electrical port) on the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is inserted into the battery case 100. In the closed configuration, the first case portion 102 and the second case portion 104 can removably couple, connect, and/or interface together to secure the mobile electronic device in the battery case 100. In the open configuration, the first case portion 102 and the second case portion 104 can be configured to enable the mobile electronic device to be removed from the battery case 100 and/or inserted into the battery case. One or both of the first case portion 102 and the second case portion 104 can include engagement mechanisms 134 configured to removably couple the first case portion 102 to the second case portion 104. The engagement mechanisms 134 can include snap fit elements, corresponding slots and protrusions, friction fit elements, clasps, etc.

[0090] By way of example, with reference to Figures 2-5, in some embodiments, the first case portion 102 can be a lower case portion that includes the device interface 120. The first case portion 102 (e.g., the lower case portion) can have an open top side, as can be seen in Figure 4, which can enable the mobile electronic device to slide into the first case portion 102. The lower case portion can include the bottom wall 110, a lower portion of the left-side wall 112, a lower portion of the right-side wall 114, and/or a lower portion of the back wall 106. The second case portion 104 can be an upper case portion that can removably couple to the lower case portion to secure the mobile electronic device in the battery case 100. The upper case portion can be detached from the lower case portion to allow the mobile electronic device to be removed from the battery case 100. The upper case portion can include the top wall 108, an upper portion of the left-side wall 1 12, an upper portion of the right-side wall 114, and/or an upper portion of the back wall 106. A seam between the upper case portion and the lower case portion can extend across portions of the battery case 100, such as, for example, across the back of the battery case 100, across a front of the back wall 106, across the left-side wall 112, and/or across the right-side wall 1 14. In some embodiments, the lower case portion can form a first open-polygon shape (e.g., a rectangle with rounded corners and an open top side), the upper case portion can form a second open- polygon shape (e.g., a rectangle with rounded corners and an open bottom side), and the first and second open-polygon shapes can align together when the battery case 100 is in the closed configuration to form a closed-polygon shape (e.g., a rectangle with rounded corners) that defines the front opening 116 through which the display of the mobile electronic device can be visible.

[0091] The battery case 100 can have various other configurations. For example, with reference to Figures 6-8, in some embodiments, the first case portion 102 can be a rear case portion and the second case portion 104 can be a front case portion. Figure 6 is a front perspective view of an example embodiment of a battery case 100 in a closed configuration. Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the battery case 100 of Figure 6 in an open configuration. Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the battery case 100 of Figure 6 in the open configuration. Various features described in connection with the battery case of Figures 2-5 can be implemented similarly in the battery case of Figures 6-8, and vice versa. The rear case portion can include the back wall 106 and at least a portion of the bottom wall 1 10. The rear case portion can include an open top side so that the mobile electronic device can be inserted into the rear case portion when the battery case 100 is in the open configuration. In some embodiments, the battery case 100 does not include a seam across the back of the battery case 100. The second case portion 104 can be a front case portion that is configured to removably couple to the rear case portion after the mobile electronic device is inserted into the rear case portion to secure the mobile electronic device in the battery case 100. The front case portion can be detached from the rear case portion to allow the mobile electronic device to be removed from the battery case 100. The front case portion can include at least a portion of the top wall 108, at least a portion of the bottom wall 110, at least a portion of the left- side wall 1 12, and/or at least a portion of the right-side wall 114. The front case portion can define a closed-polygon shape (e.g., a rectangle with rounded corners) that defines the front opening 1 16 through which the display of the mobile electronic device is visible when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. The front case portion can extend around the full perimeter of the battery case 100. The front case portion can include a bottom wall outer portion that can couple to a bottom wall inner portion on the rear case portion, and/or right and left inner side wall portions (e.g., the right side guide 138 and the left side guide 136) that can couple to corresponding right and left outer side wall portions on the front case portion. The battery case 100 can include engagement mechanisms 134 for coupling the bottom portion of the rear case portion to the bottom portion of the front case portion, for coupling the right side portion of the rear case portion to the right side portion of the rear case portion, for coupling the left side portion of the rear case portion to the left side portion of the front case portion, and/or for coupling the top portion of the rear case portion to the top portion of the front case portion. The various engagement mechanisms 134 on multiple different portions of the battery case 100 can facilitate secure coupling of the front case portion to the rear case portion.

[0092] As can be seen in Figure 7, in some embodiments, the first case portion 102 (e.g., the rear case portion) can include a left side guide 136, which can form part of the left-side wall 112 when the battery case is in the closed configuration and a right side guide 138 that can form part of the right-side wall 114 when the battery case is in the closed configuration. The first case portion 102 can include inner portions of the left-side wall 1 12 and the right-side wall 114, and the second case portion 104 can include outer portions of the left-side wall 112 and the right-side wall 1 14. The left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 can guide the mobile electronic device as it is inserted into the rear case portion, or as it is removed from the rear case portion, such that the mobile electronic device slides along directions parallel to the direction that the device connector 120 extends from the bottom wall 1 10. Figure 9 is a top-down view of the first case portion 102 (e.g., the rear case portion). As can be seen in Figure 9, the left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 can have concave surfaces that face inward to engage the mobile electronic device. The left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 can be configured to impede the mobile electronic device from moving forward, away from the back wall 106. Front portions of the left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 can be configured to wrap partially around the mobile electronic device to hold the mobile electronic device back (e.g., adjacent to the back wall 106). The guides 136 and 138 can support and protect the mobile electronic device, such as in the event the case 100 is dropped, and can aid in keeping the case 100 closed and secure upon impact.

[0093] The left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 can have a height (e.g., a length extending upward from the bottom wall 110) that is at least as tall as the height of the device connector 120, such that the mobile electronic device can be impeded from moving or pivoting forward until the device interface 120 has fully disengaged from the corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device. The left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 can have a height that is greater than the height of the device interface 120, such as a height that is at least about 1.25 times, at least about 1.5 times, at least about 2 times, at least about 2.5 times, at least about 3 times, at least about 4 times, at least about 5 times, at least about 7.5 times, at least about 10 times, at least about 15 times, or at least about 20 times the height of the device interface 120. The left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 can have a height that is less than or equal to about 50 times, less than or equal to about 25 times, less than or equal to about 15 times, less than or equal to about 10 times, less than or equal to about 5 times the height of the device interface 120, although values outside the above-identified ranges can also be used in some implementations. In some embodiments, the left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 can have a height that is at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 25%, at least about 35%, at least about 50%, less than or equal to about 95%, less than or equal to about 90%, less than or equal to about 80%, less than or equal to about 70%, less than or equal to about 60%, less than or equal to about 50%, less than or equal to about 40%, and/or less than or equal to about 30%) of the height of the battery case 100, although values outside these ranges can be used in some implementations.

[0094] The left-side wall 112 and the right-side wall 114 of the battery case 100 of Figures 2-5 can function similar to the left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 to restrict movement of the mobile electronic device to a direction that is parallel to the direction of extension of the device interface 120 as the mobile electronic device engages or disengages the device interface 120. Accordingly, the disclosure herein relating to the left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138 can also apply to the left-side wall 1 12 and the right-side wall 114 of other battery case 100 embodiments (e.g., as shown in Figures 2-5).

[0095] The battery case 100 can include one or more bumpers 140 on one or more inside surfaces of the battery case 100, and the bumpers 140 can be configured to abut against the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. The bumpers 140 can be made of silicone or other elastomeric and/or soft materials. The bumpers 140 can be configured to provide protection to the mobile electronic device by insulating it from harder materials of the battery case 100 and by providing shock absorption for impacts to the battery case. The bumpers 140 can facilitate achieving a snug fit of the mobile electronic device in the battery case 100 by compensating for minor size differences (e.g., due to manufacturing tolerances or different model sizes) between individual mobile electronic devices. The bumpers 140 can have a desired or predetermined coefficient of static or kinetic friction with the mobile electronic device to substantially prevent or inhibit the mobile electronic device from moving within the battery case 100 and/or out of the battery case 100 until a sufficient force is applied to the mobile electronic device (e.g., a user pulling or pushing the mobile electronic device relative to the battery case 100 to, for example, insert or remove the mobile electronic device into or from the battery case 100). The bumpers 140 can be on the inner-facing side of the back wall 106, on the inner-facing side of the left-side wall 1 12, on the inner- facing side of the right-side wall 114, on the inner- facing side of the top wall 108, and/or on the inner-facing side of the bottom wall 110.

