U.S. patent application number 13/495025 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-27 for protective cover capable of fastening pivot shaft of screen cover of tablet pc.
This patent application is currently assigned to Su-Shun Chen. Invention is credited to Kuan-Di HUANG.
Application Number | 20120325838 13/495025 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46375417 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120325838 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUANG; Kuan-Di |
December 27, 2012 |
PROTECTIVE COVER CAPABLE OF FASTENING PIVOT SHAFT OF SCREEN COVER
OF TABLET PC
Abstract
The present invention is to provide a protective cover capable
of fastening a pivot shaft of a screen cover of a tablet PC,
wherein the pivot shaft is connectable to a connecting portion
between front and back covers of the tablet PC, so that the screen
cover can be turned about the pivot shaft to cover the front cover.
The protective cover includes a cover body having one side
concavely provided with a receiving space for receiving and
protecting the back cover, at least one gripping portion having a
hook-shaped configuration formed by the periphery of the cover body
for hooking to the peripheral edge of the tablet PC after the back
cover is received in the receiving space, and a fastening portion
formed by an extension of the periphery of the cover body for
fastening the pivot shaft while the screen cover is being turned
about the pivot shaft.
Inventors: |
HUANG; Kuan-Di; (New Taipei
City, TW) |
Assignee: |
Chen; Su-Shun
New Taipei City
TW
Huang; Kuan-Di
New Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
46375417 |
Appl. No.: |
13/495025 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/810 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1628
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/810 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/04 20060101
B65D051/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 24, 2011 |
TW |
100211516 |
Claims
1. A protective cover capable of fastening a pivot shaft of a
screen cover of a tablet personal computer (tablet PC), wherein the
protective cover is applicable to a tablet PC and a screen cover of
the tablet PC, the tablet PC including a front cover and a back
cover and being provided with a connecting portion, the screen
cover having a pivot shaft connectable to the connecting portion by
engagement or attraction therebetween, the protective cover
comprising: a cover body having a side concavely provided with a
receiving space for receiving the back cover of the tablet PC; at
least a gripping portion provided at a periphery of the cover body
that is adjacent to the receiving space, wherein each said gripping
portion has a hook-shaped configuration curving toward the
receiving space and corresponds in shape to a peripheral edge of
the tablet PC such that, once the back cover is received in the
receiving space, each said gripping portion hooks to the peripheral
edge of the tablet PC and thereby connects the cover body and the
back cover together; and a fastening portion provided on the cover
body and corresponding in position to the connecting portion such
that, once the cover body and the back cover are connected
together, the fastening portion fastens the pivot shaft.
2. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the cover body is
formed with an aperture corresponding in position to each part of
the tablet PC that is configured for interacting with outside.
3. The protective cover of claim 2, wherein the cover body is made
of a resilient material.
4. The protective cover of claim 3, wherein the fastening portion
is formed by an extension of the periphery of the cover body.
5. The protective cover of claim 4, wherein each said gripping
portion is formed by an extension of the periphery of the cover
body toward the receiving space.
6. A protective cover capable of fastening a pivot shaft of a
screen cover of a tablet personal computer (tablet PC), wherein the
protective cover is applicable to a tablet PC and a screen cover of
the tablet PC, the tablet PC including a front cover and a back
cover and being provided with a connecting portion adjacent to a
lateral edge of the tablet PC where the front cover and the back
cover are connected, the screen cover including a pivot shaft, two
bearing seats, a turning rod, and a covering portion, the pivot
shaft being connectable to the connecting portion by engagement or
attraction therebetween, the pivot shaft having two ends
respectively and pivotally connected in the bearing seats, the
turning rod having two ends respectively and pivotally connected in
the bearing seats, the turning rod being spaced from the pivot
shaft by a gap, the turning rod having an axis parallel to an axis
of the pivot shaft, the covering portion having an end covering a
surface of the turning rod such that the covering portion can be
turned about the turning rod to cover or not cover a screen
provided on the front cover, the protective cover comprising: a
cover body having a side concavely provided with a receiving space
for receiving the back cover of the tablet PC, the cover body being
formed with an opening corresponding in position to each said
bearing seat; at least a gripping portion provided at a periphery
of the cover body that is adjacent to the receiving space, wherein
each said gripping portion has a hook-shaped configuration curving
toward the receiving space and corresponds in shape to a peripheral
edge of the tablet PC such that, once the back cover is received in
the receiving space, each said gripping portion hooks to the
peripheral edge of the tablet PC and thereby connects the cover
body and the back cover together; and a fastening portion provided
on the cover body and corresponding in position to the connecting
portion such that, once the cover body and the back cover are
connected together, the fastening portion fastens the pivot
shaft.
7. The protective cover of claim 6, wherein the fastening portion
fastens the pivot shaft from outside the pivot shaft, and wherein
the fastening portion has an end inserted in the gap between the
pivot shaft and the turning rod such that, when the bearing seats
are turned about the pivot shaft, the turning rod is turned about
the pivot shaft outside the fastening portion.
8. The protective cover of claim 7, wherein the cover body is
formed with an aperture corresponding in position to each part of
the tablet PC that is configured for interacting with outside.
9. The protective cover of claim 8, wherein the cover body is made
of a resilient material.
10. The protective cover of claim 9, wherein the fastening portion
is formed by an extension of the periphery of the cover body.
11. The protective cover of claim 10, wherein each said gripping
portion is formed by an extension of the periphery of the cover
body toward the receiving space.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a protective cover, more
particularly to a protective cover capable of fastening a pivot
shaft of a screen cover of a tablet PC, wherein the protective
cover includes a cover body having one side concavely provided with
a receiving space for receiving and protecting a back cover of the
tablet PC, and a fastening portion formed by an extension of the
periphery of the cover body for fastening the pivot shaft while the
screen cover is being turned about the pivot shaft to cover a front
cover of the tablet PC.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Recently, with the significant advancements in hardware and
software technologies and the continuous improvement of ergonomics,
the research and development of electronic devices are no longer
focused only on such performance indicators as operation speed. The
provision of better user-device interaction is nowadays an even
more important issue in the development of industrial
competitiveness. As can be seen in the evolution of computers from
desktops to laptops to palmtops and tablets, the reduction in
weight and size of hardware has made electronic devices highly
portable. In addition, intuitive operation has been a major trend
in software engineering. The core spirit of today's industrial
development is to employ all applicable hardware and software means
to the design and production of electronic devices with which users
can interact more conveniently and more intuitively.
[0003] Among the aforementioned electronic devices, tablet personal
computers, or tablet PCs, feature a good balance between
portability and performance and, thanks to their mode of operation
that suits people's reading habits, have stepped from the PC market
into the market of electronic readers. Hence, tablet PCs have
lately been a major product category for a good number of companies
and the first choice among consumers wishing to buy the foregoing
electronic devices. Now that the main features of tablet PCs are
portability and flexibility in operation, most users would carry
their tablet PCs with them and are more likely to operate the
tablet PCs on the move than they would other electronic devices.
Because of that, tablet PCs require more protection.
[0004] Currently, the market is supplied with a variety of
protective elements for use with tablet PCs. According to the part
to be directly protected, these protective elements can be
generally divided into the following: protectors for the entire
tablet, such as film wraps and protective cases; screen protectors,
such as protective adhesive films and screen covers; and protective
covers for the back cover of a tablet PC. Protective elements like
film wraps and protective adhesive films are chiefly designed to
protect tablet PCs from being scratched by a pointed object or by
friction and therefore provide little protection against external
impact, which nevertheless may easily damage a tablet PC if the
part being hit is the screen. In consideration of this, tablet PC
users tend to choose a protective element that can protect the
screen. Some users prefer a screen cover to a protective case,
which covers the entire tablet, as the major protective element,
with a view to keeping their tablet PCs easy-to-use and
esthetically pleasing. In coping with such preference, screen
covers are typically designed to be readily detachable and adaptive
to the features of tablet PCs, thus not only allowing a tablet PC
to be gracefully used in a stationary state, but also allowing a
screen cover to be easily removed from the tablet PC with which it
is used and be put aside, so as to restore the structural
simplicity and compactness of the tablet PC. However, a screen
cover alone cannot protect the back cover of a tablet PC against
collision or friction while the tablet PC is being carried around.
Further, as screen covers are mostly configured for easy
detachment, a screen cover may separate from the tablet PC to be
protected should the tablet PC be operated with big hand movements.
If, in that case, the user grasps the screen cover only, the tablet
PC is very likely to drop to the ground and be damaged. To prevent
such accidents, the user must pay extra attention when operating
the tablet PC, which is against the aforesaid core spirit of
enabling easy and intuitive use of tablet PCs.
[0005] In a nutshell, although it is generally desired to use
tablet PCs under different circumstances, so far there are no easy
and practical solutions that can simultaneously satisfy the
different needs to use tablet PCs under various conditions. The
issue to be addressed by the present invention is to provide a
simple and practical device that serves the purpose.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of the aforementioned shortcomings of the
conventional protective elements for use with tablet PCs, the
inventor of the present invention incorporated years of practical
experience into extensive research and development and finally
succeeded in creating a protective cover that can fasten a pivot
shaft of a screen cover of a tablet PC. With the assistance of the
present invention, one can operate a tablet PC conveniently and
intuitively while holding the tablet PC or its screen cover at any
desired position.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
protective cover capable of fastening a pivot shaft of a screen
cover of a tablet PC. The protective cover is applicable to a
tablet PC, wherein the tablet PC includes a front cover and a back
cover and is provided with a connecting portion. The connecting
portion is adjacent to a lateral edge of the tablet PC where the
front cover and the back cover are connected. A screen cover has a
pivot shaft that is connectable to the connecting portion by
engagement or attraction therebetween, so that the screen cover can
be turned about the pivot shaft to cover or not cover a screen on
the front cover. The protective cover includes a cover body, at
least one gripping portion, and a fastening portion. The cover body
is made of a resilient material such as polycarbonate (PC),
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). One
side of the cover body is concavely provided with a receiving space
for receiving the back cover and thereby protecting the back cover
from being scratched or indented by an external force which may
otherwise rub against or hit the back cover. The cover body is
formed with an aperture corresponding in position to each part of
the tablet PC that is configured for interaction with the outside,
such as the parts where a loudspeaker, a camera lens, various
pushbuttons, and various peripheral connectors are respectively
provided. The at least one gripping portion is provided at a
periphery of the cover body that is adjacent to the receiving
space. More specifically, each gripping portion has a hook-shaped
configuration formed by the periphery of the cover body extending
toward the receiving space. In addition, each gripping portion
corresponds in shape to the peripheral edge of the tablet PC and
can hook to the peripheral edge of the tablet PC after the back
cover is received in the receiving space, thus connecting the cover
body and the back cover as a single piece. The fastening portion is
provided on the cover body, corresponds in position to the
connecting portion, and is formed by an extension of the periphery
of the cover body. Once the cover body and the back cover are
connected as a single piece, the fastening portion fastens the
pivot shaft of the screen cover, ensuring that the pivot shaft will
not come off the connecting portion while the screen cover is being
turned.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
protective cover capable of fastening a pivot shaft of a screen
cover of a tablet PC, wherein the protective cover is applicable to
a tablet PC and a screen cover of the tablet PC. The tablet PC
includes a front cover and a back cover and is provided with a
connecting portion adjacent to a lateral edge of the tablet PC
where the front cover and the back cover are connected. The screen
cover includes a pivot shaft, two bearing seats, a turning rod, and
a covering portion. The pivot shaft of the screen cover and the
connecting portion can be connected by engagement or attraction
therebetween. The two ends of the pivot shaft are respectively and
pivotally connected in the bearing seats, and so are the two ends
of the turning rod. The turning rod is spaced from the pivot shaft
by a gap and has an axis parallel to that of the pivot shaft. The
covering portion has one end covering the surface of the turning
rod and is turnable about the turning rod so as to cover or not
cover a screen on the front cover. The protective cover includes a
cover body, at least one gripping portion, and a fastening portion.
