AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 Standard Patent Specification Title: Case with elastic grip holder Applicant(s): Targus Group International, Inc. Inventor(s): Jacques Phillip LANGLOIS Jonny YUAN Craig REISER Takuya IDEHARA Agent: © COTTERS Patent & Trade Mark Attoneys The following is a full description of the invention which sets forth the best method known to the applicant of performing it.
-2 CASE WITH AN ELASTIC HOLDER TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to portable electronic devices and, more specifically, to case accessories for portable electronic devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0001 a] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a case to engage portable electronic devices of different dimensions comprising: a base panel configured to sit on a working surface; a support panel pivotably coupled to the base panel and configured to support a portable electronic device in an elevated position, the support panel comprising: a lower portion pivotably coupled to the base panel; and a pivot flap pivotably coupled to the lower portion; and a holder coupled to the pivot flap and including at least one elastic grip configured to receive and secure a corner of portable electronic devices of different dimensions; wherein the holder includes an extending member coupled to the one elastic grip.
- 2a [0001 b] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a case to engage portable electronic devices of different dimensions comprising: a base panel configured to sit on a working surface; a support panel pivotably coupled to the base panel and configured to support a portable electronic device in an elevated position, the support panel comprising: a lower portion pivotably coupled to the base panel; and a pivot flap pivotably coupled to the lower portion; a rotational mechanism coupled to the pivot flap; and a holder coupled to the rotational mechanism and including at least one elastic grip configured to secure a corner of portable electronic devices of different dimensions, wherein the rotational mechanism is configured to allow the holder to rotate in one or more directions relative to the support panel; wherein the holder includes an extending member coupled to the one elastic grip. [0001c] In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a case to engage portable electronic devices of different dimensions comprising: a base panel configured to sit on a working surface; a support panel pivotably coupled to the base panel and configured to support a portable electronic device in an elevated position, the support panel comprising: a lower portion pivotably coupled to the base panel; and a pivot flap pivotably coupled to the lower portion; a rotational mechanism coupled to the pivot flap; and a holder coupled to the rotational mechanism and comprising: - 2b a central member coupled to the rotational mechanism and configured to support a backside of a portable electronic device; four elastic, extending members extending from the central member; and four elastic grips, each elastic grip coupled to a corresponding extending member, each elastic grip configured to receive and secure a corner of portable electronic devices of different dimensions, wherein the rotational mechanism is configured to allow the holder to rotate in one or more directions relative to the support panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0002] The written disclosure herein describes illustrative embodiments that are non limiting and non-exhaustive. Reference is made to certain of such illustrative embodiments that are depicted in the figures, in which: [0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a case in a display configuration consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; [0004] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative view of the case in Fig. 1 consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; [0005] FIG. 3 illustrates a case in a display configuration with the grip holder rotated into a portrait position consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; [0006] FIG. 4 illustrates a case in an open configuration with the grip holder lain flat on a horizontal surface consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; [0007] FIG. 5 illustrates a case in the stowage configuration consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; [0008] FIG. 6 illustrates a back view of the grip holder relative to a portable electronic device consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; -3 [0009] FIG. 7 illustrates a back view of the grip holder of Fig. 6 with the grips extended to engage corners of a portable electronic device consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure; and [0010] FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a portable electronic device retained by the grip holder of Figs. 6 and 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0011] The proliferation of portable electronic devices (PEDs), including notebook and tablet computers (e.g., the Apple@ iPadTM), portable digital assistants (PDAs), and smartphones, has placed more computing power into the hands of users than the computing power of early computers that occupied an entire room. This portable computing power has enhanced both personal and business mobile productivity. Due to their portability, however, PEDs may be susceptible to damage. In addition, PEDs may allow for viewing in a variety of orientations (e.g., portrait and/or landscape), but may not be configured to be easily used in multiple orientations. [0012] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an accessory case for a PED configured to protect the PED from damage. In some embodiments, the accessory case may be configured to enclose the PED and rotatably support the PED in at least two orientations. In various embodiments, the case may be configured to enclose and protect the PED in a closed position and support the PED upright and/or elevated (i.e., propped up) in an open position. [0013] Embodiments may be best understood by reference to the drawings. In certain instances, like features may be designated with like reference numerals. It will be readily understood that the components of the present disclosure, as generally -4 described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the apparatus is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, but is merely representative of possible embodiments of the disclosure. In some cases, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail. [0014] Embodiments for a case are disclosed herein