[0096] In some embodiments, an opening 130a can extend through the bottom wall 110 to align with a feature (e.g., a headphone jack) on the mobile electronic device. In some embodiments, the opening 130a can be formed as a closed cylindrical hole. In some embodiments, a side of the opening 130 can have a gap 142, as can be seen in Figures 7 and 10. Figure 10 is a partial exploded view of the first case portion 102 (e.g., the rear case portion). In some implementations, the portion of the bottom wall 100 that includes the opening 130a can have a thickness that is insufficient to provide a fully enclosed side wall that surrounds the full perimeter of the opening 130a, and the gap 142 can be formed at a front portion of the opening 130a. The gap 142 can be a slot that extends along a vertical direction. An insert piece 144 can be disposed inside the opening 130a. The insert piece 144 can be cylindrical in shape and can have a circular cross-sectional shape. The insert piece 144 can include one or more side walls that fully extend 360 degrees in the horizontal plane (e.g., to form a cylinder with closed side walls). The insert piece 144 can be open at the top and bottom, such that an object (e.g., a head phone jack) can pass through the insert piece 144. The insert piece 144 can be disposed inside the opening 130a, such that the insert piece 144 covers the gap 142 in the opening 130a, which can provide reinforcement to the opening 130a (e.g., to maintain the opening 130a at the desired size), and which can facilitate reliable insertion and removal of an object (e.g., a headphone jack) to and from the opening 130a (e.g., by providing an inner surface to the opening 130a that does not have any gaps or seams).

[0097] The insert piece 144 can be rigid (e.g., more rigid relative to the battery case 100) and can be made of metal or rigid plastic or various other suitably rigid materials. The insert piece 144 can be formed separately from the housing piece that includes the opening 130a, and the insert piece 144 can be inserted into the opening 130a during assembly. In some embodiments, a lip can be disposed at an end of the opening 130a (e.g., at the top end of the opening 130a) to impede over- insertion of the insert piece 144. The insert piece 144 can be secured in the opening 130a by an adhesive, by a friction fitting, by a snap mechanism, by a clamp, or by any other suitable securing mechanism, including adhesives. As can be seen in Figure 9, the insert portion 144 can extend forward (e.g., downward in the orientation of Figure 9) past the front edge of the opening 130a, past the gap 142, and/or past the front edge of the housing piece that surrounds the opening 130a.

[0098] The battery case 100 can include side bumpers 146 on one or more inside surfaces such that the side bumpers 146 are configured to abut against one or more sides (e.g., the top side, bottom side, left side, and/or right side) of the mobile electronic device. The disclosure relating to the bumpers 140 can apply to the side bumpers 146. The one or more side bumpers 146 can be configured to support the mobile electronic device on all four sides of the mobile electronic device. For example, in some embodiments a side bumper 146 can extend around the full perimeter of the inside of the battery case 100. In some embodiments, the one or more side bumpers 146 can include cutouts, recesses, or openings that align with features on the inside side surfaces of the battery case 100 (e.g., the device interface 120, the openings 130a and 130b, and/or the button covers 130c), or the side bumper 146 can be shaped to go around or otherwise avoid the features on the inside side surfaces of the battery case 100. The one or more side bumpers 146 can cover at least about 10%, at least about 20%, at least about 30%, at least about 40%, at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%, less than or equal to about 90%, less than or equal to about 80%, less than or equal to about 70%, less than or equal to about 60%, less than or equal to about 50%, less than or equal to about 40%, less than or equal to about 30%, and/or less than or equal to about 20% of the perimeter of the inside of the battery case 100, although values outside these ranges can be used in some implementations .

[0099] In some embodiments, the one or more side bumpers 146 can be disposed at one or more of the inside/interior corners of the battery case 100. As can be seen in Figure 2, a side bumper 146 can be disposed at a lower left inside corner of the battery case 100 to support a lower left corner of the mobile electronic device, and a side bumper 146 can be disposed at an upper left inside corner of the battery case to support an upper left corner of the mobile electronic device. As can be seen in Figure 4, a side bumper 146 can be disposed at a lower right inside corner of the battery case 100 to support a lower right corner of the mobile electronic device, and a side bumper 146 can be disposed at an upper left inside corner of the battery case 100 to support an upper left corner of the mobile electronic device. In some embodiments, a side bumper 146 can extend along at least a portion of an inner right side of the battery case 100 to abut against the right side of the mobile electronic device, a side bumper 146 can extend along at least a portion of an inner left side of the battery case 100 to abut against the left side of the mobile electronic device, a side bumper 146 can extend along at least a portion of an inner top side of the battery case 100 to abut against the top of the mobile electronic device, and/or a side bumper 146 can extend along at least a portion of an inner bottom side of the battery case 100 to abut against the bottom of the mobile electronic device. [0100] As can be seen in Figure 5, the one or more side bumpers 146 can have a concave surface (relative to the interior of the battery case 100) that faces inward to abut against the mobile electronic device. The concave surface can wrap around to a portion of the front of the mobile electronic device, in some embodiments. The concave surface of the one or more side bumpers 146 can support, protect, and insulate the mobile electronic in the side directions and in forward and/or backward directions as well. For example, if an impact would tend to move the mobile electronic device forward (e.g., away from the back wall 106), the front part of the concave side bumpers 146 can absorb the force driving the mobile electronic device forward.

[0101] In some embodiments, the battery case 100 can include a right side bumper 146 configured to extend along a right inner side of the battery case 100, and the right side bumper can cover the right lower inside corner and/or can wrap around to extend partially along a bottom inner side of the battery case 100. The battery case 100 can include a left side bumper 146 configured to extend along a left inner side of the battery case 100, and the left side bumper 146 can cover the left lower inside corner and/or can wrap around to extend partially along a bottom inner side of the battery case 100. The right side bumper 146 and the left side bumper 146 can be on the first case portion 102 (e.g., on the lower case portion). The battery case 100 can include a top side bumper 146 configured to extend along a top inner side of the battery case 100. In some embodiments, the top side bumper 146 can cover the right upper inside corner and/or the left upper inside corner of the battery case 100. In some embodiments, the top side bumper 146 can wrap around to extend partially along a right inner side of the battery case 100 and/or along a left inner side of the battery case 100. The top side bumper 146 can be on the second case portion 104 (e.g., on the upper case portion). Various different configurations are possible. For example, a single, integral bumper element can be used for each of the various side bumper 146 shown and described herein (e.g., the right side bumper, the left side bumper, and/or the top side bumper). In some embodiments, the various side bumpers 146 shown and described herein (e.g., the right side bumper, the left side bumper, and/or the top side bumper) can include a plurality of distinct bumper elements, which can abut each other, or be spaced apart. [0102] Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a battery case 100 with a side bumper 146 removed. Figure 12 is a perspective view of the side bumper 146 removed from the battery case 100 of Figure 1 1. The housing of the battery case 100 (e.g., the lower case portion in Figure 11) can include a recess 148 that is shaped to receive the side bumper 146. The side bumper 146 can sit in the recess, such that a portion of the side bumper 146 is recessed down into the recess 148, as can be seen in the cross- sectional view of Figure 5). The one or more side bumpers 146 can be coupled to the housing by an adhesive, by over-molding, by snap-fit mechanisms, by a friction fitting, by sonic welding, or any other suitable securing mechanism. The housing (e.g., the lower case portion in Figure 11) can include one or more holes, openings, or cutouts 150 which can facilitate securing of the side bumper 146 to the housing. The side bumper 146 can include a main body portion 152. The side bumper 146 can include one or more protrusions 154 that can be configured to insert into the corresponding one or more holes 150 in the housing, to facilitate coupling of the side bumper 146 to the housing. The one or more protrusions can be T-shaped. The one or more protrusions can have a neck portion and an end portion, and the neck portion can be narrower than the end portion. The corresponding hole 150 in the housing can have a size that is smaller than the end portion. The end portion can compress to pass through the hole 150 and the end portion can decompress to impede the protrusion 154 from being pulled out of the hole 150.

