Attachment features for an accessory device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9971379-B2
Application number	US-201514836911-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2015
Priority date	Aug 26, 2015
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

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 use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a body having a size and shape to cover the electronic device, the body comprising an opening;
a first magnet disposed in the opening;
a panel capable of rotating with respect to the body;
a retractable loop disposed in the opening and secured with the body by a magnetic coupling with the first magnet, wherein the retractable loop is capable of extending from the opening to receive an object capable of interacting with the electronic device; and
a second magnet disposed in the panel, the second magnet configured to magnetically couple the panel with a second accessory device.

2. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises an extension that carries the second magnet, the extension having a size and a shape to fit within an opening of the second accessory device.

3. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the retractable loop is capable of receiving a stylus.

4. The accessory device of claim 1 , further comprising a third magnet disposed in the opening, wherein the retractable loop comprises a bar positioned between the second magnet and the third magnet, the bar capable of magnetically coupling with at least one of the second magnet and the third magnet.

5. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the retractable loop is detachable from the panel by removing the magnetic coupling between the retractable loop and the second magnet.

6. The accessory device of claim 1 , further comprising a third magnet disposed in the retractable loop, wherein the magnetic coupling is formed between the first magnet and the third magnet.

7. The accessory device of claim 6 , wherein the body comprises a keyboard suitable for use with the electronic device.

8. An accessory device suitable for use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a flexible panel comprising a first magnet capable of magnetically coupling the flexible panel with an additional accessory device;
a cover having a size and a shape to overlay a display of the electronic device, the cover comprising a recessed region having a size and a shape to receive the flexible panel;
a keyboard disposed on the cover, the keyboard having an opening that includes a retractable loop capable of carrying an object; and
a second magnet positioned in the opening, the second magnet capable of magnetically coupling with the retractable loop.

9. The accessory device of claim 8 , wherein the flexible panel comprises an extension that includes the first magnet, the extension having a size and a shape that allows the extension to fit into an opening of the additional accessory device.

10. The accessory device of claim 8 , wherein the keyboard is capable of communicating with the electronic device when the flexible panel is magnetically coupled with the additional accessory device.

11. The accessory device of claim 8 , wherein the retractable loop extends from the opening to receive the object.

12. The accessory device of claim 11 , wherein the retractable loop partially protrudes from the opening to define a stored configuration when the retractable loop does not carry an object.

13. The accessory device of claim 8 , wherein the retractable loop is detachable from the keyboard.

14. The accessory device of claim 8 , wherein the retractable loop is capable of carrying a stylus suitable for use with the electronic device.

15. A system for use with an electronic device, the system comprising:
a first accessory device, comprising:
a flexible panel comprising a first magnet configured to magnetically couple the flexible panel with an additional accessory device,
a cover having a size and a shape to overlay a display of the electronic device, the cover comprising a recessed region having a size and a shape to receive the flexible panel, and
a keyboard disposed on the cover, the keyboard having a first opening that includes a retractable loop capable of carrying an object, and
a second magnet disposed in the first opening and capable of magnetically coupling with the retractable loop; and

a second accessory device comprising a second opening having a size and shape capable of receiving a portion of the first accessory device, wherein the second accessory device is capable of coupling with the first accessory device when the portion is positioned in the second opening.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the flexible panel comprises an extension that includes the first magnet, the extension having a size and a shape that allows the extension to fit into the second opening.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein when the extension is positioned in the second opening, the first accessory device is in communication with the second accessory device.

18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a pin electrically coupled to the keyboard, the pin capable of electrically coupling with the second accessory device.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the pin defines a first pin, and wherein the second accessory device includes a second pin capable of electrically coupling with the first pin.

20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a third magnet disposed in the first opening, wherein the retractable loop comprises a bar positioned between the second magnet and the third magnet, the bar capable of magnetically coupling with at least one of the second magnet and the third magnet.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06F3/0202

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• G06F1/1643

  the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615) · CPC title