Patent Publication Number: US-2022236764-A1

Title: Case for a tablet shaped device

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The present application is a continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/779,292, filed Jan. 31, 2020, which claims priority to Australia Patent Application No. 2019100127, filed on Feb. 6, 2019, which said applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure herein generally relates to a case for a tablet shaped device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Examples of tablet shaped devices include but are not limited to a tablet computer, an 
     APPLE IPAD PRO™, SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S4, and AMAZON FIRE HB 8. A peripheral keyboard may be used by a user to interface with a tablet shaped device. The peripheral keyboard may communicate with the tablet shaped device via a BLUETOOTH network, at least one port, or via a cable, for example. 
       FIG. 1  shows a tablet shaped device in the form of an APPLE IPAD PRO™ (“IPAD”), generally indicated by the numeral  1 . The tablet shaped device  1  is coupled to a prior art folding cover  2  for a tablet shaped device (“folding cover”). The folding cover comprises a keyboard  6 , and is in the form of an APPLE SMART KEYBOARD FOLIO™, however other examples of folding covers do not comprise a keyboard. Other folding covers with a keyboard may be used. The folding cover  2  attaches to the tablet shaped device  1  magnetically. In this but not all possible examples, a plurality of magnets are embedded within the back panel of the tablet shaped device  1  which are magnetically attracted to the folding cover  2 . The folding cover  2  comprises a magnetically attractable material for magnetic attachment to the plurality of magnets. A port located on the back face of the tablet shaped device  1  in the form of an APPLE SMART CONNECTOR™ connects the folding cover  2  and the tablet shaped device  1 . The port provides a data connection and power to the keyboard  6 . Such ports may be located at other positions on other tablet shaped device, for example on an edge of a tablet shaped device. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the folding cover  2  is shown in a typing configuration. The folding cover  2  comprises a plurality of hingedly connected panels  5 , 11 , that are sequentially connected. Panel  5  is hingedly connected to the keyboard  6 . In the typing configuration, the plurality of hingedly connected panels  5 , 11  are folded behind the tablet shaped device  1  to form a collapsible stand  3 . When the folding cover  2  is in the typing configuration, the front face  4  of the tablet shaped device  1 , which comprises an electronic touch sensitive display  8 , faces the user. 
     The folding cover  2  also has a tablet shaped device protection configuration, in which the keyboard  6  covers the front face  4  and electronic touch sensitive display  8  of the tablet shaped device  1  to provide light protection. In this configuration, the back of the tablet shaped device  1  is protected by the plurality of hingedly connected panels  5 , 11 , the stand  3  being collapsed and flattened. 
     Some users may find the light protection configuration insufficient, particularly those users who wish to protect the table shaped device  1  from accidental drops, or who may use the tablet shaped device  1  in a harsh environment, e.g. a construction site, a school or in the field. In the past, those users may generally dispose the tablet shaped device in a prior art rugged case for a tablet shaped device that has a rear wall for protecting the back face of the tablet shaped device  1  and has a protecting peripheral wall for protecting the perimeter of the tablet shaped device  1 . This may be problematic, however, because such a prior art rugged case may interfere with the folding cover  2 , and interfere with during reconfiguration of the folding cover  2  between the typing configuration and the protection configuration. The tablet shaped device  1  may need to be removed from the prior art rugged case for reconfiguration of the folding cover  2 . 
     Improved cases for tablet shaped devices may be desired, or there may be a desire for more consumer choice. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein is a case for a tablet shaped device. The case comprises a first panel comprising a portion of a case perimeter wall. The case comprises a second panel comprising another portion of the case perimeter wall. The first panel and the second panel define a front face adjacent the case perimeter wall and having a tablet shaped device receiving area. The second panel comprises substantially one third of the tablet shaped device receiving area. The case comprises a hinge coupling the first panel and the second panel. 
     In an embodiment, the hinge attaches the first panel and the second panel. 
     In an embodiment, the hinge is configured for folding the second panel backwards. 
     In an embodiment, the hinge comprises a membrane and the first panel, the second panel and the membrane define a dovetail groove. 
     In an embodiment, the hinge comprises a membrane defining key-hole shaped apertures at either end thereof. 
     Any of the various features of each of the above disclosures, and of the various features of the embodiments described below, can be combined as suitable and desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side perspective view of a prior art example of a folding cover for a tablet shaped device coupled to a tablet shaped device. 
         FIG. 2  shows a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a case for a tablet shaped device. 
         FIG. 3  shows a front view of the case of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a front perspective view of the case of  FIG. 2 , wherein a panel thereof is folded backwards. 