[0103] In some embodiments, the side bumper 146 can be removably secured to the housing. Figure 13 schematically shows an example embodiment of a side bumper 146 that can be removably coupled to the housing of the battery case 100. The side bumper 146 can be coupled to a base member 156, which can be made of a rigid material (e.g., a rigid plastic), such as using an adhesive, by over-molding, by a friction fitting, by sonic welding, or any other suitable securing mechanism. The base member 156 can include one or more engagement mechanisms 158 that are configured to removably engage one or more corresponding engagement mechanisms 160 on the housing of the battery case 100. The engagement mechanisms 160 can be snap-fit engagement mechanisms, friction- fit engagement mechanisms, clasps, or any other suitable engagement mechanisms. The assembly of the side bumper 146 and the base member 156 can be removably coupled to the housing of the battery case 100, and can be removed or interchanged with other side bumper assemblies, for example to provide different side bumpers with different sizes, different amounts of hardness, or other different features.

[0104] As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of Figure 5, the rear bumpers 140 can be secured between the front portion 106a and the back portion 106b of the back wall 106. Figure 14 shows a perspective view of a bumper 140. The bumper 140 can include a main body portion 162 and a securing flange 164. The securing flange 164 can be disposed between the front portion 106a and the back portion 106b of the back wall 106, and the main body portion 162 can extend through a hole in the front portion 106a, such that the main body portion of the bumper 140 extends forward of the back wall 106 so that it can abut against a back of the mobile electronic device (e.g., to prevent the mobile electronic device from directly contacting the back wall 106).

[0105] Different sizes of bumpers 140 can be used. Figure 15 is a side view of an example embodiment of a bumper 140 having a first height, and Figure 16 is a side view of an example embodiment of a bumper 140 having a second height that is larger than the first height. Different mobile electronic devices, even of the same model type, can sometimes have somewhat different dimensions (e.g., thickness or height or width), such as due to manufacturing tolerances. Also in some instances a mobile electronic device can be updated to a new model that has only slightly different dimensions than a previous model. The different sizes of bumpers 140 can be used to accommodate between different sizes of mobile electronic devices. For example, two housings for two battery cases can have the same inner dimensions for housing mobile electronic devices but can be configured to hold different sizes of mobile electronic devices by using different bumpers 140. The side bumpers 146 can have different heights to accommodate different sizes of mobile electronic devices as well. The bumpers 140 and 146 can be configured to be removably coupled to the housing of the battery case 100 (e.g., as discussed in connection with Figure 13) so that they can be interchanged with other bumpers 140 and 146 of different size or having other different properties.

[0106] Various other configurations are possible for the battery case 100. For example, in some embodiments, the battery case 100 can include a single-piece housing, instead of the two-piece housing of Figures 1-8 that has the first case portion 102 and the second case portion 104. The single-piece housing can include a flexible portion that can be configured to flex to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the battery case 100 and/or to facilitate removal of the mobile electronic device from the battery case 100. For example, in some embodiments, the top wall 108, the left-side wall 112, and/or the right- side wall 114 can be flexible to bend out of the way during insertion and/or removal of the mobile electronic device into and/or from the battery case 100. In some embodiments, the back wall 106 and/or the bottom wall 110 can be rigid. The battery 118 can be disposed inside the thickness of the back wall 106, for example, such that the battery 118 is disposed directly rearward of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the battery case 100. In some embodiments, a battery case 100 with a single-piece housing can have an open top side, such that the top wall 108 is omitted to facilitate insertion and/or removal of the mobile electronic device into and/or from the battery case 100. In some embodiments, the device interface 120 can be movable to facilitate insertion and/or removal of the mobile electronic device into and/or from the battery case 100. For example, the device interface 120 can pivot forward so that the mobile electronic device can couple to the device interface 120 and the mobile electronic device can be pivoted back into the housing as the device interface pivots back. In some embodiments, the device interface 120 can be on a movable portion that is configured to move (e.g., slide) downward away from the top wall 108 to provide sufficient space between the top wall 108 and the device interface 120 for the mobile electronic device to be inserted into the housing. The movable portion can move (e.g., slide) upward such that the device interface 120 engages the corresponding interface (e.g., electrical port) on the mobile electronic device. For removal of the mobile electronic device, the movable portion can move (e.g., slide) downward to disengage the device interface 120 from the corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device. When moved downward, there can be sufficient space between the top wall 108 and the device interface 120 for the mobile electronic device to be removed from the battery case 100. In some embodiments, the battery case 100 can include two-piece housing, as shown, for example, in Figures 1-8. In some embodiments, the housing can include three or more pieces that removably couple together. [0107] Figure 17 is a side front, perspective, exploded view of an example embodiment of a battery case 100 (e.g., a protective case). Figure 18 is front, exploded view of an example embodiment of a battery case 100. Figure 19A is a side, exploded view of an example embodiment a battery case 100. Figure 19B is a side back, perspective view of an example embodiment of a battery case 100. Figure 20 is bottom, exploded view of an example embodiment of a battery case 100. The battery case 100 of Figures 17-20 can have the various features and functionalities as discussed herein for other embodiments of the battery case 100. As discussed herein, the battery case 100 can removably house and secure a mobile electronic device 166 within the battery case 100.

[0108] As illustrated in Figures 17-20, the battery case 100 can have a first case portion 102 and a second case portion 104, which can be configured to removably couple, mate, and/or connect together. For example, the second case portion 104 can have a securing flange 164 (e.g., a protrusion or rim). The securing flange 164 can have engagement mechanisms 134 that can removably couple to the first case portion 102 as discussed herein. The securing flange 164 can extend fully along a perimeter or periphery of the second case portion 104 as illustrated in, for example, Figure 18. The securing flange 164 can be a single, monolithic piece that is positioned about (e.g., surround or circumscribe) a front opening 1 16 of the second case portion 104. For example, the securing flange 164 can be a flat, continuous member or piece of material without bends or breaks when viewed from the side as shown in Figures 19 and 20.

[0109] The first case portion 102 can include corresponding features (e.g., in the channel 167) that engage the engagement mechanisms 134 to secure the first case portion 102 and the second case portion 104 together. In some embodiments, the case 100 can include several engagement mechanisms 134, which can facilitate reliable securing of the case portions 102 and 104 together, while also facilitating easy opening of the case 100. For example, because the securing force can be distributed across several engagement mechanisms 134, the force needed to uncouple any one of the engagement mechanisms 134 can be less than would be needed if a smaller number of engagement mechanisms were used. Accordingly, to open the case 100, the user can start by uncoupling one or more of the engagement mechanisms 134 (e.g., starting at a corner of the case 100) while leaving other engagement mechanisms 134 engaged. Then, by continuing to apply an opening force, the use can continue to decouple additional engagement mechanisms 134 until the case 100 is open (e.g., all the engagement mechanisms 134 are decoupled). Furthermore the second, or front, case portion 104 can be somewhat flexible (e.g., made of a material such as plastic and having a thickness that is sufficient to permit limited flexing or more flexible relative to the first case portion 102), which can facilitate the opening and/or closing of the case 100. For example, when the engagement mechanisms 134 are being decoupled, the flexing of the front case portion 104 can facilitate the decoupling of the engagement mechanisms 134 in series, while additional engagement mechanisms 134 remain engaged. In some embodiments, the case 100 can include 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 30, 35, 40, or more engagement mechanisms 134, or any number of engagement mechanisms 134 within the ranges between these numbers. In some implementations, the case 100 can include 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, or more engagement mechanisms 134 on each side (e.g. top, bottom, left, and right) of the case, or any number of engagement mechanisms 134 within the ranges between these numbers. In some instances, more engagement mechanisms 134 can be disposed on the right and left, or longer, sides than on the top and bottom, or shorter, sides. In the illustrated embodiment, the case 100 can have 4 engagement mechanisms 134 on the top and/or bottom sides, 9 engagement mechanisms 134 on the left side, and 7 engagement mechanisms 134 on the right side, although other configurations are possible.

