Abstract:
An apparatus for securing an electronic device to a cover. The apparatus is in the form of a clip that uses a 3-point system to provide a secure hold on a device without requiring any holes in the device. Three contact points radiate from a main body in a triangular fashion in plan view. Two of the contact points are formed as cups that couple with two respective corners of the electronic device. The third contact point is an elastically deformable clip that engages a side or top of the electronic device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to covers for electronic devices, and more particularly to an apparatus for securing an electronic device to a cover. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    With the advent of “electronic paper” and new liquid crystal display (LCD) technology that allows easy reading of electronic documents in varying light conditions with limited power, electronic book or tablet devices such as the Barnes &amp; Noble Nook®, have hit the mainstream. The technology has quickly evolved to very thin, portable devices that have long battery life and built in communication such as cellular or wireless. Many people are beginning to use these devices like they would ordinary books, magazines, or newspapers, carrying them in briefcases or beach bags like they would an ordinary paper periodical or book. 
         [0003]    There are many types of book or device covers that offer different levels of flexibility or levels of convenience in providing functionality as a cover for the device as well as acting as a stand or easel for hands free viewing of the device. One issue facing designers of such covers or stands is how to secure the electronic device to cover or stand. Some prior art apparatuses have included protrusions formed in the cover that mate with apertures in the electronic device. Other apparatuses provide pockets formed on a surface of the cover in which the electronic device can be received. Some have provided flexible elastic straps that fit over portions of the electronic device, for example the corners of the device. 
         [0004]    None of these conventional apparatuses provide a simple mechanism for mounting and un-mounting the electronic device to the cover while at the same time providing a secure coupling of the device to the cover. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is an apparatus for securing an electronic device to a cover. 
         [0006]    The apparatus is in the form of a clip that uses a 3-point system to provide a secure hold on a device without requiring any holes in the device. The clip also provides an improved user experience in attaching and detaching an electronic device from the clip. 
         [0007]    The three contact points radiate from a main body in a triangular fashion in plan view. Two of the contact points are formed as cups that couple with two respective corners of the electronic device. The third contact point is an elastically deformable clip that engages a side of the electronic device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For the purposes of illustrating the present invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown by the drawing in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the securing apparatus; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the securing apparatus; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the securing apparatus with an electronic device attached thereto; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the securing apparatus with the electronic device attached thereto; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the elastic clip contact point; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one of the corner contact points; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates the securing apparatus of the present invention embedded in a cover for an electronic device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the securing apparatus  10  of the present invention. The clip  10  has a main body  20 , two corner cups  30 ,  40  and an elastically deformable clip  50 . In a preferred embodiment, the clip  10  is formed of a plastic material. As seen in this Figure, the basic shape of securing apparatus  10  is triangular, due to the three point connection design of the apparatus  10 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the top of securing apparatus  10 . As seen in this view, the surface  25  of body  20  is the portion of securing device  10  that faces and supports the electronic device when the device is mounted in the apparatus  10 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the securing apparatus  10  with an electronic device  100  attached thereto. This figure clearly shows the triangular or “Y” shaped structure of apparatus  10 . Elastically deformable clip  50  is connected to body  20  by main member  60 . Contact points  30  and  40  are respectively connected to body  20  by connecting members  80  and  70 . As seen in this Figure, main member  60  is wider than connecting members  70  and  80  and provides a substantial amount of the support and rigidity of apparatus  10 . Additionally, as the user operates elastically deformable clip  50  in order to attach and detach electronic device  100 , it is preferable that main member  60  have additional structure to enable many thousands of cycles of attachment and detachment of electronic device  100 . 
         [0019]    In addition to the main member  60  and connecting members  70  and  80 , it is preferable that web members  90  and ribs  95  are formed in body  20  to provide additional support and rigidity to apparatus  10 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the securing apparatus  10  with the electronic device  100  attached thereto. As shown in this Figure, contact points  30  and  40  are operably connected to two corners  101 ,  102  of the electronic device  100 , while the main elastically deformable clip  50  is engaged with device  100  along the middle of an opposing side  103 . As shown in this Figure, in order to provide sufficient stability and holding power, it is preferable to engage the device  100  with the corner contacts points  30 ,  40  along one long side  104  of the device  100  and engage the device  100  with the clip  50  along the other long side  103  of the device. Although the two corners and the middle of the shorter sides can be used as the engagement points of the apparatus  10 , the present inventors have determined this configuration does not provide as much stability and holding strength as engaging the longer sides  103 ,  104  or electronic device  100 . 
         [0021]    The distance between the far end  35  of contact point  30  and the far end  45  of contact point  45  is such that when a user inserts electronic device  100  into securing apparatus  10  (as further described below) there is a pressure fit between the two contact points  30 ,  40 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the elastic clip  50  of securing apparatus contact point. 
