Features and manufacturing methods for a case for a portable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10044395-B2
Application number	US-201615275262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2016
Priority date	Sep 4, 2013
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

An accessory unit for use with an electronic device is described. Accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a lip portion. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the lip portion is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein by an interference fit that exposes substantially all of a display portion of the consumer electronic product. The front flap can include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap pivotally couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations. The front may include magnetic elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory device for use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a chamber having a size and shape to receive the electronic device, the chamber comprising a sidewall;
a first layer covering a first surface of the chamber;
a second layer covering a second surface of the chamber, the second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first layer and the second layer extend beyond the chamber to define a front flap having a size and shape to cover the chamber, the front flap rotatable with respect to the chamber; and
a hinge that extends along the sidewall, the hinge comprising a first panel and a second panel positioned between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the first panel and the second panel provide a support such that the front flap maintains an alignment with the chamber.

2. The accessory device of claim 1 , further comprising a through hole formed through the chamber, the first layer, and the second layer.

3. The accessory device of claim 2 , wherein the second layer comprises a first thickness, and wherein, at a location surrounding the through hole, altering the second layer to a second thickness less than first thickness.

4. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a shell positioned between the first layer and the second layer.

5. The accessory device of claim 4 , wherein the shell comprises a lip portion extending in a direction toward the chamber.

6. The accessory device of claim 2 , wherein plastic material:
the first panel comprises a first magnetic panel,
the second panel comprises a second magnetic panel, and
the first magnetic panel magnetically couples with the second magnetic panel when the front flap is folded onto the chamber.

7. An accessory device for an electronic device that includes a user interface, the accessory device comprising:
a chamber comprising:
a polycarbonate shell comprising a bottom wall and sidewalls that combine with the bottom wall to form an internal volume having a size and shape to receive the electronic device, the bottom wall and the sidewalls defining a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
a first layer that fully covers the first surface;
a second layer that fully covers the second surface; and

a through hole formed in the chamber and aligned with the user interface when the electronic device is in the chamber, the through hole comprising:
a first opening in the first layer;
a second opening in the second layer; and
a third opening in the polycarbonate shell, the first opening being concentric with the second opening and the third opening.

8. The accessory device of claim 7 , wherein:
the chamber comprises a rear wall and a magnetic attraction plate embedded in the rear wall,
the first layer and the second layer form a front flap that carries a magnetic element, and
the front flap remains engaged by a magnetic circuit formed by the magnetic attraction plate and the magnetic element.

9. The accessory device of claim 7 , further comprises a lip portion formed on the polycarbonate shell.

10. The accessory device of claim 7 , wherein the first layer and the second layer combined to form a front flap that extends from the chamber, the front flap connected with the chamber by a hinges that allows the front flap to pivot relative to the chamber.

11. The accessory device of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first panel; and
a second panel, wherein the first panel and the second panel provide a support such that the front flap maintains an alignment with the chamber.

12. The accessory device of claim 7 , wherein the first layer comprises a microfiber, and wherein the second layer comprises leather or silicone.

13. The accessory device of claim 7 , wherein the second layer is tapered at a location corresponding to the through hole.

14. A method for making a case for an electronic device, the method comprising:
covering a first surface of a shell with a first layer, the shell having a size and shape to receive the electronic device, the shell further comprising a sidewall;
covering a second surface with a second layer, the second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first layer and the second layer extend beyond the shell to define a front flap having a size and shape to cover the shell, the front flap rotatable with respect to the shell;
forming a hinge that extends along the sidewall; and
embedding a first panel and a second panel between the first layer and the second layer at a location corresponding to the hinge, wherein the first panel and the second panel provide a support such that the front flap maintains an alignment with the shell.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first layer, the second layer and the shell combine to define a chamber, and wherein the method further comprises:
forming a through hole in the chamber aligned, the through hole comprising:
a first opening in the first layer;
a second opening in the second layer; and
a third opening in the shell, the first opening being concentric with the second opening and the third opening.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second layer comprises a first thickness, and wherein the method further comprises, at a location surrounding the through hole, altering the second layer to a second thickness different from the first thickness.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising forming a lip portion around an edge of the shell, wherein the shell comprises a first material, and wherein the lip portion comprises a second material different from the first material.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the slip provides a snap fit for the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 14 , embedding the first panel and the second panel comprises the first panel comprises embedding a first magnetic panel and a second magnetic panel, wherein the first magnetic panel magnetically couples with the second magnetic panel when the front flap is folded onto the shell.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Balaji Santhana Krishnan
• Qian Amy
• Moolsintong Pinida J

Classifications

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• Y10T83/0448

  With subsequent handling [i.e., of product] · CPC title

• B26D3/281

  the work being simultaneously deformed by the application of pressure to obtain profiled workpieces · CPC title