U.S. patent application number 12/902384 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-19 for protective apparatus for tablet electronic device.
Invention is credited to Eagle Fan.
Application Number | 20120012483 12/902384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43486934 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120012483 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fan; Eagle |
January 19, 2012 |
PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR TABLET ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Abstract
A protective apparatus for tablet electronic device is provided,
in a form of book jacket-like expandable structure, including a
receiving unit and a protective cover. The protective cover is a
foldable plate set. The plate set can be folded to shape into a
three-dimensional U-shape. The element at the edge of the plate set
is a first plate element, with a buckle seat. The front surface of
the receiving unit can receive a tablet electronic device, and the
back surface has formed a protruding element so that the protruding
element of the receiving unit can be buckled to the buckle seat of
the plate set. The receiving unit can rotate pivotedly around the
buckle seat for angle adjustment. With this, the tablet electronic
device can be wrapped and protected. The plate set can be folded to
support at the back surface of the receiving unit so that the
receiving unit can stand in landscape and portrait mode with a tilt
angle.
Inventors: |
Fan; Eagle; (Hsinchu,
TW) |
Family ID: |
43486934 |
Appl. No.: |
12/902384 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 11/2021 20130101;
A45C 2011/003 20130101; G06F 1/1633 20130101; G06F 1/1656 20130101;
F16M 11/105 20130101; G06F 1/1626 20130101; F16M 13/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/320 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 13, 2010 |
CN |
201020262211.X |
Claims
1. A protective apparatus for tablet electronic device, comprising:
a receiving unit and a protective cover; wherein said protective
cover being a foldable plate set, said plate set being able to fold
into a three-dimensional U-shape, a first plate being edge plate of
said plate set, said first plate having a buckle seat; front
surface of said receiving unit being for placing said electronic
device, back surface having a protruding element, said receiving
element using said protruding element to engage to said buckle seat
of said protective cover and pivotedly rotating for angle
adjustment, plates of said protective cover being able to fold to
support said receiving unit so as to facilitate said receiving unit
to stand in landscape and portrait mode with a tilt angle.
2. The protective apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
front surface of said receiving unit is a large area plate surface
with edge slightly curvy inward, with a plurality of protruding
clappers distributed around circumference of said plate
surface.
3. The protective apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
plurality of clappers are curvy inwards and are located at four
corners of said receiving unit.
4. The protective apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
buckle seat is shaped as a C clipper, with a trench narrow at top
and wide at bottom, said protruding element of said receiving unit
matches said shape of said buckle seat so that said protruding
element can be placed into said buckle seat in the diameter
direction and cannot slip from said buckle seat from axis direction
once placed into.
5. The protective apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
protective cover comprises a first plate, a second plate, a third
plate and a fourth plate, connected in above order, and foldable at
each junction, total area of said first plate and said second plate
is similar to area of said fourth plate, when folded into a
three-dimensional U-shape, said third plate is the bottom side of
said U-shape.
6. The protective apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
second plate, said third plate and said fourth plate of said
protective cover can be folded into a .angle. shape, bottom edge of
said receiving unit engaged to said first plate is placed on said
fourth plate so that back of said receiving unit is supported by
said plates of said protective cover to stand with a tilt
angle.
7. The protective apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
protruding element of said receiving unit forms a slot, shaped to
match an auxiliary support apparatus.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a protective
apparatus, and more specifically to a protective apparatus for
tablet electronic device, such as, tablet PC, ebook, so as to
protect the surfaces of the electronic devices when device not
being in use as well providing convenience of operation or viewing
when the device being in use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Tablet electronic devices, such as tablet PC, are popular
recently because the maturity of touch panel technology and a wide
range of applications are developed to facilitate convenient use of
tablet PC. Electronic readers, or commonly called as ebooks,
utilize the new display technology to avoid eye stress for long
time reading and a large storage capacity to store a large number
of book contents for the reader to choose from. As the unit price
of this type of product is still relative high, the user often
handle the product with extra caution in operating and is willing
to purchase protective apparatus to prevent the tablet electronic
device from casual damage.
[0003] In addition to prevent the surface of the electronic device
from being scratched, a good protective apparatus must also take
the convenience of operation of the electronic device into account.
For touch panel operation, the table electronic device, such as
tablet PC, the user usually holds the tablet electronic device in
one hand, while uses the other hand to operate the touch screen.
However, for long period of video viewing, the user will find it
difficult to hold the tablet electronic device for a long duration
without any auxiliary apparatus to assist. In addition, some tablet
PC allows the user to select to view in either landscape or
portrait mode. The conventional protective apparatus usually
provide a single mode usage. Hence, it is imperative to devise a
protective apparatus to provide good protection to the tablet
electronic device as well as provide convenient use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a
protective apparatus for tablet electronic device, in a form of a
book jacket-like expandable structure. The electronic device can be
situated inside the protective apparatus and the circumference of
the electronic device is wrapped and protected. When the structure
is opened and expanded, the operation on the touch screen of the
electronic device can be easily performed. For video viewing, the
protective apparatus can be partially folded to stand in landscape
(i.e., horizontal) and portrait (i.e., vertical) mode with a tilt
angle to facilitate comfortable viewing.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
protective apparatus for tablet electronic device for a wide range
of applications. The protective apparatus includes a receiving unit
and a protective cover. The receiving unit is to receive and fasten
the tablet electronic device. The receiving unit is buckled to the
protective cover so that the electronic device is well protected.
The receiving unit can be also fastened to other auxiliary
apparatus so that he electronic device can be placed inside a
vehicle or hanged on the wall for a wide range of applications.
[0006] To achieve the aforementioned objects, the present invention
provides a protective apparatus, including a receiving unit and a
protective cover. The protective cover is a foldable plate set. The
plate set can be folded to shaped into a three-dimensional U-shape.
