Single piece case with a battery and a hinge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017324261-A1
Application number	US-201715656593-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2017
Priority date	Jul 31, 2015
Publication date	Nov 9, 2017
Grant date	—

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 suitable for use with an electronic device having an electrical device contact, the accessory device comprising:
a unitary structure comprising a base wall and sidewalls that combine with the base wall defining a receptacle having a size and shape to receive the electronic device, the unitary structure further including a compartment that is at least partially covered by the base wall; a battery disposed in the compartment; a hinge feature covered by the base wall, the hinge feature allowing the unitary structure to bend and receive the electronic device; and an accessory contact positioned on the unitary structure and electrically coupled to the battery, the accessory contact configured to electrically couple with the electrical device contact and channel power from the battery to the electronic device when the electronic device is positioned in the receptacle.

2 . The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls comprise:
a first sidewall; and a second sidewall that combines with the first sidewall to retain the electronic device, wherein the hinge feature extends from the first sidewall to the second sidewall.

3 . The accessory device of claim 2 , wherein the hinge feature extends into the first sidewall and into the second sidewall.

4 . The accessory device of claim 2 , wherein the unitary structure comprises:
a first region; and a second region separated from the first region by the hinge feature, wherein a force applied to the first region causes the first region to pivot at the hinge feature and allow the electronic device to slide between the first sidewall and the second sidewall in a direction parallel to the hinge feature.

5 . The accessory device of claim 2 , wherein the accessory contact is located on the first sidewall.

6 . The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the accessory contact is located on the base wall.

7 . The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge feature comprises an elastomeric material.

8 . The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the accessory contact is a first accessory contact, and wherein the accessory device further comprises a second accessory contact located on a rear portion that at least partially defines the compartment.

9 . An accessory device suitable for use with an electronic device having a device coil coupled to a battery, the accessory device comprising:
a unitary structure having a base wall and sidewalls combine to form a receptacle that receives the electronic device, the receptacle having a first region and a second region; a hinge feature positioned between the first region and the second region and covered by the base wall, the hinge feature comprising a material that is covered by the base wall and extends into the sidewalls; and a coil feature located on the base wall, the coil feature configured to couple with the device coil and inductively charge the battery when the electronic device is positioned in the receptacle, wherein an applied force to the first region causes the first region and the base wall to bend at a location corresponding to the hinge feature.

10 . The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the unitary structure bends at the hinge feature in response to an applied force to define a bent configuration of the unitary structure, the bent configuration allowing the electronic device to be 1) inserted between the sidewalls in a first direction, and 2) extracted from the sidewalls in a second direction opposite the first direction.

11 . The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the sidewalls include a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and wherein material comprises an elastomer that continuously extends from the first sidewall to the second sidewall.

12 . The accessory device of claim 10 , wherein the unitary structure includes a compartment that carries a power source electrically coupled to the coil feature.

13 . The accessory device of claim 12 , wherein the coil feature is a first coil feature, and wherein the accessory device further comprises a second coil feature located on a rear portion that at least partially defines the compartment.

14 . The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the sidewalls comprise:
a first sidewall; and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, wherein when the unitary structure bends at the hinge feature, the first sidewall and the second sidewall bend at a location along the hinge feature.

15 . The accessory device of claim 14 , wherein each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall defines a continuous sidewall across a location corresponding to the hinge feature.

16 . A method for assembling an accessory device suitable for use with an electronic device, the electronic device having an electrical device contact located on a wall, the method comprising:
providing a unitary structure that includes a base wall and sidewalls that combine with the base wall to define a receptacle that includes a size and shape to receive the electronic device, the unitary structure further including a compartment that is at least partially covered by the base wall; disposing a battery in the compartment; providing a hinge feature that is covered by the base wall, the hinge feature allowing the unitary structure to bend and receive the electronic device; and positioning an accessory contact on the unitary structure and electrically coupled to the battery, the accessory contact configured to electrically couple with the electrical device contact and power the electronic device when the electronic device is positioned in the receptacle.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein providing the unitary structure that includes the base wall and the sidewalls comprises:
forming a first sidewall; and forming a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall; and extending the hinge feature from the first sidewall to the second sidewall.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the hinge feature comprises extending the hinge feature into the first sidewall and into the second sidewall.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein providing the hinge feature comprises providing an elastomer.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the accessory contact is a first accessory contact, and wherein the method further comprises positioning a second accessory contact located on a rear portion that at least partially defines the compartment.

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