Case for electronic tablet

• US 8,875,879 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Incase Designs Corporation (Incipio Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Diebel, Markus, Hong, Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CHUN HOI
• Application Number:
  US13/682,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20130075281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/305, 206/45.2, 206/45.24, 206/37, 206/38, 361/679.04, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.59, 455/575.1, 455/575.6, 455/575.8
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/005 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/025 for holding portable computers or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/15 Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/02 Materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/04 Packaging single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• 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 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A case incorporates a built-in stand for an electronic device, such as an electronic tablet computer, which the case houses. The case protects the electronic device and allows a user to view and access the device without removing it from the case. The built-in stand is adjustable and allows for multiple viewing angles.

Claims

1. A case for a portable electronic device comprising:

a rectangularly shaped cover comprising first, second, third, and fourth cover edges, wherein the first and third cover edges extend in a first direction and are parallel to each other, the second and fourth cover edges extend in a second direction and are parallel to each other, the second direction is transverse to the first direction, and the second cover edge is longer than the first cover edge;

a first hinge, formed in the cover between the first and third cover edges, extending in the first direction, and the cover from the first cover edge to the first hinge is a front flap, and the front flap has a first length from the first cover edge to the first hinge that is sufficiently long to cover a front screen of the portable electronic device when the front flap is folded via the first hinge to close the case;

a second hinge, formed in the cover, between the third cover edge and the first hinge, extending in the first direction, parallel to the first hinge,

wherein a first back part is between the third cover edge and the second hinge, and a second back part is between the second hinge and the first hinge; and

a holder, coupled to the rectangularly shaped cover, that removably couples the portable electronic device to the case between the second hinge and the third cover edge,

wherein when the portable electronic device is inserted into the holder, the first back part remains fixedly attached to the holder,

when folded in a first stand position by rotating the second hinge in a first rotation direction so a bottom of the portable electronic device can rest on an inside surface of the front flap at a first point that is closer to the first cover edge than to the first hinge,

the first back part remains fixedly attached to the holder, alongside a back of the electronic device, while the second back part is rotated away from the back of the electronic device.

2. The case of claim 1 wherein when folded in a second stand position, the first back part rests against the second back part, the bottom of the portable electronic device rests against the inside of the front flap, and a portion of the cover between the first and second hinges raises the third edge of the cover to a height above a height of the bottom of the portable electronic device.

3. The case of claim 1 comprising:

a plurality of grooves formed between the first cover edge and the first hinge on an inside of the front flap of the cover, wherein in the first stand position, the bottom of the portable electronic device is placed on a first groove of the plurality of grooves, and the first groove is closer to the first cover edge than to the first hinge.

4. The case of claim 1 comprising:

a third hinge, formed in the cover, between the first hinge and the second hinge, extending in the first direction, parallel to the first hinge.

5. The case of claim 1 comprising:

a plurality of rails formed between the first cover edge and the first hinge on an inside of the front flap of the cover, wherein in the first stand position, the bottom of the portable electronic device is placed against a first rail of the plurality of rails, and the first rail is closer to the first cover edge than to the first hinge.

6. The case of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device is a tablet computer.

7. The case of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a first structure coupled to and extending at an angle from the third cover edge, wherein the portable electronic device is inserted into the cover by sliding a back of the electronic device along an inside of the first back part until an upper edge of the electronic device is stopped by the first structure.

8. The case of claim 7 wherein the first structure is coupled to a first corner of the first back part.

9. The case of claim 8 wherein the holder comprises a second structure coupled to and extending at an angle from the third cover edge, wherein the second structure is coupled to a second corner of the first back part that is opposite the first corner.

10. The case of claim 7 wherein the holder comprises a second structure coupled to and extending at an angle from the second cover edge between the second hinge and the third cover edge, wherein when the portable electronic device is positioned against the inside of the first back part, the second structure prevents a first side edge of the portable electronic device from sliding beyond the second cover edge.

11. The case of claim 1 wherein a width or a length of the holder is at least about 7.47 inches (about 18.97 centimeters).

12. The case of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a front opening through which a front screen of the portable electronic device will be visible, wherein at least one of a width or a length of the front opening is at least about 5.8 inches (about 14.7 centimeters).

13. The case of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a front opening through which a front screen of the portable electronic device will be visible, a length of the front opening is longer than a width of the front opening, and the length is at least about 80 percent of a length of a longest side of the holder.