which covers a PED in stowage and supports a PED in an elevated viewing position. The case may be referred to as a holder, sleeve, mount, and the like and, as used herein, does not necessarily imply an encasing. The PED may be any portable electronic device including, for example, a notebook computer, an electronic book reader (e.g., the Amazon@ KindleTM), a smartphone (e.g., the Apple@ iPhoneTM, the Motorolao Droid5, and the BlackBerryo StormTM), and/or a tablet computer (e.g., the Apple@ iPadTM, the HP @ Slate, and the Samsung@ Galaxy T M Tablet). The PED can include on the front and/or the back face of the PED a display that is viewable in either a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation, a user input (not shown), and a data input/output port (not shown). In some embodiments, the case may be configured such that the display, user input, and data input/output port are accessible by a user of the PED while the PED is disposed in the case. [0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a case 100 with a holder 102 to secure a PED and position the PED in an elevated viewing position. The holder 102 comprises a central member 104 or body with a planar configuration to support a backside of a PED. The holder 102 comprises extending members 106 extending from the central member 104 with each extending member coupled to a corresponding elastic grip 108. As shown, there are -5 four extending members 106 and grips 108 to engage four corners of a rectangular PED. Each elastic grip 108 is configured to receive and secure a corner of a portable electronic device. [0016] The grips 108 are defined herein as being elastic in that each is configured to stretch around a corner of the PED to provide a secure friction fit. Thus, the grips 108 are configured to stretch and flex in order to receive corresponding corners of different shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, each grip comprises an elastomeric material such as silicone or rubber. Each grip 108 may be configured with a groove, track, or slot to receive a corresponding corner of a PED. The grips 108 may extend around back, side, and top surfaces of corresponding PED corners to ensure a firm engagement and retention of the PED. [0017] The extending members 106 may also be formed of an elastomeric material to stretch from the central member 104 and accommodate PEDs of different dimensions. In engaging the corners of a PED, the holder 102 allows access to one or more ports on a PED. [0018] The case 100 includes a base panel 110 that is pivotably coupled to a support panel 112. The base panel 110 may be sized to cover a front side or display side of a PED and the support panel 112 may be similarly sized to cover a back side of a PED. The panels 110, 112 may comprise various materials such as plastic, rubber, metal, leather, faux leather, vinyl, nylon, and/or any of a wide variety of alternative decorative or useful materials utilized in cases, bags, luggage, and the like. The support panel 112 includes a lower portion 114 pivotably coupled to the base panel 110 and a pivot flap 116 pivotably coupled to the lower portion 114. Pivotable coupling may be -6 accomplished through the use of any one of a number of various hinge devices including flexible materials to provide a defined pivot line. The holder 102 is coupled to the pivot flap 116 and, as shown, the pivot flap 116, and lower portion 114 may be pivoted as desired to provide the desired viewing angle. The holder 102 may be coupled through the use of stitching, brads, rivets, Velcro, adhesive tape, or a rotational mechanism as described below. [0019] In a display position, the holder 102 rests on an interior surface 118 of the base panel 110 at a position desired by a user. The base panel 110 may be configured with channels, grooves, ridges and the like (not shown) to secure grips 108 of the holder 102 when the holder 102 is in an elevated or viewing position. According to various alternative embodiments, in place of channels a frictional surface (e.g., rubberized surface or the like) or frictional contact patches may be utilized to secure the grips of the holder 102 into position. [0020] The support panel 112 provides a counterforce to the holder 102 in order to support the holder 102 in an upright and/or elevated position. As illustrated, the support panel 112 and the base panel 110 may comprise a single panel folded, hinged, or bent at 120. As such, the case 110 provides two panels 110, 112 to support a PED between. In one embodiment, the support panel 112 may effectively "snap" into one or more predetermined positions in order to support the PED 102 at predetermined angles with respect to the base panel 110. According to various embodiments, the relative proportions of the base panel 110 and the supporting panel 112 may be adapted for a particular application. Further, in certain embodiments, the case 100 may be configured -7 to support a PED at one or more angles relative to the base panel 110 and in a plurality of orientations, including portrait and landscape. [0021] Referring to Fig. 2, an alternative view of the case 100 of Fig. 1 is shown while still in a display position. In one embodiment, the case 100 may have the ability to rotate the holder 102 relative to the support panel 112 and the base panel 110. Any of a wide variety of rotatable securing devices or mechanisms 122 may be employed to rotatably secure the holder 102 to the support panel 112. For example, bushings, flanged bushings, grommets, rivets, eyelets, plain bearings, bearings, ball and socket, and/or any combination thereof may be employed to rotatably secure the holder 102 to support panel 112. As shown, a grommet 120 may be configured to rotatably secure the holder 102 to the support panel 112, and more specifically the pivot flap 116 of the support panel 112. In one embodiment, the grommet 120 may comprise a ring that allows a logo on a back side of a PED to show through the hole in the middle of grommet. In certain embodiments, one or more interchangable accessories and/or inserts may "snap" into the hole in the middle of grommet including, for example, a logo insert, a proximity alarm or other loss prevention accessory, and the like. The hole in the middle of grommet may define an opening and/or aperture that may allow viewing of the interior of the rotatable case 100 and/or a portion of a PED (not shown) disposed therein (e.g., a portion of the PED including a logo). [0022] The rotational mechanism 122 may also be configured to lock into one or more predetermined relative rotational orientations such as landscape and portrait. In