Protective case for a tablet computer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9559742-B2
Application number	US-201514706413-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2015
Priority date	Nov 18, 2014
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a protective case for a tablet computer, includes: a front plate ( 110 ) having a first surface ( 111 ) configured to protect a display surface of the tablet computer, wherein a magnetic element ( 112 ) is installed on the first surface ( 111 ); a holding plate ( 120 ) being configured to hold a back of the tablet computer; a supporting plate ( 130 ) connecting the front plate ( 110 ) and the holding plate ( 120 ) to prop up the tablet computer; wherein the magnetic element ( 112 ) can be installed at different positions on the first surface ( 111 ), in order to enable the tablet computer to stand up at different angles. The magnetic element ( 112 ) installed on the first surface ( 111 ) of the front plate ( 110 ) is attracted with a bottom end of the tablet computer, thus a steady triangle frame is formed between the tablet computer and the folded protective case, further enabling the tablet computer to stand up at different angles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A protective case for a tablet computer, comprising:
a front plate being configured to support and contact a bottom wall of the tablet computer when the tablet computer stands up and comprising a first surface to protect a display surface of the tablet computer, wherein at least one magnetic element is installed on the first surface;
a holding element on a holding plate configured to secure a back of the tablet computer to the protective case; and
a supporting plate connecting the front plate and the holding plate to support the tablet computer;
wherein the at least one magnetic element is attracted to a corresponding magnetic element of the bottom wall of the tablet computer to enable the tablet computer to stand up at different angles;
wherein the holding plate comprises a first coating layer and a first plate enclosed in the first coating layer, and the supporting plate comprises a second coating layer and a second plate enclosed in the second coating layer;
wherein the first coating layer and the second coating layer are connected to each other to form an integrity, and a gap is defined between the first plate and the second plate.

2. The protective case as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic element comprises a plurality of parallel magnetic protrusions.

3. The protective case as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the parallel magnetic protrusions each comprises a first permanent magnet, and a second permanent magnet is installed on one bottom end of the tablet computer corresponding to the first permanent magnet; wherein a magnetic pole of the first permanent magnet towards the bottom end of the tablet computer is opposite to the magnet pole of the second permanent magnet towards the first surface.

4. The protective case as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the parallel magnetic protrusions each comprises a first permanent magnet, and a ferromagnetic element is installed on one bottom end of the tablet computer corresponding to the first permanent magnet.

5. The protective case as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first coating layer and the second coating layer comprise polyurethane material, and the first plate and the second plate comprise polycarbonate sheet material.

6. The protective case as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a display window is arranged on the first surface near the magnetic element to display a battery status of the tablet computer.

7. The protective case as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holding plate comprises a first holding element; wherein the first holding element holds the back of the tablet computer by a latch mechanism.

8. The protective case as claimed claim 7 , wherein a first hole is defined in the holding plate near the first holding element; wherein the first hole is in accordance with a camera of the tablet computer in position.

9. The protective case as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises a soft material.

10. A protective case for a tablet computer, comprising:
a front plate configured to support and contact a bottom end of the tablet computer when the tablet computer stands up, the front plate comprising a plurality of magnetic elements, wherein the bottom end of the tablet computer comprises a permanent magnet which is attracted to one of the magnetic elements;
a holding plate configured to be attached to an upper portion of a back of the tablet computer; and
a supporting plate connecting the front plate and the holding plate and spaced from a lower portion of the back of the tablet computer;
wherein the holding plate comprises a first coating layer and a first plate enclosed in the first coating layer, and the supporting plate comprises a second coating layer and a second plate enclosed in the second coating layer;
wherein the first coating layer and the second coating layer are connected to each other to form an integrity, and a gap is defined between the first plate and the second plate.

11. The protective case as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the front plate comprises a top surface, and the bottom end of the tablet computer is located on the top surface; the magnetic elements are embedded in the front plate, and top surfaces of the magnetic elements are coplanar with the top surface of the front plate.

12. The protective case as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the magnetic elements are elongated protrusions which are parallel to each other, each of the magnetic elements has a configuration corresponding to that of the bottom end of the tablet computer.

13. The protective case as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a magnetic pole of each of the magnetic elements towards the bottom end of the tablet computer is opposite to that of the permanent magnet at the bottom end of the tablet computer towards the front plate.

14. The protective case as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a hole is defined in the holding plate used to facilitate the shooting of the tablet computer.

15. The protective case as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a display window is defined in the holding plate to display the battery status of the tablet computer.

16. The protective case as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a bendable portion is located between the holding plate and the supporting plate.

17. The protective case as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the first and second coating layers comprise polyurethane material and the first and second plate comprise polycarbonate material.

18. The protective case as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the gap has a same width as that of the bendable portion.

19. The protective case as claimed in claim 10 , wherein when the permanent magnet at the bottom end of the tablet computer is attracted with one of the magnetic elements on the front plate, the tablet computer stands up at a 60 degree angle towards the front plate; when the permanent magnet at the bottom end of the tablet computer is attracted with another one of the magnetic elements on the front plate, the tablet computer stands up at a 45 degree angle towards the front plate.

Assignees

• Huizhou Tcl Mobile Communication Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ye Wenyi
• Lu Wenliang
• Yuan Junhao
• Ma Wei
• Hu Xuelong Ronald
• Mauro Vittorio Di

Classifications

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H04B1/3877

  Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters · CPC title

• A45C11/00 Primary

  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

• A45C2011/003

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A45C11/003

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