Accessory units for consumer electronic devices and related assemblies and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9315004-B2
Application number	US-201213806283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2012
Priority date	Mar 6, 2012
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory unit for an electronic device, comprising:
a front flap; and
a rear cover coupled with the front flap such that the front flap pivots between an open state and a closed state with respect to the rear cover, the rear cover comprising:
a recessed portion formed from a flexible material that defines a chamber,
a frame coupled to the recessed portion, the frame defining an opening of the chamber configured to receive the electronic device, wherein the frame comprises a material that is more rigid than the flexible material of the recessed portion, wherein the frame is defined by a multi-sided cross-section which includes a top wall and an engagement wall, the top wall generally parallel with the front flap when the front flap is in the closed state, wherein the engagement wall extends within the chamber and is non-parallel with respect to the top wall, wherein the engagement wall engages with a perimeter portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is retained within the chamber, and
an end region coupled to the front flap and the rear cover, the end region comprising an end segment which provides stiffness to the end region and maintains alignment of the front flap with respect to the rear cover, the end segment extending across only a portion of a full width of the end region.

2. The accessory unit of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a side wall that is non-parallel with respect to the top wall and the engagement wall, wherein the side wall is generally parallel with a portion of the flexible material.

3. The accessory unit of claim 2 , wherein the front flap includes layers of material and wherein the layers of material are bonded at a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the end region.

4. The accessory unit of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the frame has a bowed configuration that applies an inward force toward the electronic device retained with the chamber.

5. The accessory unit of claim 1 , wherein the frame has a generally triangular cross-section.

6. The accessory unit of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises at least one channel configured to direct sound from the electronic device toward a user when the electronic device is secured within the chamber.

7. The accessory unit of claim 1 , wherein the frame has a bi-stable configuration including an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the frame provides an audio path from the electronic device toward a user when the frame is in the open configuration, wherein the audio path is closed when the frame is in the closed configuration.

8. The accessory unit of claim 7 , wherein the frame is configured to flex between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

9. The accessory unit of claim 8 , wherein the audio path is sealed when the frame is in the closed configuration.

10. The accessory unit of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises radio frequency (RF) transparent and RF opaque portions.

11. The accessory unit of claim 1 , wherein the rear cover includes an embossed portion that protrudes from a surface of the rear cover, wherein a position of the embossed portion on the rear cover is configured to align with a button on the electronic device.

12. The accessory unit of claim 11 , wherein the rear cover defines an aperture configured to align with a camera lens of the electronic device.

13. The accessory unit of claim 1 , wherein the top wall of the frame extends above and protects the perimeter portion of the electronic device.

14. An accessory unit for an electronic device, comprising:
a front flap; and
a rear cover hingedly coupled with the front flap such that the front flap transitions from a closed state to an open state with respect to the rear cover, the rear cover comprising:
a flexible material defining a chamber,
a frame coupled with the flexible material, the frame made of a material more rigid than the flexible material, the frame defining an opening for accepting the electronic device, wherein the frame has a multi-sided cross-section with a top wall and an engagement wall, the top wall generally parallel with the front flap when the front flap is in the closed state, wherein the engagement wall extends within the chamber and is non-parallel with respect to the top wall, the engagement wall configured to engage with a perimeter portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is secured within the chamber, and
an end region coupled to the front flap and the rear cover, the end region comprising an end segment configured to stiffen the end region and maintain alignment of the front flap with respect to the rear cover, the end segment extending across only a portion of a full width of the end region.

15. The accessory unit of claim 14 , wherein the frame defines a generally triangular cross-section.

16. The accessory unit of claim 14 , wherein the accessory unit comprises a magnetic element in the front flap, the magnetic element configured to be detected by a magnetically sensitive circuit of the electronic device.

17. The accessory unit of claim 14 , wherein a portion of the frame has a bowed configuration that applies an inward force toward the electronic device retained with the chamber.

18. A method for manufacturing an accessory unit for an electronic device, the method comprising:
coupling a frame to a rear cover, the rear cover made of a flexible material that is less rigid that the frame, the frame defining an opening for receiving the electronic device, and the flexible material defining a chamber for retaining the electronic device,
wherein the rear cover is coupled to a front flap such that the front flap pivots between an open state and a closed state with respect to the rear cover, wherein the frame has a multi-sided cross-section which includes a top wall and an engagement wall, the top wall generally parallel with the front flap when the front flap is in the closed state, wherein the engagement wall extends within the chamber and is non-parallel with respect to the top wall, wherein the engagement wall engages with a perimeter portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is retained within the chamber, and
wherein the front flap and the rear cover are coupled to an end region, the end region comprising an end segment which provides stiffness to the end region and maintains alignment of the front flap with respect to the rear cover, the end segment extending across only a portion of a full width of the end region.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising forming a channel within the frame, the channel configured to direct sound from the electronic device retained within the chamber toward a user.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising inserting a magnetic element within the front flap.

Assignees

• Balaji Santhana
• Kenney Kevin
• Lauder Andrew
• Merritt Robert Michael
• Nashner Michael
• Smith Samuel Gilkison
• Rohrbach Matthew Dean
• Sartee Jared A
• Whitley Crenshaw
• Crews Kathryn P
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Balaji Santhana
• Kenney Kevin
• Lauder Andrew
• Merritt Robert Michael
• Nashner Michael
• Smith Samuel Gilkison
• Rohrbach Matthew Dean
• Sartee Jared A
• Whitley Crenshaw
• Crews Kathryn P

Classifications

• Y10T29/49801

  Shaping fiber or fibered material · CPC title

• G06F1/16

  Constructional details or arrangements · CPC title

• B32B2305/22

  Fibres of short length · 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

• B32B37/12 Primary

  characterised by using adhesives · CPC title