Cover with writing instrument compartment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9395753-B2
Application number	US-201414259050-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2014
Priority date	Apr 22, 2014
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

A holder provides a movable wall for storing a writing instrument. The holder may store the writing instrument in a protected compartment until a user may rotate the wall to expose the writing instrument to access. In some embodiments, the movable wall may be connected to a cover of an electronic device. Access to the writing instrument may be provided by opening or closing the cover which may move concurrently with the wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory for storing a writing instrument, comprising:
a holder configured to attach to an electronic device;
wherein the holder includes:
a longitudinal compartment; and
a movable wall of the compartment, the movable wall configured to provide access to the compartment, wherein the movable wall comprises a barrel rotatably coupled to a hinge cap, wherein the movable wall is movable between an open position and a closed position of the compartment via rotation of the barrel,
wherein the compartment is configured to open on a side opposite the electronic device when the holder is attached to the electronic device.

2. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the movable wall is configured to enclose the writing instrument in the compartment.

3. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the movable wall is configured to rotate around the writing instrument and enclose the writing instrument.

4. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the movable wall includes an opening configured to move into position to receive the writing instrument in response to rotation of the rotatable wall.

5. The accessory of claim 4 , wherein the opening of the movable wall is configured to receive the writing instrument by press fit.

6. An accessory for storing a writing instrument with an electronic device, comprising:
a cover;
a hinge coupled to the cover;
a compartment in the hinge; and
a wall of the hinge movable with opening or closing of the cover, the wall comprising a barrel coupled to a hinge cap, wherein the barrel is rotatable within the hinge cap, wherein the compartment is configured to open on a side of the hinge opposite the electronic device
wherein the wall is movable between an open and closed position of the compartment via rotation of the barrel.

7. The accessory of claim 6 , wherein the cover is configured to open through a first range of rotation around the hinge, and the wall of the hinge is configured to rotate through a second range of rotation around the hinge, the second range of rotation being less than the first range of rotation.

8. The accessory of claim 7 , wherein the first range of rotation is between 0 degrees and less than 360 degrees and the second range of rotation is between 0 degrees and 180 degrees.

9. The accessory of claim 6 , wherein the wall rotates around the compartment in response to the opening or closing of the cover.

10. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the opening of the wall is configured to face toward the electronic device in response to the closing of the cover in the closed position and wherein the compartment is configured to open on a side opposite the electronic device in the open position.

11. The accessory of claim 10 , wherein the opening of the wall is configured to face away from the electronic device in response to the opening of the cover.

12. The accessory of claim 6 , wherein the opening in the wall is disposed to release the writing instrument in a radial direction from the hinge.

13. The accessory of claim 6 , wherein the wall is configured to receive the writing instrument via press fit into the opening of the wall.

14. An electronic device system, comprising:
an electronic device;
a cover coupled to the electronic device;
a hinge coupled to the cover;
a compartment in the hinge configured to hold a writing instrument; and

a rotatable wall of the hinge, the wall including an opening disposed to release the writing instrument in a radial direction from the hinge wherein the cover is rotatable around the hinge, wherein the wall is configured to optionally rotate with a rotation of the cover, and wherein the cover is configured to partially rotate without affecting the wall.

15. The electronic device system of claim 14 , wherein the opening is positioned on a circumferential sidewall of the hinge.

16. The electronic device system of claim 14 , wherein the hinge is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the hinge.

17. The electronic device system of claim 16 , wherein the opening is exposed via the cover being rotated around the longitudinal axis and into an open position.

18. The electronic device system of claim 14 , further comprising a flexible joint coupling the cover to the hinge, the joint configured open the cover independently of the hinge.

19. The electronic device system of claim 14 , wherein the wall is configured to rotate around the compartment in response to the opening or closing of the cover.

20. The electronic device system of claim 19 , wherein the opening of the wall is configured to face toward the electronic device in response to the closing of the cover.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Amano Masayuki
• Tsukamoto Yasumichi
• Takahashi Shinnosuke
• Takahashi Tomoyuki

Classifications

• G06F2200/1633

  Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer · CPC title

• B65D25/005

  Side walls formed with an aperture or a movable portion arranged to allow removal or insertion of contents (B65D5/16, B65D7/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K5/0226

  Hinges · CPC title

• G06F2200/1634

  Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer · CPC title

• G06F2200/1632

  Pen holder integrated in the computer · CPC title