Case for portable electronic computing device and for electrical power coupler

• US 10,700,483 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2020
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2020
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Square Brands Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Square Brands Inc.
• Inventors: Piper, Brian Lewis, Ferren, Michael Cooper, Chan, Jaimie Emerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Rathod, Abhishek M
• Application Number:
  US16/741,552
• Time in Patent Office: 169 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

Systems and methods are involved with but are not limited to an apparatus including a tablet case assembly including an electrical-power-coupler docking bay, the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to detachably engage with an electrical power coupler, the electrical power coupler capable of coupling with an electrical-power-capable receptacle of an electronic tablet computing device, wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to be engaged with the electrical power coupler. In addition, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A tablet case assembly for containing an electrical-power-capable receptacle equipped electronic tablet computing device, comprising:

a first bounded case portion exterior surface; and

a peripheral portion, the first bounded case portion exterior surface being at least partially surrounded by the peripheral portion,

the peripheral portion including an electrical-power-coupler docking bay, the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to detachably engage with an electrical power coupler,

the electrical power coupler capable of coupling with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device,

wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to be engaged with the electrical power coupler coupled with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device and

wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to be engaged with the electrical power coupler uncoupled from the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device;

wherein the peripheral portion includes a peripheral portion first edge, and the electrical-power-coupler docking bay includes a first docking bay center ledge surface and a second docking bay center ledge surface, the first docking bay center ledge surface and the second docking bay center ledge surface, being progressively farther in distance, respectively, from the peripheral portion first edge along a dimension substantially normal to the peripheral portion first edge and substantially parallel with the first bounded case portion exterior surface.

2. The tablet case assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral portion includes a peripheral portion first edge, and the electrical-power-coupler docking bay includes a first docking bay center ledge surface and a second docking bay center ledge surface, the first docking bay center ledge surface and the second docking bay center ledge surface being progressively farther in distance, respectively, from the peripheral portion first edge along a dimension substantially normal to the peripheral portion first edge and substantially normal to the first bounded case portion exterior surface.

3. The tablet case assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral portion includes the peripheral portion first edge, and the electrical-power-coupler docking bay includes the first docking bay center ledge surface and the second docking bay center ledge surface, the first docking bay center ledge surface and the second docking bay center ledge surface being progressively farther along substantially a stairs formation, respectively, from the peripheral portion first edge.

4. The tablet case assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral portion includes the peripheral portion first edge, and the electrical-power-coupler docking bay includes the first docking bay center ledge surface, and the second docking bay center ledge surface, the first docking bay center ledge surface and the second docking bay center ledge surface progressively farther in distance, respectively, from the peripheral portion first edge along a first dimension substantially normal to the peripheral portion first edge and substantially parallel with the first bounded case portion exterior surface, the first docking bay center ledge surface and the second docking bay center ledge surface progressively farther in distance, respectively, from the peripheral portion first edge along a second dimension substantially normal to the peripheral portion first edge and substantially normal to the first bounded case portion exterior surface.

5. The tablet case assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay includes the first docking bay center ledge surface, and the second docking bay center ledge surface, the electrical-power-coupler docking bay sized and shaped with respect to the electrical power coupler, the electrical power coupler including a first coupler center surface, a second coupler center surface, and a third coupler center surface, the electrical-power-coupler docking bay sized and shaped to position the first docking bay center ledge surface and the second docking bay center ledge surface of the electrical-power-coupler docking bay adjacent the second coupler center surface and the third coupler center surface, respectively, of the electrical power coupler to couple the electrical power coupler with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device.

6. The tablet case assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay further comprises a first docking bay side including a first docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove and a first docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove notch, the first docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove and the first docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove notch being sized and shaped to couple with the electrical power coupler.

7. The tablet case assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay further comprises a first docking bay side including a first docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove notch and a second docking bay side including a second docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove notch sized and shaped to couple with a second coupler side face pin and a first coupler side face pin, respectively, of the electrical power coupler.

8. The tablet case assembly of claim 7, wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to allow the electrical power coupler to move between first and second positions with the first docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove notch and the second docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove notch being coupled with the second coupler side face pin and the first coupler side face pin, respectively, in the first position, the electrical power coupler being coupled with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device, in the second position, the electrical power coupler being uncoupled with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device.

9. The tablet case assembly of claim 1, wherein electrical-power-coupler docking bay further comprises a first docking bay side including a first docking bay suspended ledge and a second docking bay side including a second docking bay suspended ledge sized and shaped to couple with a second coupler side face longitudinally elongated groove, and a first coupler side face longitudinally elongated groove, respectively, of the electrical power coupler.

10. The tablet case assembly of claim 1, wherein electrical-power-coupler docking bay further comprises a first docking bay side including a first docking bay side suspended ledge nub and a second docking bay side suspended ledge nub sized and shaped to couple with a second coupler side face notch, and a first coupler side face notch, respectively, of the electrical power coupler.

11. The tablet case assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral portion further comprises a peripheral portion first edge including a peripheral portion coupler pry notch sized and shaped to allow finger access to pry the electrical power coupler from engagement with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device.

12. A tablet case assembly for containing an electrical-power-capable receptacle equipped electronic tablet computing device, comprising:

an electrical-power-coupler docking bay, the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to detachably engage with an electrical power coupler, the electrical power coupler capable of coupling with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device,

wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to be engaged with the electrical power coupler coupled with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device, wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to be engaged with the electrical power coupler uncoupled from the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device,

wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay being sized and shaped to allow the electrical power coupler to move between first and second positions with the electrical power coupler being coupled with the electrical-power-coupler docking bay,

in the first position, the electrical power coupler being coupled with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device,

in the second position, the electrical power coupler being uncoupled with the electrical-power-capable receptacle of the electronic tablet computing device;

a peripheral portion including a peripheral portion first edge, and wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay includes a first docking bay center ledge surface, and a second docking bay center ledge surface, the first docking bay center ledge surface and the second docking bay center ledge surface positioned progressively farther in distance, respectively, from the peripheral portion first edge along a first dimension substantially normal to the peripheral portion first edge and substantially parallel with the first bounded case portion exterior surface.

13. The tablet case assembly of claim 12, wherein the electrical-power-coupler docking bay further comprises a first docking bay side including a first docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove notch and a second docking bay side including a second docking bay side longitudinally elongated groove notch sized and shaped to couple with a second coupler side face pin and a first coupler side face pin, respectively, of the electrical power coupler.

14. The tablet case assembly of claim 12, wherein

the first docking bay center ledge surface and the second docking bay center ledge surface positioned progressively farther in distance, respectively, from the peripheral portion first edge along a second dimension substantially normal to the peripheral portion first edge and substantially normal to the first bounded case portion exterior surface.