Tablet PC cover with stowable input device

• US 8,201,687 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atoz Design Labs Co., Limited
• Original Assignee: Atoz Design Labs Co., Limited
• Inventors: Zeliff, Zachary Joseph, Kutsel, Alisa Vladimirovna
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CHUN HOI
• Application Number:
  US12/765,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20110259788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.07, 361/FOR.106, 361/679.01, 361/156, 361/679.02, 206/320, 206/701, 206/45.24, 206/45.2, 404/79, 407/48
• US Class Current: 206/320
• 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 comprising:

a molded body shaped to snugly fit and conform to a body of the tablet PC, exposing a touch-enabled display and any onboard controls of the tablet PC exposed for standard access, and having a rear face opposite to the tablet PC, wherein the rear face has a central portion and a border portion surrounding the central portion and corresponding to edges of the tablet PC;

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

at least one input device and a corresponding cutout in the rear face of the molded body, the input device stowable in the cutout and connected to the molded body 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, wherein the cutout is formed in the central portion of the rear face of the molded body;

at least one cable trough in which the connecting cable is nested, secured by the elasticity of the molded body 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 molded body and substantially midway along an adjacent short side of the molded body; and

at least one support element received in a dedicated space defined in the rear face of the molded body, wherein the support element comprises a hinge, a pivot and a leg, the hinge connected to the molded body and spaced apart from the pivot so as to allow the pivot and leg to rotate away from the rear face of the molded body in a first plane, and the leg rotatable on the pivot in a second plane different than the first plane.

2. The tablet PC cover of claim 1, wherein the molded body comprises molded silicon, rubber, or any suitable material providing a requisitely tight fit with sufficient thickness to safeguard the tablet 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 molded body 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 is of a thickness substantially equaling that of the material constituting the rear face of the molded body, and comprises an operating side and underside, and, when stowed for transport, the underside presents as a portion of the rear face of the molded body, such that when stowed, the underside of the input device fits flush with the rear face of the molded body.

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 molded body 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, in which the leg comprises 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 molded body when stowed;

wherein, when stowed, the support element is maintained therein by elastic force of the molded body.

9. The tablet PC cover of claim 8, in which, when deployed in a portrait orientation wherein a short side of the tablet PC is placed on a horizontal supporting surface, the pivot and leg are rotated away from the rear face of the molded body, and the tablet PC can be angled back until it rests on the distal end of the leg which contacts the horizontal supporting surface without rotation of the leg on the pivot.

10. The tablet PC cover of claim 8, in which, when deployed in a landscape orientation wherein a long side of the tablet PC is placed on a horizontal supporting surface, the pivot and leg are rotated away from the rear face of the molded body and the leg is rotated on the pivot, and the tablet PC can be angled back until it rests on the distal end of the leg which, pivoting downward from the original axis of the support member, contacts the horizontal supporting surface.

11. The tablet PC cover of claim 8, 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.

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

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

14. 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.