IP Library Granted Patent US 9,044,689
Granted Patent B2
US 9,044,689 · App. 13/927,911 · Granted Jun 2, 2015

Case for electronic device with surface for attaching building elements

Inventors: Hunter S. Thompson (Austin, TX); Jaime L Thompson (Austin, TX); James W. Thompson (Austin, TX); Frazier Newlin (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Pono Paani, LLC
A63H33/04H04M1/0283G06F1/1613
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,044,689
App. No.
13/927,911
Granted
Jun 2, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A case for a portable electronic device includes a cavity and one or more studded surfaces. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is removable from the cavity through an opening in the cavity. The studded surfaces can be coupled with one or more building elements.

Claims (26)

1. A case for a handheld portable tablet computer device, comprising:

a cavity comprising one or more openings, wherein the cavity is configured to receive at least a portion of the handheld portable tablet computer device such that the handheld portable tablet computer device is removable from the cavity through at least one of the openings; and

one or more studded surfaces configured to couple with one or more building elements, wherein at least one of the studded surfaces is configured to couple with one or more standard building elements of a play building set.

2. The case of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the studded surfaces is on a side of the case that is opposite to a display screen of the handheld portable tablet computer device when the handheld portable tablet computer device is installed in the cavity.

3. The case of claim 1 , wherein the building elements are configured to couple to at least one of the studded surfaces by way of a press fit.

4. The case of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the case comprises a flexible material configured to resiliently couple with the handheld portable tablet computer device.

5. The case of claim 1 , further comprising at least one opening for a camera lens in the handheld portable tablet computer device.

6. The case of claim 1 , further comprising at least one opening for a connector in the handheld portable tablet computer device.

7. A handheld portable tablet computer device holder, comprising:

a case comprising:

a cavity comprising one or more openings, wherein the cavity is configured to receive at least a portion of the handheld portable tablet computer device; and

one or more studded surfaces; and

one or more building elements coupled to at least one of the studded surfaces, wherein the one or more building elements and the case are configured to hold the handheld portable tablet computer device at a desired position or orientation relative to at least one object.

8. The handheld portable tablet computer device holder of claim 7 , wherein the holder comprises a stand for holding the handheld portable tablet computer device on a horizontal surface.

9. The handheld portable tablet computer device holder of claim 7 , wherein the holder is configurable to couple the handheld portable tablet computer device to a non-horizontal surface.

10. The handheld portable tablet computer device holder of claim 7 , wherein the holder is adjustable to change the tilt of the display screen relative to the user.

11. A method of making a system from building elements, comprising:

providing a case for a handheld portable tablet computer device, wherein the case comprises:

an opening for removing the handheld portable tablet computer device; and

one or more studded surfaces; and

coupling one or more standard building elements to the case.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the coupling one or more building elements to the case comprises making a holder for the handheld portable tablet computer device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the coupling one or more building elements to the case comprises making a stand for the handheld portable tablet computer device, wherein the stand is configured to support the case on a horizontal surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting the stand to change the angle of the display screen of the handheld portable tablet computer device relative to the horizontal surface.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the coupling one or more building elements to the case comprises making a sculpture on at least one the studded surfaces from one or more building elements.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein making a sculpture on the studded surface comprises attaching one or more figurines to the studded surface.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2014
From: RUBICON COMMUNICATIONS, LP
To: PONO PAANI, LLC
Reel/Frame 033128/0106 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2014
From: THOMPSON, HUNTER S.; THOMPSON, JAMIE L.; THOMPSON, JAMES W.; NEWLIN, FRAZIER
To: RUBICON COMMUNICATIONS, LP
Reel/Frame 032221/0452 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13098106 · Apr 29, 2011
Related Publication 20130344769A1 · Dec 26, 2013