Patent Application
20160026218
The present invention relates generally to electronic device covers, and more particularly to foldable tablet PC covers.
With the advancing of technology the various types of electronic devices continues to develop. Particularly, more and more electronic devices include touch screens for the ease of the user. Touch screen tablets have become increasingly popular with the improvements in technology. Most users of touch screen devices utilize a cover to protect the display from damage, and a stand to allow easier use of the device and prevent the user from having to use the device laying flat on a surface such as a desk.
Tablet covers are used to protect the screen of a tablet PC, in particular a touch-screen tablet. Tablet covers can also serve as a pedestal for the tablet, functioning as a stand. Some tablet PC covers have a functionality including “stand mode” for watching movies or using touch operations without the user having to hold it in their hands by folding the covers and other methods. However, existing tablet covers can slip when they are in pedestal configurations, and the cover will not always be at the correct angle for the user. Traditional tablet covers do not maintain static friction with the supporting table or structure when they are in use as a pedestal, so putting force on the screen, i.e. using the tablet, can cause slipping on the surface the tablet is resting on.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,264,310 teaches a “smart cover” for a tablet PC that can be folded and makes a triangular structure which functions as a tablet stand. However, this tablet cover does not have a functionality to prevent slipping during touch operations in stand mode.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improved foldable tablet covers that can prevent slipping when used in stand mode.
This invention solves the issue of slipping by employing enough friction force using rubber feet on a cover for a tablet. The rubber feet can maintain the position of the tablet while the user touches the tablet during operation. The two rubber feet can also provide multiple “stand modes” by allowing the cover to fold in multiple ways. The user can choose the stand mode that best suits the use of the tablet. This invention generally provides a foldable tablet cover including rubber feet that prevent the tablet from slipping when the screen is touched.
A device is provided that in one embodiment includes
The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
In the present disclosure, like-named components of the embodiments generally have similar features, and thus within a particular embodiment, each feature of each like-named component is not necessarily fully elaborated upon. Sizes and shapes of devices and components of electronic devices discussed herein can depend at least on the electronic devices in which the devices and components will be used and the invention described herein is not limited to any specific size or dimensions.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the devices and methods disclosed herein can be implemented using any type of electronic device. The cover of this invention can be used for any type of electronic device, including but not limited to a tablet PC (“tablet”), a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a computer (e.g., a laptop or notebook computer, a netbook, a server, a tablet, etc.), a DVD player, a CD player, a portable music player, a gaming system, a television, a radio, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. In a preferred embodiment the device is a touch screen electronic device. In a more preferred embodiment, the device is a touch screen tablet.
Various exemplary foldable tablet covers are provided. In general, this invention provides a foldable cover for a tablet that can be removably attached to a tablet. When the cover is attached to a tablet or other electronic device, the cover can be “closed,” completely protecting the display, or “open,” completely exposing the display. The cover of this invention can also be used as a stand for the tablet in multiple “stand modes.”
The cover 2 can be made of any material suitable for use in protective covers for electronic devices, for example plastics, polymers, hybrid materials, hard materials, soft materials, cloths, etc. The entire cover 2 can be made of the same material. In a preferred embodiment, the inside of the cover 10 is made of a different material than the outside of the cover 11. In a preferred embodiment, the inside of the cover 10 can be constructed of a hybrid material like a soft cloth to prevent scratching and damage to the display 1. In another preferred embodiment, the outside of the cover 11 (see
The cover 2 can be connected to an electronic device by a flexible hinge 4. Preferably the cover 2 is removably connected to the electronic device via the hinge 4 on the cover 2. In a preferred embodiment the cover 2 can attach to a tablet with a magnet on the hinge (not shown). The hinge 4 on the cover is flexible to allow for the cover to both open and close on the tablet. When the cover 2 is open, the display 1 of the tablet is completely exposed (shown in
The cover 2 of this invention can have a folding line 3 that runs parallel to the hinge 4. The folding line is preferably centered on the cover, as shown in
The cover 2 of this invention provides friction between the cover and a surface that the tablet is resting on when in stand modes. This friction allows the tablet to be used in stand modes without slipping, which is particularly useful for tablets with touch screen displays. To prevent slipping, the tablet cover can have one or more “feet.” In a preferred embodiment, the cover 2 has two feet, one on the hinge 4, Foot 5, and one at the edge of the tablet cover, Foot 6. The feet 5, 6 of the cover 2 can be manipulated into different positions based on how the cover is folded by using the folding line 3 and hinge 4.
The feet 5, 6 can be made of a variety of materials and attached to the cover using any conventional attachment method. The feet 5, 6 can be attached to the outside 11 or the inside 10 of the cover 2. In a preferred embodiment the feet 5, 6 can be attached to the inside 10 of the cover 2. In a preferred embodiment, foot 5 can be inside of the cover 2 when it is closed. In a more preferred embodiment foot 5 can be attached to an internal frame on the hinge 4. The feet can be bonded or glued to the cover. The feet 5, 6 can also be attached using double injection with the internal structure of the cover. The material used for the feet 5, 6 should have more friction than the cover materials to prevent slipping in stand mode. Accordingly, the feet 5, 6 can be made of any high-friction material. In a preferred embodiment, the feet are made of a rubber material. The feet 5, 6 can extend in a line parallel to the bottom of the display. In another preferred embodiment, the thickness and height of the feet should be in the range of about 1 mm to about 3-4 mm. In yet another preferred embodiment the length of the feet should be about 150 mm. In another embodiment, multiple feet can be attached to the cover and/or hinge. These multiple feet can have various shapes including spherical, hemi-spherical, rectangular, rounded, etc.
The cover of this invention can be used in multiple stand modes. Stand modes 1 and 2 shown in
In stand mode 2, shown in
As shown in
Optionally the cover can include magnet (not shown) between the inside of the cover 10 and the outside of the cover 11, to securely close it against the tablet. Further optionally the tablet can include a sensor at the edge of the tablet (not shown) to sense the closure of the cover 2 including the magnet (not shown). In a preferred embodiment the magnet is included in the cover 2 on the side of the folding line 3 furthest from the hinge 4. In an embodiment including the magnet, in standing mode 1 the magnet will not be in contact with the tablet. In standing mode 2, foot 6 will be between the magnet and the tablet. Therefore, the cover of this invention provides less chance of magnetic interference with the tablet in both stand modes 1 and 2.
Further optionally, the cover 2 can include a pen holder 7 on the side of the cover 2 perpendicular to the hinge, shown in
Further optionally, the cover can include a foldable corner 9 on the cover 2, defined by an additional folding line 8. This foldable corner can assist the user in manipulating the cover. Specifically, when the cover 2 includes a magnet for closing the cover 2 against the display 1, the foldable corner 9 will not include a magnet. Accordingly, the foldable corner will allow the user to move the cover 2 from a closed position to an open position easily.
Although the invention has been described by reference to specific embodiments, a person skilled in the art will understand that numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. A person skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the invention based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
