Case for electronic tablet
View Patent ↗A cover for a tablet computer incorporates a built-in stand, allowing viewing angles in portrait and landscape orientations. The cover includes a front cover that is connected to a back cover. In an implementation, the front cover has at least five fold lines formed in the cover. These fold lines meet at an intersection point. These fold lines are not parallel to any edges of the front cover. And these fold lines divide the front cover to have least three triangular sections.
1. A cover for a tablet computer comprising:
first, second, third, and fourth edges, wherein the first and third edges extend in a first direction and are opposite to each other, and the second and fourth edges extend in a second direction and are opposite to each other,
the second direction is transverse to the first direction, and the first edge is longer than the second edge,
the first and second edges meet at a first corner,
the second and third edges meet at a second corner,
the third and fourth edges meet at a third corner, and
the fourth and first edges meet at a fourth corner;
an intersection point of five fold lines formed in the cover, wherein the intersection point is positioned closer to the first edge than the third edge;
a first fold line, extending from a first position on the first edge to the intersection point;
a second fold line, extending from a second position on the first edge to the intersection point;
a third fold line, extending from a third position on the first edge to the intersection point, wherein the first position is a first distance from the second edge, the second position is a second distance from the second edge, and the third position is a third distance from the second edge, and
the third distance is longer than the second distance, and the second distance is longer than the first distance;
a fourth fold line, extending from the second corner to the intersection point, wherein a fourth position is on a line of the third edge, a fourth distance extends from the fourth position to an intersection of the fourth fold line with the line of the third edge,
bounded by the first fold line, fourth fold line, and the second edge is a first polygon region, wherein the first polygon region comprises at least a first vertex having a first radius of curvature and a second vertex having a second radius of curvature,
the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature, the first vertex is closer to the first edge than the third edge, and the second vertex is closer to the third edge than the first edge,
as a result of the first radius of curvature being greater than the second radius of curvature, the first distance is greater than the fourth distance,
the second corner is between the fourth position on the third edge and a fifth position on the second edge, the third edge is joined to the second edge by an arc having a third radius of curvature, which results in the second corner being a rounded corner, and the third radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature, and
the first corner is a rounded corner having the third radius of curvature, the third corner is a rounded corner having the third radius of curvature, and the fourth corner is a rounded corner having the third radius of curvature;
a fifth fold line, extending from the third corner to the intersection point;
bounded by the third edge, fourth fold line, and fifth fold line is a second polygon region, wherein there are no fold lines in the second polygon region; and
a flap portion, coupled to the third edge of the cover, wherein a length of the flap portion extending in the first direction from a first flap portion edge to a second flap portion edge is less than a length of the third edge of the cover, the first flap portion edge does not extend in the first direction toward the second edge beyond the intersection of the fourth fold line with the third edge, the flap portion comprises a closed polygonal shape, and the second vertex is closer to the flap portion than is the first vertex.
2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth fold lines are not parallel to the first edge of the cover, and
between the first and third edges, the cover comprises no fold lines that are parallel to the first edge.
3. The cover of claim 1 wherein no fold lines that extend across the first polygon region are parallel to the first edge.
4. The cover of claim 1 comprising:
a third polygon region having sides formed by the first edge, first fold line, and second fold line, wherein the first fold line comprises a first width at the first position that is wider than at a second position on the first fold line that is farther from the first edge than the first position.
5. The cover of claim 1 comprising:
a third polygon region having sides formed by the first edge, first fold line, and second fold line, wherein the first fold line comprises a first width at the first position that is wider than at a second position on the first fold line that is farther from the first edge than the first position; and
a fourth polygon region having sides formed by the first edge, second fold line, and third fold line, wherein no fold lines extend across the fourth polygon region that are parallel to the first edge.
6. The cover of claim 5 comprising:
a fifth polygon region having sides formed by the fourth edge, third fold line, and fifth fold line.
7. The cover of claim 1 wherein the second position on the first edge is at about a midpoint between the second and fourth edges.
