Mobile Device Case

Abstract

A foldable wallet-style mobile phone case is disclosed. The case includes a first flap and a second flap separated from the first flap by a central portion. The central portion allows the first flap to be folded onto the second flap along a fold axis. The first flap includes at least one card slot therein, and a retainer having a first end coupled to the first flap and a second end that is free. The second end of the retainer includes a securing structure that is able to be coupled to a mating securing structure on the second flap. At least a portion of the retainer is located in a blocking arrangement over top the at least one card slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile device case comprising:
 a first flap having at least one card slot therein, said at least one card slot configured to receive at least one card insertable into said at least one card slot in an insertion direction;   a second flap configured to receive a mobile device;   a central portion connecting said first flap to said second flap in a foldable arrangement in which said first flap can be folded about a fold axis and can be moveable through a range of positions from at least a first, unfolded position to at least a second, folded position; and   a retainer configured to be coupled to each of said first flap and said second flap, wherein when said retainer is coupled to both said first flap and said second flap, at least a portion of said retainer is in blocking alignment over said at least one card slot in said insertion direction, wherein said insertion direction is parallel to said fold axis.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device case of  claim 1 , wherein said in said first position a mobile device is accessible for use on said second flap. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile device case of  claim 1 , wherein in said second position a mobile device is not accessible for use on said second flap. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device case of  claim 1 , wherein retainer further comprises a strap portion having a first end and a second end. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device case of  claim 4 , wherein said first end of said strap portion is coupled to said first flap. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device case of  claim 5 , wherein said second end of said strap portion is removably coupled to said second flap. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device case of  claim 6 , wherein said second end of said strap portion further comprises a securement portion. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device case of  claim 7 , wherein said securement portion further comprises a first securement structure and said second flap further comprises a second securement structure complementary to said first securement structure. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device case of  claim 8 , wherein said first securement structure is selected from the group consisting of magnets, magnetic metal, hook material, loop material, snaps, buttons, posts, holes, straps, string, and rope. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device case of  claim 9 , wherein said second securement structure is selected from the group consisting of magnetic metal, magnets, loop material, hook material, snaps, holes, buttons, posts, straps, string, and rope. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile device case of  claim 10 , wherein where said first securement structure is a magnet and said second securement structure is a magnetic metal embedded within second flap. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device case of  claim 1 , wherein said retainer is an extension of said first flap. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device case of  claim 5 , wherein said strap portion is coupled to said first flap in a manner selected from the group consisting of adhesives, sewing, stitching, rivets, seam welding, and geometric retainers. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device case of  claim 1 , wherein said second flap further comprises a cutout configured to align with a camera of a smartphone. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device case of  claim 1 , wherein movement of a card in said insertion direction begins at a position closer to said central portion and ends at a position farther from said central portion. 
     
     
         16 . A mobile device case comprising:
 a first flap;   a second flap;   a central portion foldably connecting said first flap to said second flap along a fold axis; and   a retainer having a first end fixedly coupled to said first flap and a second end removably coupled to said second flap;   wherein said first flap includes at least one card slot oriented in a direction that is not parallel to said fold axis and configured to receive a card;   and wherein said second end of said retainer further comprises a first securement structure that is engageable to a second securement structure that is coupled to said second flap;   and wherein at least a portion of said retainer is physically situated over at least a portion of said at least one card slot.   
     
     
         17 . The mobile device case of  claim 16 , wherein insertion of a card into one of said at least one card slots begins at a position closer to said central portion and ends at a position farther from said central portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method of preventing a credit card from escaping a mobile device case comprising:
 providing a foldable wallet-style mobile device case, wherein said case includes a first flap and a second flap separated from said first flap by a central portion along a fold axis, and wherein said first flap includes at least one card slot oriented in a direction that is not parallel to said fold axis, and wherein said first flap includes a retainer having a first end coupled to said first flap and a second end not coupled to said first flap, and wherein said retainer is situated on said first flap above said at least one card slot in a direction parallel to said fold axis;   coupling a mobile device to said second flap;   inserting a card into said at least one card slot;   closing said case by folding said first flap onto said mobile device; and   securing said second end of said retainer to said second flap.   
     
     
         19 . A mobile device case comprising:
 a first flap having a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge;   a second flap having a first edge, an second edge, and a third edge;   a central portion foldably connecting said first flap to said second flap along a fold axis, said fold axis being between said third edge of said first flap and said third edge of said second flap;   wherein said first flap includes at least one card slot oriented in a direction that is not parallel to said fold axis and configured to receive a card;   and wherein a card is inserted into said card slot from a first position closer to said central portion to a second position closer to said third edge of said first flap.   
     
     
         20 . The mobile device case of  claim 19 , further comprising a retainer coupled to said first flap and releasably coupled to said second flap.