Multifunctional electronic device case

Abstract

A case for an electronic device includes a main body configured to secure and protect the electronic device and one or more accessory-attachment nodes configured to be coupled to a case accessory. Example case accessories include shoulder straps, car headrest frames, wall-mounting frames, and the like. When the electronic device case is mated to the case accessory using the one or more accessory-attachment nodes, the electronic device may be securely positioned for transport and/or use. Further, the one or more accessory-attachment nodes may allow the case and, in particular, the electronic device coupled to the case, to be easily moved from one case accessory to another case accessory.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A system for protecting a tablet computer, comprising:
 (a) a case for the tablet computer, the case including:
 (i) a main body configured to secure and protect the tablet computer, the main body comprising:
 (A) a primary section including a front surface, a rear surface, and first, second, third and fourth corners, the front surface of the primary section being configured to contact a back surface of the tablet computer, 
 (B) first and second side sections each extending frontwardly from the primary section, the first and second side sections being configured to apply force to a first pair of opposed sides of the tablet computer, and 
 (C) first and second latch sections, the first latch section extending from the first side section, and the second latch section extending from the second side section toward the first latch section, the first and second latch sections being configured to apply force to the front of the tablet computer, and 
 
 (ii) first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes arranged near the first, second, third, and fourth corners, respectively, of the primary section; and 
   (b) a first strap including first and second coupling connectors that are selectively attachable to at least two of:
 (i) the first and second accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (ii) the first and third accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (iii) the first and fourth accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (iv) the second and third accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (v) the second and fourth accessory-attachment nodes, or 
 (vi) the third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes. 
   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the first strap comprises a hand strap. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the first strap comprises a shoulder strap. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 43 , further comprising (c) a second strap including third and fourth coupling connectors that are selectively attachable to at least two of:
 (i) the first and second accessory-attachment nodes,   (ii) the first and third accessory-attachment nodes,   (iii) the first and fourth accessory-attachment nodes,   (iv) the second and third accessory-attachment nodes,   (v) the second and fourth accessory-attachment nodes, or   (vi) the third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the first strap comprises a hand strap and the second strap comprises a shoulder strap. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth accessory-attachment nodes are on the rear surface of the primary section of the case. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes comprise protruding male connectors, and the first and second coupling connectors comprise female connectors. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the protruding male connectors each comprise a neck portion and a head portion with a larger cross-sectional area than the neck portion. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes are removable from the main body. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the main body includes threaded holes, and the first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes are configured to be removably screwed and unscrewed into the threaded holes. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes extend rearwardly beyond the rear surface of the main body's primary section. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the main body is integrally formed. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes each comprise female coupling hardware. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the front surface of the main body's primary section is substantially planar to mate with a substantially planar back surface of the tablet computer. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein part of the main body includes a comparatively rigid material overmolded by a comparatively softer material. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes each include a detent that is configured to be removably inserted into an aperture defined by the main body. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the case's main body further comprises:
 (D) third and fourth side sections each extending frontwardly from the primary section, the third and fourth side sections being configured to apply force to a second pair of opposed sides of the tablet computer, and   (E) third and fourth latch sections, the third latch section extending from the third side section, and the fourth latch section extending from the fourth side section toward the third latch section, the third and fourth latch sections being configured to apply force to the front of the tablet computer.   
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth side sections of the main body and the first, second, third, and fourth latch sections of the main body all comprise a substantially continuous edge section configured to apply force to the sides and the front of the tablet computer. 
     
     
         61 . A method of protecting a tablet computer and using the tablet computer in various settings, comprising:
 (a) providing a case that includes:
 (i) a main body comprising (A) a primary section including a front surface, a rear surface, and first, second, third and fourth corners, (B) first and second side sections each extending frontwardly from the primary section, and (C) first and second latch sections, the first latch section extending from the first side section, and the second latch section extending from the second side section toward the first latch section, and 
 (ii) first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes arranged near the first, second, third, and fourth corners, respectively, of the primary section; 
   (b) providing a first strap that includes first and second coupling connectors;   (c) putting the tablet computer into the case, including:
 (i) positioning a back surface of the tablet computer in contact with the front surface of the main body's primary section, 
 (ii) positioning a first pair of opposed sides of the tablet computer in contact with the main body's first and second side sections, 
 (iii) positioning a front of the tablet computer in contact with the main body's first and second latch sections; and 
   (d) coupling the first strap to the case by selectively attaching the first and second coupling connectors to:
 (i) the first and second accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (ii) the first and third accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (iii) the first and fourth accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (iv) the second and third accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (v) the second and fourth accessory-attachment nodes, or 
 (vi) the third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes. 
   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the first strap comprises a hand strap. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the first strap comprises a shoulder strap. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising (e) providing a second strap that includes third and fourth coupling connectors. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the first strap comprises a hand strap and the second strap comprises a shoulder strap. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 (f) decoupling the first strap from the case; and   (g) coupling the second strap to the case by selectively attaching the third and fourth coupling connectors to:
 (i) the first and second accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (ii) the first and third accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (iii) the first and fourth accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (iv) the second and third accessory-attachment nodes, 
 (v) the second and fourth accessory-attachment nodes, or 
 (vi) the third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes. 
   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the case's first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes comprise protruding male connectors, and the first strap's first and second coupling connectors comprise female connectors. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the protruding male connectors each comprise a neck portion and a head portion with a larger cross-sectional area than the neck portion. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the case's first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes extend rearwardly beyond the rear surface of the main body's primary section. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the case's first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes each comprise female coupling hardware. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the case's first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes are removable from the main body. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the main body includes threaded holes, and the first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes are configured to be removably screwed and unscrewed into the threaded holes. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the case's first, second, third and fourth accessory-attachment nodes each include a detent that is configured to be removably inserted into an aperture defined by the main body. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein
 the case's main body further includes (D) third and fourth side sections each extending frontwardly from the primary section, and (E) third and fourth latch sections, the third latch section extending from the third side section, and the fourth latch section extending from the fourth side section toward the third latch section, and   putting the tablet computer into the case further includes (iv) positioning a second pair of opposed sides of the tablet computer in contact with the main body's third and fourth side sections, and (v) positioning the front of the tablet computer in contact with the main body's third and fourth latch sections.