8. The cover of claim 7 wherein the first position on the first edge is between the second edge and the second position, and the third position on the first edge is between the second position and the fourth edge, and
the second distance minus the first distance is a fifth distance, the third distance minus the second distance is a sixth distance, and the sixth distance is equal to the fifth distance.
9. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth edges form a front portion of the cover, and the cover further comprises:
a back portion, coupled to the front portion via the flap portion, wherein a back of the tablet will be placed against the back portion; and
a hinge, coupled between the third edge and the flap portion, wherein the hinge allows rotating of an inside of the front portion to face a front of the tablet; and
the front portion of the cover comprises:
a third polygon region having sides formed by the first edge, first fold line, and second fold line; and
a fourth polygon region having sides formed by the first edge, second fold line, and third fold line.
10. The cover of claim 1 comprising:
a first flexible layer, forming an outer surface of the cover;
a rigid layer comprising a first section, second section, third section, fourth section, and fifth section,
a second flexible layer, forming an inner surface of the cover, wherein the rigid layer is coupled between the first and second flexible layers,
and fold lines are formed between sections of the rigid layer where the first and second flexible layers are coupled together without the rigid layer between the first and second flexible layers, and
between the first and third edges, the cover comprises no fold lines that are parallel to the first edge.
11. The cover of claim 10 wherein the first section of the rigid layer is positioned between the third edge, fourth fold line, and fifth fold line.
12. The cover of claim 10 wherein the first section of the rigid layer is positioned between the third edge, fourth fold line, and fifth fold line, and
the second section of the rigid layer is positioned between the first edge, first fold line, and second fold line.
13. The cover of claim 10 wherein the first section of the rigid layer is positioned between the third edge, fourth fold line, and fifth fold line,
the second section of the rigid layer is positioned between the first edge, first fold line, and second fold line; and
the third section of the rigid layer is positioned between the first edge, second fold line, and third fold line.
14. The cover of claim 13 wherein the fourth section of the rigid layer is positioned between the second edge, first fold line, and fourth fold line.
15. The cover of claim 13 wherein the fourth section of the rigid layer is positioned between the second edge, first fold line, and fourth fold line, and
the fifth section of the rigid layer is positioned between the fourth edge, third fold line, and fifth fold line.
16. The cover of claim 10 wherein the first flexible layer comprises leather.
17. The cover of claim 10 wherein the first flexible layer comprises polyurethane.
18. The cover of claim 10 wherein the first flexible layer comprises polyurethane, and the first flexible layer is welded to the second flexible layer along first, second, third, and fourth edges of the cover.
19. The cover of claim 10 comprising:
at least one magnet, coupled between the first flexible layer and the second flexible layer.
20. The cover of claim 10 wherein at least one of the first flexible layer or second flexible layer comprises a microfiber.
21. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first distance is greater than 0.
22. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first distance is more than at least double the fourth distance.
23. The cover of claim 1 comprising:
a third polygon region having sides formed by the first edge, first fold line, and second fold line; and
a fourth polygon region having sides formed by the first edge, second fold line, and third fold line, wherein the second, third, and fourth polygon regions comprise triangles.
24. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover does not comprise an opening.
25. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first radius of curvature is more than at least twice as large as the second radius of curvature.
26. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first radius of curvature is more than at least twice as large as the second radius of curvature, and the third radius of curvature is more than at least three times as large as the second radius of curvature.
