Case for electronic tablet

• US 10,085,531 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Incase Designs Corporation (Incipio Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Diebel, Markus, Hong, Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CHUN HOI
• Application Number:
  US15/472,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20170196329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 206320, 206 452, 206305, 206 4523- 4525, 206701
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/005 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/025 for holding portable computers or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/15 Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/02 Materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/04 Packaging single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A case incorporates a built-in stand for an electronic device, such as an electronic tablet computer, which the case houses. The case protects the electronic device and allows a user to view and access the device without removing it from the case. The built-in stand is adjustable and allows for multiple viewing angles.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

forming a rectangularly shaped cover for a portable electronic device comprising first, second, third, and fourth cover edges, wherein the first and third cover edges extend in a first direction and are parallel to each other, the second and fourth cover edges extend in a second direction and are parallel to each other, the second direction is transverse to the first direction, and the second cover edge is longer than the first cover edge;

forming a first hinge in the cover between the first and third cover edges, extending in the first direction, and the cover from the first cover edge to the first hinge is a front flap, and the front flap has a first length from the first cover edge to the first hinge that is sufficiently long to cover a front screen of the portable electronic device when the front flap is folded via the first hinge to close the case;

forming a second hinge in the cover, between the third cover edge and the first hinge, extending in the first direction, parallel to the first hinge,

wherein a first back part is between the third cover edge and the second hinge, and a second back part is between the second hinge and the first hinge;

forming a first structure, coupled to and extending at an angle away from the third cover edge, wherein when the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover, the first structure prevents an upper edge of the portable electronic device from sliding beyond the third cover edge; and

allowing folding into a first stand position by rotating the second hinge in a first rotation direction so a lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned on an inside surface of the front flap at a first point, and

wherein the first back part remains fixedly attached to the first structure, alongside a back of the portable electronic device, while the second back part is rotated away from the back of the portable electronic device, and wherein the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover by inserting the portable electronic device along the inside surface of the cover in the second direction until the upper edge of the portable electronic device is stopped by at least a portion of the first structure.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction so the lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside the inside surface of the front flap at a second point that is closer to the first cover edge than is the first point.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising:

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction so the lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside the inside surface of the front flap at a second point that is closer to the first cover edge than is the first point; and

allowing folding into a third stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction so the lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside the inside surface of the front flap at a third point that is closer to the first cover edge than is the second point.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising:

forming a first groove on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the first point is within the first groove.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising:

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction so the lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside the inside surface of the front flap at a second point that is closer to the first cover edge than is the first point;

forming a first groove on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the first point is within the first groove; and

forming a second groove on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the second point is within the second groove.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising:

forming a first protrusion on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the first point is between the first hinge and the first protrusion.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising:

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction so the lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside the inside surface of the front flap at a second point that is closer to the first cover edge than is the first point;

forming a first protrusion on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the first point is between the first hinge and the first protrusion; and

forming a second protrusion on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the second point is between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising:

forming a second structure, coupled to and extending at an angle from the second cover edge at a position between the first hinge and the third cover edge, wherein when the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover, the second structure prevents a first side edge of the portable electronic device from sliding beyond the second cover edge.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising:

forming a second structure, coupled to and extending at an angle from the second cover edge at a position between the first hinge and the third cover edge, wherein when the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover, the second structure prevents a first side edge of the portable electronic device from sliding beyond the second cover edge; and

forming a third structure, coupled to and extending at an angle from the fourth cover edge at a position between the first hinge and the third cover edge, wherein when the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover, the third structure prevents a second side edge of the portable electronic device from sliding beyond the second cover edge, and the second side edge of the portable electronic device is opposite of the first side edge.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising:

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction so the lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside the inside surface of the front flap at a second point that is closer to the first cover edge than is the first point; and

forming at least a first groove and a second groove on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the first and second stand positions are formed using the at least first and second grooves, the first point for the first stand position is within the first groove, the second point for the second stand position is within the second groove, and the second groove is positioned next to the first groove, without any intervening grooves in between the first and second grooves.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising:

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction so the lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside the inside surface of the front flap at a second point that is closer to the first cover edge than is the first point, wherein the second point is closer to the first cover edge than to the first hinge.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein between the first and second protrusions is a groove.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein between the first and second grooves is a protrusion.

