Abstract:
A lenticular lens case for a tablet computer, including first and second base plates that open to enable insertion of a tablet computer, and that close to firmly lock the tablet computer into place, first and second end caps connected to the first and second base plates, including tracks for sliding a frame inwards and outwards, and a lens frame for holding a lenticular lens, including extruding pins that slide along the tracks, such that when the pins reach the end of the tracks, the lens frame can be flipped approximately 180° over the base plates so as to tightly overlay a screen of the tablet computer, when the tablet computer is firmly locked in the base plates.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to cases for tablet computers and, in particular, to cases with lenticular lenses for stereoscopic viewing. The present invention also relates to cases for gaming devices, entertainment devices, web browsers, e-readers, smartphones, and automobile, boat and airplane decks and panels, and to any existing or future slate-type devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Lenticular lenses enable specially prepared content to be viewed in stereoscopic 3D, without use of special glasses. Such lenses may be embossed on printed material, and may be overlaid on viewing screens. 
         [0003]    When used as overlays on a device viewing screen, lenticular lenslets must be in near-perfect alignment with the screen pixels and sub-pixels; otherwise, distortions are introduced into the 3D content. This requirement is a major technical problem for lenticular lenses that are removable overlays, as these lenses must be repeatedly placed over the screen with near-perfect alignment. 
         [0004]    Further, when used as overlays on a device viewing screen, lenticular lenses must have even and tight retention over the screen so that there is not air gap between the lens and the screen; otherwise refraction of light through the air gap introduces distortions into the 3D content. This requirement is another major technical problem for lenticular lenses that are removable overlays. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION 
       [0005]    Aspects of the present invention solve the above technical problems with removable lenticular lens overlays, by providing a lenticular lens case for a tablet computer that mechanically aligns and retains the lenticular lens over the screen of the tablet computer, within an accuracy of 0.01 mm, and eliminates an air gap between the lens and the screen. 
         [0006]    The lenticular lens case is durable, and makes it easy for a user to accurately attach and remove the lenticular lens. 
         [0007]    There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a lenticular lens case assembly for a tablet computer, including first and second base plates that open to enable insertion of a tablet computer, and that close to firmly lock the tablet computer into place, first and second end caps connected to the first and second base plates, including tracks for sliding a frame inwards and outwards, and a lens frame for holding a lenticular lens, including extruding pins that slide along the tracks, such that when the pins reach the end of the tracks, the lens frame can be flipped approximately 180° over the base plates so as to tightly overlay a screen of the tablet computer, when the tablet computer is firmly locked in the base plates. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a lenticular lens case for a tablet computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the lenticular lens case of  FIG. 1 , showing the case used as a stand for the tablet computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a first base plate of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a second base plate of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a first end cap of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a second end cap of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of a lens frame of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of a wing bayonet for joining the two base plates of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a back perspective view of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a view of the interlocking base plates and end caps of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a view of a lenticular lens, in the case of  FIG. 1 , being stored behind a tablet computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a view of the lenticular lens frame of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a view of the magnetic alignment mechanism, for aligning and retaining the lens frame of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a view of the interior of base plate A and end cap A of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a view of the magnets molded in base plate A of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a bottom view of base plate A and end cap A of the case of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is an animated sequence of pictures showing how the lens frame pulls out and flips over the case of  FIG. 1 , so as to overlay the lenticular lens array on the screen of the tablet computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0027]    For reference to the figures, the following index of elements and their numerals is provided. Similarly numbered elements represent elements of the same type, but they need not be identical elements. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Element 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 100 
                 Entire case 
               
               
                   
                 200  
                 Cover 
               
               
                   
                 300  
                 Base plate A 
               
               
                   
                 310 
                 Rubber grips 
               
               
                   
                 320 
                 Magnet 
               
               
                   
                 330 
                 Male track 
               
               
                   
                 340 
                 Indent 
               
               
                   
                 350 
                 Locking ring 
               
               
                   
                 360 
                 Bayonet thread 
               
               
                   