The element at the edge of the plate set is a first plate element,
with a buckle seat. The front surface of the receiving unit can
receive a tablet electronic device, and the back surface has formed
a protruding element so that the protruding element of the
receiving unit can be buckled to the buckle seat of the plate set.
The receiving unit can rotate pivotedly around the buckle seat for
angle adjustment. The plate set can be folded to support at the
back surface of the receiving unit so that the receiving unit can
stand in landscape and portrait mode with a tilt angle.
[0007] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become better understood
from a careful reading of a detailed description provided herein
below with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention can be understood in more detail by
reading the subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the
examples and references made to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a dissected view of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a dissected view of another state of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the electronic device under
protection according to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the electronic device
standing in landscape mode according to the present invention;
and
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the electronic dveice
standing in portrait mode according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a schematic and dissected view of the
present invention respectively. The protective apparatus for tablet
electronic device of the present invention includes a receiving
unit 1 and a protective cover 2. Receiving unit 1 is to clap or
fasten the electronic device, and protective cover 2 is a foldable
plate set. Protective cover 2 can be folded into a
three-dimensional U-shape. To use the protective apparatus,
receiving unit 1 is buckled to protective cover 2 so that the
electronic device is wrapped by protective cover 2 for
protective.
[0016] The following describes the details of each element of the
structure.
[0017] The front surface of receiving unit 1 includes a large area
plate surface 10. The edge of plate surface 10 is slightly curvy
inwards so that the edge of receiving unit 1 ahs the resilience to
be slightly push-open. In addition, the circumference of plate
surface 10 forms a plurality of clappers 11, protruding from the
level of plate surface 10. Plate surface 10 is the place for
placing the electronic device, such as tablet PC. Clappers 11 are
to clap the circumference of the electronic device. When electronic
device is placed on plate surface 10, receiving unit 1 is slightly
pushed-open and the resilience will allow clappers 11 to clap on
the sides of the tablet PC to fasten the tablet PC. In the present
embodiment, clappers 11 have a curvy shape and are located at the
four corners of receiving unit 1. However, the number and the shape
of clappers are not limited to the present embodiment. For example,
the number of the clappers can be three, with one on each side of
receiving unit 1 so that the tablet PC can be clapped on three
sides.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, f the back surface of receiving unit 1
forms a protruding element 13 at the central area. Protruding
element 13 is shaped as a cone. In other words, the diameter of
protruding element 13 is the smallest at the joint with main body
of receiving unit 1, and the diameter increases outwards. Also,
protruding element 13 forms at least a slot 14, shaped to match
other auxiliary apparatuses so that receiving unit 1 of the present
invention can also be installed at other auxiliary apparatuses in
addition to protective cover 2.
[0019] Protective cover 2 is a foldable plate set. When unfolded,
protective cover 2 is a large area rectangular plate. Protective
cover 2 can be folded into a three-dimensional U-shape. In the
present embodiment, protective cover includes a first plate 21, a
second plate 22, a third plate 23 and a fourth plate 24, connected
in the above order, and foldable at the junction. The total area of
first plate 21 and second plate 22 is similar to the area of fourth
plate 24. Third plate 23 is smaller in size. When the plate set is
folded into a three-dimensional U-shape, third plate 23 is the
bottom side of the U. Other than plate-shape, third plate 23 can
also be a flexible connecting element to enable folding of the
remaining plates. To protect the electronic device, the inner wall
of fourth plate 24 can be made of soft material, such as, cloth,
foam, to avoid abrasion to the electronic device.
[0020] Furthermore, first plate 21 includes a buckle seat 25,
partially extending to second plate 22. When the junction of first
plate 21 and second plate 22 is folded, buckle seat 25 is lifted
from the level of second plate 22. Buckle seat 25 is shaped as C
clip. The vertical size of the trench is narrow at the top and wide
at the bottom, that is, as a cone trench. Protruding element 13 of
receiving unit 1 matches the shape of buckle seat 25 so that
protruding element 13 can be placed from the opening of the radius
direction of buckle seat 25, and cannot slip from buckle seat 25
from the axis direction once placed inside. Buckle seat 25 further
includes resilient clip 251 to enhance the tight holding when
clipping. In addition, receiving unit 1 can pivotedly rotate around
the joint of protruding element 13 and buckle seat 25 when
budded.
[0021] To use the present invention, electronic device 3 is
fastened to receiving unit 1 and receiving unit 1 is buckled to
protective cover 2. As shown in FIG. 4, when protective cover 2 is
folded into a U-shape, the circumference of electronic device 3 is
wrapped and well protected. When protective cover 2 is unfolded,
the operation on the touch screen of the
[0022] Electronic device is convenient. For video viewing, as shown
in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, second plate 22, third plate 23 and fourth
plate 24 of protective cover 2 are folded to form a .angle. shape.
Then, the bottom edge of receiving unit 1 engaged to first plate 21
is placed on fourth plate 24 so that the back of receiving unit 1
is supported by protective cover 2 to stand with a tilt angle.
Because protruding element 13 can rotate around buckle seat 25 of
first plate 21, the user can easily adjust the viewing mode to
either landscape (FIG. 5) or vertical (FIG. 6) mode.
[0023] Furthermore, because receiving unit 1 and protective cover 2
are detachable, receiving unit 1 can be detached from protective
cover 2 and attached to other auxiliary support apparatuses via
slot 14 of protruding element 13 of receiving unit 1 when used in
vehicle or other locations. In this manner, the present invention
can be applied to a wide range of uses.
[0024] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that
the invention is not limited to the details described thereof.
Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the
foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary
skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and
modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *