U.S. patent application number 17/493403 was filed with the patent office on 2022-01-27 for case for a tablet shaped device, a method for removing a stylus therefrom and a method for making a case for a tablet shaped device.
The applicant listed for this patent is STM Management Pty Ltd. Invention is credited to Ethan NYHOLM, Cambell SMYTH.
Application Number | 20220029656 17/493403 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220029656 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NYHOLM; Ethan ; et
al. |
January 27, 2022 |
CASE FOR A TABLET SHAPED DEVICE, A METHOD FOR REMOVING A STYLUS
THEREFROM AND A METHOD FOR MAKING A CASE FOR A TABLET SHAPED
DEVICE
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a case for a tablet shaped device, a method
for removing a stylus therefrom, and a method for making a case for
a tablet shaped device.
Inventors: |
NYHOLM; Ethan; (North Bondi
NSW, AU) ; SMYTH; Cambell; (Highgate Hill QLD,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STM Management Pty Ltd |
Alexandria NSW |
|
AU |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/493403 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
17035562 |
Sep 28, 2020 |
11139850 |
|
|
17493403 |
|
|
|
|
16152434 |
Oct 5, 2018 |
10790867 |
|
|
17035562 |
|
|
|
|
15585200 |
May 3, 2017 |
10110269 |
|
|
16152434 |
|
|
|
|
International
Class: |
H04B 1/3888 20060101
H04B001/3888; A45C 11/00 20060101 A45C011/00; H04M 1/02 20060101
H04M001/02; H04M 1/21 20060101 H04M001/21 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 24, 2016 |
AU |
2016100745 |
Claims
1. A case for a tablet shaped device, the case comprising: a body
comprising a face having a tablet shaped device receiving area; and
a stylus holder at a margin of the face for holding a stylus for
the tablet shaped device, the stylus holder defining an elongate
cavity for receiving the stylus and comprising at least one
obstructing element arranged to obstruct removal of the stylus from
the elongate cavity when so received.
2. A case for a tablet shaped device defined by claim 1 wherein the
at least one obstructing element is attached to an elongate cavity
wall that is outwardly bendable and resilient whereby the at least
one obstructing element attached thereto is outwardly movable for
removal of the stylus from the elongate cavity.
3. A case defined by claim 2 wherein a discontinuity in the
elongate cavity wall provides finger access to the stylus when so
received.
4. A method for removing a stylus for a tablet shaped device from a
case for the tablet shaped device, the method comprising moving the
stylus towards an opening of an elongate cavity in which the stylus
is received with a finger at a discontinuity in an elongate cavity
wall having attached thereto an obstructing element arranged to
obstruct removal of the stylus from the elongate cavity, wherein
the stylus so moved engages an obstructing element arranged to
obstruct removal of the stylus from the elongate cavity when so
received and outwardly move the obstructing element for removal of
the stylus.
5. A method defined by claim 4 wherein the elongate cavity wall
outwardly bends when the obstructing element is outwardly moved and
subsequently springs back when the stylus is removed from the
tablet shaped device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 17,035,562, filed Sep. 28, 2020, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/152,434, filed
Oct. 5, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,790,867, issued Sep. 29, 2020,
which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/585,200, filed May 3, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,110,269, issued
Oct. 23, 2018, which claims priority to Australian Patent
Application 2016100745, filed May 24, 2016, which are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The disclosure herein generally relates to a case for a
tablet shaped device, a method for removing a stylus therefrom, and
a method for making a case for a tablet shaped device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Cases for tablet shaped devices, examples of which include
the APPLE IPAD, SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB, smartphones like the APPLE
IPHONE, and some personal digital assistants, are commercially
available. Some electronic tablet shaped devices have a touch
screen and come with a stylus for drawing or writing on the
touchscreen.
[0004] The commercially available cases for tablet shaped devices
may not meet some of the needs of consumers, and may be more
difficult and/or costly to manufacture than is desirable.
SUMMARY
[0005] Disclosed herein is a case for a tablet shaped device. The
case comprises a body comprising a face having a tablet shaped
device receiving area. The case comprises a stylus holder at a
margin of the face for holding a stylus for the tablet shaped
device. The stylus holder defines an elongate cavity for receiving
the stylus. The stylus holder comprises at least one obstructing
element arranged to obstruct removal of the stylus from the
elongate cavity when so received.
[0006] In an embodiment, the stylus holder may be configured such
that the stylus is below the face when so held. This may protect
the stylus, which may be delicate and expensive.
[0007] In an embodiment, the at least one obstructing element is
attached to an elongate cavity wall. The elongate cavity wall may
be outwardly bendable and resilient. The at least one obstructing
element attached to the cavity wall may be outwardly movable for
removal of the stylus from the elongate cavity.
[0008] In an embodiment, a discontinuity in the elongate cavity
wall provides finger access to the stylus when so received.
[0009] In an embodiment, the elongate cavity wall is integral to
the body.
[0010] In an embodiment, the at least one obstructing element
protrudes into the elongate cavity.
[0011] In an embodiment, wherein the at least one obstructing
element comprises at least one rib. The at least one rib may be
longitudinally orientated with respect to the elongate cavity.
[0012] An embodiment comprises another at least one obstructing
element. The at least one obstructing element and the other at
least one obstructing element may be distributed between opposite
sides of the elongate cavity.
[0013] In an embodiment, the face is a rectangular face. The margin
may be adjacent an edge of the rectangular face. The edge may be
longer than another edge of the rectangular face.
[0014] Disclosed herein is a method for removing a stylus for a
tablet shaped device from a case for the tablet shaped device. The
method comprises moving the stylus towards an opening of an
elongate cavity in which the stylus is received with a finger at a
discontinuity in an elongate cavity wall having attached thereto an
obstructing element arranged to obstruct removal of the stylus from
the elongate cavity. The stylus so moved engages an obstructing
element arranged to obstruct removal of the stylus from the
elongate cavity when so received and outwardly move the obstructing
element for removal of the stylus.
[0015] In an embodiment, the elongate cavity wall outwardly bends
when the obstructing element is outwardly moved and subsequently
springs back when the stylus is removed from the tablet shaped
device.
[0016] In an embodiment, a plurality of legs are located at another
face of the body. The body may warp or distort during or subsequent
to manufacture. The plurality of legs may provide stability when
the warped body is placed on a flat surface. The legs may
significantly relax manufacturing tolerances--for example the
flatness of the rear--which may assist in the control of
manufacturing costs.
[0017] In the context of the present application, the term stylus
encompasses a hand-held tool used by a user to interact with a
touch sensitive area (for example a touch sensitive screen) of the
tablet shaped device. An example of a stylus may, but not
necessarily, comprise an elongated shaft having opposite ends and a
touch sensitive area interaction point at at least one of the
opposite ends. The point may be rounded. A stylus may be active,
passive, or haptic, for example.
[0018] Any of the various features of each of the above
disclosures, and of the various features of the embodiments
described below, can be combined as suitable and desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0019] Embodiments of a case for a tablet computer will now be
described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying
figures in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a front bottom isometric view of an embodiment
of a case for a tablet computer.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows another side front bottom isometric view of the
case for the tablet computer.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a rear bottom isometric view of the case for
the tablet computer.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the case for the tablet
computer.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the case for the tablet
computer.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a left side view of the case for the tablet
computer.
[0026] FIG. 7 shows a detail of the case for the tablet
computer.
[0027] FIG. 8 shows another detail of the case for the tablet
computer.