27. The cover of claim 1 wherein a ratio between the first edge to the second edge is about 240:185.
28. A cover for a tablet computer comprising:
first, second, third, and fourth edges, wherein the first and third edges extend in a first direction and are opposite to each other, and the second and fourth edges extend in a second direction and are opposite to each other,
the second direction is transverse to the first direction, and the first edge is longer than the second edge,
the first and second edges meet at a first corner,
the second and third edges meet at a second corner,
the third and fourth edges meet at a third corner, and
the fourth and first edges meet at a fourth corner;
an intersection point formed in the cover, wherein a vertex of first, second, and third polygon sections meet at the intersection point;
the first polygon section having a first side formed by the first edge, a second side extending from the first edge to the intersection point, and a third side extending from the first edge to the intersection point, wherein the second and third sides are fold lines of the cover;
the second polygon section having a first side formed by the first edge, a second side extending from the first edge to the intersection point and common with the second side of the first polygon section, and a third side extending from the first edge to the intersection point, wherein the second and third sides are fold lines of the cover;
the third polygon section having a first side formed by the third edge, a second side extending from the third edge to the intersection point, and a third side extending from the third edge to the intersection point, wherein the second and third sides are fold lines of the cover, and there are no fold lines in the third polygon section;
a fourth polygon section, formed adjacent to a first fold line that is adjacent the first polygon section, wherein the first fold line separates the first polygon section and the fourth polygon section,
the fourth polygon section comprises at least a first vertex having a first radius of curvature and a second vertex having a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature, the first vertex is closer to the first edge than the third edge, and the second vertex is closer to the third edge than the first edge,
the first fold line comprises a first width between a first point of the first polygon section and a second point of the fourth polygon section, the first point and second point are on a first line,
the first fold line comprises a second width between a third point of the first polygon section and a fourth point of the fourth polygon section, the third point and fourth point are on a second line that is parallel to the first line,
the first width is closer to the first edge of the cover than is the second width, and
the first width being closer to the first vertex having the first radius of curvature than is the second width, the first width is greater than the second width; and
a flap portion, coupled to the third edge of the cover, wherein a length of the flap portion extending in the first direction is less than a length of the third edge of the cover, the flap portion comprises a closed polygonal shape, and the second vertex is closer to the flap portion than is the first vertex,
the first corner joins the first edge and the second edge and comprises an arc having a third radius of curvature, which results in the first corner being a rounded corner, and the third radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature,
the second corner joins the second edge to the third edge and comprises an arc having the third radius of curvature, which results in the second corner being a rounded corner,
the third corner joins the first edge to the fourth edge and comprises an arc having the third radius of curvature, which results in the third corner being a rounded corner, and
the fourth corner joins the third edge to the fourth edge and comprises an arc having the third radius of curvature, which results in the fourth corner being a rounded corner.
29. The cover of claim 28 wherein for the first polygon section, the second side is transverse to the first side.
30. The cover of claim 28 wherein the intersection point is positioned closer to the first edge than the third edge.
31. The cover of claim 28 wherein for the first polygon section, the first side is longer than the second side.
32. The cover of claim 28 wherein between the first and third edges, the cover comprises no fold lines that are parallel to the first edge.
33. The cover of claim 28 wherein the intersection point is a first distance from the first edge and a second distance from the third edge, wherein the first and second distances are greater than 0;
the cover is symmetric about an axis defined by the intersection point and second side of the first polygon section, wherein the first polygon section is a mirror image of the second polygon section;
the first side of the third polygon section extends in the first direction,
the second side of the third polygon section extends diagonally from a first position on the third edge to the intersection point,
the third side of the third polygon section extends diagonally from a second position on the third edge to the intersection point,
the flap portion extends in a first direction from a third position on the third edge to a fourth position on the third edge, and
the third and fourth positions are between the first and second positions; and
the first, second, third, and fourth edges form an exterior perimeter of the cover, and the first, second, third, and fourth corners are rounded corners.
34. The cover of claim 28 further comprises:
an area of the first polygon section;
an area of the second polygon section;
an area of the front cover defined by a length of the first edge multiplied by a length of the second edge;
a sum of the areas of the first and second polygon sections; and
a ratio of the sum to the area of the front cover, wherein the ratio is about 0.07.
35. The cover of claim 28 wherein the flap portion comprises a first, second, third, and fourth flap edges, wherein the first and third flap edges extend in the first direction and are opposite to each other, and the second and fourth flap edges extend in the second direction and are opposite to each other,
the first flap edge is closer to the third edge of the cover than is the third flap edge,
the first and second flap edges meet at a first flap corner,
the second and third flap edges meet at a second flap corner,
the third and fourth flap edges meet at a third flap corner,
the fourth and first flap edges meet at a fourth flap corner; and
the second and third flap corners are rounded corners.
