Abstract:
A multi-function case and support for an electronic device, such as a tablet computer. The case may be adapted to support the tablet in a variety of configurations, such as similar to a laptop computer configuration, and as a raised support. The case may also protect the electronic device from rough contact and other wear. In the raised support configuration, the case and support may be adapted to allow for rotation of the tablet from a landscape to a portrait attitude.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/366,940 to Hale, filed Jul. 23, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/422,124 to Hale, filed Dec. 10, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device case and a flexible support apparatus, adapted to support an item mounted in the device case in a variety of configurations. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Modern portable electronic devices, such as tablet computing devices, are not well adapted to be positioned other than on a flat surface, with the screen facing directly vertically. These items are typically flat, rectangular objects which may be difficult to place in an appropriate position for hands-free use while viewing. They may also be of a somewhat environmentally and impact sensitive nature. 
     Such devices may be enhanced with the use of a protective case which affords impact protection for the device. The use of a tablet device may be enhanced with the use of a support structure. What is called for is a protective case that may also function as a mounting apparatus. What is also called for is a case for a tablet device which allows the support or mounting of the tablet device in multiple configurations. 
     SUMMARY 
     A multi-function case and support for an electronic device, such as a tablet computer. The case may be adapted to support the tablet in a variety of configurations, such as similar to a laptop computer configuration, and as a raised support. The case may also protect the electronic device from rough contact and other wear. In the raised support configuration, the case and support may be adapted to allow for rotation of the tablet from a landscape to a portrait attitude. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a device case and support in a closed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a device case and support in a closed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a device case and support in a closed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a device case and support in a closed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a device case and support in a closed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a device case and support in a partially open configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a device case and support in a partially open configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a device case and support in a partially open configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a device case and support in a partially open configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a device case and support in a first deployed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a device case and support in a first deployed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a device case and support in a first deployed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a device case and support in a first deployed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a device case and support in a second deployed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a device case and support in a second deployed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a device case and support in a second deployed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a device case and support in a third deployed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a device case and support in a third deployed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a device case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates a device case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates a device case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a device case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a device case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a device case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a device case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 26  illustrates a multitude of views of a device case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 27  illustrates a multitude of views of a device case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-5  illustrate the stowed configuration  200  of case and support assembly  100  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the electronic device is a tablet computing device. The electronic device may also be another device. The electronic device  110  may have a screen  111 . 
     In some embodiments, the case and support assembly  100  is adapted to be a protective cover as well as a support for viewing the electronic device, which may be a tablet, in a variety of positions. When in the stowed configuration  200 , the case and support assembly may still allow access to aspects of the device via slots or openings in the rim  105 , which may be used to operate the device, or for other reasons. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , a rear section  104  covers over portions of the rear of the case and support assembly  100 . The rear section  104  may be adapted to fit around a rear support  106 , which is the bridge between the main hinge  101  and the rotary joint  102 . The rear section  104  is connected on a first end to the main hinge  101 . The main hinge  101  thus provides rotation between the rear support  106  and the rear section  104 . The main hinge may be adapted to have an adjustment such that the friction in the main hinge is sufficient to hold the case and support assembly in positions set by the user. 
     A flexible intermediate section  107  is adapted to provide an intermediate section between the front cover section  103  and the rear section  104 . In some embodiments, the front cover section  103  and the rear section  104  may be a somewhat more rigid material, while the intermediate section  107  may be more flexible, to allow for bending into a variety of positions in order to support different case configurations. The flexible intermediate portion  107  may extend from a position  131  on the rear section to a position  120  on the front cover section  103 , allowing for a much larger flexible portion than just at the bend area in this stowed position  200 . 
     In the stowed configuration, a tablet may be in the device receiver portion, and the rear section  104  may be snug against the rear of the device receiver, with the front cover closed snugly over the front of the tablet. A latch  130  is adapted to fasten the case and support assembly in the stowed configuration. 
       FIGS. 6-9  illustrate the case and support assembly in a partially opened configuration, as it may be when transitioning from a stowed configuration to one of the deployed configurations. The front cover section  103  is seen unlatched and lifted off of the tablet  110  which resided within the case and support assembly in the stowed position. As the case and support assembly is opened, the rear section  104  may be pulled from the back of the device receiver  122 . The rear support  106  may be adapted to fit within a cutout in the rear section  104 . As the case and support assembly is opened, the front of the tablet  110  becomes accessible and may be operated by the user. 
       FIGS. 10-13  illustrate the case and support assembly  100  in a first deployed configuration  201 . The tablet  110  with its screen  111  is mounted within the device receiver  122 . A rim, or series of rim portions  108  of the device receiver may have a lip  112  which helps hold the tablet  110  in place. 
     The rear surface  114  of the rear section  104  may be placed on a table or desk or other suitable surface, including the lap of the user. The front cover  103  have been removed from the front of the tablet  110  and folded over onto the inside of the rear section  104 . The flexible intermediate section  107  has been folded such that the front cover  103  may be placed over the rear section  104 . The main hinge  101  has been placed into a position such that the angle  113  between the tablet  110  and the base provides a desired angle for the user. 
