Case for electronic tablet

• US 9,603,425 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• 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): CHEUNG, CHUN HOI
• Application Number:
  US14/532,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 206/30, 206/305, 206/45.2, 206/320, 206 4523- 4525, 206/701, 455/575.6, 455/575.8, 36167955-67956, 361/679.59, 534/73
• 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 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 method comprising:

forming a cover for a tablet electronic device having first, second, third, and fourth cover edges, wherein the second and fourth cover edges are longer than the first and third cover edges;

forming first and second hinges in the cover,

wherein a first cover panel is between the third cover edge and the first hinge, a second cover panel is between the first hinge and the second hinge, and a third panel is between the first cover edge and second hinge, and

a first length is from the first cover edge to the second hinge, a second length is from the second cover edge to the fourth cover edge, and the second length is greater than the first length;

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

allowing folding into a first stand position by rotating the first hinge a first angle in a first rotation direction, the second cover panel being rotated away from the electronic device, so a bottom of the tablet electronic device can be placed on an interior surface of the third panel at a first point; and

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the first hinge a second angle in the first rotation direction, the second angle being greater than the first angle, so the bottom of the tablet electronic device can be placed on the interior surface of the third panel at a second point, wherein the second point is closer to the first cover edge than to the second hinge, and

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

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming at least a first groove and a second groove on the interior surface of the third cover panel, wherein the first and second stand positions are formed using the at least first and second grooves, the second groove is positioned next to the first groove, without any intervening grooves in between the first and second grooves, and a length of the first groove from a front groove side to a back groove side is less than a distance of the interior surface from the first groove to the second groove.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming at least a first rail and a second rail on the interior surface of the third cover panel, wherein the first and second stand positions are formed using the at least first and second rails.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first structure is coupled to a first corner of the first cover panel defined by the intersection of the second and third cover edges.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising forming 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 cover panel defined by the intersection of the third and fourth cover edges.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a second structure coupled to and extending at an angle from the second cover edge between the first hinge and the third cover edge, wherein when the tablet electronic device is positioned against the inside of the first cover panel, the second structure prevents a first side edge of the tablet electronic device from sliding beyond the second cover edge.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising a third structure coupled to and extending at an angle from the fourth cover edge between the first hinge and the third cover edge, wherein when the tablet electronic device is positioned against the inside of the first cover panel, the third structure prevents a second side edge of the tablet electronic device from sliding beyond the fourth cover edge.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the tablet electronic device is inserted into the cover by sliding the electronic device in a direction from the second hinge to the third cover edge.

9. A method comprising:

forming a rectangularly shaped cover for a tablet computer 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;

forming a first hinge 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 tablet computer when the front flap is folded via the first hinge to close the case,

wherein the first hinge is longer than the first length;

forming a second hinge 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;

forming a first structure, coupled to and extending at an angle away from the first panel, 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,

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

allowing folding into a first stand position by rotating the second hinge in a first rotation direction so a bottom of the tablet computer is positioned alongside 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

allowing folding into a second stand position by rotating the second hinge in the first rotation direction, further than for the first stand position, so 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 is positioned alongside 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.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein 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 alongside the inside of the first back part and preventing the upper edge of the tablet computer from sliding beyond the third cover edge.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein 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 alongside the inside of the first back part and preventing the upper edge of the tablet computer from sliding beyond the first structure in a direction from the second hinge to the third cover edge.

12. The method of claim 9 comprising:

forming a second structure, coupled to and extending at an angle away from the first panel, wherein the second structure is positioned at the second cover edge between the second hinge and the third cover edge.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising:

forming a third structure, coupled to and extending at an angle away from the first panel, wherein the third structure is positioned at the fourth cover edge between the second hinge and the third cover edge.

14. A method comprising:

forming a rectangularly shaped cover for a portable electronic device 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;

forming a first hinge 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;

forming a second hinge 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;

forming a first structure, coupled to and extending at an angle away from the cover, wherein the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover by sliding a back of the portable electronic device along an inside of the cover until an upper edge of the portable electronic device is stopped by at least a portion of the first structure, and

while the portable electronic device is removably coupled to the cover, the first back part remains fixedly attached to the first structure; and

allowing folding into a first stand position by rotating the second hinge in a first rotation direction so a bottom of the portable electronic device is positioned alongside 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 first structure, alongside a back of the electronic device, while the second back part is rotated away from the back of the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising:

forming a plurality of protrusions, between the first cover edge and the first hinge on the inside surface of the front flap, wherein each protrusion extends up from an inside surface of the front flap, and

in the first stand position, the bottom of the portable electronic device is positioned between a first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions and the first hinge.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the bottom of the portable electronic device is positioned between the first protrusion and a second protrusion of the plurality of protrusions, wherein the second protrusion is closer to the first cover edge than to the first hinge and is closer to the first cover edge than the first protrusion.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein between two protrusions of the plurality of protrusions is a groove.

18. The method of claim 14 comprising:

forming a plurality of grooves, extending in the first direction, between the first cover edge and the first hinge on the inside surface of the front flap,

wherein in the first stand position, the bottom of the portable electronic device is positioned in a first groove of the plurality of grooves.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein a second groove of the plurality of grooves is positioned closer to the first cover edge than to the first hinge and is closer to the first cover edge than the first groove.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein between two grooves of the plurality of grooves is a protrusion.