Patent Publication Number: US-2023136222-A1

Title: Universal case for a tablet device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/274,244 filed Nov. 1, 2021, the entire content and disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to an electronic tablet device case that is adjustable to retain differently sized devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Tablet devices such as tablet computers, e-readers, and the like are available in different sizes. Often, cases for such devices are dimensioned for a particular size device. If a consumer has several such devices, separate cases for each need to be sought out and obtained, which cases they are not interchangeable among the disparate devices. Hence, a need for a universal case for a tablet device exists. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment the disclosure is directed to a universal case for an electronic tablet device comprising: a rectangular sectioning panel comprising a front surface having a center point, a front surface center portion surrounding the center point, and a rear surface, the front surface comprising a plurality of first projections at intervals along the x-axis of the centerline of the sectioning panel and a plurality of second projections at intervals along the y-axis of the centerline of the sectioning panel, the first and second projections dividing the front surface into four quadrants, the front surface center portion having no first and second projections; and a tablet holding assembly in contact with the front side of the sectioning panel and comprising four separate rectangular quadrant pieces each configured to fit within a respective quadrant of the front surface of the sectioning panel, wherein the quadrant pieces diagonally opposite each other are joined by a respective elastic member, the elastic members traversing the front surface center portion in an X configuration, each quadrant piece prevented from touching the edge of abutting quadrant pieces by a first or a second projection, and each quadrant piece having tablet gripping member on an outer edge. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  is a top down plan view of the front surface of a rectangular sectioning panel embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS.  1 B and  1 C  are perspective views of the front and rear surfaces of the embodiment of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIGS.  2 A,  2     b , and  2 C are perspective views of an embodiment of quadrant pieces comprising the tablet holding assembly of the disclosure. 
         FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are exploded views of an embodiment of a universal tablet case of the disclosure comprising a fitted cover and the rectangular sectioning panel of  FIG.  1 A  and the quadrant pieces of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIGS.  3 C and  3 D  are top down plan and perspective views of the universal tablet case of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  as would be seen through the rectangular sectioning panel. 
         FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  are perspective views of the front and rear surfaces of another embodiment of a rectangular sectioning panel of the disclosure comprising a camera window cut out. 
         FIG.  5 A  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of quadrant pieces of the disclosure;  FIG.  5 B  is a perspective view of the rear side of the embodiment of  FIG.  5 A . 
         FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are perspective views of the quadrant pieces of  FIG.  5    being assembled with elastic members and resulting tablet holding assembly. 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded view of an embodiment of a universal tablet case of the disclosure comprising a fitted cover with the rectangular sectioning panel of  FIG.  5    and the quadrant pieces and tablet assembly of  FIG.  6    with a complementary aligned camera window. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The ensuing detailed description and reference to the figures is exemplary only and not restrictive of the scope of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 A,  1 B, and  1 C  thereat is an embodiment of a front surface  180  for a rectangular sectioning panel  100  of the disclosure. As used throughout herein “rectangular” includes square, substantially rectangular, and substantially square. Sectioning panel  100  has a length, L, and a width, W, and a centerline CLx along the x-axis bisecting the width W, and a centerline CLy along the y-axis bisecting the length L of panel  100 . Panel  100  further has a top edge  110 , a bottom edge  102  and opposing side edges  130  and  140 . Panel  110  further comprises a front surface  180  and a rear surface  190 . Front surface  180  comprises a center point  150  at the intersection of CLx and CLy, and a plurality of first projections  160   a  and  160   b  at intervals along the x-axis of centerline CLx, and a plurality of second projections  170   a  and  170   b  at intervals along the y-axis of centerline CLy. 