The cover body, which is made of a resilient material, has one side
concavely provided with a receiving space for receiving the back
cover and thereby protecting the back cover from being scratched or
indented by an external force which may otherwise rub against or
hit the back cover. The cover body is formed with an aperture
corresponding in position to each part of the tablet PC that is
configured for interaction with the outside. Also, the cover body
is formed with an opening corresponding in position to each bearing
seat of the screen cover. The at least one gripping portion is
provided at a periphery of the cover body that is adjacent to the
receiving space. More particularly, each gripping portion has a
hook-shaped configured formed by the periphery of the cover body
extending toward the receiving space. Additionally, each gripping
portion corresponds in shape to the peripheral edge of the tablet
PC and can hook to the peripheral edge of the tablet PC after the
back cover is received in the receiving space, thus connecting the
cover body and the back cover as a single piece. The fastening
portion is provided on the cover body, corresponds in position to
the connecting portion, and is formed by an extension of the
periphery of the cover body. Once the cover body and the back cover
are connected as a single piece, the fastening portion is inserted
in between the pivot shaft and the turning rod from outside the
pivot shaft. This ensures that the pivot shaft will not come off
the connecting portion while the screen cover is being turned. When
the bearing seats are pivoted simultaneously about the pivot shaft,
the turning rod is moved about the pivot shaft outside the
fastening portion.
[0009] Hence, even if the user takes hold only of the screen cover
while using the tablet PC and thus causes the tablet PC to swing,
the pivot shaft is prevented from coming off the connecting
portion. Consequently, the tablet PC is kept form damage which may
otherwise occur if the tablet PC is dropped to the ground. In other
words, with the assistance of the protective cover, the user may
hold the tablet PC or the screen cover at any desired position when
using the tablet PC. Furthermore, due to its easy installation and
removal, the protective cover can be temporarily detached, even
along with the screen cover, if the tablet PC is used in a
stationary state, e.g., when used in a bedroom or study of the
user's home. This allows the tablet PC to be operated in its most
compact form. When it is desired to carry the tablet PC around or
use the tablet PC during commute or in a place where people come
and go, the tablet PC, the screen cover, and the protective cover
can be readily put together to provide enhanced protection for the
tablet PC. It is also feasible to connect the protective cover
directly to the tablet PC in the absence of the screen cover.
Therefore, the protective cover can be used in different
combinations and has more flexibility in use than a protective case
designed to cover the entire tablet PC. Moreover, the protective
cover may come with different external designs so that users can
show their personal styles with the protective covers they
choose.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The structure as well as a preferred mode of use, further
objects, and advantages of the present invention will be best
understood by referring to the following detailed description of
some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 schematically shows certain structural features of a
screen cover;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a partial view showing the preferred embodiment of
the present invention in use; and
[0014] FIG. 4 is another partial view showing the preferred
embodiment of the present invention in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention discloses a protective cover capable
of fastening a pivot shaft of a screen cover of a tablet PC. The
protective cover is applicable to a tablet PC 11 and serves as an
auxiliary device for providing protection. Please refer to FIGS. 1
and 2 for a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this
embodiment, the tablet PC 11 is exemplified by a product of Apple
Inc. and includes a front cover 111 and a back cover 112. The front
cover 111 is provided with a screen 113. The tablet PC 11 is also
provided with a connecting portion 114 which is adjacent to a
lateral edge of the tablet PC 11 where the front cover 111 and the
back cover 112 are connected. In this embodiment, the connecting
portion 114 is so configured that a screen cover 12 can be
connected to the connecting portion 114 by a magnetic force, and
this is why the connecting portion 114 is indicated in FIG. 1 only
as a specific range. In other feasible embodiments, however, the
connecting portion 114 may be an engaging portion or a pivot seat.
The connecting portion 114 may take various forms, provided that it
serves to connect the screen cover 12 and the tablet PC 11.
