Cover for an electric device

• US 8,395,465 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lauder, Andrew, Rohrbach, Matthew D., Coster, Daniel J., Stringer, Christopher J., Ow, Florence W., Ai, Jiang, Ive, Jonathan P., Kibiti, Elvis M., Ternus, John P., Lubner, Sean D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MUSLEH, MOHAMAD A
• Application Number:
  US12/971,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20120069502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 335/219, 335/285, 335302- 30, 335205-207, 439/38, 439/218, 439/217, 439/39, 243/03, 361/807, 361/679.01, 361/600, 206/45.2, 206/45.23, 206/45.24, 206/305, 206/320, 206/764, 206/765, 345/111
• US Class Current: 335/219
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/04 Means for releasing the attractive force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener

Abstract

A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A cover suitable for releasably attaching to an electronic device having a display with a topmost layer, the cover configured to provide protection to the topmost layer of the display in a closed configuration, comprising:

a flap, the flap comprising;

a first layer, the first layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the exterior surface configured to come into direct contact with the topmost layer of the display in the closed configuration, a first resilient layer adhered to the interior surface of the first layer, the first resilient layer configured to provide support to the first layer, and an insert adhesively attached to the first resilient layer, the insert comprising;

a first opening comprising a first magnet, and a second opening, the second opening separate from and in proximity to the first opening, the second opening comprising a second magnet, wherein only in the closed configuration, the first magnet is detectable through the topmost layer of the display by the electronic device and the second magnet magnetically attaches the cover to the electronic device through the topmost layer of the display.

2. The cover as recited in claim 1, the flap further comprising:

a second layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the exterior surface being exposed to the external environment in the closed configuration;

a plurality of reinforcing bars arrayed about a perimeter of the second layer configured to provide support for the cover; and

a support layer attached to the second layer configured to support the second layer.

3. The cover as recited in claim 2, the flap further comprising:

an intervening layer disposed between the second layer and the support layer, the intervening layer configured to facilitate the attachment between the second layer and the support layer.

4. The cover as recited in claim 3, wherein the intervening layer comprises a knitted structure.

5. The cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the display does not present visual content when the electronic device detects the first magnet.

6. The cover as recited in claim 1, the flap further comprising:

a first end; and

a second end opposite the first end

7. The cover as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a pivotal attachment mechanism at the first end of the flap, the pivotal attachment mechanism configured to releasably attach the flap to an edge of the electronic device at a predetermined location and orientation with respect to the display, the pivotal attachment mechanism allowing the flap to smoothly move from a fully open configuration that exposes substantially all of the topmost layer to the closed configuration.

8. The cover as recited in claim 7, the flap further comprising:

a plurality of independently foldable segments comprising a first segment at the first end of the flap and a second segment at the second end of the flap, the second segment comprising the first magnet, wherein the plurality of independently foldable segments fold with respect to each other and the electronic device to form a folded state of the cover.

9. The cover as recited in claim 8, a first folded state comprising the first segment in contact with the topmost layer, and the second segment folded away from the topmost layer to reveal a first viewable portion of the display.

10. The cover as recited in claim 9, the electronic device detects the first folded state of the cover and operates in a first peek mode.

11. The cover as recited in claim 10, the electronic device presents visual content in accordance with the first viewable portion of the display in the first peek mode.

12. The cover as recited in claim 11, the foldable flap further comprising:

a third independently foldable segment disposed between the first segment and the second segment.

13. The cover as recited in claim 12, a second folded state comprising the first segment in contact with the topmost layer, and the second segment and third segments folded away from the topmost layer to reveal a second viewable portion of the display, the second viewable portion including at least the first viewable portion.

14. The cover as recited in claim 13, the electronic device detects the second folded state of the cover and operates in a second peek mode.

15. The cover as recited in claim 14, the electronic device presents visual content in accordance with the second viewable portion of the display in the second peek mode.

16. The cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises micro-fiber material suitable for passively cleaning the topmost layer while in direct contact with the topmost layer in the fully closed configuration.