     In the practice depicted in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , two first projections  106   a  and  106   b  and two second projections  170   a  and  170   b  are shown for convenience, it being understood that more than two first and second projections can be individually employed and the number of first and second projections can be the same or different. As depicted the first and second projections are ridges that are rectangular in cross section; other shapes for be employed, e.g. pegs and the shape of the first and second projections can be the same or different. In one practice as shown in  FIGS.  1 B and  1 C , the first projections  160   a ,  160   b , and the second projections  170   a  and  170   b  are embossed from the rear surface  190  so that they protrude outwardly from the front surface  180 , the embossments for first projections  160   a  and  160   b  creating respective depressions  160   c  and  160   d  on rear surface  190 , and the embossments for second projections  170   a  and  170   b  creating depressions  170   c  and  170   d . In other practices the first and second projections can be integrally molded into the front surface  180  of the sectioning panel  100 , or separately made and adhered to the front surface  180  by glue and the like. 
     The first and second projections divide the front surface  180  into four quadrants, 1, 2, 3, and 4, generally and respectively bounded by: 1) side edge  140 , top edge  110 , second projection  170   a  and first projection  160   a;  2) side edge  140 , bottom edge  120 , second projection  170   b , and first projection  160   a;  3) bottom edge  120 , side edge  130 , second projection  170   b , first projection  160   b ; and 4) side edge  130 , top edge  110 , first projection  160   b , second projection  170   a . The four quadrants may be of the same or different size. The front surface  180  comprises front surface center portion generally depicted in  FIG.  1 A  as the cross-hatched area surrounding center point  150 . The center portion can be symmetric or asymmetric. In one practice, the front surface center portion comprises up to 30% of the length of the sectioning panel, and, separately, up to 30% of the width of the sectioning panel; in another practice, the front surface center portion comprises up to 20% of the length of the sectioning panel and, separately, up to 20% of the width of the sectioning panel; in another practice, the front surface center portion comprises up to 10% of the length of the sectioning panel and, separately, up to 10% of the width of the sectioning panel. 
       FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  depict another embodiment of a rectangular sectioning panel  101  having the same features as shown for sectioning panel  100  of  FIGS.  1 A,  1 B and  1 C  only sectioning panel  101  comprises a camera window  192  which is shown as a corner notch but can be an opening in the panel itself and can be located within the body of the panel. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 A,  2 B,  2 C , thereat is an embodiment of rectangular quadrant pieces  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204  each configured to fit within a respective quadrant of the front surface of the sectioning panel. Quadrant pieces  201  and  203 , and  202  and  204 , are diagonally opposite each other. The quadrant pieces may be of the same or different size and rectangular shape. In the optional practice shown, the corners of pieces  201  and  203 , and  202  and  204 , that are opposite each other have been truncated or beveled but need not be. Each quadrant piece comprises a tablet gripping member to secure the electronic tablet device to the case. Gripping members as known in the art are serviceable. In the practice depicted, gripping members  210 ,  211 ,  212  and  213  each comprise a flange that extends around the entire outer periphery of respective quadrant pieces  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204 , the flange configured to grip the corner and/or side of an electronic tablet device. In another practice, flanges  201 ,  202 ,  203 ,  204  may extend around only a portion of the outer periphery of a respective quadrant piece. As shown in the embodiment of  FIGS.  2 A,  2 B, and  2 C , the flanges may comprise one or more of openings  230 ,  231 ,  232 ,  233 , configured to align with the location of speaker(s) and/or microphone(s) of an electronic tablet device. 