         FIG. 5  shows a rear view detail of a hinge of the case of  FIG. 2  in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 6  shows a rear view detail of an end of the hinge in the closed configuration. 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view detail of the hinge in an open configuration. 
         FIG. 8  shows a front view detail of an end of the hinge in the open configuration. 
         FIG. 9  shows a side view of the case of  FIG. 2  having receiving therein the folding cover of  FIG. 1  and the tablet shaped device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 2-9  show various representations of an embodiment of a case for a tablet shaped device, the case being generally indicated by the number  10 . The case  10  comprises a first panel  12 , a second panel  14 , and a hinge  16  coupling the first panel  12  and the second panel  14 . The first panel  12  and the second panel  14  define a front face  18  having a tablet shaped device receiving area  20 . The first panel  12  and the send panel are each substantially rectangular and have distal rounded corners ( 68 , 70 , 72 , 72 ) (“partially rounded rectangle”). One rounded corner may be different to another rounded corner, as suitable and desired. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the hinge  16  is configured for folding the second panel  14  backwards. Folding the second panel  14  backwards allows a folding cover  2  in the form of an APPLE SMART KEYBOARD FOLIO, or generally any suitable folding cover  2 , to be configured in a typing configuration and coupled to the tablet shaped device  1  when received by the tablet shaped device receiving area  20 , without the case  10  impeding the coupling between the tablet shaped device  1  and the folding cover  2 . The case  10  is shown in a bent configuration in  FIG. 4 , for accommodating the folding cover  2  when in the typing configuration. The case  10  is shown in a flat configuration in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The flat configuration provides more protection for the tablet shaped device when received by the case, however the flat configuration may not generally be employed when the folding cover&#39;s keyboard  6  is in use. The case  10  may not need to be separated from the tablet shaped device and folding cover  2  during reconfiguration of the folding cover  2  between the typing configuration and a protection configuration. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , for example, in use, the hinge  15  of the folding cover  2  that is out of the plane of the keyboard  6  is at the case&#39;s hinge  16 , and parallel to it. To accommodate the folding cover  2  when in the typing configuration, the second panel  14  is smaller than the first panel  12 . In the present embodiment, the second panel  14  comprises substantially one third of the area of the tablet shaped device receiving area  20 . In the present embodiment, the second panel  14  comprises 0.3-0.37 of the area of the tablet shaped device receiving area  20 . The first panel  12  comprises substantially two thirds of the tablet shaped device receiving area  20 , in the present embodiment 0.63-0.7 of the tablet shaped device receiving area  20 . A side  80  of the first panel  12  and a side  82  of the second panel  12 , which is also substantially rectangular  72 , 74  and has two distal rounded corners, are at the hinge  16 . 
     The hinge  16  attaches the first panel  12  and the second panel  14 . The hinge  16  is integral with the first panel  12  and the second panel. As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the hinge  16  is in the form of a membrane hinge and comprises a membrane  22 . In an alternative embodiment, the hinge  16  may comprise a hinge pin, or have generally any suitable constructions. A membrane hinge  16  may be easier to manufacture, for example when integral to the panels  12 , 14 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , for example, the membrane  22  extends between opposite membrane ends  60 ,  62  which are adjacent associated sides of the case  10 . The membrane  22  defines key-hole shaped apertures  24 , 26  at each end of the opposite membrane ends  60 , 62 . The key-hole shapes apertures  24 , 26  may reduce stress within the hinge during folding. This may assist the hinge  16  to fold and improve the membrane&#39;s resilience to ripping. 
     As detailed in  FIG. 8 , each panel  12 , 14  comprises an edge  36 , 38  at the hinge  16 . The edges  36 , 38  and the membrane  22  define a groove having a dovetail configuration (“dovetail groove”), generally located at  40 , when the hinge  16  is closed. The membrane  22  is the end-wall of the dovetail cavity  40  and the flat edges  36 , 38  are the side walls of the dovetail cavity  40 . The walls of the dovetail groove  40  may alternatively have curved or textured walls, if desired. The dovetail groove  40 , however, is hidden from view when formed by closing the hinge  16  (that is, when the case is in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). This geometry may reduce the risk of the membrane  22  tearing during operation of the hinge and may improve manufacturability by injection moulding, by improving material flow during the injection moulding process. The dovetail groove  40  is delimited by wedges, for example opposing wedges  42 , 44 , which are cooperatively arranged to contact when the hinge is closed, spacing apart the edges  36 , 38  and setting the desired spread of the membrane  22  when the hinge is closed. This may provide for:
         a flat and wrinkle free membrane when the hinge is closed; and may   improve the mechanical stability of the case  10  when the hinge  16  is closed.       