certain embodiments, the grommet 122 may include an assembly which is joined together during manufacturing and is not configured to be selectively separated by a -8 user. The grommet 122 may also provide detachable coupling of the holder 102 to the pivot flap 116 so that the holder 102 can be released from the case 100. A user may selectively separate a front portion of the grommet 122 from a rear portion in order to remove the holder 102 from the pivot flap 114. In other embodiments, the front and rear portions of the grommet 122 are inseparable and the grommet 122 may be selectively detachable from the pivot flap 114 and/or the holder 102. [0023] Referring to Fig. 3, the case 100 is shown with the holder 102 rotated into a portrait orientation through use of the rotational mechanism 122 (not shown). As in Figs. 1 and 2, the holder 102 maintains a PED in an elevated viewing angle by having the grips 108 engage the interior surface 118 of the base panel 110. As before, the base panel 110 may include one or more channels, grooves, or ridges (not shown) or a frictional surface configured to secure the grips 108 and the holder 102 in a display orientation. As desired, a user may rotate the holder 102 into landscape or portrait orientations as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. [0024] Referring to Fig. 4, a case 100 is shown with the support panel 112, including the pivot flap 116 and the lower portion 114, lain flat and open-faced with the base panel 110. The holder 102 lies flat upon the support panel 112 as well. The case 100 is in a transitional position between a display position and stowage position. [0025] Referring to Fig. 5, the case 100 is shown in a stowage position with the base panel 110 and the support panel 112 folded together along a defined hinge so that the base panel 110 and the support panel 112 provide protection to an enclosed PED secured in the holder 102. The base panel 110 and the support panel 112 protect the PED from scratches, from damage as a result of a fall, from extreme temperatures, -9 and/or other conditions that may result in damage to the PED. Accordingly, any portion of the case 100 may be reinforced with padding, metal, plastic, cardboard, rubber, and/or other material or combination thereof. In certain embodiments, reinforcing material may utilize various folds, bends, and/or curvatures to obtain desirable resistance and/or resilience characteristics. [0026] Any of a variety of fasteners (not shown) may be employed to selectively maintain the case 100 in a stowage or closed position. For example, a fastener may be configured to selectively maintain the support panel 112 parallel to base panel 110. The fastener may comprise any of a variety of fasteners commonly employed in cases, bags, and luggage. Examples of possible closure mechanisms include, but are not limited to, straps, buttons, flaps, snaps, Velcro, hooks, clasps, clips, magnets and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the ends of an elastic strap may be secured to the base panel 110 and the strap may be selectively wrapped around the support panel 112. Accordingly, the support panel 112 may be elastically maintained in a closed position. Additionally, though not illustrated, the case 100 may include any of a wide variety of straps, handles, harnesses, and/or the like configured to enable a user to easily transport the case 100. The rotational mechanism 122 may include a see through center circle making a portion of the PED visible even when the case 100 is in a closed position. In some embodiments, a transparent material may cover the center of the circle defined by the rotational mechanism 122. According to other embodiments, the center circle may be filled with any type of material, including the same type of material used for the support panel 112.
- 10 [0027] Referring to Fig. 6 a back view of one embodiment of a holder 102 and a PED 124 is illustrated. For illustrative purposes, the holder 102 is not shown coupled to the pivot flap 116. As discussed above, the disclosure herein contemplates a holder 102 that is either permanently or selectively coupled to the pivot flap 116. The holder 102 and its elastic components 106, 108 are in an non-extended or relaxed configuration and, as such, the grips 108 do not extend to the corners 126 of the PED 124. As can be appreciated, the grips 106 and members 108 may be stretched or extended to accommodate and engage PEDs 124 of different sizes. Thus, the case 100 may be used with a range of PEDs of different dimensions. [0028] Referring to Fig. 7, a back view of the embodiment of the case 100 of Fig. 6 is shown with the extending members 106 and grips 108 extended to engage the corners 126 of the PED 124. The grips 108 may be configured to extend around a back, side, and front of each corresponding corner. Tension in the elasticity of the members 106 and grips 108 ensures that the PED 124 is secured. As the holder 102 primarily engages the corners 126, ports and buttons along the remaining exposed perimeter of the PED 124 are exposed and accessible. [0029] Referring to Fig. 8, a front view of the PED 124 is shown with the grips 108 engaging the corners 126. As illustrated, the grips 108 extend from the back to the front of each corner 126 to ensure that a portion of each corner is sandwiched within a grip 108. In this manner, the holder 102 secures the PED 124 and also protects each corner 126. [0030] It will be understood by those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the - 11 underlying principles presented herein. For example, the rotating and/or pivoting systems allowing for adjustable viewing orientation disclosed herein may be integrated into a stand, a mount, or any other type of accessory configured to receive a PED. In addition, any suitable combination of various embodiments, or the features thereof, is contemplated. Further, any methods disclosed herein may comprise one or more steps or actions for performing the described method. These method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for proper operation of the embodiment, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified. [0031] Throughout this specification, any reference to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "the embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the quoted phrases, or variations thereof, as recited throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of embodiments, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than those expressly recited in that claim. Rather, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles set forth herein.