36. The cover of claim 28 wherein the flap portion comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part has a first length greater than a first width, the second part has a second length greater than a second width, the first and second lengths extend in the first direction, the second vertex is closer to the first part than is the first vertex, and the first length is greater than the second length.
37. The cover of claim 28 wherein a vertex of the fourth polygon section meets the vertices of the first, second, and third polygon sections at the intersection point,
the vertex of the first polygon section at the intersection point is greater than the vertex of the fourth polygon section at the intersection point, and
the vertex of the second polygon section at the intersection point is greater than the vertex of the fourth polygon section at the intersection point.
38. The cover of claim 28 further comprises a length of the second edge extending along the second edge from the first edge to the third edge,
the intersection point extends a first distance from the first edge,
a ratio of the first distance to a length of the second edge is about 0.12.
39. A cover for a tablet computer comprising:
first, second, third, and fourth edges, wherein the first and third edges extend in a first direction and are opposite to each other, and the second and fourth edges extend in a second direction and are opposite to each other,
the second direction is transverse to the first direction, and the first edge is longer than the second edge,
the first and second edges meet at a first corner,
the second and third edges meet at a second corner,
the third and fourth edges meet at a third corner, and
the fourth and first edges meet at a fourth corner;
an intersection point of five fold lines formed in the cover, wherein the intersection point is positioned closer to the first edge than the third edge;
a first fold line, extending from a first position on the first edge to the intersection point;
a second fold line, extending from a second position on the first edge to the intersection point;
a third fold line, extending from a third position on the first edge to the intersection point, wherein the first position is a first distance from the second edge, the second position is a second distance from the second edge, and the third position is a third distance from the second edge, and
the third distance is longer than the second distance, and the second distance is longer than the first distance;
a fourth fold line, extending from the second corner to the intersection point, wherein a fourth position is on a line of the third edge, a fourth distance extends from the fourth position to an intersection of the fourth fold line with the line of the third edge,
bounded by the first fold line, fourth fold line, and the second edge is a first polygon region, wherein the first polygon region comprises at least a first vertex having a first radius of curvature and a second vertex having a second radius of curvature,
the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature, the first vertex is closer to the first edge than the third edge, and the second vertex is closer to the third edge than the first edge,
as a result of the first radius of curvature being greater than the second radius of curvature, the first distance is greater than the fourth distance,
the second corner is between the fourth position on the third edge and a fifth position on the second edge, the third edge is joined to the second edge by an arc having a third radius of curvature, which results in the second corner being a rounded corner, and the third radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature, and
the first corner is a rounded corner having the third radius of curvature, the third corner is a rounded corner having the third radius of curvature, and the fourth corner is a rounded corner having the third radius of curvature;
a fifth fold line, extending from the third corner to the intersection point;
a second polygon region having sides formed by the third edge, fourth fold line, and fifth fold line, wherein there are no fold lines in the second polygon region, and
the second corner comprises the second vertex of the first polygon region and a third vertex of the second polygon region, the second vertex and third vertex are adjacent, and the third vertex has the second radius of curvature; and
a flap portion, coupled to the third edge of the cover, wherein a length of the flap portion extending in the first direction from a first flap portion edge to a second flap portion edge is less than a length of the third edge of the cover, the first flap portion edge does not extend in the first direction toward the second edge beyond the intersection of the fourth fold line with the third edge, the flap portion comprises a closed polygonal shape, and the second vertex is closer to the flap portion than is the first vertex.
40. The cover of claim 39 wherein the first polygon region, having the first vertex and the second vertex with the second radius of curvature, comprises a fourth vertex,
the second polygon region, having the third vertex with the second radius of curvature, comprises a fifth vertex, and
the fourth and fifth vertices are adjacent to each other at the intersection point of the five fold lines.
41. The cover of claim 39 wherein the first radius of curvature is more than at least twice as large as the second radius of curvature.
42. The cover of claim 39 wherein the first radius of curvature is more than at least twice as large as the second radius of curvature, and the third radius of curvature is more than at least three times as large as the second radius of curvature.