                 370 
                 Grip 
               
               
                   
                 380 
                 Boss 
               
               
                   
                 400 
                 Base plate B 
               
               
                   
                 430 
                 Female track 
               
               
                   
                 450 
                 Locking ring 
               
               
                   
                 460 
                 Bayonet thread 
               
               
                   
                 480 
                 Boss 
               
               
                   
                 500 
                 End cap A 
               
               
                   
                 510 
                 Cut-out for home button 
               
               
                   
                 530 
                 Track 
               
               
                   
                 540 
                 Perforation 
               
               
                   
                 580 
                 Indent 
               
               
                   
                 600 
                 End cap B 
               
               
                   
                 610 
                 Cut-out for camera 
               
               
                   
                 630 
                 Track 
               
               
                   
                 680 
                 Indent 
               
               
                   
                 700 
                 Lens frame 
               
               
                   
                 710 
                 Pin 
               
               
                   
                 720 
                 Ferrous metal strip 
               
               
                   
                 740 
                 Registration tab 
               
               
                   
                 750 
                 Lens removal tab 
               
               
                   
                 800 
                 Wing bayonet 
               
               
                   
                 810 
                 Metal pin for bayonet 
               
               
                   
                 820 
                 Lock and cover attachment system 
               
               
                   
                 900 
                 Tablet computer 
               
               
                   
                 910 
                 Home button of tablet computer 
               
               
                   
                 920 
                 Camera of tablet computer 
               
               
                   
                 930 
                 Screen of tablet computer 
               
               
                   