14. The case of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises:

a first flexible layer and a second flexible layer, wherein the first and second flexible layers comprise polyurethane; and

a first stiffening layer panel and a second stiffening layer panel, between the first and second flexible layers, wherein the first and second stiffening layer panels comprise polycarbonate, are more rigid than the first and second flexible layers, and the first and second flexible layers are welded together, thereby sandwiching the first and second stiffening layer panels between the first and second flexible layers,

wherein the first stiffening layer panel extends from about the first cover edge to about the first hinge, the second stiffening layer panel extends from about the first hinge to about the second hinge and a stiffening layer panel is absent at the first hinge, thereby forming a polyurethane hinge at the first hinge by way of the first and second flexible layers being coupled together.

15. The case of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a chamfer edge extending along a perimeter of an outer surface of the cover.

16. The case of claim 1 comprising:

at least a first groove of a plurality of grooves formed between the first cover edge and the first hinge on an inside surface of the front flap of the cover, wherein in the second direction, a length of the groove from a front groove side to a back groove side is less than a distance from the first groove to a second groove of the plurality of grooves on the inside surface, and there are no intervening grooves between the first and second grooves.

17. The case of claim 1 wherein a side of the holder comprises an over-molded button comprising a flexible polyurethane material, and when the portable electronic device is placed in the holder, the over-molded button is positioned over a button of the electronic device, and pressing the over-molded button will cause pressing of the button of the electronic device.

18. A case for a tablet computer comprising:

a rectangularly shaped cover comprising first, second, third, and fourth cover edges, wherein the first and third cover edges extend in a first direction and are parallel to each other, the second and fourth cover edges extend in a second direction and are parallel to each other, the second direction is transverse to the first direction, and the second cover edge is longer than the first cover edge;

a first hinge, formed in the cover between the first and third cover edges, extending in the first direction, and the cover from the first cover edge to the first hinge is a front flap, and the front flap has a first length from the first cover edge to the first hinge that is sufficiently long to cover a front screen of the electronic device when the front flap is folded via the first hinge to close the case,

wherein the first hinge is longer than the first length;

a second hinge, formed in the cover, between the third cover edge and the first hinge, extending in the first direction, parallel to the first hinge,

wherein a first back part is between the third cover edge and the second hinge, and a second back part is between the second hinge and the first hinge; and

a first structure, coupled to and extending at an angle from the third cover edge, wherein the tablet computer is inserted into the cover by sliding a back of the tablet computer along an inside of the first back part until an upper edge of the tablet computer is stopped by the first structure;

when the tablet computer is placed against the first structure, the first back part is positioned alongside a back of the tablet computer,

when folded in a first stand position by rotating the second hinge in a first rotation direction so a bottom of the tablet computer can rest on an inside surface of the front flap at a first point, the first back part remains alongside the back of the tablet computer, while the second back part is rotated away from the back of the tablet computer, and

when folded in a second stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction, further than for the first stand position, the first back part remains alongside the back of the tablet computer, while the second back part is rotated away from the back of the tablet computer, and the bottom of the tablet computer rests on the inside surface of the front flap at a second point, wherein the second point is closer to the first cover edge than to the first hinge and is closer to the first cover edge than the first point, and

in the first and second stand positions, the upper edge of the tablet computer is positioned against the first structure, thereby maintaining a position of the tablet computer against the inside of the first back part and preventing the upper edge of the tablet computer from sliding beyond the third cover edge.

19. The case of claim 18 further comprising:

a second structure, coupled to and extending at an angle from the second cover edge between the second hinge and the third cover edge.

20. The case of claim 19 further comprising:

a third structure, coupled to and extending at an angle from the fourth cover edge between the second hinge and the third cover edge.

21. The case of claim 18 comprising:

a plurality of grooves formed between the first cover edge and the first hinge on an inside of the front flap of the cover, wherein the first and second stand positions are formed using the plurality of grooves.

22. The case of claim 18 comprising:

a plurality of rails formed between the first cover edge and the first hinge on an inside of the front flap of the cover, wherein the first and second stand positions are formed using the plurality of rails.

23. The case of claim 18 wherein the first structure is coupled to a first corner of the first back part.

24. The case of claim 23 further comprising a second structure coupled to and extending at an angle from the third cover edge, wherein the second structure is coupled to a second corner of the first back part that is opposite the first corner.