Patent Application
20130148270
The invention relates to a device, method, and system for removably attaching appendages and other accessories to an electronic device. More particularly, the invention is a case that fits around an electronic device. The electronic device case has attachment structures that allow toys, appendages, and other accessories to be connected and disconnected to the case for amusement and entertainment purposes.
For the past several decades, computers have been a source of amusement and entertainment for children and adults alike. Specifically, computers run software programs, including drawing programs, game programs, and educational programs that provide users hours of enjoyment. The computer itself, however, was merely the platform for the entertaining software programs. Recent advances in computer and electronics technology have allowed computers to become both portable and more powerful at the same time. The portability of computers has allowed users to bring their computers, and integrated entertainment software, to where ever they travel. Indeed, this portability has led to the creation of a specific type of computer called portable electronic gaming devices. In addition to portable electronic gaming devices, portable electronic readers and handheld personal digital assistants have become popular business and entertainment devices.
More recently, tablet computers have become popular as a way for children and adults to combine the business, reading, gaming, and other entertainment functions onto a single portable, but very powerful, platform. Importantly, with the popularity of tablet computers, and the touch screen functionality they typically possess, external control devices, such as joysticks, directional pads, keyboards, knobs, mouse devices, e-writing styluses, and thumb control pads have become less of a part of the portable electronic devices. Although the internalization of control components makes for a sleek, adult friendly computer, the lack of external components is not always desirable if the computer is being used by a child.
There are many types of portable electronic devices, including tablet computers, which are specifically designed to be used by children. For example, U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2009/0113091, filed by Miller, discloses a portable electronic device that has child friendly functionally dedicated external control devices. The Miller application discloses a digital arts and crafts computer peripheral toy device that plugs into a computer and allows a child to create digital works of art. The front of the device has graphical and raised buttons on the sides of the display monitor. The graphics displayed on the raided buttons match the functionality for each particular and unique button. Although the dedicated and functional buttons of the Miller application provide some stimulation for the child using the device, these buttons are not purely ornamental and if played with at the wrong time, might result in the computer performing unwanted tasks. Further, the graphic buttons of Miller are not removable or replaceable.
Although the Miller application and other child friendly portable electronic devices available in the market come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and have many different types of functional control components that are engageable by the young user, no portable electronic device is available that has removable accessories that convert the computer into a personalized toy.
In addition to portable electronic devices having multi-functional external control components, some portable electronic devices also have dedicated external control components. Thus, what is needed is a portable electronic device or case for a portable electronic device that has attachment structures that allow toys, appendages, and other accessories to be removably connected and disconnected to the case for amusement and entertainment purposes.
To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a new and useful case for a portable electronic device that has attachment structures that allow toys, appendages, and other accessories to be connected and disconnected to the case for amusement and entertainment purposes.
One embodiment of the invention is a portable electronic device case comprising: a case; one or more accessories. The case is adapted to fit onto an electronic device. The case has a plurality of sides, a back plate, and one or more accessory connectors. The accessories and the accessory connectors are adapted to removably interconnect. Preferably, the accessories may be children's toys, animal appendages, handles, or stands. If the accessories are toys or appendages, the electronic device with case is transformed into a toy or a toy animal. The accessories are preferably poseable. The accessory connectors are preferably on a back plate, but may be on the sides of the case. The case may have one or more apertures, wherein the apertures are aligned with one or more ports of the electronic device, such that the one or more ports are accessible.
Another embodiment of the invention is an electronic device comprising: a housing; one or more electronic components; and one or more accessories. The housing contains the electronic components of the electronic device and has a plurality of sides, a back plate, and one or more accessory connectors. The accessories and the accessory connectors are adapted to removably interconnect. Preferably, the accessories may be children's toys, animal appendages, handles, or stands. If the accessories are toys or appendages, the electronic device with case is transformed into a toy or a toy animal. The accessories are preferably poseable. The accessory connectors are preferably on the back plate of the housing, but may be on the sides of the housing. The electronic device may further comprise: a case; wherein the case has one or more openings wherein said one or more openings are aligned with the one or more accessory connectors, such that the one or more accessory connectors are accessible.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the limitations of the prior art. It is a further object of the present invention to provide the user with a tablet computer case that has the ability to connect with one or more accessories, such as a handle, toy, or stand.
It is an object of the present invention to provide easy to use and entertaining computer case.
These, as well as other components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details which may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all of the components or steps which are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it refers to the same or like components or steps.
In the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments of the invention.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the screen shot figures, and the detailed descriptions thereof, are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention.
In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments of the invention. For instance, “computer” or “electronic device” refers to any electronic data processing unit or device that processes information with an integrated circuit chip, including without limitation, mainframe computers, work stations, servers, desktop computers, portable computers, laptop computers, smart phone, embedded computers, wireless devices including cellular phones, personal digital assistants, portable game players, portable gaming devices, portable electronic gaming devices, electronic devices, portable electronic devices, tablet computers, and hand-held computers.
Although only two types of accessory connectors are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that any connection device might be used, including, but not limited to: friction, snap, hook and loop, button, slot and tab, insertable, slidable, and/or magnetic.
Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, locations, and other specifications which are set forth in this specification, including in the claims which follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range which is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited, one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced in combination or conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not be interpreted to limit the scope the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appended hereto.
Except as stated immediately above, nothing which has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.