                 950 
                 Lenticular lens array 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Aspects of the present invention relate to a lenticular lens case for a tablet computer that mechanically aligns and retains a lenticular lens array over the screen of the tablet computer, within an accuracy of 0.01 mm, and eliminates an air gap between the lens and the screen. The lenticular lens case is durable, and makes it easy for a user to accurately attach and remove the lenticular lens array. 
         [0029]    Reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which is an exploded view of a lenticular lens case  100  for a tablet computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Reference is also made to  FIG. 2 , which is an assembled view of case  100 , showing case  100  used as a stand for the tablet computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Case  100  includes two base plates  300  and  400 , referred to herein respectively as base plate A and base plate B. Base plates A and B are connected to respective end caps  500  and  600 , referred to herein respectively as end cap A and end cap B. 
         [0031]    A tablet computer (shown in  FIG. 11 ) is inserted into assembly  100  and fits tightly between end caps A and B. Base plates A and B slide inward and outward relative to one another, to open and closed positions. When the base plates are slid into the open position, there is room for inserting the tablet computer. Then, when the base plates are slid into the closed position, the tablet computer is held tightly in place. A winged bayonet  700  is used to lock the base plates in the closed position, so that the tablet computer remains locked in its place. 
         [0032]    When the tablet computer is locked into place it maintains the tablet securely, and enables access to the tablet&#39;s hardware device controls and interfaces. Inter alia, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a button of the tablet computer, such as a home button, is accessible via a cut-out  510  in end cap A, and a camera of the tablet computer is exposed through a cut-out  610  in end cap B. 
         [0033]    Assembly  100  includes a lens frame  700 , for holding a lenticular lens array (shown in  FIG. 12 ). When the lens array is in use, lens frame  700  is positioned and held in place over the screen of the tablet computer so that the lens array is tightly retained over the screen. Lens frame  600  includes pins that slide up and down tracks within ends caps A and B, to raise and lower the lens frame. When lens frame  700  is raised so that the pins reach the ends of the tracks, then the frame flips substantially 180° over the base plates to the other side of the base plates, for storage when the lens array is not in use. Lens frame  700  is raised and flipped again over the base plates to subsequently use the lens array. 
         [0034]    The pixel and sub-pixel structure is analyzed and based on the results, the lenslet width is determined. In the case of an IPAD®, the lenslets are attached to the screen at a 15° angle. As such, the lenslets do not cover each pixel completely, and a pattern like RGB, GBR, BRG, follows a lenslet. 
         [0035]    Assembly  100  includes a cover  200 , preferably made of a flexible protective material such as leather, which protectively covers the tablet computer. When flipped over the casing to the back of the tablet computer, cover  200  serves as a stand for supporting the tablet computer in a raised position. When used as a stand, cover  200  is in the correct landscape position for using a camera of the tablet computer, and allows for various viewing angles. Rubber grips  310  on base plate A provide grip support for the base plates when the tablet computer is standing in the raised position. 
         [0036]    When lens frame is overlaid on the screen of the tablet computer, the lenticular lens is retained tightly over the screen, without an air gap between the lens and the screen. As such, if the screen of the tablet computer is touch-sensitive, then the lenticular lens array supports touch-through sensitivity; i.e., a tap or swipe at a location on the lenticular lens array is detected as a tap or swipe at the corresponding location on the screen of the tablet computer. 
         [0037]    Reference is made to  FIG. 3 , which is an illustration of base plate A of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Reference is also made to  FIG. 4 , which is an illustration of base plate B of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Base plate A includes magnets  320 , molded into the surface of the base plate, for holding lens frame  700  in place when lens frame  700  overlays the screen of the tablet computer. Base plate A has female tracks  330 , which slide along counterpart male tracks  430  in base plate B. Tracks  330  and  430  enable the two base plates to slide outward, making room for inserting the tablet computer, and to slide inward to firmly hold the tablet computer in place. Base plate A includes bayonet thread  360 , and base plate B includes bayonet thread  460 , for locking the base plates in place by turning wing bayonet  800 . 
         [0038]    Base plate A includes an indent  340  for holding corresponding registration tabs of lens frame  700 , to secure lens frame  700  securely in proper alignment when lens frame is overlaid on the screen of the tablet computer. Base plate A includes a grip spaces  370 , which are openings in the mold of the base plate into which rubber grips  310  are inserted. Base plate also includes a male boss  380  that fits into a corresponding indent dimple of end cap A, to avoid slippage of the end cap. Similarly, base plate B includes a male boss  480  that fits into a corresponding indent dimple of end cap B, to avoid slippage of the end cap. 
         [0039]    Base plate B leaves an open edge space, for storage of lens frame  700  when the lenticular lens array is not in use, as shown below in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0040]    Reference is made to  FIG. 5 , which is an illustration of end cap A of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Reference is also made to  FIG. 6 , which is an illustration of end cap B of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. End cap A has a cut-out  510 , for enabling access to a button, such as a home button, of the tablet computer. End cap B has a cut-out  610  for a camera of the tablet computer to see through. 