[0110] As illustrated in Figures 17 and 18, the first case portion 102 can have a channel 167 (e.g., a conduit, slit, or opening). The channel 167 can be correspondingly sized and shaped to accept the securing flange 164 when the first and second case portions 102, 104 are secured or coupled together. Accordingly, the channel 167 can have a flat configuration to correspondingly accept a flat securing flange 164 as discussed herein. The channel 167 can extend fully along a perimeter or periphery of the first case portion 102 as illustrated in, for example, Figure 18. The channel 167 can be a continuous passageway that is positioned about (e.g., surrounds or circumscribes) a back wall 106 of the first case portion 102.

[0111] The first case portion 102 can have a back wall or surface 106 (e.g., front portion 106a as discussed herein) configured to extend across a back side of the mobile electronic device 166. The first case portion 102 can have an exterior wall or surface 168 (e.g., a back portion 106b as discussed herein). The exterior wall 168 can at least partially extend along a first plane 170. As illustrated in Figures 19A and 19B, a part or portion of the exterior wall 168 can be positioned along (e.g., lie in) the first plane 170 (e.g., parallel to the first plane 170). In some embodiments, at least portion of the back wall 106 can extend or be positioned parallel (e.g., lie in) to a second plane 171 as discussed herein. The second plane 171 can be substantially parallel to the first plane 170. While in this disclosure planes are numbered as first, second, third, etc., the numbering is for discussion purposes. The planes can be numbered in any desired order. For example, the first plane 170 can be considered to be a second numbered plane (e.g., second plane 170), while the second plane 171 can be considered to be a first numbered plane (e.g., first plane 171).

[0112] As illustrating Figures 19A and 19B, the exterior wall 168 can be bounded or circumscribed by a bumper 169. The bumper 169 can protrude outward away from the exterior wall 168 and backwards or away from a side of the first plane 170. As illustrated in Figure 19 A, the bumper 169 can have an exterior surface or wall that undulates relative to the exterior wall 168 and/or first plane 170. For example, the bumper 169 can have a surface or wall that undulates, protrudes, and/or extends outwards near or proximate to the bottom wall 110 of the case 100 (e.g., relative to other portions of the bumper 169). The surface of the bumper 169 can undulate outwards to accommodate a thickness of the interface housing 182 as discussed herein. As another example, the bumper 169 can have a surface or wall that undulates, protrudes, and/or extends outwards near or proximate to the top wall 108 of the case 100 to accommodate other features of the case 100, such as for example, an opening 130e for a camera of the mobile electronic device 166 as discussed herein.

[0113] Accordingly, the bumper 169 can undulate outwardly to accommodate electronics or other features of the case 100 as discussed herein as well as or alternatively provide further protection and impact resistance to the case 100. For example, the bumper 169 can be made of resilient and/or elastic materials as discussed herein that absorb shock from a force (e.g., by dropping the case 100) applied to the case 100. The bumper 169 can be positioned on the first case portion 102 and/or the second case portion 104. The bumper 169 can be one or more portions to accommodate separation and assembly of the case 100 as discussed herein. The bumper 169 can be overmolded or attached to the case 100 using any other suitable methods as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the bumper 169 and other portions of the case 100 can be formed from a single monolithic piece of material.

[0114] With reference to Figures 17 and 18, the second case portion 104 can have a front opening 1 16 through which a display (e.g., a touchscreen configured to receive a user input such as a touch input via a finger(s) or hand(s)) of the mobile electronic device 166 is visible when the mobile electronic device 166 is in the battery case 100. The front opening 116 can at least partially extend along a fourth plane 174. As illustrated in Figures 17-20, a part or portion of the front opening 1 16 can be positioned along (e.g., lie in) the fourth plane 174 (e.g., parallel to the first plane 170 and/or the second plane 171). In some embodiments, the first case portion 102 can include a left side guide 136 and a right side guide 138, similar to other embodiments disclosed herein, which can restrict movement of the mobile electronic device 166 (the vertical direction) as it is inserted into or removed from the case 100, so as to facilitate proper engagement with or disengagement from the device interface 120.

[0115] As illustrated in Figure 17-20, between the first case portion 102 and the second case portion 104, the battery case 100 can have a gasket 176. The gasket 176 can provide a tight seal between the first and second case portions 102, 104. The gasket 176 can provide a water resistant or waterproof seal between the first and second case portions 102, 104. The gasket 176 can at least partially extend along a third plane 172. A part or portion of the gasket 176 can be positioned along (e.g., lie in) in the third plane 172 (e.g., parallel to the first plane 170, the second plane 171, and/or the fourth plane 174). The gasket 176 can extend around a fully closed perimeter of the case 100, with no gaps or breaks in the gasket 176. The gasket 176 can be flat, having no bends or undulations in directions towards the front or back of the case 100.

[0116] As illustrated in Figures 17-20, the gasket 176 can wholly or in its entirety extend straightly along the third plane 172. With reference to Figures 19 and 20, the gasket 176 can be flat such that the gasket 176 extends substantially in parallel along the third plane 172 in its entirety. Stated differently, the gasket 176 does not have bends when viewed from a profile view (e.g., side views) of the gasket 176 as shown in Figures 19 and 20. The gasket 176 is straight and flat when the profile view of the gasket 176 is projected onto a fifth plane 178, for example as illustrated in Figure 20. A similar straight/flat profile projection of the gasket 176 can be derived from Figures 17 and 19, where for example, a sixth plane (not shown) would extend perpendicularly to the fifth plane 178 along the left-side wall 112 or the right-side wall 114 of the battery case 100. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the gasket 176 is substantially equidistant in its entirety from the third plane 172 (as well as the first plane 170, the second plane 171, and/or the fourth plane 174), when viewed from the side views of Figures 19 and 20.

[0117] Correspondingly, the securing flange 164 can wholly or in its entirety extend along the third plane 172 when the first and second portions 102, 104 are coupled. Stated differently, the second, third, and fourth planes 171, 172, 174 may be substantially coincident (e.g., separated according to the thickness of the gasket 176) when the first and second portions 102, 104 are coupled. As discussed herein, the channel 167 can be substantially flat and straightly extend along the second plane 171. The third plane 172 can be considered to be associated with a straight or flat extent of the gasket 176. The third plane 172 can be considered to move with the position of the gasket 176. For example, the third plane 172 is shown to be along the extent of the gasket 176 in the current position of the gasket 176 illustrated in Figure 20. When the battery case 100 is assembled, the first and second portions 102, 104 are moved to couple together with the gasket 176 therebetween. Accordingly, when the battery case 100 is assembled, the gasket 176 would rest against the channel 167 and the securing flange 164 as discussed herein. When the gasket 176 rests against the channel 167, the second plane 171 can be proximate to the third plane 172. In some embodiments, when the gasket 176 rests against the channel 167, the second and third planes 171, 172 can be substantially the same plane.

[0118] With reference to Figures 19 and 20, an edge of the securing flange 164 can be flat such that the edge of the securing flange 164 extends substantially in parallel or along the second plane 174 in its entirety. The edge of the securing flange 164 can be the surface against which the gasket 176 rests when the first and second case portions 102, 104 are coupled. Accordingly, the edge of the securing flange 164 can be substantially equidistant in its entirety from the third plane 172 (as well as the first plane 170, the second plane 171, and/or the fourth plane 174), when viewed from the side views of Figures 19 and 20. The securing flange 164 is straight or flat when the profile view of the securing flange 164 is projected onto the fifth plane 178, for example as illustrated in Figure 20. A similar straight/flat profile projection of the securing flange 164 can be derived from Figures 17 and 19, where for example, a sixth plane would extend perpendicularly to the fifth plane 178 along the left-side wall 1 12 or right-side wall 114 of the mobile electronic device 166.

