Cover for an electronic device

• US 9,568,954 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2016
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lauder, Andrew D., Rohrbach, Matthew Dean, 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:
  US15/081,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20160209883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 335/219, 335/285, 335302-306, 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: 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: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0205 Magnetic circuits with PM in general
• 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. An accessory device, comprising:

a single piece flap carrying an electronic circuit, the single piece flap comprising;

a first portion carrying a first magnetic element, the first portion being rotatable in a first direction about a first axis of rotation,

a second portion carrying a second magnetic element, the second portion being rotatable in the first direction about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation being displaced from and generally parallel to the first axis of rotation, and

a third portion between the first and second portions, the third portion being rotatable in the first direction about a third axis of rotation, the third axis of rotation being between and generally parallel to the first and second axes of rotation, wherein the first and second magnetic elements form a magnetic circuit that maintains the single piece flap in a three dimensional structure.

2. The accessory device as recited in claim 1, wherein the single piece flap is magnetically attachable to a portable computing device having an electronic element.

3. The accessory device as recited in claim 1, wherein the accessory device further comprises a body coupled to the single piece flap, the body having a size and shape suitable for capturing and retaining the portable computing device.

4. The accessory device as recited in claim 3, wherein the single piece flap is pivotally coupled to the body.

5. The accessory device as recited in claim 4, wherein the single piece flap is rotatable in the first direction towards the front side of the portable computing device or in a second direction opposite the first direction and towards a back side of the portable computing device.

6. The accessory device as recited in claim 5, wherein the electronic circuit is operable to provide a first signal when the single piece flap rotates in the first direction and to provide a second signal when the single piece flap rotates in the second direction.

7. The accessory device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit receives a visual content signal from the electronic element that is used to present visual content by a display carried by the single piece flap.

8. The accessory device as recited in claim 2, wherein the electronic circuit provides an input information signal to the electronic element for processing.

9. The accessory device as recited in claim 8, wherein the processing by the electronic element comprises interpreting the input information signal as textual information.

10. The accessory device as recited in claim 9, wherein the single piece flap comprises a keyboard in communication with the electronic circuit, the keyboard providing a user interface suitable for generating the input information signal.

11. The accessory device as recited in claim 2, wherein the three-dimensional structure comprises a triangular cross section.

12. The accessory device as recited in claim 2, wherein the three-dimensional structure acts as a support for the portable computing device.

13. The accessory device as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computing device carries a display configured to present visual content.

14. The accessory device as recited in claim 13, wherein the three dimensional structure supports the portable computing device in a manner that allows viewing of the visual content provided by the display carried by the portable computing device.