[0028] FIGS. 9 and 10 show rear and front perspective views of
another embodiment of a case for a tablet computer that has a
flap.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0029] The FIGS. 1-8 show various views of a case for a tablet
shaped device in the form of a case for an electronic tablet shaped
device, the case being generally indicated by the numeral 10. The
case 10 comprises a body 12 comprising a face 14 having a tablet
shaped device receiving area 18. The case 10 comprises a stylus
holder 20 at a margin 22 of the face 14 for holding a stylus (e.g.
Apple Pencil) for the tablet shaped device. The stylus holder 20
defines an elongate cavity 24 in the form of a groove for receiving
the stylus. The stylus holder 20 comprises at least one obstructing
element 26 arranged to obstruct removal of the stylus from the
elongate cavity 24 when so received.
[0030] The stylus holder 20 is configured such that the stylus is
below the face when so held. The depth of the bottom 27 of the
elongate cavity is, in this but not all embodiments, at least (and
may be greater than) a transverse dimension of the stylus or
another stylus usable on a tablet shaped device receivable by the
case for a tablet shaped device 10.
[0031] The at least one obstructing element 26 is attached to an
elongate cavity wall 28 in the form of an outer edge cavity wall.
The elongate cavity wall 28 can be outwardly bent and is
resilient.
[0032] The elongate wall may be bent in a direction orthogonal to a
normal to the face 14. Alternatively or additionally, the
obstructing element may be resilient. The at least one obstructing
element 26 attached to the cavity wall 28 is outwardly movable,
when the cavity wall 28 bends outwardly, for removal of the stylus
from the elongate cavity 24. A discontinuity 30 in the elongate
cavity wall 28 provides finger access to the stylus when so
received. The discontinuity may cut into the bottom wall 27 of the
elongate cavity 24. The discontinuity is intermediate opposite
edges of the case 10, in this embodiment located at the centre of
the margin 22.
[0033] In this but not all embodiments, the elongate cavity wall 28
is integral to the body 12. The at least one obstructing element 26
protrudes into the elongate cavity 24, however it may alternatively
be above the elongate cavity 24.
[0034] The at least one obstructing element 26 comprises at least
one rib 26, however the at least one obstructing element may take
the form of a bump, bulge or generally any suitable form. The at
least one rib 26 is longitudinally orientated with respect to the
elongate cavity 24, however it may not be in an alternative
embodiment. In this but not necessarily all embodiments, the rib 26
is located at an edge of the elongate cavity to form a lip. The at
least one obstructing element 26 and another at least one
obstructing element 34 are distributed between opposite sides 36,38
of the elongate cavity 24.
[0035] The face 14 is a rectangular face 14, notwithstanding
rounded corners. The margin 22 is adjacent an edge 40 of the
rectangular face 14 that is longer than another edge 42 of the
rectangular face 14.
[0036] An embodiment of a method for removing the stylus for the
tablet shaped device from a case 10 for the tablet shaped device
will now be described. The stylus is moved towards an opening 44 of
the elongate cavity 24 in which the stylus is received with a
finger at the discontinuity 30 in the elongate cavity wall 28
having attached thereto an obstructing element 26 arranged to
obstruct removal of the stylus from the elongate cavity 24. The
stylus so moved engages the obstructing element 26 arranged to
obstruct removal of the stylus from the elongate cavity 24 when so
received and outwardly move the obstructing element 26 for removal
of the stylus.
[0037] The elongate cavity wall 28 outwardly bends when the
obstructing element 26 is outwardly moved and subsequently springs
back when the stylus is removed from the tablet shaped device.
[0038] In this but not necessarily all embodiment, the body has a
perimeter wall 46 and a rear wall 48 that protect the tablet shaped
device when so received by the tablet shaped device receiving area
18. The perimeter wall 46 and the rear wall 48 have a plurality of
optional ports 50 for cable or other access to the tablet shaped
device when received.