[0119] Correspondingly, the channel 167 can wholly or in its entirety extend along the third plane 172 when the first and second portions 102, 104 are coupled. With reference to Figures 19 and 20, a contact surface of the channel 167 can be flat such that the contact surface of the channel 167 extends substantially in parallel along the second plane 171 in its entirety. The contact surface of the channel 167 can be the surface against which the gasket 176 rests when the first and second case portions 102, 104 are coupled. Accordingly, the contact surface of the channel 167 can be substantially equidistant in its entirety from the second plane 171 (as well as the first plane 170, the third plane 172, and/or the fourth plane 174), when viewed from the side views of Figures 19 and 20. The channel 167 is straight/flat when the profile view of the channel 167 is projected onto the fifth plane 178. A similar straight/flat profile projection of the channel 167 can be derived from Figures 17 and 19, where for example, a sixth plane would extend perpendicularly to the fifth plane 178 along the left-side wall 112 or right-side wall 114 of the mobile electronic device 166.

[0120] A straight/flat configuration of the gasket 176 (and correspondingly the securing flange 164 and the channel 167) as discussed herein can help provide and ensure a tight fit between the first and second case portions 102, 104. For example, without bends along the second plane 171, the first and second case portions 102, 104 can more uniformly compress the gasket 176 when coupled. Further, a straight/flat configuration of the gasket 176 (and correspondingly the securing flange 164 and the channel 167) can help provide more reliably separable first and second case portions 102, 104 (e.g., first and second case portions 102, 104 are relatively easier to separate or remove from each other while minimizing damage to the first and second case portions 102, 104, such as for example, engagement mechanism 134 as discussed herein). For example, when a user applies force to separate the first and second case portions 102, 104, the force can be more uniformly applied to help separate the first and second case portions 102, 104 from each other (e.g., release the engagement mechanisms 134 of the first and second case portions 102, 104 while potentially minimizing concentrated forces at, for example, bends). The straight/flat configuration of the gasket 176 can provide a sufficient seal (e.g., a sufficient water tight seal) with less compressive force on the gasket as compared to a gasket with undulations, and the first and second case portions 102, 104 can therefore be configured to engage and disengage with less force than could be required by some cases having a non-planar gasket.

[0121] As illustrated in Figures 17 and 20, the protective battery case 100 can have a charging interface 122 as discussed herein. The charging interface 122 can accept and electrically connect with a corresponding electrical connector (e.g., on a cable 180 or charging station). The cable 180 can have any suitable electrical connection or interface as discussed herein, such as for example, a Micro-USB connector on one end and a standard USB connector on the other end. The charging interface 122 can be disposed in an interface housing 182. As illustrated in Figure 20, the interface housing 182 can protrude from the first case portion 102 (e.g., along the undulations of the bumper 169 as discussed herein) to accommodate the charging interface 122 and other associated electronics of the battery case for the charging interface 122 to be below the channel 167 and/or second plane 171 as discussed herein. The interface housing 182 can protrude more than about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 inches, including the foregoing values and ranges bordering therein.

[0122] The charging interface 122 can be protected against the environment by an interface cover 183. Figure 29 shows an exploded view of a lower portion of the case 100, in which the interface cover 183 is shown separated from the housing. The interface cover 183 can be connected to the interface housing 182 and/or the first case portion 102. The interface cover 183 can form a water resistant or waterproof seal to protect the charging interface 122. The interface cover 183 can keep debris out of the charging interface 122. The interface cover 183 can be made of a flexible material (e.g., silicone, a thermoplastic material, etc.) so that the charging interface 122 can be moved out of the way of the charging interface 122 when in use. A connection portion 123 of the interface cover 183 can insert into a hole 125 in the housing, for example to provide a friction fitting to attach the interface cover 183 to the housing. The connection portion 123 can have a widened portion that holds the connection portion 123 in the hole 125. Various other attachment mechanisms can be used to attach the interface cover 183 to the housing. In some embodiments, the interface cover 183 does not provide a water resistant or waterproof seal for the charging interface 122. In some implementations, the interface cover 183 can be omitted. The charging interface 122 can itself be water resistant or waterproof. For example, the charging interface 122 can be a sealed micro-USB connector, such as those sold by Molex of Lisle, Illinois, although various other water resistant or waterproof interfaces can be used.

[0123] Features on the case 100 that are configured to provide access to features on the mobile electronic device can be water resistant or waterproof. The opening 130a that is configured to align with an input port (e.g., a headphone jack) on the mobile electronic device can have a cover 185, which can form a water resistant or waterproof seal. With reference to Figures 26 and 27, the cover 185 can include a plug 187 that inserts into the opening 130a. A sealing member 189, such as an O-ring, can seal the opening 130a when the plug 187 is inserted into the opening 130a. The O-ring can fit into an annular channel on the outside of the plug 187 to hold the O-ring in place. In some embodiments, the plug 187 can have a recess and side walls that surround the recess. The plug 187 can have a generally cylindrical shape. The side walls can flex inward into the space of the recess as the plug 187 is inserted into the opening 130a, and the side walls of the plug can apply an outward force to press the O-ring against the side walls of the opening 130a, to seal the opening 130a. Various other configurations are possible. In some embodiments, multiple O-rings can be used. In some embodiments, the plug 187 can include a resilient outer portion that provide the sealing element 189 instead of a separate O-ring piece. In some implementations, the plug 187 can be conical or frustoconical in shape so that the plug 187 can wedge into the opening 130a to seal the opening 130a. The plug 187 can be coupled to the housing of the protective case, such as by a tether 191. The tether 191 can be made of a flexible material (e.g., silicon, a thermoplastic material, etc.) to enable the plug 187 to move out of the way of the opening 130a when the opening 130a is in use, while remaining connected to the housing. The tether 191 can be made of the same material as, and can be integrally formed together with, the plug 187, although they can also be made of separate materials and/or can be separately formed. The tether 191 can be secured to the housing. For example, the tether 191 can include an insert portion 193 that can fit into a corresponding recess in the housing. The insert portion 193 and/or the corresponding recess can be shaped so that the insert portion 193 is retained in the recess. For example, the recess can have an opening that is smaller than the body of the recess. The insert portion 193 can have a neck that is smaller than a body of the insert portion 193. The body of the insert portion 193 can fit into the body portion of the recess and the neck of the insert portion 193 can align with the opening of the recess. The body of the insert portion 193 can be larger than the opening of the recess to secure the insert portion in the recess. A pin 195 of the housing can fit into a hole of the tether 191 (e.g., on the insert portion 193) to secure the tether 193 to the housing. The cover 185 can be attached to the housing in various other suitable manners and using various other coupling mechanisms.

[0124] The switch cover 130b can be water resistant or waterproof. In some embodiments, the switch cover 130b can rotate in order to actuate a linear switch on the mobile electronic device, for example, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0268519, filed on March 11, 2014 as U.S. Patent Application No. 14/205,167 (the Ί67 Application), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this specification for all that it discloses. Various feature disclosed in the Ί67 Application can be used by the various embodiments disclosed herein. The case 100 can include button covers 130c that can be water resistant or waterproof. The camera opening 130e can have a transparent covering such that it is water resistant or waterproof. In some embodiments, the mobile electronic device 166 can include a front-facing camera. The case 100 can include an opening 13 Of (which can be separate from the opening for the touchscreen) that is configured to align with the front-facing camera. A transparent covering 121 can be aligned with the opening 130f to provide a water resistant or waterproof seal. A speaker opening 130g can be positioned near a speaker on the mobile electronic device 166, such that the speaker opening 130g will be near a user's ear when the mobile electronic device 166 is in use. The speaker opening 130g can be covered with a water resistant or waterproof material that enables sound to pass through the opening 130g, such as stretched polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Gore-Tex ®).

[0125] The case 100 can include one or more openings 130d (e.g., on the bottom of the case 100) to enable passing of sound through the case for a speaker and/or a microphone on the mobile electronic device 166. In Figure 29, the left opening 130d can be a speaker opening 131 used to enable sound from a speaker on the mobile electronic device 166 to exit the case 100, and the right opening 130d in Figure 29 can be a microphone opening 133 used to enable sound to enter the case to reach a microphone on the mobile electronic device 166, although other configurations can be used. Figure 27 shows a cross- sectional view of a lower part of the second case portion 104 (e.g., the front case portion) taken through the openings 131 and 133. Figure 26 is a rear perspective view of the lower part of the second case portion 104 (e.g., the front case portion). Figure 30 is a cross- sectional side view of the lower part of the case 100 taken through the speaker opening 131.

