Magnetic mounting system for electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10078346-B2
Application number	US-201414493314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2014
Priority date	Sep 21, 2013
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

An electronic device, such as a tablet computer, smartphone, or television, can be mounted to a surface using a magnetic mounting apparatus. In one example, the apparatus can include a protective case that is adapted to receive an electronic device. The protective case can be configured to protect the electronic device from drop-induced damage. The protective case can include a female mounting portion disposed in the protective case. The female mounting portion of the protective case can be configured to magnetically mount to a male mounting portion associated with a folding cover, surface mount, or dock. Once magnetically mounted to the folding cover, surface mount, or dock, the protective case can rotate about the female mounting portion to allow the electronic device to be transitioned from a landscape mode to a portrait mode and vice versa.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic mounting apparatus for an electronic device, the magnetic mounting apparatus comprising:
a protective case configured to receive and house the electronic device, the protective case comprising: an inner surface configured to contact a rear surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed within the protective case; an outer surface opposite the inner surface; a female mounting portion disposed within the outer surface of the protective case, the female mounting portion comprising a plurality of recesses; and a ferrous metal plate disposed within the outer surface of the protective case; and
a folding cover comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; a male mounting portion extending from the inner surface of the folding cover; the male mounting portion comprising a plurality of raised engagement portions adapted to engage one or more of the plurality of recesses in the female mounting portion of the protective case; at least one magnet disposed within the folding cover proximate the male mounting portion, wherein the at least one magnet is configured to exert an attractive force on the ferrous metal plate of the protective case, the attractive force causing each of the plurality of raised engagement portions of the male mounting portion of the folding cover to be drawn into one of the plurality of recesses in the female mounting portion of the protective case.

2. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised engagement portions comprises four raised engagement portions positioned equidistant from a midpoint of the male mounting portion, the four raised engagement portions arranged radially at 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees, respectively, around the midpoint of the male mounting portion.

3. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of recesses comprises four recesses positioned equidistant from a midpoint of the female mounting portion, the four recesses arranged radially at 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees, respectively, around the midpoint of the female mounting portion.

4. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of raised engagement portions comprises a pair of transition ramps, wherein the pair of transition ramps on each raised engagement portion permits the female mounting portion of the protective case to be smoothly rotated relative to the male mounting portion of the folding cover in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction between a landscape mode and a portrait mode.

5. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of recesses comprises a pair of transition ramps, wherein the pair of transition ramps on each recess permits the female mounting portion of the protective case to be smoothly rotated relative to the male mounting portion of the folding cover in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction between a landscape mode and a portrait mode.

6. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 1 , the folding cover further comprising:
a folding retention member attached to the inner surface of the folding cover, the folding retention member comprising a metal strip encased in a compliant material; and
an associated magnet disposed between the inner and outer surfaces of the folding cover, the associated magnet positioned near the folding retention member and configured to exert an attractive force on the folding retention member, the attractive force causing the folding retention member to remain in a flat orientation against the inner surface of the folding cover when the folding retention member is not being used to support the protective case.

7. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ferrous metal plate is a steel plate having a thickness of about 0.03 in. to about 0.25 in.

8. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface of the folding cover.

9. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the folding cover includes one or more folding joints that permit the folding cover to be configured into a variety of shapes.

10. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet comprises four magnets equally spaced around the male mounting portion.

11. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the four magnets are positioned radially at 45 degrees, 135 degrees, 225 degrees, and 315 degrees, respectively, around the midpoint of the male mounting portion.

12. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the folding cover includes a keyboard configured to permit a user to interact with the electronic device when the electronic device is housed within the protective case.

13. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the folding cover includes a switch magnet configured to actuate a switch of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed within the protective case.

14. The magnetic mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the folding cover includes one or more folding retention members to stabilize the protective case against the folding cover.

15. A protective case for housing an electronic device and mounting the electronic device to a surface, the protective case comprising:
an inner surface configured to contact and protect a rear surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is housed within the protective case; an outer surface opposite the inner surface; a female mounting portion disposed within the outer surface of the protective case, the female mounting portion comprising a plurality of recesses positioned equidistant and radially at 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees, respectively, from a midpoint of the female mounting portion; and a ferrous metal plate disposed within the outer surface of the protective case; and
a folding cover including a male mounting portion extending from an inner surface of the folding cover, the male mounting portion comprising at least one magnet configured to exert an attractive force on the ferrous metal plate of the protective case, the attractive force causing the male mounting portion to be drawn into the plurality of recesses of the female mounting portion of the protective case.

16. The protective case of claim 15 , further comprising a flexible lip extending around a front perimeter of the protective case, the flexible lip configured to flex to permit insertion of the electronic device into a cavity of the protective case and to assist in retaining the electronic device within the protective case after insertion by snapping over a front perimeter edge of the electronic device and resting against a front surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.

17. The protective case of claim 15 , further comprising an interior overmolding disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the protective case, the interior overmolding formed from an elastomeric material.

18. The protective case of claim 15 , further comprising an exterior overmolding disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the protective case, the exterior overmolding formed from an elastomeric material.

19. The protective case of claim 15 , wherein the ferrous metal plate disposed within the outer surface of the protective case is positioned to be substantially flush with the outer surface of the protective case.

20. The protective cas

Assignees

• Otter Products Llc

Inventors

• Lay Carlton R
• Magness Cameron D

Classifications

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• F16M11/2021

  around a horizontal axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04M1/04

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• F16M13/022

  repositionable · CPC title

• F16M13/00

  Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} · CPC title