Accessory device having a retaining feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9762278-B2
Application number	US-201514836903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2015
Priority date	Aug 26, 2015
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

An accessory device for use with an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device may include multiple layers. One layer may be formed from a plastic. Other layers may include a fabric layer and a silicone layer. The accessory device may further include a retaining feature designed to hold or carry an object, such as a stylus for use with the electronic device. The accessory device may include a recessed region suited to receive the retaining feature. This allows the retaining feature to be stored in the accessory device when the retaining feature is not in use. Further, the retaining feature may be co-planar with an interior region of the accessory device such that the electronic device is not disturbed when positioned in the accessory device. In this manner, the retaining feature may be hidden. Also, the retaining feature may be deployed from the recessed region and receive the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory device suitable for carrying an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a shell that defines an internal cavity having a size and a shape to receive the electronic device, the shell including:
a bottom wall,
a sidewall extending from the bottom wall and
a recessed region disposed along the bottom wall and the sidewall;

a layer disposed along the shell and the recessed region, the layer comprising an opening; and
a retaining feature extending through the opening, the retaining feature configured to move from a stored configuration, in which the retaining feature is disposed in the recessed region, to a deployed configuration, in which the retaining feature extends away from the shell, wherein the retaining feature, in the deployed configuration, is capable of carrying an object.

2. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the retaining feature includes a material comprising a woven configuration.

3. The accessory device of claim 2 , wherein the material further comprises a polymeric material that creates an appearance of similar to an appearance of an exterior region of the accessory device.

4. The accessory device of claim 3 , wherein the woven configuration is configured to stretch in response to a force exerted on the woven configuration.

5. The accessory device of claim 1 , further comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an interior region between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein the recessed region is disposed in the first sidewall and the interior region.

6. The accessory device of claim 5 , wherein the retaining feature includes a material that forms a first tail feature disposed on the first sidewall and the interior region, and wherein the material of the retaining feature further forms a second tail feature disposed on the first sidewall.

7. The accessory device of claim 6 , wherein the retaining feature comprises:
a first adhesive that reinforces a loop portion of the retaining feature;
a second adhesive that bonds the material together; and
a third adhesive disposed on the first tail feature and the second tail feature to secure the material with the shell, and
the loop portion is configured to carry the object.

8. The accessory device of claim 5 , wherein when the electronic device is positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and the retaining feature is in the stored configuration, the retaining feature is hidden from view.

9. An accessory device suitable for use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
an enclosure that includes an interior region having a size and a shape to receive and carry the electronic device, the enclosure having a sidewall and a recessed region positioned along the sidewall; and
a retaining feature attached with the enclosure at the sidewall, the retaining feature extending at least partially into the interior region, the retaining feature having a size and a shape to receive and carry an object, wherein when the electronic device is positioned in the interior region and the retaining feature is positioned in the recessed region, the retaining feature is hidden from view by the electronic device and the enclosure.

10. The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the enclosure comprises a bottom wall, and wherein the recessed region extends at least partially along the bottom wall.

11. The accessory device of claim 10 , further comprising a fabric layer that overlays the interior region and is positioned in the recessed region, the fabric layer comprising an opening through which the retaining feature passes.

12. The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the retaining feature comprises a material having a woven configuration capable of stretching in response to a pulling force.

13. The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the sidewall comprises a flattened portion designed to receive an additional accessory device.

14. A system, comprising:
an electronic device; and
an accessory device capable of receiving the electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a bottom wall,
a sidewall extending from the bottom wall,
a retaining feature attached with the sidewall, and
a layer disposed on the sidewall and the bottom wall, the layer comprising an opening, wherein the retaining feature extends through the layer at the opening, and wherein the retaining feature is configured to move from a stored configuration, in which the retaining feature is disposed between the electronic device and the bottom wall and hidden from view, to a deployed configuration, in which the retaining feature extends away from the sidewall.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a stylus suitable for use with a touch screen of the electronic device, wherein the retaining feature, in the deployed configuration, is configured to receive the stylus.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the accessory device comprises a recessed region that receives the retaining feature in the stored configuration, the recessed region located along the bottom wall and the sidewall.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the retaining feature comprises a woven fabric that stretches in responses to a force exerted on the woven fabric.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the layer comprises a fabric layer.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the retaining feature, in the stored configuration, is capable of being fully disposed in the recessed region.

20. The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the retaining feature extends from the sidewall and includes a loop that opens to receive the object.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Griffin Ii James G
• Coster Daniel J
• Smith Samuel Gilkison
• Jo Yoonhoo

Classifications

• 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

• A45C2011/003

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• A45C11/34

  Pencil boxes; Pencil etuis or the like · CPC title