     The case  10  comprises a body  50  comprising the first panel  12  and second panel  14 , and a case perimeter wall  30 . The perimeter wall comprises a first panel perimeter wall portion  64  at three of the four edges of the first panel  12 , and running along those three edges of the first panel  12 . The perimeter wall also comprises a second panel perimeter wall portion  66  that is attached to three of the four edges of the second panel  14 , and running along those three edges of the second panel  14 . The perimeter wall  30  is interrupted by a plurality of spaces, including spaces  52  and  54 . Space  52  is a finger access port used to remove a stylus when received by stylus receiving space  32 . In the context of the present application, the term stylus encompasses a hand-held tool used by a user to interact with a touch sensitive area (for example a touch sensitive screen) of the tablet shaped device. A stylus may, but not necessarily, comprise an elongated shaft having opposite ends and a touch sensitive area interaction point at at least one of the opposite ends. Each of the panels  12 , 14  optionally comprise stiffening members  31 , 33  comprising a plurality of elongate and inwardly turned panel members that define a rectangle. Space  54  is for locating therein a hinge  9  of the folding cover  2 , enabling the keyboard  6  of the folding cover  2  to be folded into contact or out of contact of the electronic touch sensitive display  8  of the tablet shaped device  1 . 
     The frontward facing opening of the tabled shaped device receiving space  20  is constricted by a resilient lip  34 , shown in  FIG. 7  for example, projecting inwardly from the rim of the perimeter wall  30 . The tablet shaped device  1  may be inserted by squeezing it through the opening defined by the resilient lip  34 . The at least one resilient lip  34  deforms to accommodate the passage of the tablet shaped device  1 , and recoils back into shape subsequent to passage of the tablet shaped device  1 . The perimeter wall  30  comprises user operable actuators  21 , 23  for operating volume and power controls of the tablet shaped device when received by the case  10 . Perimeter wall  30  defines ports including port  25  for taking images with a camera of the tablet shaped device, ports  27 , 29  for sound, and may define a port for a power cable. 
     The inside surface of panels  12 , 14  comprises an optional inner lining in the form of an inner felt lining. The inner lining provides a relatively soft surface to reduce scratching of the tablet shaped device. Other embodiments may not have an inner lining or may have another suitable lining material. 
     A one or two step injection molding process may be used to fabricate the case  10 . Case  10  comprises at least one polymer, in the present embodiment polycarbonate rear walls and a thermoplastic polyurethane perimeter. Other embodiments may comprise generally any suitable material, examples of which include metal, wood, and fiber reinforced plastic. 
     Now that embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated that some embodiments may have some of the following advantages:
         A folding cover for a tablet shaped device with a keyboard can be attached to the tablet shaped device without taking the case  10  completely off the tablet shaped device.   Because there is no need to remove the case, the tablet shaped device is more likely to be in the case when bumped or dropped, for example, providing protection.   Even when a keyboard is coupled to the tablet shaped device, the case provides at least some protection for the tablet shaped device.   The hinge may be rip resistance.   The membrane hinge  16  may allow for a more compact case.       

     Variations and/or modifications may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. For example:
         The hinge  16  may be separably attach the first panel  12  and the second panel  14 . A removable hinge pin may be used, for example, which are received by hinge pin receivers of the first panel  12  and the second panel  14 .   The rear of the panels  12 , 14  may be plain.   At least one of the panels  12 , 14  may have an aperture through the front face  18 .   At least one of the ports  52 , 54  and any other port may be absent.   The stylus holder may be absent.       

     The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Reference to a feature disclosed herein does not mean that all embodiments must include the feature. 
     Prior art, if any, described herein is not to be taken as an admission that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction. 
     In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, that is to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.