Protective phone case with integrated card holder and strap and method of use thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a resilient protective case for mobile devices having shock resistant properties and a fully integrated card holder for storing one or more cards and a finger strap for securing the encased phone to a user's finger while talking on the phone or taking “selfies”. In particular, the protective case includes a back support member disposed on the unitary body, an outer frame member disposed along an outer portion of the back support member, a card holder formed along a portion of the back support member, and a finger strap coupling a first end portion of the card holder to a second end portion of the card holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective phone case, comprising:
 a back support member;   an outer frame member disposed along an outer portion of the back support member;   a card holder formed along a portion of the back support member; and   a finger strap coupling a first end portion of the card holder to a second end portion of the card holder.   
     
     
         2 . The protective phone case of  claim 1 , wherein the back support member, the outer frame member, the card holder, and the finger strap are part of a unitary body of the protective phone case. 
     
     
         3 . The protective phone case of  claim 1 , wherein the card holder includes two card slots through which one or more cards are inserted. 
     
     
         4 . The protective phone case of  claim 1 , wherein the card holder includes one or more slope members disposed along a perimeter of the card holder, wherein the one or more slope members forms a gap along the perimeter of the card holder. 
     
     
         5 . The protective phone case of  claim 4 , wherein the gap is configured to expose an edge portion of one or more cards inserted into the card holder in order to lift, pinch, and remove the one or more cards from the card holder. 
     
     
         6 . The protective phone case of  claim 1 , wherein the card holder includes card retaining segments by which one or more cards are supported and held in place. 
     
     
         7 . The protective phone case of  claim 1 , wherein the finger strap includes a first corrugated expansion member disposed along a first end portion of the finger strap and a second corrugated expansion member disposed along a second end portion of the finger strap. 
     
     
         8 . The protective phone case of  claim 1 , wherein the finger strap includes a curved strap section disposed along a mid-portion of the finger strap for receiving and supporting a finger of a user. 
     
     
         9 . A method of inserting a card into a protective phone case comprising: a back support member, an outer frame member disposed along an outer portion of the back support member, a card holder formed along a portion of the back support, and a finger strap coupling a first end portion of the card holder to a second end portion of the card holder, the method comprising:
 positioning the card above card retaining segments of the card holder, with a planar side of the card facing the back support member and a leading edge of the card positioned towards the card slot;   inserting the leading edge of the card underneath a first strap edge portion of the finger strap;   pushing the leading edge of the card through a second strap edge portion of the finger strap, allowing the leading edge of the card to pass through a card slot of the card holder, beyond the second strap edge portion; and,   securing the card to the card holder with the card held and supported by the card retaining segments of the card holder and the finger strap.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the back support member, the outer frame member, the card holder, and the finger strap are part of a unitary body of the protective phone case. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the card holder includes two card slots through which one or more cards are inserted. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the card holder includes one or more slope members disposed along a perimeter of the card holder, wherein the one or more slope members forms a gap along the perimeter of the card holder. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the gap is configured to expose an edge portion of one or more cards inserted into the card holder in order to lift, pinch, and remove the one or more cards from the card holder. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the finger strap includes a first corrugated expansion member disposed along a first end portion of the finger strap and a second corrugated expansion member disposed along a second end portion of the finger strap. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the finger strap includes a curved strap section disposed along a mid-portion of the finger strap for receiving and supporting a finger of a user.