     In the practice illustrated in  FIGS.  2 A,  2 B, and  2 C , and as depicted in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , each of the quadrant pieces shown further comprise slots  220 ,  221 ,  22 , and  223  through which a respective elastic member  250  and  251  is disposed. In the non-limiting embodiment depicted, slots  220 ,  221 ,  222 , and  223  each have a side opening that extend to an edge of their respective quadrant piece, from which side opening they can be accessed to engage an elastic member, e.g. as depicted in  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B . As illustrated, elastic member  250  joins diagonally opposite quadrant pieces  202  and  204  by being disposed through slots  221  and  223 , whereas elastic member  251  joins diagonally opposite quadrant pieces  201  and  203  by being disposed through slots  220  and  224 . Alternatively, the elastic members may be connected to the quadrant pieces by other means known in the art, e.g. by rivets, glue, and the like. The elastic members are configured to urge the opposing quadrant pieces toward the center point while stretching outward to accommodate differently sized electronic tablet devices. Suitable elastic members include those known in the art such as elastic bands, bungee cords and the like and may be the same or different. 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  illustrate the construction of the universal tablet case with the sectioning panel and quadrant pieces of  FIGS.  1  and  2    wherein the front side  180  of rectangular sectioning panel  100  placed to be in contact with the tablet holding assembly comprising quadrant pieces  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204  where opposite pieces  201  and  203 , and  202  and  204  are joined as aforesaid by elastic members  250  and  251 . Rectangular section panel  100  can be secured to the tablet holding assembly by stitching, glue and the like as known in the art. Back cover  300  is secured to the rear side of the tablet assembly, e.g. by a lip extending around the rear side of quadrant pieces  201 ,  202 ,  203 ,  204  configured to hold back cover  300 . In another embodiment, cover  300  can be conjured as a wrap around cover having a flap portion configured to extend around and over the tablet holding assembly. 
       FIGS.  3 C and  3 D  are representations of the universal case of the disclosure as would be seen through a transparent rectangular sectioning panel. Quadrant pieces  201  and  203  which 
     are diagonally across from one another are joined together by elastic band  250  which is disposed within slots  220  and  222 . Similarly, quadrant pieces  202  and  204  which are diagonally across from one another are joined together by elastic band  251  which is disposed within slots  221  and  223 . First projection  160   a  prevents quadrant pieces  201  and  202  from touching each other whereas first projection  160   b  prevents quadrant pieces  203  and  204  from touching each other. Similarly, second projection  170   a  prevents quadrant pieces  201  and  204  from touching each other and second projection  170   b  prevents quadrant pieces  203  and  204  from touching each other. The depiction in  FIGS.  3 C and  3 D  show the quadrant pieces slightly stretched apart via elastic bands  250 ,  251 . 
       FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  depict another embodiment of quadrant pieces  201   a ,  202   a ,  203   a , and  204   a  of the disclosure. These do not have beveled corners proximate the center point and comprise camera opening  193 , opening  235  for a volume button on an electronic tablet device; openings  234 ,  236 ,  237 , and  238  for a speaker and/or microphone on an electronic table device; and opening  239  for a charging port on an electronic tablet device.  FIG.  5 B  depicts the rear (opposite) side of the quadrant pieces of  FIG.  5 A  and illustrates a practice wherein each quadrant piece comprises a lip  310 ,  320 ,  330  and  340  which is configured to accommodate cover  310  which would slide in under lips  310  and  340  and optionally be secured by means known in the art, e.g. stitching or glue and the like. Cover  310  would have a camera window (not shown) that would align with camera window  193 . 
       FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  depict an embodiment for the attachment of elastic members to create the tablet holding assembly, e.g. elastic band  250  is configured as a loop, one end of which is slipped into slot  222  via the side opening  222   a  whereas the other end of band  250  is slipped into slot  220  via its side opening  220   a .  FIG.  7    illustrates the construction of the universal tablet case with the sectioning panel and quadrant pieces of  FIGS.  4 ,  5 , and  6    wherein the front side  180  of rectangular sectioning panel  101  is placed to be in contact with the tablet holding assembly comprising quadrant pieces  201   a ,  202   a ,  203   a , and  204   a  where opposite pieces  201   a  and  203   a , and  202   a  and  204   a  are joined as aforesaid by elastic members  250  and  251 . Rectangular section panel  101  can be secured to the tablet holding assembly by stitching, glue and the like as known in the art. In the practice shown, front cover  301 , against which an electronic tablet device is placed, is fitted over the front surface of the tablet assembly and can be secured by means known in the art. Front cover  320  comprises camera window  194  which is configured to align with camera windows  192  and  193  of the sectioning panel and tablet assembly respectively.