Referring now to FIG. 2 for a partial view of the screen cover 12,
which is exemplified by one produced by Apple Inc., the screen
cover 12 includes a pivot shaft 124, two bearing seats 123, a
turning rod 122, and a covering portion 121. In this embodiment,
the screen cover 12 is connected to the connecting portion 114 (see
FIG. 1) by magnetic attraction between the pivot shaft 124 and the
connecting portion 114. The two ends of the pivot shaft 124 are
respectively and pivotally connected in the bearing seats 123. The
two ends of the turning rod 122 are also respectively and pivotally
connected in the bearing seats 123. The turning rod 122 is spaced
from the pivot shaft 124 by a gap 125, and the axis of the turning
rod 122 is parallel to the axis of the pivot shaft 124. The
covering portion 121 has one end covering the surface of the
turning rod 122 and can turn about the turning rod 122 so as to
cover or not cover the screen 113.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the protective cover 13 includes a cover
body 131, at least one gripping portion 133, and a fastening
portion 134. The cover body 131 is made of polycarbonate (PC), and
yet the material of the cover body 131 is not limited thereto. The
cover body 131 has one side concavely provided with a receiving
space 132 for receiving the back cover 112. Thus, the cover body
131 provides protection for the back cover 112 and prevents it from
being scratched or indented by an external force which may
otherwise rub against or hit the back cover 112. In addition, the
cover body 131 is formed with an aperture 136 corresponding in
position to each part of the tablet PC 11 that is designed for
interacting with the outside, such as the parts where a
loudspeaker, a camera lens, various pushbuttons, and various
peripheral connectors are respectively provided. Moreover, since
the bearing seats 123 of the screen cover 12 will contact with the
tablet PC 11, the cover body 13 is formed with openings 135 which
correspond in position respectively to the bearing seats 123. The
gripping portions 133 are provided at a periphery of the cover body
131 that is adjacent to the receiving space 132. More specifically,
each gripping portion 133 has a hook-shaped configuration extending
toward the receiving space 132 and corresponds in shape to the
peripheral edge of the tablet PC 11. Hence, once the back cover 112
is received in the receiving space 132, each gripping portion 133
hooks to the peripheral edge of the tablet PC 11 and thereby
connects the cover body 131 and the back cover 112 as a single
unit. The fastening portion 134 is provided on the cover body 131
and corresponds in position to the connecting portion 114. When the
cover body 131 and the back cover 112 are connected as a single
unit, the fastening portion 134 is inserted in the gap 125 (see
FIG. 2) between the pivot shaft 124 and the turning rod 122 from
outside the pivot shaft 124. This ensures that the pivot shaft 124
will not come off the connecting portion 114 while the screen cover
12 is being turned.
[0017] The relative positions of the fastening portion 134 and the
pivot shaft 124 after the screen cover 12 has been connected to the
connecting portion 114 via the pivot shaft 124 and the cover body
131 has been connected to the back cover 112 via the gripping
portions 133 are further described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
FIG. 3 schematically shows a state in which the screen 113 is
covered by the covering portion 121, and FIG. 4 schematically shows
a state in which the covering portion 121 has been pivoted to the
side of the tablet PC 11 where the back cover 112 (see FIG. 1) is
located. As the fastening portion 134 is inserted into the gap 125
(see FIG. 2) between the pivot shaft 124 and the turning rod 122
from outside the pivot shaft 124, the bearing seats 123 can be
turned simultaneously about the pivot shaft 124 and thereby drive
the turning rod 122, which is pivotally connected to the bearing
seats 123, to turn about the pivot shaft 124 outside the fastening
portion 134. The turning rod 122 and the covering portion 121
covering the turning rod 122 can be rotated as a whole either from
the side where the front cover 111 is located to the side where the
back cover 112 is located, or in the opposite direction.
[0018] Therefore, with the assistance of the protective cover 13,
the screen cover 12 can be turned at will while the tablet PC 11 is
used, without causing the pivot shaft 124 to come off the
connecting portion 114. Even if the tablet PC 11 is held only by
the screen cover 12, there is no need to worry that the tablet PC
11 might separate from the screen cover 12 and end up falling to
the ground and damaged. This allows the user to hold the tablet PC
11 or the screen cover 12 at any desired position that suits
intuitive operation of the tablet PC 11.
[0019] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the
claims.
* * * * *