Case with a hinge and multiple charging mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10804719-B2
Application number	US-201916456686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2019
Priority date	Jul 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

An accessory device for an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device may include a unitary body having a first region, a second region, and a hinge positioned between the first region and the second region. When a force is applied to the first region, the first region may bend or pivot at the hinge. When bent, the first region allows the electronic device to slide into or out of the accessory device. Further, the electronic device may slide into or out of the accessory device in a straight or linear manner. Also, the accessory device may further include a power supply designed to supply electrical current to a battery of the electronic device. The accessory device may further include a connector that electrically connects the power supply with the electronic device. The sliding motion of the electronic device prevents the connector from damage by bending.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory device for a portable electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive the portable electronic device, the receptacle comprising a first wall and sidewalls extending from the first wall;
a compartment located between the first wall and a second wall, the compartment carrying components, the components comprising:
a first charging mechanism configured to charge the portable electronic device through the first wall, and
a second charging mechanism configured to charge a device through the second wall; and

a hinge hidden from view, wherein the first wall is configured to bend at the hinge in response to an applied force.

2. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the first charging mechanism comprises a first inductive charging coil, and wherein the second charging mechanism comprises a second inductive charging coil.

3. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises an elastic material configured to bend with the first wall.

4. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls comprise a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and wherein the hinge extends along the first wall and into the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

5. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the first charging mechanism comprises a first set of electrical contacts, and wherein the second charging mechanism comprises a second set of electrical contacts.

6. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle lacks a plug that electrically couples with the portable electronic device.

7. An accessory device for a portable electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a front wall that defines a receiving surface for the portable electronic device;
sidewalls extending from the front wall, wherein the front wall and the sidewalls define a receptacle configured to receive the portable electronic device;
a rear wall opposite the front wall;
a first inductive charging coil configured to charge a battery of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is positioned in the receptacle;
a second inductive charging coil configured to charge a battery of a second electronic device when the second electronic device is positioned on the rear wall; and
a hinge that is covered by the front wall, wherein an applied force to the front wall causes the front wall to pivot and bend at the hinge,
wherein:
the first inductive charging coil and the second inductive charging coil are positioned between the front wall and the rear wall,
the first inductive charging coil is covered and hidden from view by the front wall, and
the second inductive charging coil is covered and hidden from view by the rear wall.

8. The accessory device of claim 7 , wherein the first inductive charging coil comprises a first electrical contact located on the front wall, and wherein the second inductive charging coil mechanism comprises a second electrical contact located on the rear wall.

9. The accessory device of claim 7 , wherein the receptacle lacks a plug that electrically couples with the portable electronic device.

10. A method for charging electronic devices, the method comprising:
by an accessory device:
receiving a first electronic device in a receptacle defined by a first wall and sidewalls extending from the first wall, wherein receiving the first electronic device comprising bending the first wall along a hinge, and wherein the hinge is hidden from view by at least the first wall;
charging, by a first charging mechanism, the first electronic device in response to receiving the first electronic device in the receptacle;
receiving a second electronic device at a second wall that is different from the first wall; and
charging, by a second charging mechanism, the second electronic device in response to receiving the second electronic device at the second wall.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein charging the first electronic device comprising charging, by a first inductive charging coil.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein charging the second electronic device comprising charging, by a second inductive charging coil.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein charging the first electronic device comprising charging, by a first electrical contact.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein charging the second electronic device comprising charging, by a second electrical contact.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the hinge comprises an elastomeric material that is covered by the first wall, and wherein the elastomeric material extends into the sidewalls.

16. The accessory device of claim 7 , wherein the first inductive charging coil is configured to inductively charge the battery of the portable electronic device by transmitting an alternating electrical current.

17. The accessory device of claim 7 , wherein the second inductive charging coil is configured to inductively charge the battery of the second electronic device by transmitting an alternating electrical current.

18. The accessory device of claim 7 , wherein the front wall and the sidewalls are defined at least by a shell formed from a polymeric material.

19. The accessory device of claim 18 , wherein the front wall and the sidewalls include silicon that surrounds the shell.

20. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first charging mechanism and the second charging mechanism configured to inductively charge the portable electronic device and the device, respectively.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Colahan Ian P
• Kasar Darshan R
• Rasmussen Timothy J
• Baker John J
• Yang Shannon X
• Cousins Benjamin A

Classifications

• H04M1/724092

  Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities · CPC title

• H04M1/72409

  by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60) · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/751 Primary

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title