TABLET COMPUTER CARRYING CASE WITH RETRACTABLE LATCH

• US 20130178155A1
• Filed: 06/16/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parle Innovation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Parle Innovation, Inc.
• Inventors: Shulenberger, Arthur M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard

Abstract

A carrying case includes a frame member to retain a tablet computer and a base member coupled to the frame member. The frame member includes a recess with a protruding lip to receive a first edge of the tablet computer as it is inserted into the carrying case, and a retractable latching mechanism to secure a second, opposite edge of the tablet computer. The retractable latching mechanism can be moved to a retracted position to enable the second edge of the tablet computer to be inserted within the frame member and then released to a non-retracted position to secure the second edge of the tablet computer within the frame member.

Claims

1. A carrying case for a tablet computer, the carrying case comprising:

a base member;

a frame member coupled to the base member and including (i) a recess with a protruding lip to receive a first edge of the tablet computer as it is inserted into the carrying case, and (ii) a retractable latching mechanism that may be moved to a retracted position to enable a second edge of the tablet computer to be inserted within the frame member and then released to a non-retracted position to secure the second edge of the tablet computer within the frame member, the first and second edges being opposite edges of the tablet computer.

2. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the retractable latching mechanism automatically engages the tablet computer when the tablet computer is inserted into frame member.

3. The carrying case of claim 2 further comprising an ejector to assist a user in releasing the tablet computer from the frame member.

4. The carrying case of claim 3 wherein the retractable latching mechanism comprises a user-activated release to allow a user to disengage the tablet computer from frame member, and wherein the ejector comprises one or more springs to push the tablet computer free from the frame member when the user activates the user-activated release.

5. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the retractable latching mechanism includes one or more springs.

6. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the retractable latching mechanism comprises a user-activated release to allow a user to disengage the tablet computer from frame member.

7. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the frame member comprises relief details to allow a user to access an edge of the tablet computer when releasing the tablet computer from frame member.

8. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the frame member comprises one or more openings to allow use of a camera built into the tablet computer.

9. The carrying case of claim 8 wherein the one or more openings in the frame member comprise an optical accessory mounting receptacle.

10. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the base member comprises one or more openings that form an optical path for a camera built into the tablet computer, the one or more openings including an optical accessory mounting receptacle.

11. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the frame member comprises a sound redirection structure to redirect sound from a speaker of the tablet computer towards a user when the user is facing a touch screen of the tablet computer.

12. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the frame member comprises a sound redirection structure to redirect sound from a user towards a microphone of the tablet computer when the user is facing a touch screen of the tablet computer.

13. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the base member comprises a mounting receptacle to receive a removable memory device that, when mounted within the mounting receptacle, can be electronically accessed by the tablet computer.

14. The carrying case of claim 13 wherein the mounting receptacle to receive a removable memory device comprises a universal serial bus port.

15. The carrying case of claim 1 further comprising a data card reader coupled to at least one of the frame member or the base member.

16. The carrying case of claim 15 where the data card reader comprises a magnetic stripe reader to read magnetic stripe cards such as credit cards.

17. The carrying case of claim 1 further comprising a radio transmitter/receiver to enable communication with devices other than the tablet computer.

18. The carrying case of claim 17 where the radio transmitter/receiver comprises circuitry to enable communications with devices other than the tablet computer using a Near Field Communications protocol.

19. A carrying case for a tablet computer, the carrying case comprising:

means for receiving a first edge of the tablet computer as it is inserted into the carrying case; and

means for retractably latching a second edge of the tablet computer, the means for retractably latching the second edge of the tablet computer being movable to a retracted position to enable the second edge of the tablet computer to be received within the carrying case, and then released to a non-retracted position to secure the second edge of the tablet computer within the carrying case, the first and second edges being opposite edges of the tablet computer.