Patent Publication Number: US-2013241381-A1

Title: One-piece case for enclosing a tablet-computing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/536,976 filed Sep. 20, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field Of Invention 
     The present disclosure relates generally to protective cases for an electronic device and specifically to a one-piece protective case for a tablet-type computing device. 
     2. Description Of The Background 
     Smart phones, tablet computers, personal readers, personal electronic assistants, as well as other portable electronic devices are widely used and have become a ubiquitous part of every day life. Such devices, although designed to be used in real world environments, often contain sensitive electronics and are subject to damage if dropped from a normal operating position. Many devices contain interactive touchscreen type displays made of glass or other brittle materials. The electronic devices, typically do not come with any sort of built in or integral cases or covers to protect the screens or the backs and sides of the devices. Despite attempts to design these complicated electronic devices for real world application, it is often necessary to utilize some form of protective case to shield and protect the electronic devices from damage due to drops or falls. Many different types and designs of cases exist and provide a wide range of protections and features. Cases may range from purely decorative to utilitarian, from soft pliable cases, to co-molded soft and hard cases to rigid cases. Cases, for tablet computers for example, are often comprised of two distinct and separate pieces, a cover for the front of the device, and some form of case or shell for the back of the device. These cases are typically comprised of many components joined together by various means. Manufacturing these cases from individual components adds time and cost to the manufacturing process and introduces weakness and points of failure into the overall case. It is therefore desirable to have a case that is molded from a single piece of material yet provides the functionality of a multi-piece case that covers both the front and back of the device. The present inventions fulfills this need. The one-piece case and molding process of the present disclosure offers considerable advantages over other available methods and the one-piece construction removes the need to join components of a case together, provides an attractive look and feel, and provides increased durability over other cases that require joining different materials together. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a case that is molded to form a single piece from a single material, such as such as plastic, rubber, elastomeric material, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and/or a thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and/or some combination thereof. The one-piece molding case and process offers considerable advantages over presently available methods. For example, the one-piece construction removes the need to join components of a case together, provides an attractive look and feel, and provides increased durability over other cases that require joining different materials together. 
     In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a one-piece molded case for enclosing a computing device is disclosed. The one piece case comprise a first portion shaped to accept and retain the computing device when inserted therein, where the first portion substantially covers a bottom and a side surface of the inserted computing device. The case further includes a second portion shaped to fold over the first portion and cover a top of the inserted computing device. 
     In another embodiment, the one-piece molded case further comprises a junction between the first and second portions, wherein the first portion and the second portion have a first thickness and the junction has a second thickness that is thinner than the first thickness. In another embodiment, the junction acts as a hinge between the first portion and the second portion. In another embodiment, the second portion has a plurality of segments and a plurality of junctions, and the plurality of segments has the first thickness and the plurality of junctions has the second thickness, and the first thickness is greater then the second thickness. 
     In another embodiment, adjacent segments of the plurality of segments are separated by one of the plurality of junctions. In still another embodiment, the second portion bends at the plurality of junctions to reform into a shape of a stand. 
     In another embodiment, the second portion has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the outer surface of the second portion has a textured portion. In still another embodiment, the second portion comprises a closing portion for retaining the second portion adjacent to the top of the computing device. In another embodiment, the second portion comprises a portion of a sensor for interacting with the computing device when the second portion is adjacent to the top of the computing device. 
     In another embodiment, the case is formed from at least plastic, rubber, silicone, neoprene, elastomeric material, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and a thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). In still another embodiment, the computing device is a tablet computer. 
     In another embodiment, a case with an integrated stand for a tablet computing device is disclosed. The case with the integrated stand comprises a first portion shaped to accept and retain the tablet computing device when inserted therein, the first portion substantially covering a bottom and a side surface of the inserted computing device and a second portion capable of being configured into a plurality of shapes, where at least one of the plurality of shapes is the integrated stand for the tablet computing device. 
     In still another embodiment, of the case with an integrated stand for a tablet computing device the second portion comprises a plurality of segments separated by a plurality of junctions, and at least one of the plurality of junctions acts as a hinge between two adjacent segments of the plurality of segments. In still another embodiment, the plurality of segments has the first thickness and the plurality of junctions has the second thickness, and the first thickness is greater then the second thickness. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The devices and methods described herein are further described in terms of exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings. These embodiments are non-limiting exemplary embodiments, in which like reference numerals represent similar structures throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a one-piece case in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a cross sectional view of a one-piece case in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of a one-piece case with an inserted device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and/or components, have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings. 
     A one-piece case for enclosing a computing device such as a tablet computer is molded from a single material into a single piece. The case comprises a base portion to hold the computing device and a cover portion to cover the front or screen of the computing device. By varying the thickness of the material used in different areas of the one-piece case, the two portions of the case may be hinged together. Similarly, because of the areas of differing thicknesses, the cover portion of the one-piece case can be folded into various configurations, thereby creating a stand for the computing device. The PixelSkin HD Wrap™ for iPad2™ from Speculative Products LLP (SPECK), is an example of just such a case. 