         [0023]    As seen in this Figure, the profile of elastic clip  50  is straight, in order to engage along its entire length with the side of the electronic device  100 . This is compared to the curved profile of the corner contact points  30 ,  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , which are configured to engage a curved corner or electronic device  100 . 
         [0024]    Elastic clip  50  is provided with the lip  120  that fits over an edge of electronic device  100 , when electronic device  100  is attached to securing apparatus  10 . In a preferred embodiment, lip  120  fits over an edge of a protrusion (e.g., a piping) formed on a side surface of electronic device  100 . Alternatively, lip  120  can be fit over the top of the case of electronic device  100 , engaging the top surface of the device  100 . The profile of area  100  is shaped to conform to the profile of the device  100 . Although depicted as being curved, it is appreciated that the profile  110  can be altered to better conform to the profile of the edge of device  100 . Sharp corners on profile  100  are not preferred to avoid any physical interference when attaching and detaching device  100  to securing apparatus  10 . 
         [0025]    Elastic clip  50  has a protrusion  125  that enables a user to move the clip  50  in a lateral direction A when attaching and detaching electronic device  100  to securing apparatus  10 . In a preferred embodiment, clip  50  has sufficient elasticity such that the user does not have to use protrusion  125  to move clip  50  in the lateral direction A when attaching electronic device  100  to securing apparatus  10 . The user simply has to apply a downward pressure to electronic device  100  in direction C to snap the device  100  into clip  50 . The rounded end of lip  120  allows the edge of the device  100  to apply the lateral force in direction A, pushing back the clip  50  and allowing the device  100  to be secured in clip  50 . Preferably, clip  50  is made of a material of a sufficient thickness, that once the user has applied the downward pressure in direction C, clip  50  will move in lateral direction B due to the elastic “memory” of the material. This “memory” of the material should be sufficient to provide lateral movement in direction B for thousands of cycles of attaching and detaching device  100 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one of the corner contact points  30 ,  40 . As seen in this Figure, the profile of these contact points is curved in both the vertical and horizontal directions. These curvatures are designed to conform to the profiles of the corners of electronic device  100 . Again, as appreciated by those skilled in the art, the profiles of attachment points  30 ,  40  can be altered to better conform to the profile of the corners of device  100 . Sharp corners on the profiles of attachment points  30 ,  40  are not preferred in order to avoid any physical interference when attaching and detaching device  100  to securing apparatus  10 . 
         [0027]    Similar to lip  120  in clip  50 , corner contact points  30 ,  40  have a lip  130  that fits over an edge of electronic device  100 , when electronic device  100  is attached to securing apparatus  10 . In a preferred embodiment, lip  130  fits over an edge of a protrusion (e.g., a piping) formed on a side surface of electronic device  100 . Alternatively, lip  130  can be fit over the top of the case of electronic device  100 , engaging the top surface of the device  100 . 
         [0028]    Unlike clip  50 , corner engagement sections  30 ,  40  do not have any protrusions for use by the operator. In operation, the user fits the two corners of electronic device  100  into the corner sections  30 ,  40  and then applies the downward pressure to the edge of device  100  near clip  50  in order to attach the device  100  to securing apparatus  10  as described above. In a preferred embodiment, corner contact points  30 ,  40  do not have the same lateral elasticity as clip  50 . 
         [0029]    Once engaged in securing apparatus  10 , the electronic device  100  remains secured in apparatus  10  by a pressure fit. Unlike many conventional securing devices, securing apparatus  10  does not require any apertures in electronic device  100  into which protrusion of the securing device are mated. This is a significant functional and cost savings advantage of the present invention over conventional devices. The securing apparatus  10  can be used with any electronic device of similar form factor, without any special manufacturing required to conform the electronic device to the securing apparatus (or vice versa). 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates the securing apparatus  10  of the present invention embedded in a cover  200  for an electronic device. As seen in this Figure, only the elastic clip  50  and the corner connection points  30 ,  40  protrude from the surface  210  of the cover  200 . Securing apparatus  10  is attached to a supporting panel  220  of cover  200  in a conventional manner, such as by gluing or by mechanical connection. For esthetic purposes and to prevent scratching of the cover of the electronic device, interior surface  210  of the cover  200  is a soft, but durable material such as cloth or leather. An area  230  on cover  200  is provided to allow sound from a speaker in the electronic device to be transmitted through the cover. As seen form the previous Figures, none of the structure of securing apparatus  10  is disposed in this area to block the transmission of the sound. 
         [0031]    Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and other uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the gist and scope of the disclosure.