Packaging for an electronic device

• US 10,283,996 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2015
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fetterman, Kevin Scott, Berk, Jonathan, Hershey, Daniel David, Anderson, Alissa, Burke, Margaret Madigan, Wanderman, Jack, Krasniewicz, Brett Evans, Coxeter, Peter, Stevenson, Benjamin Arthur, Casebolt, Matthew Phillip, Lam, Felix Chung Fan, Merritt, Robert Michael, Niiro, Mark Toki
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US14/835,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20160064993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320115
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

Packaging is disclosed. The packaging may include a charging element to charge an electronic device contained within the packaging. The charging may be performed by inductive charging. The packaging may include a magnet to position and retain an item within the packaging. The packaging may include protective surfaces formed of microfiber to help protect an item contained therein. The microfiber may be debossed around its periphery to minimize interruption between the microfiber and an underlying surface to which it is applied.

Claims

1. Packaging, comprising:

a base shell containing a surface for receiving an item;

a charging coil disposed above the item-receiving surface;

a post rotatably coupling the charging coil to the base shell so that the charging coil and a central axis of the post can tilt relative to the base shell; and

an electrical port coupled to the base shell and accessible from an outer side of the base shell, wherein the electrical port is electrically connected to the charging element.

2. The packaging of claim 1, further comprising a tray disposed within a cavity formed by the base shell, wherein the tray defines the item-receiving surface.

3. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the charging coil is a part of a circular puck.

4. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the charging coil is an inductive charging coil.

5. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the item-receiving surface defines an indentation that is aligned with a charging surface of a charging element that contains the charging coil.

6. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the charging coil encircles a magnet.

7. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the charging coil is tilted toward a center of the base shell when in a neutral position, and

wherein the charging coil tilts away from the center of the base to contact an item when the item is placed next to the charging-coil.

8. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the item-receiving surface defines an indentation that is aligned with a charging surface of a charging element that contains the charging coil,

wherein the charging element is tilted toward a center of the base shell when in a neutral position, and

wherein the charging element tilts away from the center of the base to contact an item when an item is placed in the indentation.

9. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the charging coil is tilted toward a center of the base shell when in a neutral position, and

wherein the charging coil tilts away from the center of the base to contact an item when the item is placed next to the charging-coil, due to magnetic attraction between the charging coil and the item.

10. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the charging coil is spaced apart from the item-receiving surface by the post.

11. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the item-receiving surface defines an opening therethrough, and

wherein the post extends through the opening.

12. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the electrical port is configured to receive power from an outside power source.

13. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the electrical port is electrically connected to the charging coil through the post.

14. The packaging of claim 1, further comprising a lid configured to cover and enclose the item on the item-receiving surface.

15. Packaging, comprising:

a base shell defining a cavity;

a tray assembly disposed in the cavity and defining an item-receiving surface, wherein the item-receiving surface comprises a raised boundary spaced inward from an outer perimeter of the item-receiving surface; and

a magnet disposed within the cavity between the base shell and the tray assembly,

wherein the magnetic field of the magnet extends above the upper item-receiving surface of the tray assembly, and

wherein the position of the magnet coincides with the center of the area within the raised boundary.

16. The packaging of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field of the magnet is configured to retain the item relative to the base shell by magnetic attraction between the magnet and the item.

17. The packaging of claim 15, wherein the tray assembly comprises a tray disposed in the cavity between the base shell and the item-receiving surface,

wherein the tray defines an opening therethrough, and

wherein the magnet is disposed within the opening.

18. The packaging of claim 15, wherein the base shell has an inner surface defining a portion of the first cavity,

wherein a second cavity is formed in the inner surface, and

wherein the magnet is disposed within the second cavity.

19. The packaging of claim 15, wherein the tray assembly is fixed to a bottom surface of the cavity.

20. The packaging of claim 15, wherein the magnet is fixed in position below and within the raised boundary.

21. The packaging of claim 15, further comprising a charging element disposed below the item-receiving surface.

22. The packaging of claim 15, further comprising a charging element, wherein the charging element comprises the magnet.

23. A method for providing power to a device, the method comprising:

tilting a charging element from a neutral position to a charging position, under force of magnetic attraction of the charging element to a device; and

transferring power to the device from the charging element when the charging element is in the charging position,

wherein the magnetic force overcomes a biasing force applied by a support structure for the charging element,

wherein the charging element includes an inductive coil, and power is transferred to the device via an electromagnetic field, and

wherein the charging element is coupled to an upper end portion of a post, and wherein tilting of the charging element from the neutral position to the charging position is accomplished by rotation of the charging element and the post together about an axis extending transversely through a lower end portion of the post.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein rotation of the charging element and the post occurs in response to the force of magnetic attraction between the charging element and the device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein tilting of the charging element from the neutral position to the charging position takes place automatically in response to the device being placed in proximity to the charging element.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the charging element maintains the neutral position in the absence of the device.