     The case of the present disclosure is molded to form a single piece from a single material, such as plastic, rubber, silicone, neoprene, elastomeric material, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and/or a thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and/or some combination thereof. It is a one-piece case which incorporates both a front and back portion, intended to cover the screen and rear of a device, into a single one piece design. While, the present disclosure makes reference to a tablet computer, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art, that a case of the present disclosure may be utilized with any type of personal electronic device, where the user wishes to protect the front and back of the device with a case made from a unitary piece of material. Such devices include, but are not limited to tablet computers, smart phones, book readers, PDAs, handheld game systems, or any other electronic device that is configured without an integral cover. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of a one-piece case  100  in accordance with the present disclosure. One-piece case  100  comprises a first portion  110  and a second portion  120 . First portion  110  may be shaped to accept and retain an inserted electronic device such as a tablet-computing device (not shown). In an embodiments, a computing device may be inserted into cavity  105  in first portion  110  and held in place via any known means such as, but not limited to, a clip, an overhanging extension, a detent, a lip, an adhesive, a magnet, a strap, a hook and loop mechanism such as Velcro TM  , or high friction materials. Any of these materials may be attached to, or incorporated into, the case in order to retain an inserted tablet-computing device in cavity  105 . Cavity  105  in first portion  110  may have sides  102  that extends around the entire cavity  105  or sides  102  may only partially surround cavity  105 . First portion  110  may have bottom portion  103  which covers the entire bottom of cavity  105  or bottom portion  103  may only cover a partial portion of cavity  105 . Additionally, case  100  may be customized to accommodate a particular kind or type of tablet or computing device and bottom portion  103  or any other part of first portion  110  including sides  102  may include one or more apertures  104  to accommodate a feature of the inserted tablet-computing device, such as, but not limited to, a user interface or a port, a camera, a speaker or an access panel. 
     Second portion  120  may include two or more segments  140  separated by a relatively thin junction  145 . Thin junction  145  may allow for flexibility between the segments such that second portion  120  may be folded along one or more thin junctions  145  in order to, for example, elevate the tablet-computing device at an angled position relative to a planar position and/or maintain tablet-computing device in the angled position.  FIG. 3  shows case  100  with a computing device  300  inserted. As shown, first portion  110  houses computing device  300  in cavity  105  and second portion  120  is presented in a folded position, to present computing device  300  in an elevated position. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , first portion  110  may be joined to second portion  120  of case  100  via hinge junction  130 . Hinge junction  130  may be sufficiently thin so as to allow flexibility between first and second portions  110  and  120  such that second portion  120  may be folded over first portion  110  and/or an enclosed tablet-computing device in order to cover a surface of the enclosed tablet-computing device. Hinge junction  130  may be made of the same material as the remainder of case  100  or may comprise additional reinforcement materials such as mesh or film, molded into hinge junction  130  to provide additional strength. In some embodiments, case  100  may also include an extension or tab  150  that may be inserted into an opening or slot  125  when folded in order to, for example, maintain the folded arrangement of segments  140 . Other methods to maintain the folds may also be employed, such as magnets, hook and loop, friction, or snaps. 
     As understood by one skilled in the art, case  100  is molded as one continuous piece comprising both first portion  110  and second portion  120 . While case  100  is a single unit, it relies on different thicknesses of materials in different portions to contribute to the overall functionality and flexibility of the different sections. For example, thin junctions  145  and hinge junction  130  while made of the same material as segments  140  and first portion  110  are considerably thinner and provide flexibility to facilitate bending and opening and closing of second portion  120 . Furthermore, junctions  145  and hinge junction  130  may be the same thicknesses or different thicknesses 
     In one embodiment, case  100  may have a closing mechanism  160  by which it closes and/or remains closed. In an embodiment, closing mechanism  160  may be a portion, of and/or affixed to, an inner surface of second portion  120  and may interface with, for example, an inserted tablet-computing device and/or first portion  110 . For example, the closing mechanism may be a high-friction material and when the second portion  120  is folded over first portion  110 , the high friction material may affix to an upper surface of an enclosed tablet-computing device and thereby may maintain a folded and/or closed position. The closing mechanism  160  may also be a high suction mechanism which adheres to the surface of the inserted computing device. The closing mechanism  160  may be a magnet or ferric material and may interact with a complementary mechanism incorporated into the computing device or into first portion  110 . The closing mechanism  160  may also be used as part of a sensor incorporated into the computing device, which allows the device to turn off or enter a sleep mode when the second portion  120  is closed over the computing device. 
     Additionally and/or alternatively, textures, graphics, coloration, or other features may be incorporated into the molding of first portion  110  or second portion  120 . For example, different colors may be added to the materials to create graphics or patterns, or the molds used to form the case  100  may contain graphics, logos, images, textures, such as ridges, which transfer to either first portion  110  or second portion  120  during the molding process. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present teachings are amenable to a variety of modifications and/or enhancements. While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.