PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE CASE, FOLIO, AND DOCK

• US 20150116927A1
• Filed: 10/28/2014
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Todd C., Kao, James, Weaver, Adam S., Marshall, Barry
• Application Number:
  US14/525,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20150116927A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches

Abstract

A system for use with a portable electronic device includes a case having a body configured to receive the portable electronic device, a first attachment structure formed on the body, and a second attachment structure formed on the body. The system also includes a folio having a cover and an attachment member. The attachment member is engageable with the first attachment structure of the case to selectively attach the case to the folio. The system further includes a dock having a housing and a lock mechanism supported by the housing. The lock mechanism is engageable with the second attachment structure of the case to selectively attach the case to the dock.

Claims

1. A system for use with a portable electronic device, the system comprising:

a case including a body configured to receive the portable electronic device, a first attachment structure formed on the body, and a second attachment structure formed on the body;

a folio including a cover and an attachment member, the attachment member engageable with the first attachment structure of the case to selectively attach the case to the folio; and

a dock including a housing and a lock mechanism supported by the housing, the lock mechanism engageable with the second attachment structure of the case to selectively attach the case to the dock.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first attachment structure is spaced apart from the second attachment structure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first attachment structure includes a keyhole-shaped aperture, and wherein a portion of the attachment member of the folio is received in the keyhole-shaped aperture.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second attachment structure includes an aperture, and wherein the lock mechanism includes a projection that is selectively moved into the aperture to secure the case to the dock.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second attachment structure further includes a guide slot, and wherein the housing of the dock includes a rail that is received in the guide slot to facilitate aligning the aperture in the case with the projection of the lock mechanism.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the dock includes an actuator supported by the housing, and wherein the actuator is operable to move the projection relative to the case.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the body of the case includes a front portion and a back portion, wherein the front portion defines an opening through which a screen of the portable electronic device is accessible, and wherein the first and second attachment structures are formed on the back portion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover of the folio includes a front cover and a back cover pivotally coupled to the front cover.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the attachment member of the folio includes a rigid bar coupled to the back cover, and wherein the rigid bar extends across a portion of the case.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the front cover and the back cover of the folio are foldable to form a stand for the case.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the folio further includes a keyboard that is at least partially supported by the cover.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing of the dock defines a slot that receives a portion of the case.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the dock further includes a connector supported by the housing, and wherein the connector is configured to engage a port of the portable electronic device to electrically connect the portable electronic device to the dock.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a tablet computer.

15. A case for a portable electronic device, the case comprising:

a body configured to receive the portable electronic device;

a first attachment structure formed on the body, the first attachment structure configured to engage a folio to selectively attach the case to the folio; and

a second attachment structure formed on the body, the second attachment structure configured to engage a dock to selectively attach the case to the dock.

16. The case of claim 15, wherein the first attachment structure is spaced apart from the second attachment structure.

17. The case of claim 15, wherein the body includes a front portion and a back portion, wherein the front portion defines an opening through which a screen of the portable electronic device is accessible, and wherein the first and second attachment structures are formed on the back portion.

18. The case of claim 17, wherein the first attachment structure includes two keyhole-shaped apertures formed in the back portion of the body.

19. The case of claim 17, wherein the second attachment structure includes two apertures formed in the back portion of the body.

20. The case of claim 15, wherein the portable electronic device is a tablet computer.