IP Library Patent Application 14453561
Patent Application
App. No. 14/453,561

Corner Button to Protect a Touch Screen

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/453,561
Abstract

A corner button to protect a touch screen is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a cylindrical body that is configured to be inserted into a correspondingly shaped cavity in an exterior case of a tablet computer, where a longitudinal portion of the cylindrical body is configured to remain outside the exterior case, and the longitudinal portion is configured to support a touch screen of the tablet computer above a surface. The apparatus includes a first groove directed along a diameter of a first circular surface of the cylindrical body, where the first groove is configured to engage with a structural member within the cavity. The apparatus further includes one or more protruding members that extend distally from the first circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein each of the one or more protruding members is configured to be fixedly seated into a corresponding hole within the cavity.

Claims (32)

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

a cylindrical body that is configured to be inserted into a correspondingly shaped cavity in an exterior case of a tablet computer,

wherein a longitudinal portion of the cylindrical body is configured to remain outside the exterior case,

wherein the longitudinal portion is configured to support a touch screen of the tablet computer above a surface;

a first groove directed along a diameter of a first circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein the first groove is configured to engage with a structural member within the cavity; and

one or more protruding members that extend distally from the first circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein each of the one or more protruding members is configured to be fixedly seated into a corresponding hole within the cavity.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second groove directed along the diameter of the first circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein the second groove is configured to engage with the structural member within the cavity.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second groove is aligned at an angle to the first groove.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second groove is perpendicular to the first groove.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein one or more of the first groove and the second groove include a chamfered edge.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an open chamber in the first circular surface that extends into the cylindrical body, wherein the open chamber is configured to fixedly engage with a structural pedestal within the cavity.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the open chamber includes a concentric cylindrical volume positioned with the cylindrical body, wherein the open chamber creates an inner wall in the cylindrical body that is parallel to a second circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein the open chamber creates an inner side wall in the cylindrical body that is parallel to a curved side surface of the cylindrical body, and wherein a first thickness between the inner wall and the second circular surface and a second thickness between the inner side wall and the curved side surface is the same.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a second circular surface of the cylindrical body includes a peripheral portion along a circumference of the second circular surface, wherein the peripheral portion transitions to a curved side surface of the cylindrical body.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the peripheral portion is one of a chamfer, a rounded peripheral portion, and a sharp edge characterized by a right angle.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal portion is within the peripheral portion.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body is made of a pliable material, wherein the pliable material is one or more of silicone, rubber, and polyurethane.

12 . A method, comprising:

forming a corner button that includes a cylindrical body that is configured to be inserted into a correspondingly shaped cavity in an exterior case of a tablet computer,

wherein a longitudinal portion of the cylindrical body is configured to remain above a surface of the exterior case,

wherein the longitudinal portion is configured to support a touch screen of the tablet computer above a surface;

forming a first groove directed along a diameter of a first circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein the first groove is configured to engage a structural member within the cavity; and

forming one or more protruding members that extend distally from the first circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein each of the one or more protruding members is configured to be fixedly seated into a corresponding hole within the cavity.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising forming a second groove directed along the diameter of the first circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein the second groove is configured to engage with the structural member within the cavity.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising aligning the second groove at an angle to the first groove.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising aligning the second groove perpendicular to the first groove.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising forming a chamfered edge at one or more of the first groove and the second groove.

17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising forming an open chamber in the first circular surface that extends into the cylindrical body, wherein the open cavity is configured to fixedly engage with a structural pedestal within the cavity.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein forming the open chamber includes forming a concentric cylindrical volume positioned with the cylindrical body, wherein the open chamber creates an inner wall in the cylindrical body that is parallel to a second circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein the open chamber creates an inner side wall in the cylindrical body that is parallel to a curved side surface of the cylindrical body, and wherein a first thickness between the inner wall and the second circular surface and a second thickness between the inner side wall and the curved side surface is the same.

19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising forming a peripheral portion along a circumference of a second circular surface of the cylindrical body, wherein the peripheral portion transitions to a curved side surface of the cylindrical body.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the peripheral portion is one of a chamfer, a rounded peripheral portion, and a sharp edge characterized by a right angle.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the longitudinal portion is within the peripheral portion.

22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cylindrical body is made of a pliable material, wherein the pliable material is one or more of silicone, rubber, and polyurethane.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2016
From: FUHU, INC.
To: MATTEL, INC.
Reel/Frame 037917/0349 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2015
From: FUHU, INC.
To: OBSIDIAN AGENCY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035775/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2015
From: FUJIOKA, ROBB
To: FUHU, INC.
Reel/Frame 035705/0440 →