[0126] A covering 135 can be positioned in or near the speaker opening 131 to provide water resistance or waterproofing for the speaker opening 131. The covering 135 can be made of a water resistant or waterproof material that enables sound to pass through the covering 135, such as stretched polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Gore-Tex ®). In some embodiments, an outer covering 137 can be positioned in or near the speaker opening 131 to impede debris from entering the case via the speaker opening 131. The outer covering 137 can be a mesh or similar material. The outer covering 137 can be used together with the covering 135, and the outer covering 137 can be positioned further towards the outside periphery of the case than the covering 135, such that the outer covering 137 can impede debris from reaching the covering 135. In some implementations, the outer covering 137 is not water resistant or waterproof, such that water can pass through the outer covering 137 to reach the covering 135, which can be water resistant or waterproof. A gap can be disposed between the covering 135 and the outer covering 137.

[0127] In some embodiments, the covering 135 and/or the outer covering 137 can be disposed in the hole of the speaker opening 131 that is formed in the wall of the case housing. In some embodiments, an internal support structure 139 can be disposed inside the housing to support one or both of the covering 135 and the outer covering 137. The support structure 139 can include side walls, which can define a recess, which can be the gap between the covering 135 and the outer covering 137. In some implementations, the outer covering 137 can be disposed between the wall (e.g., bottom wall) of the case housing and a first side (e.g., bottom side) of the support structure 139, for example to hold the outer covering 137 in place. The covering 135 can be disposed between a second side (e.g., top side) of the support structure 139 and a cap 141, for example to hold the covering 135 in place. In some implementations, the cap 141 can include a wall that defines two or more openings through the cap 141 (e.g., as shown in Figure 26). Other configurations are possible. For example, as shown in Figure 28, the cap 141 can include a single opening to provide access to the covering 135.

[0128] The covering 135 can be angled to increase the surface area of the covering that is presented to the sound vibrations, which can increase the amount and/or quality of the sound that is output through the speaker opening 131. In the upright orientation where the touchscreen of the mobile electronic device 166 and/or the associated front opening 116 in the case face forward, the speaker on the mobile electronic device can have a generally horizontal orientation, and/or the speaker opening 131 through the wall (e.g., the bottom wall) of the case housing can have a generally horizontal orientation, and/or the outer covering 137 can have a generally horizontal orientation. The front opening 116 and/or the screen membrane 184 can have a generally vertical orientation. The covering 135 can extend in a direction that is offset from the horizontal direction (e.g., offset from the speaker on the mobile electronic device 166, offset from the outer covering 137, or offset from any other structure of the case that has a generally horizontal orientation when the case is upright) by an angle 143, which can be about 15 degrees, about 20 degrees, 30 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 45 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 60 degrees, about 70 degrees, about 75 degrees, or any values therebetween, including ranges bordering therein. The covering 135 can extend in a direction that is offset from the vertical direction (e.g., offset from the touchscreen of the mobile electronic device 166, offset from the screen membrane 184, offset from the front opening 116, or offset from any other structure of the case that has a generally vertical orientation when the case is upright) by an angle 145, which can be about 15 degrees, about 20 degrees, 30 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 45 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 60 degrees, about 70 degrees, about 75 degrees, or any values therebetween, including ranges bordering therein. The angled covering 135 can have a larger surface area than if the covering 135 were positioned to have a generally horizontal orientation. The increased surface area of the covering 135 can improve the sound output through the speaker opening 131. The covering 135 can slope downward from the front of the case towards the back of the case. Other configurations are possible. For example, the covering 135 could slope downward from the back to the front of the case, or from the right to the left of the case, or from the left to the right of the case.

[0129] The microphone opening 133 can include features similar to the speaker opening 131, and the disclosure above relating to the speaker opening 131 can also be applied to the microphone opening. A covering 135 can be positioned in or near the microphone opening 133 to provide water resistance or waterproofing to the microphone opening. An outer covering 137 can be positioned in or near the microphone opening 133, for example, to impede debris from entering the microphone opening. The description herein relating to the covering 135 and outer covering 137 for the speaker opening 131 can also be applied to the microphone opening 133. A support structure 139 and cap 141, which can be similar to those discussed in connection with the speaker opening 131, can be used to position and/or hold in place the covering 135 and/or the outer covering 137 for the microphone opening 133. In some embodiments, the cap 141 can include side walls that define a channel for directing sound to or from the covering 135. The covering 135 for the microphone opening 133 can be angled, for example, similar to the covering 135 for the speaker opening 135. In some embodiments, the covering 135 for the microphone opening 133 can slope downward from the left side to the right side of the case or from the right side to the left side of the case (e.g., offset by about 90 degrees from the sloped direction of the covering 135 of the speaker opening 131). Other configurations are possible. The covering 135 for the microphone opening can slope downward from the front to the back of the case or from the back to the front of the case. A protrusion on the first case portion 102 (e.g., the back case portion) can fit into the space between the support structures 139 of the openings 131 and 133. The device interface 120 can extend upward from the protrusion.

[0130] As illustrated in Figure 20, the charging interface 122 can be positioned above or forward of the first plane 170 (e.g. away from a side of the first plane 170 facing the second plane 171). Accordingly, the charging interface 122 can be positioned above, forward, or away from the exterior wall 168 along the first plane 170. The charging interface 122 can be positioned below the second plane 171 (e.g., away from a side of the second plane 171 facing the first plane 170). Accordingly, the charging interface 122 can be positioned below the back wall 106 and/or the channel 167. The charging interface 122 can be positioned between the first plane 170 and the second plane 171 (e.g., away from facing sides of the first and second planes 170, 171). Accordingly, the charging interface 122 can be positioned between the channel 167 (and/or the back wall 106) and the exterior wall 168 along the first plane 170 and/or the second plane 171. Stated differently, the charging interface 122 having a receiving end configured to accept an end of the cable 180 does not extend into the channel 167 (and/or the back wall 106) and the exterior wall 168 along the first plane 170 and/or the second plane 171. Rather the receiving end of the charging interface 122 is proximate to, but does not cross or intersect, the channel 167 (and/or the back wall 106) and the exterior wall 168 along the first and/or second planes 170, 171.

[0131] The charging interface 122 can extend into the first case portion 102 along the first plane 170 and/or the second plane 171. Positioning the charging interface 122 below the second plane 171 can facilitate in forming the straight or flat profiles of the securing flange 164, the channel 167, and the gasket 176 as discussed herein. For example, with the charging interface 122 extending along the first and/or second planes 170, 171, the charging interface 122 (and associated electronics) may extend into the first case portion 102 past the channel 167 without intersecting the channel 167 along the first and/or second planes 170, 171. If the charging interface 122 was not below the channel 167 as discussed herein, then the channel 167 may have to undulate (e.g., bend, circumscribe, etc.) to accommodate the charging interface 122 extending into channel 167. If the channel 167 undulates along the second plane 171, then the securing flange 164 and the gasket 176 would have to correspondingly undulate, negating some of the benefits of a flat gasket 176 as discussed herein. When the case 100 is in the closed configuration, the charging interface 122 can be disposed below or rearward of the gasket 176 (e.g., the flat or planar gasket) and/or the interfacing mechanical couplings (e.g., the channel 167 and flange 164 with engagement mechanisms 134).

[0132] As illustrated in Figure 17, the battery case 100 can have a screen membrane 184 (e.g., a screen protector). The screen membrane 184 can be composed of multiple layers. For example, the screen membrane 184 can have first sheet or film 186. The first sheet 186 can face the exterior of the battery case 100 (e.g., environment) through the front opening 116. The first sheet 186 can have a cutout or opening 188. The cutout 188 can be formed in the first sheet 186 by any suitable method, including stamping and/or laser cutting. The cutout 188 can be formed in the first sheet 186 to be positioned over a user input interface 190 of the mobile electronic device 166 when the mobile electronic device 166 is in the battery case 100. The input interface 190 can be a push button. The screen membrane 184 can allow the push button to be depressed when the screen membrane 184 is positioned over the input interface 190. The input interface 190 can include a fingerprint identity sensor that senses a fingerprint of the user to, for example, unlock the mobile electronic device 166. The fingerprint identity sensor can continue to function properly when the screen membrane 184 is positioned over the input interface 190 as discussed herein.

[0133] The screen membrane 184 can have a second sheet or film 192. The second sheet 192 can rest on or be adhered to the first sheet 186 as discussed herein. The second sheet 192 can rest against a display 194 of the mobile electronic device 166. The display 194 can be a touchscreen configured to receive a user input such as a touch input via a finger(s) or hand(s). The screen membrane 184 can still allow the display 194 to display graphics and to register user input (e.g., touch input) while the screen membrane 184 is positioned over the display 194.

[0134] With continued reference to Figure 17, the battery case 100 can have a membrane gasket 196a. The membrane gasket 196a can be positioned between the screen membrane 184 (e.g., the first sheet 186) and the second case portion 104 to provide a tight seal between the screen membrane 184 and the second case portion 104 (e.g., water resistant or waterproof). The screen membrane 196a can be bonded to the second case portion 104 and/or screen membrane 184 using any suitable method and/or adhesives as discussed herein.

[0135] In some embodiments, the battery case 100 can include another membrane gasket 196b with or without the membrane gasket 196a. The other membrane gasket 196b can be positioned between the screen membrane 184 (e.g., the second sheet 192) and the mobile electronic device 166 to provide a tight seal between the screen membrane 184 and the mobile electronic device 166. Further, the other membrane gasket 196b can create additional pressure on the membrane gasket 196a to further provide a tight seal as discussed herein (e.g., water resistant or waterproof features between the screen membrane 188 and the second case portion 104). The screen membranes 196a and/or 196b can be bonded to screen membrane 184 using any suitable method and/or adhesives as discussed herein.

[0136] Figure 21 illustrates a top view of an example embodiment of a screen membrane 184 over a mobile electronic device 166. The screen membrane 184 is shown over the mobile electronic device 166 as the screen membrane may be positioned in the battery case 100, but without other components of the battery case 100 for illustration purposes. Screen member 184 can be sized to fully enclose and circumscribe the display 194 of the mobile electronic device 166, for example along one of the planes 170, 171, 172, 174. As discussed herein, the cutout 188 can be positioned in the screen membrane 184 to overlap or circumscribe a perimeter or periphery of the input interface 190. While the delineation or the perimeter of cutout 188 is shown as a definite line, the example assemblies of the screen member 184 as discussed herein may be such that the cutout 188 is substantially imperceptible or unnoticeable to the user by touch or sight.

[0137] Figures 22-25 illustrate cross-sectional views of example embodiments of a screen membrane 184 taken along lines A- A in Figure 21. Figure 22 illustrates a cross- sectional view of an example embodiment of the screen membrane 184 without a cutout 188. The screen member 184 without a cutout 188 can be placed over and input interface 190 where, for example, a fingerprint touch sensor is not used or desired.

[0138] Figure 23 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of the screen membrane 184 with a cutout 188 as discussed herein. The screen membrane 184 can be formed from a single sheet or film of material (e.g., first sheet 186). The first sheet 186 can be coated with an antireflective coating 198. The antireflective coating can be applied onto the first sheet 186. The antireflective coating 198 can have a reflection coefficient or reflectance value R less than 10%, including less than 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 2, or 1 percent, including the foregoing values and ranges bordering therein. The antireflective coating 198 can be applied using any suitable method, such as for example, layering, spraying, coating, etc., as well as any suitable curing methods. As illustrated in Figure 23, the antireflective coating 198 can be applied over the cutout 188. A portion 200 of the antireflective coating 198 over the cutout 188 can remain over the cutout after application to either be removed by the user upon use or remain over the cutout 188 without substantially inhibiting the functionality of the screen membrane 184 as discussed herein. In some embodiments, the portion 200 can be removed during manufacture of the screen membrane 184.

[0139] The antireflective coating 198 can have a thickness A of about 200 to 900 nanometers, including about 400 to 700 nm, including the foregoing values and ranges bordering therein. The first sheet 186 can have a thickness B of about 0.010 inches. In some embodiments, the thickness B of the first sheet 186 can range from about 0.004 to 0.020 inches, including about 0.006 to 0.015 and 0.008 to 0.012 inches, including the foregoing values and ranges bordering therein.

[0140] Figure 24 illustrates an example embodiment of the screen membrane 184 with a second sheet 192 adhered to the first sheet 186. The second sheet 192 can be bonded to the first sheet 186 with an optically clear adhesive layer 202. The adhesive layer 202 can be applied to either the first sheet 186 and/or the second sheet 192. Similarly as discussed for the antireflective coating 198, a portion 204 of the adhesive layer 202 coincident with the cutout 188 can either be removed before/during use or remain without substantially inhibiting the functionality of the screen membrane 184 as discussed herein. The adhesive layer 202 can be composed of any suitable material to bond the first and second sheet 186, 192 while providing a suitably optically clear layer and minimizing detraction from the functionality of the display 194. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer 202 can include metallic additives to improve conductivity of the screen membrane 184.

[0141] The adhesive layer 202 can have a thickness C of about 200 to 900 nanometers, including about 400 to 700 nm, including the foregoing values and ranges bordering therein. The second sheet 192 can have a thickness D of about 0.002 inches. In some embodiments, the thickness D of the second sheet 192 can range from about 0.0005 to 0.004, including about 0.001 to 0.003 inches, including the foregoing values and ranges bordering therein. The ratio of thickness B to thickness D can be about 20: 1, 15: 1, 10: 1, 5: 1, 4: 1, 3: 1, and 2: 1, or any values therebetween, including ranges bordering therein.

[0142] Figure 25 illustrates an example embodiment of the screen membrane 184 with a second sheet 192 connected to the first sheet 186. The second sheet 192 can be bonded to the first sheet 186 using thermal bonding. For example, during formation of the first sheet 186 and/or the second sheet 192, at least one of the sheets 186, 192 can be relatively hot during formation. The first and second sheets 186, 192 can be placed in contact to thermally bond as the at least one of the sheets cools 186, 192. In some embodiments, the first sheet 186 and/or the second sheet 192 can be heated to a desired temperature after formation, and the first and second sheets 186, 192 can be placed in contact to thermally bond (e.g., mechanically and/or chemically bond) as at least one of the sheets 186, 192 cools.

[0143] In some embodiments, the material of the first and second sheets 186, 192 can include the same materials. In some embodiments, the material of the first sheet 186 can include materials different from the material of the second sheet 192. The material of the first sheet 186 and/or the second sheet 192 can be a polyester film such as for example, biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as Mylar. The material of the first sheet 186 and/or the second sheet 192 can be other suitable materials that provide the desired functionality with a display 194 (e.g., a touchscreen) as discussed herein. The desired functionality can include predetermined properties such as for example, transmissivity, reflectance, thermal resistance, electrical resistance, etc. Example materials can include thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyethylene, etc. The screen member 184 can be flexible. The second, or front, case portion 104 can be somewhat flexible, as described herein.

[0144] As discussed above, a partial cross-sectional view of the screen member 184 is shown along lines A-A in Figures 22-25. In the cross-sectional views of Figures 22- 25, the first sheet 186 and the second sheet 192 are illustrated to have a same extent in a vertical direction (e.g., along the first, second, third, and/or fourth planes 170, 171, 172, 174 as discussed herein). Further, as illustrated in Figure 17, the first sheet 186 and the second sheet 192 can have a same length and a same width (e.g., along the first, second, third, and/or fourth planes 170, 171, 172, 174 as discussed herein). Stated differently, the first sheet 186 and the second sheet 192 can have substantially the same or similar dimensions along the first, second, third, and/or fourth planes 170, 171, 172, 174 with a varying thickness (e.g., at the cutout 188) as discussed herein. The length or width of the first sheet 186 and the second sheet 192 along the planes 170, 171, 172, 174 can be considered a longitudinal dimension or extent of the sheets (whichever of the length or width is longer). Similarly, a longitudinal dimension or extent for other components of the battery case 100 as discussed herein can be considered to extend along the planes 170, 171, 172, 174.

[0145] Accordingly, the screen membrane 184 can have a substantially same thickness along the first, second, third, and/or fourth planes 170, 171, 172, 174 except at the cutout 188. Some embodiments discussed herein illustrate the cutout 188 as a noticeable feature for discussion purposes. The possible thicknesses discussed herein for the first and/or second sheets 186, 192 are such that the cutout 188 is substantially imperceptible or unnoticeable to the user (e.g., via sight or touch).

[0146] Without a cutout 188, functions such as the fingerprint identity sensor of the input interface 190 may not function properly through the a full thickness of the screen membrane 184. Removing a portion of the material of the first sheet 186 that has a relatively greater thickness to create cutout 188 while keeping intact the material of the second sheet 192 of that has a relatively smaller thickness can allow the fingerprint identity sensor of the input interface 192 to function substantially without inhibition, while providing continued protection of the mobile device 166 in the battery case 100 (e.g., water resistance).

[0147] Further, by extending the length and width of the second sheet 192 to correspond to the length and width of the first sheet 186 as illustrated in Figure 17, the thickness of the screen membrane 184 can remain substantially the same throughout an extent of the screen membrane 184 along the planes 170, 171, 172, 174 as discussed herein. Having a substantially same extent of the first and second sheets 186, 192 along the planes 170, 171, 172, 174 can provide a cutout 188 that is less perceptible to the user than if the second sheet 192 extended just around the cutout 188. For example, having a substantially same extent of the first and second sheets 186, 192 along the planes 170, 171, 172, 174 can mitigate a bump (e.g., increase) in thickness at or around the cutout 188 where the screen membrane is formed from dual layered sheets and the dual layer is not present throughout most of the screen membrane. In addition, having a substantially same extent of the first and second sheets 186 192 along the planes 170, 171, 172, 174 can provide for better bonding between the first and second sheets 186, 192 as discussed herein. For example, thermal bonding between the first and second sheets 186, 192 can be sufficient to form the screen membrane 184 without adhesive between the first and second sheets 186, 192. [0148] As can be seen, for example, in Figures 17, 18, and 19A, the case 100 can include a left side guide 136 and a right side guide 138, which can be similar to those discussed in connection with Figures 7-10, the disclosure of which can be applied to any of the embodiments disclosed herein. The guides 136 and 138 can be on a lower part of the first case portion 102 (e.g., the back case portion). The guides 136 and 138 can be configured to limit movement of the mobile electronic device 166 to the generally vertical direction as the mobile electronic device is coupling to or decoupling from the device interface 120, which can protect the device interface 120. The guides 136 and 138 can support and protect the mobile electronic device, such as in the event the case 100 is dropped, and can aid in keeping the case 100 closed and secure upon impact. The guides 136 and 138 can have concave inward facing surfaces to engage the mobile electronic device 166.

[0149] The case can include a relatively hard housing, and relatively soft shock absorber portions disposed outside the housing. Figure 31 shows the housing 151 of the second case portion 104 (e.g., the front case portion) and the shock absorber 153 in an exploded view. Figure 32 shows the housing 151 of the first case portion 102 (e.g., the back case portion) and the shock absorber in an exploded view. The shock absorber 153 can be over-molded onto the hosing 151, although the shock absorber 153 can be coupled to the housing 151 by various other methods or coupling mechanisms, such as adhesive, friction fitting, etc. The housing 151 can include features (e.g., recesses) configured to facilitate securement of the shock absorber 153 to the housing 151. For example, during an overmolding process, material of the shock absorber can enter the recesses or other features to facilitate securement of the shock absorber 153 to the housing 151. The shock absorber 153 can be made of a resilient material, such as silicone, an elastomer, rubber, a thermoplastic material, etc. Additional details set forth in the Ί67 Application can be applied to the case 100.

[0150] As shown in Figure 29, the case 100 can include a charge indicator 124, which can be configured to indicate a charge level of the battery 118. The charge indicator 124 can include a plurality of lights, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the number of lights that are illuminated can indicate the amount of charge that the battery 118 has, as discussed herein. The battery case 100 can include a user input element 126, such as a button. The charge indicator 124 can provide an indication of the battery charge level in response to input received by the user input element 126. For example, the lights of the charge indicator 124 can be turned off until the user provides input to the user input element 126 (e.g., by pushing the button), and in response to the input one or more of the lights of the charge indicator 124 can illuminate for a time to communicate the battery charge level information. The battery case 100 can include a user input element 128, which can be used to turn the charging from the battery 1 18 to the mobile electronic device on and/or off, as discussed herein. The user input element 128 can be a button, although various other user input elements can be used. In some embodiments, the user can press the button, or hold the button down for an amount of time (e.g., 3 seconds) to start or stop the charging.

[0151] With reference to Figures 32, the housing 151 can include features, such as openings 155 or thin portions, that are configured to let light from the light source(s) (e.g., LEDs) of the charge indicator 124 to pass through the housing 151. The shock absorber 153 can include features, such as openings 157 or thin portions, that are configured to let light from the light source(s) (e.g., LEDs) of the charge indicator 124 to pass through the shock absorber 153. In some embodiments, the light source(s) can extend through holes 155 and/or 157 in the housing 151 and/or the shock absorber 153.

[0152] The housing 151 can include a button portion 159 that is configured to move when the user presses the user input element 126 (e.g., a button). The shock absorber 153 can include a button cover 161 over the button portion 159. The button cover 161 can provide a water resistant or waterproof seal for the user input element 126 (e.g., button). As shown in Figure 30, one or more indentations (e.g., an annular indentation) in the material of the shock absorber 153 can indicate the position of the underlying button. The housing 151 can include a button portion 163 that is configured to move when the user presses the user input element 128 (e.g., a button). The shock absorber 153 can include a button cover 165 over the button portion 163. The button cover 165 can provide a water resistant or waterproof seal for the user input element 128 (e.g., button). One or more indentations (e.g., an annular indentation) in the material of the shock absorber 153 can indicate the position of the underlying button. The shock absorber 153 material can give the buttons a soft tactile feel. [0153] Components that are shown or described as being part of the first case portion 102 can be part of the second case portion 104, and vice versa. For example, the battery 118 can be part of the second case portion 104. The first case portion 102 and the second case portion 104 can be configured to electrically couple when in the closed configuration such that electrical power can be transferred between the first case portion 102 and the second case portion 104. For example, to charge the battery in the second case portion 104, electrical power can be received by the charging interface 122 on the first case portion 102, transferred via one or more electrical connectors to the second case portion 104, and be delivered to the battery 118. To charge the mobile electronic device from the battery 118 in the second case portion 104, electrical power from the battery 118 can be delivered via the one or more electrical connectors to the first case portion 102, and can be delivered via the device interface 120 to the mobile electronic device. In some embodiments, the gasket 176 can be disposed on the first case portion 102, as shown, or the gasket 176 can be disposed on the second case portion 104. The channel 167 and gasket 176 can be disposed on the second case portion 104 and the flange 164 and/or engagement mechanisms 134 can be disposed on the first case portion 102.

[0154] The various features described in connection with the different embodiments of battery cases 100 can be combined and interchanged into various combinations and sub-combinations. Various features described herein can be omitted. For example, in some embodiments, the left side guide 136 and the right side guide 138, the bumpers 140, and/or various other features described herein can be omitted.

[0155] The embodiments discussed herein are provided by way of example, and various modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein. Certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in various suitable subcombinations. Also, features described in connection with one combination can be excised from that combination and can be combined with other features in various combinations and subcombinations. Various features can be added to the example embodiments disclosed herein. Also, various features can be omitted from the example embodiments disclosed herein.