14. A method comprising:

forming a rectangularly shaped cover for a portable electronic device comprising first, second, third, and fourth cover edges, wherein the first and third cover edges extend in a first direction and are parallel to each other, the second and fourth cover edges extend in a second direction and are parallel to each other, the second direction is transverse to the first direction, and the second cover edge is longer than the first cover edge;

forming a first hinge in the cover between the first and third cover edges, extending in the first direction, and the cover from the first cover edge to the first hinge is a front flap, and the front flap has a first length from the first cover edge to the first hinge that is sufficiently long to cover a front screen of the portable electronic device when the front flap is folded via the first hinge to close the case;

forming a second hinge in the cover, between the third cover edge and the first hinge, extending in the first direction, parallel to the first hinge,

wherein a first back part is between the third cover edge and the second hinge, and a second back part is between the second hinge and the first hinge;

forming a first structure, coupled to and extending at an angle away from the third cover edge, wherein when the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover, the first structure prevents an upper edge of the portable electronic device from sliding beyond the third cover edge;

forming a second structure, coupled to and extending at an angle from the second cover edge at a position between the first hinge and the third cover edge, wherein when the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover, the second structure prevents a first side edge of the portable electronic device from sliding beyond the second cover edge;

forming a third structure, coupled to and extending at an angle from the fourth cover edge at a position between the first hinge and the third cover edge, wherein when the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover, the third structure prevents a second side edge of the portable electronic device from sliding beyond the second cover edge, and the second side edge of the portable electronic device is opposite of the first side edge;

allowing folding into a first stand position by rotating the second hinge in a first rotation direction so a lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside an inside surface of the front flap at a first point, and

the first back part remains fixedly attached to the first structure, alongside a back of the portable electronic device, while the second back part is rotated away from the back of the portable electronic device; and

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction so the lower edge of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside the inside surface of the front flap at a second point that is closer to the first cover edge than is the first point, wherein the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover by inserting the portable electronic device along the inside surface of the cover in the second direction until the upper edge of the portable electronic device is stopped by at least a portion of the first structure.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising:

forming a first groove on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the first point is within the first groove; and

forming a second groove on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the second point is within the second groove.

16. The method of claim 14 comprising:

forming a first protrusion on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the first point is between the first hinge and the first protrusion; and

forming a second protrusion on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein the second point is between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

17. A method comprising:

forming a cover for a portable electronic device having first, second, third, and fourth cover edges, wherein the second and fourth cover edges are longer than the first and third cover edges;

forming first and second hinges in the cover,

wherein a first cover panel is between the third cover edge and the first hinge, a second cover panel is between the first hinge and the second hinge, and a front flap panel is between the first cover edge and second hinge, and

a first length is from the first cover edge to the second hinge, a second length is from the second cover edge to the fourth cover edge, and the second length is greater than the first length;

forming a first structure coupled to and extending at an angle from the third cover edge wherein when the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover, the first structure is against an upper edge of the portable electronic device;

allowing folding into a first stand position by rotating the first hinge a first angle in a first rotation direction, the second cover panel being rotated away from the portable electronic device, so a lower edge of the portable electronic device can be placed on an interior surface of the front flap panel at a first point; and

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the first hinge a second angle in the first rotation direction, the second angle being greater than the first angle, so the lower edge of the portable electronic device can be placed on the interior surface of the front flap panel at a second point, wherein the second point is closer to the first cover edge than to the second hinge, and

wherein in the first and second stand positions, the upper edge of the portable electronic device is positioned against the first structure, thereby maintaining a position of the portable electronic device against an inside of the first cover panel and preventing the upper edge of the portable electronic device from sliding beyond the third cover edge, and wherein the portable electronic device is inserted into the cover by sliding a back of the portable electronic device along the inside of the first cover panel until an upper edge of the portable electronic device is stopped by the first structure.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first structure is at a corner where the third cover edge intersects with the second cover edge.