Portable device case and accessories

• US 9,554,632 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Tarnow, Derek, Fischer, Ariel, Jayaraman, Vivekanand, Herbst, Scot
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CHUN HOI
• Application Number:
  US14/312,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/818, 455/575.1, 455/575.8, 455/575.9, 361/679.26, 361/679.3, 224/930
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/06 allowing pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03

Abstract

Cases for portable electronic devices are described including multiple alignment elements (e.g. slugs, magnets or physical securing means) embedded in a panel, such as the back panel of the case. Various accessories, such as stands, cord spools, mounts, communication devices, speakers, displays, etc., may also have multiple corresponding alignment elements (e.g. magnets, slugs or cooperative physical securing means) in them that allow the accessories to be semi-securely attached to the case in a plurality of specific positions and/or orientations.

Claims

1. A case and accessory system for a portable electronic device, said system comprising:

a device case including a backing with a first set of alignment elements embedded therein; and

an accessory including a surface with a second set of alignment elements embedded therein and disposed in a complimentary pattern to the first set of alignment elements,

wherein the patterns of the sets of alignment elements are configured to allow the case to be semi-securely mounted to the accessory in a plurality of positions and/or orientations, at least two of the plurality of positions and/or orientations including an arrangement in which the case completely overlays the accessory, and another arrangement in which the case only partially overlays the accessory, and

wherein the accessory further comprises a sub-unit including at least one of a power unit, a control unit, and a communication module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of alignment elements are at least one of magnets and slugs, and the second set of alignment elements are at least one of magnets and slugs.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein case may be integral with, or removable from, the portable device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the case and the accessory further comprises a 3-dimensional surface pattern configured for aligning the case and the accessory in a plurality of positions.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the 3-dimensional pattern includes a plurality of holes and/or a plurality of plugs corresponding to matching holes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory includes one or more of a full size battery, a reduced size battery, a stand, a suction mount, a magnetic mount, a car mount, a folding mount, a swivel mount, a triangular mount, a multi-purpose mount, a spool, a speaker, a display, a charging station, a docking station, a communication device, a network hub, a repeater or blaster.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least two of the accessories, the at least two accessories providing different functionality to the device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory has a length and width that substantially correspond to a length and width of the case for the device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory has a length and width that is less than a length and width of the case for the device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory has a length and/or width that is ½

, ¼

, or other ratio related to the number of magnets and/or slugs included in the case and accessory, compared to a length and/or width of the case for the device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sets of alignment elements are arranged in a domino pattern on each of the case and accessory, with 8 alignment elements on the case, and an even number of alignment elements on the accessory.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment elements include at least one magnet that is arranged to provide a magnetic field that is substantially horizontal to the surface.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory includes a plurality of elements connected by at least one hinge and allows for an angle of the case to be adjusted.

14. A case and accessory system for a portable electronic device, said system comprising:

a device case including a backing with a first set of alignment elements embedded therein; and

an accessory including a surface with a second set of alignment elements embedded therein and disposed in a complimentary pattern to the first set of alignment elements,

wherein the patterns of the sets of alignment elements are configured to allow the case to be semi-securely mounted to the accessory in a plurality of positions and/or orientations, at least two of the plurality of positions and/or orientations including an arrangement in which the case completely overlays the accessory, and another arrangement in which the case only partially overlays the accessory, and

wherein the first set of alignment elements are arranged in a domino pattern.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sets of alignment elements are arranged in a domino pattern on each of the case and accessory.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the accessory includes a plurality of elements connected by at least one hinge and allows for an angle of the case to be adjusted.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the accessory is configured to adhere to a mounting surface by pushing on a surface of the accessory.

18. A case and accessory system for a portable electronic device, said system comprising:

a device case including a backing with a plurality of slugs or magnets embedded therein; and

an accessory including a surface with a plurality of slugs or magnets embedded therein and disposed in a complimentary pattern to the plurality of slugs or magnets embedded in the case,

wherein the patterns of the slugs and/or magnets are configured to allow the case to be semi-securely mounted to the accessory in a plurality of positions, at least two of the plurality of positions including arrangements in which the case completely overlays the accessory with different parts of the case, and

wherein the accessory further comprises a sub-unit including at least one of a power unit, a control unit, and a communication module.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the slugs or magnets are arranged in a pattern on each of the case and accessory with more magnets or slugs on the case than on the surface of the accessory.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the accessory is substantially triangular and is configured to hold the case at an angle in one orientation, and to hold other items in a vertical cavity in another orientation.