[0039] The perimeter wall 46 has a resilient lip 53 located at a
distal end thereof. The perimeter wall 46 and the tablet shaped
device receiving area 18 define a cavity in which the tablet shaped
device is held by the resilient lip 53. The opening of the cavity
is constricted by the resilient lip 53. The tablet shaped device
may be inserted into the cavity by squeezing it through the opening
defined by the resilient lip 53. The resilient lip 53 deforms to
accommodate the passage of the tablet shaped device, and recoils
back into shape subsequent to passage of the tablet shaped device.
In another embodiment the tablet shaped device may be held to the
tablet shaped device receiving area 18 by at least one elastic
strap or generally by any suitable fastener.
[0040] The tablet shaped device receiving area 18 has an optional
inner lining in the form of a inner felt lining. The inner lining
provides a relatively soft surface to reduce scratching of the
tablet shaped device. Other embodiments may not have an inner
lining or may have another suitable lining material.
[0041] The rear of the body 12 has another face 54 that has a
plurality of legs 52 projecting therefrom. The legs 52 provide
stability when the case 10 is resting on a flat surface with the
legs 52 on the flat surface. The surface may be, for example, a
bench top table top, or any other suitable surface at which a user
may place the case and use the tablet shaped device held
therein.
[0042] The case 10 may be made using generally any suitable method.
An embodiment of making a case for a tablet shaped device has the
step of forming a body comprising at least a first material. The
step of forming the body may comprise forming the body by an
injection moulding process.
[0043] At least one polymer--for example a polyurethane,
polycarbonate or generally any suitable polymer--may be injected
into a mould configured for production of the body. The illustrated
embodiment has a body formed by injection moulding. The body has a
polycarbonate exterior and a polyurethane interior. The
polyurethane is relatively soft for receiving the tablet shaped
device. The relatively resilient polyurethane facilitates insertion
and removal of the device and providing a degree of shock
resistance against knocks and falls. The polycarbonate exterior
forms a hard protective shell.
[0044] FIGS. 9 and 10 show rear and front perspective views of
another embodiment of a case for a tablet computer 100 that has a
flap 102. The case 100 is generally identical to the case 10 of
FIGS. 1-8 unless otherwise described or illustrated. The flap 102
comprising a distal portion 104 in the form of a wing that is
magnetically attracted to the body 106, and configurable between a
first configuration in which the flap covers the tablet shaped
device receiving area and the distal portion 104 is wrapped around
an edge 108 of the body 106 and contacts the back face such that
the flap is secured by the magnetic attraction of the distal
portion 108 to the body 106, and a second configuration in which
the flap 102 is folded to form a stand secured by the magnetic
attraction of the distal portion 104 to the body.
[0045] When the flap 102 is in the first configuration, it protects
a front of the tablet shaped device when received by the receiving
area. The case 100, when the flap 102 is in the second
configuration, supports the tablet shaped device when received at
an elevated angle with respect to a case supporting surface.
[0046] Securement of the flap 102 by the magnetic attraction may
facilitate relatively easy and rapid reconfiguration between the
first configuration and the second configuration.
[0047] The distal portion 104 comprises a distal portion magnet
having a magnetic orientation in the first configuration that is
reversed in the second configuration. The distal portion magnet may
be attracted to a first body magnet in the first configuration and,
in the second configuration, to a second body magnet having a
magnetic orientation that is reversed with respect to the first
body magnet.
[0048] In the second configuration the flap is folded and located
at the first face. The flap comprises a first rigid sheet that in
the second configuration is a base of the stand. The flap may
comprise a second rigid sheet that in the second configuration is a
brace of the stand.
[0049] Variations and/or modifications may be made to the
embodiments described without departing from the spirit or ambit of
the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Reference to a feature disclosed herein does not mean that all
embodiments must include the feature.
[0050] Prior art, if any, described herein is not to be taken as an
admission that the prior art forms part of the common general
knowledge in any jurisdiction.
[0051] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description
of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due
to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise"
or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an
inclusive sense, that is to specify the presence of the stated
features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further
features in various embodiments of the invention.
* * * * *