         [0041]    End cap A includes a track  530 , and end cap B includes a corresponding track  630 . Pins of lens frame  700  slide along tracks  530  and  630  to enable lens frame to move inwards and outwards of case  100 . End cap A includes an indent dimple  580  for holding male boss  380  of base plate A, and thereby align base plate A with end cap A. Similarly, end cap B includes an indent dimple  680  for holding male boss  480  of base plate B, and thereby align base plate B with end cap B. End cap A includes a perforation  540 , so as to avoid obstructing sound generated by an audio speaker in the tablet computer. 
         [0042]    Reference is made to  FIG. 7 , which is an illustration of lens frame  700  of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Lens frame  700  includes protruding pins  710 , which slide inwards and outwards of tracks  530  and  630  of end caps A and B, to enables lens frame  700  to move inwards and outwards of case  100 . Lens frame  700  includes ferrous metal strips  720  which are held by magnets  320  of base plate A. Lens frame  700  also includes registration tabs  740  that fit into indents  340  of base plate A, to secure lens frame  700  securely in proper alignment when lens frame is overlaid on the screen of the tablet computer. 
         [0043]    Reference is made to  FIG. 8 , which is an illustration of wing bayonet  800  for joining base plates A and B, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Wing bayonet  800  includes a metal pin  810  that threads within bayonet threads  350  and  450  of base plates A and B, to lock the base plates into their closed position and thereby secure the tablet computer tightly in place. 
         [0044]    Reference is made to  FIG. 9 , which is a front perspective view of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Case  100  is shown with a tablet computer inside. A button  910  of the tablet computer, such as a home button, is accessible through a cut-out of end cap A. A cut-out of end cap B exposes a camera  920  of the tablet computer. A lenticular lens array  950  in lens frame  700  is overlaid on the screen of the tablet computer. A lens removal tab  750  enables a user to pull lens frame  700  away from the screen, when it is no longer in use, for storage inside case  100  behind the tablet computer. 
         [0045]    Reference is made to  FIG. 10 , which is a back perspective view of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A lock and cover attachment system  820  is used to lock base plates A and B into their closed position, and to attach cover  200 . Cover  200  may be sewn around wing bayonet  800 , or otherwise assembled around wing bayonet  800 . As shown above in  FIG. 2 , cover  200  may be opened and used as a stand for the tablet computer, and rubber grips  310  provide stability when the tablet computer is standing. 
         [0046]    Reference is made to  FIG. 11 , which is a view of the interlocking base plates and end caps of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 11  shows base plate A connected to end cap A, and base plate B connected to end cap B. When the base plates are open, a tablet computer  900  is placed between the base plates. As the base plates move into their closed position, ring  350  of base plate A and ring  450  of base plate B move into alignment for locking. When the base plates are locked into place, tablet computer  900  is tightly held in place between them. 
         [0047]    Reference is made to  FIG. 12 , which is a view of a lenticular lens array  950 , in case  100 , being stored behind tablet computer  900 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 12  shows lenticular lens array  950  within lens frame  700 . Lens frame  700  is stored behind a screen  930  of tablet computer  900 .  FIG. 12  shows lens frame  700  in a raised position. Lens frame  700  lowers into case  100  as its pins slide down the tracks of end caps A and B. 
         [0048]    Reference is made to  FIG. 13 , which is a view of lenticular lens frame  700  of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Reference is also made to  FIG. 14 , which is a view of the magnetic alignment mechanism, for aligning and retaining lens frame  700  of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Reference is further made to  FIG. 15 , which is a view of the interior of base plate A and end cap A of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15  shows magnets  320  of base plate A and tracks  550  of end cap A.  FIG. 13  shows lenticular lens array  950  in lens frame  700 . Protruding pins  710  slide up and down the tracks of end caps A and B, to raise and lower lens frame  700  into case  100 . When lens frame  700  is lowered into place in front of the screen of the tablet computer, ferrous metal strips  720  are held in place by magnets  320  inside base plate A. 
         [0049]    Reference is made to  FIG. 16 , which is a view of magnets  320  molded in base plate A of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0050]    Reference is made to  FIG. 17 , which is a bottom view of base plate A and end cap A of case  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 17  shows rubber grip  310 , which holds case  100  to the ground when case  100  is in a standing position. 
         [0051]    Reference is made to  FIG. 18  is an animated sequence of pictures showing how lens frame  700  pulls out and flips over case  100 , so as to overlay lenticular lens array  950  on screen  930  of the tablet computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0052]    It will thus be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the lenticular lens case for a tablet computer described above overcomes the technical problems of alignment and retention explained above, and provides many other advantages. In particular:
       The case provides for accurate, reliable and easy removal and reattachment of a lenticular lens array, with alignment accuracy within 0.01 mm.   The case has a durable attachment system.   The case protects the lenticular lens array in a protected storage position.   The case allows access to hardware controls of the tablet computer.   The case maintains touch-through capabilities of the tablet computer touch screen.   The case is scratch resistant.   The case rejects reflection.       
 
         [0060]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention has broad application to lenticular lens cases for many devices, in addition to tablet computers. Such devices include inter alia gaming devices, entertainment devices, web browsers, e-readers, mobile phones, and automobile, boat and airplane decks and panels. 
         [0061]    In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to the specific exemplary embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.