Sliding input device cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11726522-B2
Application number	US-202117373180-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2021
Priority date	Sep 26, 2019
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A computing system includes an electronic device, a cover or case for the electronic device, and an input device that is slidably movable yet attached to the cover or case. By positioning the electronic device on top of the input device, rotation of the electronic device which changes its vertical viewing angle also translates the input device. These can provide improved overall possible viewing angle adjustability, increased system stability at high viewing angles, laptop-like opening and closing behavior, lighter weight, and implementation using low-cost components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing system, comprising:
an electronic device having a rear surface and a bottom-most surface or bottom-most edge; and
a case, the case including:
a first back portion mounted to and reversibly separable from the rear surface of the electronic device;
a second back portion coupled to the first back portion at an upper hinge;
a bottom portion coupled to the second back portion at a lower hinge, the lower hinge having an expandable thickness; and
an input device slidably mounted to the bottom portion and positionable to support the bottom-most surface or the bottom-most edge of the electronic device.

2. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the input device is slidable relative to the lower hinge.

3. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper and lower hinges comprises a living hinge.

4. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a top surface having a recess in which the bottom most surface of the electronic device is supportable.

5. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second back portions are substantially planar.

6. The computing system of claim 1 , further comprising a magnet positioned in the first back portion and configured to attract the electronic device to the first back portion.

7. The computing system of claim 1 , further comprising a magnet positioned in the input device and configured to attract the electronic device to a supported position on the input device.

8. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion and the input device are lockable to each other and unlockable from each other.

9. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the input device is biased to at least two positions relative to the bottom portion by a pin positionable into a detent.

10. A computing device case, comprising:
a first portion including a panel mountable to a back surface of an electronic device;
a second portion;
an adjustable connection between the first portion and the second portion, the adjustable connection being longitudinally adjustable along the panel;
a bottom portion rotatably connected to the second portion and having a top surface; and
an input device connectable to the electronic device and positioned on the top surface of the bottom portion, the input device being slidable relative to the top surface of the bottom portion.

11. The computing device case of claim 10 , wherein the adjustable connection comprises a roller or pin movable along a track in the first portion.

12. The computing device case of claim 10 , wherein the second portion comprises a second panel, wherein the second panel is substantially planar.

13. The computing device case of claim 10 , wherein the first portion is reversibly removable from the electronic device.

14. The computing device case of claim 10 , wherein the input device comprises a top retention surface to retain the electronic device relative to the input device.

15. The computing device case of claim 10 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are slidable relative to each other at the adjustable connection.

16. A computer interface, comprising:
an electronic device; and
a case mounted to the electronic device and including:
a back portion;
a bottom portion pivotally connected to the back portion at a hinge;
an input device having a top surface and a support, wherein the electronic device is positionable against the top surface, wherein the bottom portion is translatable relative to the input device while the support is stationary relative to a support surface below the bottom portion.

17. The computer interface of claim 16 , wherein the back portion comprises a first back portion mounted to a back surface of the electronic device and a second back portion pivotally connected to the first back portion and to the bottom portion.

18. The computer interface of claim 16 , wherein the support comprises a set of legs extending between the input device and the support surface.

19. The computer interface of claim 16 , wherein the electronic device is rotatable relative to the input device while contacting the input device.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Balaji Santhana K
• Zhang Guangtao
• Raff John
• Brooks Ryan P

Classifications

• G06F1/1624 Primary

  with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display · CPC title

• G06F1/169

  the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033) · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1643

  the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615) · CPC title

• G06F1/1654

  the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use · CPC title