     The rotary hinge  102  between the rear support  106  and the device receiver  122  allows the tablet to be rotated, as from a portrait position to a landscape position. 
       FIGS. 14-16  illustrate a second deployed configuration  202  according to some embodiments of the present invention. As seen, the rear section  104  and the front cover section  103  have been formed along with the flexible intermediate section  107  to create a base  135  for the tablet  110  within the device receiver  122 . In this second deployed configuration, the flexible intermediate portion  107  has been folded at the position  131  on the rear section and the position  120  on the front cover section  103 , which represent the transition from the relatively rigid to the relatively flexible portions of the rear section and the front cover section, respectively. 
     As seen in  FIG. 17 , the device receiver  122  and tablet  110  may be rotated to accommodate the needs of the user. 
     In some embodiments, the case and support assembly  100  may be predominantly of a composite aluminum material with a polypropylene core and aluminum skins. Using this material, the rear section, flexible intermediate section, and the front cover section may be constructed of a single piece of such a material. For the flexible intermediate section, the aluminum skins may be removed, such as with machining, and thus provide the different stiffness properties of the different sections. 
     In a second embodiment of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 19 , a case and support assembly may use another configuration. In this embodiment, a portion of one layer of the device case folds away from the panel in which it sometimes resides in order to form a support. The fold away portion may be inserted into slots on the adjoining panel to form a stable base as shown. 
     In some embodiments, a front section may have an outer front section  306  and an inner section  305 . The outer front section  306  and inner front section  305  may form a single front section which acts as a front cover for an electronic device when the case and support assembly are in a stowed configuration. When in an open configuration, the inner front section may snap out of the outer front section allowing the inner front section to interlock with the outer rear section  304 , forming a base of a support structure. As illustrated in  FIG. 19  in a deployed configuration, the case is used as a support structure which may hold the tablet device above a surface. Also, the tablet may be rotated from a portrait to a landscape use. 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  illustrate a configuration wherein the panels are folded upon each other, with the device receiver able to be set at an angle using the hinge as seen. The case and support system  300  allows for a relatively simple protective case to be used as a relatively complex support system, with a variety of support configurations. In addition to the deployed configuration of  FIG. 19 , with its options of landscape or portrait viewing, another support configuration is seen in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , allowing for support of the tablet closer to the supporting surface. In the use configuration of  FIG. 21 , the tablet  310  resides in the device receiver  301 . The device receiver may have a rim around some or all sides adapted to receive and clamp or snap around the tablet with the use of a lip, for example. The rotary joint  303  attaches the inner rear section to the device receiver, and the inner rear section may be hinged somewhat from the outer rear section to allow for a slight raising while viewing the tablet. The front section has been pulled away from the front of the tablet and is folded under by the bending of the second hinge  307 . 
       FIG. 22  illustrates the case in a closed configuration with a tablet inside. The front section has its front inner section  305  and its front outer section  306  attached together with a snap  311  adapted to keep the front inner section  305  and its front outer section  306  together and coplanar while closed. The closed case is an excellent protective case for the tablet, or for other items. In some embodiments, the case is made using a multi-layer material such as a polypropylene core with aluminum skins. The metal skins provide excellent protection when used as a cover in addition to providing strength and stiffness for the support when used as a support. Although not shown in  FIG. 22  for clarity, a screen cover may be mounted within the front outer section  306  and be of a soft material appropriate for covering the device screen while the case is closed. The screen cover may be sized such that it is adapted to cover the entire screen of the device. In some embodiments, there may be magnets embedded within or under the screen cover adapted to interface with magnetic switching of the device held by the device receiver. Also, as the rotary joint  303  may allow for the device to be stowed in two positions (180 degrees apart), the magnets may be placed in two places in the screen cover to allow functionality, such as turning the device on or off, in either of the rotated positions. 
       FIGS. 22-25  illustrate an unfolding sequence which may be used to arrive at the configurations seen in  FIG. 19 .  FIGS. 23-25  illustrate the deployment of the case as it is put into the upright deployed configuration. The front section, consisting of the front inner section  305  and the front outer section  306 , is folded away from the top of the tablet device. The hinge  307  may be the polypropylene core of the composite material which may be used as the primary case material in some embodiments. In the area of this hinge, the metal skins of the composite material may be removed. As seen in  FIG. 23 , the inner front section  305  may be snapped away from the outer front section  306  and folded out. This hinge area may also be an area where the skins of the composite sandwich material may have been removed. The tablet in the device receiver, and the inner rear section, are shown somewhat deployed from the outer rear section. The first hinge  305  may be a frictional hinge adapted to support the weight of the tablet in a desired position without slipping. In some embodiments, there may be access ports  330 ,  331  in the case located appropriately to allow access to functionalities of the device supported by the case. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , the inner front portion may be used to form a support between the outer front portion, which may be used as a support base, and the outer rear portion. Tabs  320  on the inner rear front portion may engage slots  321  on the on the outer rear portion to form a coherent support for the tablet. The first hinge may be a frictional hinge adapted to hold the tablet, housed in the device receiver, in a fixed position set by the user. 
       FIGS. 26 and 27  illustrate a plurality of views of this embodiment. 
     As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general invention.