Waterproof case

Abstract

A protective case for an electronic device includes a main housing. The main housing receives an electronic device including a switch. The main housing includes a slot formed therein proximate the switch of the electronic device. A toggle is rotatively positioned within the slot. The toggle includes a pair of raised contact portions and the switch is positioned between the raised contact portions and actuated by rotation of the toggle.

We claim: 
     
         1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:
 a main housing shaped to receive the electronic device therein, the main housing comprising a case member having at least one side wall that extends around a periphery of the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the main housing;   a lid that is joinable to the main housing, the lid comprising a lateral groove formed in at least one edge of the lid; and   a gasket received within the lateral groove,   wherein, when the lid is joined to the main housing, the gasket receives a radial compression defined by a load applied to the gasket from the at least one side wall and a position of the gasket within the lateral groove, thereby providing a watertight seal.   
     
     
         12 . The protective case of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one side wall of the case member supplies a laterally inward compressive force toward the lateral groove of the lid when the lid is joined to the main housing. 
     
     
         13 . The protective case of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one side wall comprises one or more attachment structures formed at one or more positions on the case member. 
     
     
         14 . The protective case of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more attachment structures includes an attachment structure located in a corner of the case member, the attachment structure comprising a rounded edge that facilitates repeated joining and separation of the lid and the main housing. 
     
     
         15 . The protective case of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the at least one side wall comprises a pair of longitudinal side walls and a pair of lateral side walls, the pair of lateral side walls being longer in length than the pair of longitudinal side walls; and   the one or more attachment structures includes an attachment feature located on at least one of the pair of lateral side walls, the attachment feature including a secondary structure on the main housing, the secondary structure reinforcing a compressive force that the at least one of the pair of lateral side walls exerts on the gasket.   
     
     
         16 . The protective case of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a tab on the main housing that is shaped and sized to be received within a second groove on the lid when the lid is joined to the main housing such that the lid and the case member are interlocked with each other. 
     
     
         17 . The protective case of  claim 11 , wherein the lateral groove comprises a rounded tab that protrudes laterally from the at least one edge of the lid at a distance that is greater than the gasket within the lateral groove, the rounded tab contacting the at least one side wall when the lid is joined to the main housing such that the at least one side wall does not slide against the gasket during a process of mating the lid to the main housing, and the rounded tab is received within at least one receptacle formed within an interior surface of the at least one side wall when the lid is joined to the main housing, causing the at least one side wall to compress against the gasket. 
     
     
         18 . The protective case of  claim 11 , wherein the case member further comprises a detent in the at least one side wall, the detent shaped and sized to provide access to the at least one edge of the lid when the lid is joined to the main housing. 
     
     
         19 . A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:
 a main housing shaped to receive the electronic device therein, the main housing comprising a case member having a pair of longitudinal side walls and a pair of lateral side walls that extend around a periphery of the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the main housing, the pair of lateral side walls being longer in length than the pair of longitudinal side walls, and the pair of longitudinal side walls and the pair of lateral side walls comprising an attachment structure located in a corner of the case member, the attachment structure comprising a rounded edge;   a lid that is joinable to the main housing, the lid comprising a lateral groove formed in at least one edge of the lid; and   a gasket received within the lateral groove,   wherein, when the lid is joined to the main housing, the gasket receives a radial compression defined by a load applied to the gasket from at least one of the pair of longitudinal side walls and the pair of lateral side walls and a position of the gasket within the lateral groove, thereby providing a watertight seal, and   wherein the attachment structure facilitates repeated joining and separation of the lid and the main housing.   
     
     
         20 . The protective case of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the pair of longitudinal side walls and the pair of lateral side walls of the case member supplies a laterally inward compressive force toward the lateral groove of the lid when the lid is joined to the main housing. 
     
     
         21 . The protective case of  claim 19 , wherein the pair of lateral side walls further comprises an attachment feature including a secondary structure on the main housing, the secondary structure reinforcing a compressive force that the at least one of the pair of lateral side walls exerts on the gasket. 
     
     
         22 . The protective case of  claim 21 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a tab on the main housing that is shaped and sized to be received within a second groove on the lid when the lid is joined to the main housing such that the lid and the case member are interlocked with each other. 
     
     
         23 . The protective case of  claim 19 , wherein the lateral groove comprises a rounded tab that protrudes from the at least one edge of the lid at a distance that is greater than the gasket within the lateral groove, the rounded tab contacting at least one of the pair of longitudinal side walls and the pair of lateral side walls when the lid is joined to the main housing such that the at least one of the pair of longitudinal side walls and the pair of lateral side walls does not slide against the gasket during a process of mating the lid to the main housing, and the rounded tab is received within at least one receptacle of the formed within an interior surface of the at least one of the pair of longitudinal side walls and the pair of lateral side walls, causing the at least one of the pair of longitudinal side walls and the pair of lateral side walls to compress against the gasket. 
     
     
         24 . The protective case of  claim 19 , wherein the case member further comprises a detent in at least one of the pair of longitudinal side walls and the pair of lateral side walls, the detent shaped and sized to provide access to the at least one edge of the lid when the lid is joined to the main housing. 
     
     
         25 . A protective case for an electronic device, the protective case comprising:
 a main housing shaped to receive the electronic device therein, the main housing comprising a case member having at least one side wall that extends around a periphery of the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the main housing, the at least one side wall comprising one or more attachment structures formed at one or more positions on the case member and at least one receptacle formed within an interior surface of the at least one side wall;   a lid that is joinable to the main housing, the lid comprising a lateral groove formed in at least one edge of the lid; and   a gasket received within the lateral groove,   wherein:
 the lateral groove comprises a rounded tab that protrudes laterally from the at least one edge of the lid at a distance that is greater than the gasket within the lateral groove, the rounded tab contacting the at least one side wall when the lid is joined to the main housing such that the at least one side wall does not slide against the gasket during a process of mating the lid to the main housing, and the rounded tab is received within the at least one receptacle of the at least one side wall when the lid is joined to the main housing, causing the at least one side wall compresses against the gasket, and 
 when the lid is joined to the main housing, the gasket receives a radial compression force defined by a load applied to the gasket from the at least one side wall and a position of the gasket within the lateral groove, thereby providing a watertight seal. 
   
     
     
         26 . The protective case of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one side wall of the case member supplies a laterally inward compressive force toward the lateral groove of the lid when the lid is joined to the main housing. 
     
     
         27 . The protective case of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more attachment structures includes an attachment structure located in a corner of the case member, the attachment structure comprising a rounded edge that facilitates repeated joining and separation of the lid and the main housing. 
     
     
         28 . The protective case of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the at least one side wall comprises a pair of longitudinal side walls and a pair of lateral side walls, the pair of lateral side walls being longer in length than the pair of longitudinal side walls; and   the one or more attachment structures includes an attachment feature located on at least one of the pair of lateral side walls, the attachment feature including a secondary structure on the main housing, the secondary structure reinforcing a compressive force that the at least one of the pair of lateral side walls exerts on the gasket.   
     
     
         29 . The protective case of  claim 28 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a tab on the main housing that is shaped and sized to be received within a second groove on the lid when the lid is joined to the main housing such that the lid and the case member are interlocked with each other. 
     
     
         30 . The protective case of  claim 25 , wherein the case member further comprises a detent in the at least one side wall, the detent shaped and sized to provide access to the at least one edge of the lid when the lid is joined to the main housing.