TABLET PC COVER WITH STOWABLE INPUT DEVICE

• US 20110259788A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atoz Design Labs Co., Limited
• Original Assignee: Atoz Design Labs Co., Limited
• Inventors: Zeliff, Zachary Joseph, Kutsel, Alisa Vladimirovna
• Granted Patent: US 8,201,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/701
• 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

Abstract

A cover for a tablet PC provides protection to the body while allowing free access to a touch screen and other controls. The cover has an integrally connected keyboard or other input device which can be simply deployed for use, allowing conventional keyboard- or other-based input to the PC. When not in use the input device can be stowed at the rear of the cover, complementing device protection thereto. The cover further provides support elements allowing the PC to be situated for use on a horizontal surface, with the actual angle of situation adjustable to meet individual needs. When not needed or for transport, the support elements collapse and are received within the cover. In addition, the cover allows the PC to be situated, with the input device deployed or otherwise, in either a landscape or portrait orientation.

Claims

1. A tablet PC cover, formed to snugly fit and conform to the body of the PC, exposing a touch-enabled display and any onboard controls of the tablet PC exposed for standard access, the tablet PC cover comprising:

fitted therein, at least one embedded plug compatible and aligned precisely with at least one external connection jack on the surface of the tablet PC, the jack configured to enable input to or output from the PC, wherein the embedded plug is at least connected to a wiring route, also embedded in the cover;

at least one input device, stowable for transport in the tablet PC cover and connected to the tablet PC cover 1 by a connecting cable, providing input and output capabilities, the connecting cable originating at a connecting hub internally connected to the at least one embedded plug;

at least one cable trough in which the connecting cable is nested, secured by the elasticity of the tablet PC cover material, in which are formed a first trough break and a second trough break, the cable trough originating at the connecting hub and the first and second trough breaks respectively situated substantially midway along a long side of the tablet PC cover and substantially midway along an adjacent short side of the tablet PC cover; and

at least one support element hinged with the tablet PC cover at one thereof and received in a dedicated space defined in the surface of the tablet PC cover.

2. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises molded silicon, rubber, or any suitable material providing a requisitely tight fit with sufficient thickness to safeguard the PC from external shock or impact without any significant increase in volume of the device and providing a pliant, grippable surface.

3. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, wherein at least one jack is further installed in the cover and open to the exterior, connected in parallel to the embedded plug.

4. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device stows for transport in a cutout formed in the rear of the tablet PC cover, is of a thickness substantially equaling that of the material constituting the rear face of the tablet PC cover, and comprises an operating side and underside, and, when stowed for transport, the underside presents as a portion of the rear face of the tablet PC cover, such that when stowed, the underside of the input device fits flush with the rear face of the tablet PC cover.

5. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device is a keyboard, mouse pointer device, stylus/writing pad device, numerical keypad, or other comparable input device.

6. The tablet PC cover of claim 4, wherein the at least one input device is fixed within the cutout in the rear face of the tablet PC cover by at least the elastic force of the constituent material thereof.

7. The tablet PC cover of claim 6, wherein the at least one input device additionally comprises a continuous or partial flange or distributed tabs along the edge thereof to further enhance integrity of the fit thereof in the cutout.

8. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, the input device further comprising at least one angling member in the underside thereof, deployable to allow the input device 2 to be situated at an angle with a horizontal support surface, the at least one angling member collapsible into a recess formed in the underside of the input device, maintaining the uninterrupted surface thereof.

9. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, the connecting hub further comprising a clearance barrel or other means by which the connecting cable can be rotated freely without kinking or twisting.

10. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, in which the at least one support element comprises a segmented, essentially U-shaped bracket of a gauge sufficient to support the weight of the tablet PC and retain its shape, such shape comprising at least three straight segments, wherein, when stowed for transport, the at least one support element is nested in dedicated grooves formed in the rear face of the tablet PC cover, and wherein the two ends of the support element terminate in ends hinged to the rear face of the tablet PC cover.

11. The tablet PC cover of claim 10, wherein when a tablet PC with the tablet PC cover is deployed in a portrait orientation, the at least one support elements is hinged away from the back face of the tablet PC cover, and when the base, in this orientation, a short side, of the tablet PC is placed on a horizontal supporting surface, the tablet PC can be angled back until resting on at least one segment of the support element parallel to the horizontal supporting surface.

12. The tablet PC cover of claim 10, wherein when a tablet PC with the tablet PC cover is deployed in a landscape orientation, the at least one support element is hinged away from the back face of the tablet PC cover, and when the base, in this orientation, a long side, of the tablet PC is placed on a horizontal supporting surface, the tablet PC can be angled back until resting on at least one segment of the support element parallel to the horizontal supporting surface.

13. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, in which the at least one support element comprises a flat, longitudinal, essentially tongue-shaped member of light metal or other material of sufficient rigidity to support the tablet PC when deployed and maintain a profile not protruding beyond the surface of the rear face of the tablet PC cover when stowed;

wherein, when stowed, the support element is maintained therein by elastic force of the tablet PC cover material, and further, wherein the hinge with the tablet PC cover is part of a hinge and pivot assembly, wherein a pivot of the hinge and pivot assembly allows the length of support element to pivot along a plane perpendicular to that of the hinge.

14. The tablet PC cover of claim 13, in which, when deployed in a portrait orientation, the support element 10 is hinged away from the back face of the tablet PC cover, and when the base, in this orientation, a short side, of the tablet PC is placed on a horizontal supporting surface, the tablet PC can be angled back until it rests on the distal end of the support element 10 which contacts the horizontal supporting surface.

15. The tablet PC cover of claim 13, in which, when deployed in a landscape orientation, the support element 10 is hinged away from the back face of tablet PC cover and the pivot assembly 11 pivoted, and when the base (in this orientation, a long side, of the tablet PC is placed on a horizontal supporting surface, the tablet PC can be angled back until it rests on the distal end of support element 10 which, pivoting downward from the original axis of support member 10, contacts the horizontal supporting surface.

16. The tablet PC cover of claim 13, wherein the hinge and pivot assembly can, by way of friction, meshed gears or other means, provide preset gradiation of respective hinge and pivot action, such that fixed positions can be maintained by the support element when deployed.

17. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, wherein on/off control of the input device is provided by operating application of the tablet PC.

18. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, wherein on/off control of the input device is provided by a manual control provided on the body of the input device or elsewhere on the tablet PC cover.

19. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, wherein additional input/output capabilities are provided by suitable connectors positioned on the body of the input device, wherein if additional power supply is required for operation of such additional devices, a battery bay is further provided in the body of the input device.