Protective cover for a tablet computer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016294433-A1
Application number	US-201615087984-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A protective cover for a tablet computer is disclosed, which comprises a back cover and a front cover. The front cover includes an input side and a connector including a planar portion and a coupler for removably connecting the front cover to the back cover. The planar portion engages at least portion of a front surface of the tablet computer and the coupler engages an edge of the back cover.

First claim

We claim:

1 ) A protective cover for a tablet computer, comprising:
a back cover; a front cover including:
i. an input side, and
ii. a connector including a planar portion and a coupler for removably connecting the front cover to the back cover, and
wherein the planar portion engages at least portion of a front surface of the tablet computer and the coupler engages an edge of the back cover.

2 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the planar portion engages at least the front surface of the tablet computer so that the front cover is angularly oriented relative to a support surface extending below the front cover.

3 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the back cover includes a stand angularly supporting the tablet computer on the support surface in a tablet-typing configuration and three or more tablet-viewing configurations.

4 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the stand includes a stand hinge engaging the edge of the back cover engaged by the coupler,
wherein the stand pivots about the stand hinge towards the support surface so that the front cover can move into the tablet-typing configuration, the three or more tablet-viewing configurations, or a combination thereof and pivots about the stand hinge towards the back cover so that the front cover can move into a tablet-storage configuration.

5 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein in the tablet-typing configuration the front cover is angularly oriented relative to the support surface,
wherein the angle is approximately 10 degrees.

6 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the front cover includes a first hinge located between an input device on the font cover and the planar portion and a second hinge located between the planar portion and the coupler,
wherein the front cover bends about the first hinge when moving between the tablet-typing configuration and the tablet-storage configuration.

7 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the coupler includes one or more coupling features removably connecting the front cover to at least a portion of the back cover.

8 ) The protective cover of claim 7 , wherein the one or more coupling features are one or more magnets magnetically attracting one or more opposing magnets in the back cover.

9 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the back cover includes a stand recess receiving the stand in the tablet-storage configuration,
wherein in the tablet-storage configuration, the stand is substantially flush with a back surface of the back cover.

10 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the front cover is disconnected from the back cover in each of the three or more tablet-viewing configurations.

11 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the planar portion is oriented substantially perpendicular to the coupler in the tablet-typing configuration and in the tablet-storage configuration.

12 ) The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the input side includes a keyboard.

13 ) A protective cover for a tablet computer, comprising:
a back cover including:
i. a stand; and
ii. a rim;
a front cover including:
i. an input side, and
ii. a connector including a planar portion and a coupler removably connecting the front cover to the back cover,
wherein the stand includes a stand hinge engaging an edge of the rim, and wherein the planar portion engages at least a front surface of the tablet computer so that the front cover is angularly oriented relative to a support surface extending below the front cover and the coupler engages the edge of the rim engaged by the stand hinge.

14 ) The protective cover of claim 13 , wherein the stand pivots about the stand hinge towards the support surface so that the protective cover can move into a tablet-typing configuration and pivots about the stand hinge towards the back cover so that the protective cover can move into a tablet-storage configuration,
wherein in the tablet-typing configuration the front cover is angularly oriented relative to the support surface, and in the tablet-storage configuration the input side of the front cover covers at least a portion of the front surface of the tablet computer.

15 ) The protective cover of claim 13 , wherein in the tablet-typing configuration the front cover is angularly oriented relative to the support surface,
wherein the angle is approximately 10 degrees.

16 ) The protective cover of claim 13 , wherein the front cover includes a first hinge located between an input device and the planar portion and a second hinge located between the planar portion and the coupler,
wherein the front cover bends about the first hinge when moving between the tablet-typing configuration and the tablet-storage configuration.

17 ) The protective cover of claim 13 , wherein the coupler includes one or more coupling features removably connecting the front cover to at least a portion of the back cover,
wherein the one or more coupling features are one or more magnets magnetically attracting one or more opposing magnets in the back cover.

18 ) The protective cover of claim 13 , wherein the back cover includes a stand recess receiving the stand when the stand is in a tablet-storage configuration,
wherein in the tablet-storage configuration, the stand is substantially flush with a surface of the back cover.

19 ) The protective cover of claim 13 , wherein the planar portion is oriented substantially perpendicular to the coupler in the tablet-typing configuration and in the tablet-storage configuration.

20 ) The protective cover of claim 13 , wherein the input side includes a keyboard.

Assignees

• Incipio Llc

Inventors

• Ahee Anthony
• Schoenith John M

Classifications

• A45C11/003

  for storing portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators · CPC title

• A45C2200/15

  Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes · CPC title

• A45C11/00

  Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) · CPC title

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• A45C2011/003

  Human Necessities · mapped topic