Accessory cover for a portable electronic device
An accessory device for a portable electronic device is described. The accessory device includes a front cover connected to a back cover. The front cover includes multiple segments rotatable with respect to each other. The segments include magnets that allow the segments, through magnetic coupling, to couple with another segment or with the portable electronic device. When the front cover engages the back cover, a user may remove, or pull away, a segment from the back cover, causing the remaining segments to sequentially fall away from the back cover. In some instances, when the front cover at least partially engages the back cover, one of the segments includes magnets designed to couple with magnets in the back cover, but not with magnets in another segment. The accessory device may further include an opening that receives a camera assembly of the portable electronic device and forms a mechanical interlock.
1. An accessory device for a portable electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a first section that defines a receiving surface for retaining the portable electronic device, the first section further comprising a back surface opposite the receiving surface; and
a second section coupled with the first section and capable of covering the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is retained at the receiving surface, the second section comprising:
a first segment comprising a first magnetic element, and
a second segment comprising a second magnetic element that is capable of magnetically coupling with the first magnetic element, thereby causing the first segment to engage with the second segment, and when the first magnetic element is magnetically coupled to the second magnetic element, the first magnetic element is offset with respect to the second magnet element, wherein:
a first disengagement of the first segment from the back surface initiates a second disengagement of the second segment from the back surface.
2. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the first segment lacks a magnetic coupling with the second segment.
3. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the first section comprises an opening that receives a camera assembly of the portable electronic device, and wherein when the first magnetic element magnetically couples with the second magnetic element, the opening is uncovered by the first segment.
4. The accessory device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a filler material embedded in the first section; and
a reinforcement layer embedded in the first section and separate from the filler material, the reinforcement layer surrounding the opening.
5. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the second section further comprises a third segment, and wherein the first disengagement and the second disengagement causes a third disengagement of the third segment.
6. The accessory device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third magnetic element located in the first segment, the third magnetic element capable of magnetically coupling with the first magnetic element; and
a fourth magnetic element located in the first segment, the fourth magnetic element capable of magnetically coupling with the second magnetic element.
7. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein when the portable electronic device is positioned on the receiving surface and the second section covers the portable electronic device, the first section and second section extend laterally beyond edges of the portable electronic device.
8. An accessory device for a portable electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a first section that defines a receiving surface for the portable electronic device, the first section comprising a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element; and
a second section that is coupled with the first section and capable of covering the portable electronic device, the second section comprising:
a first segment comprising a third magnetic element capable of magnetically coupling with the first magnetic element, the first segment further comprising a fourth magnetic element capable of magnetically coupling with the second magnetic element,
a second segment rotationally coupled with the first segment, and
a third segment rotationally coupled with the second segment, wherein when the portable electronic devices is positioned on the receiving surface and the second section covers the portable electronic device, the first section and second section extend laterally beyond edges of the portable electronic device.
9. The accessory device of claim 8 , wherein the first section comprises a first dimension such that the first section extends beyond a first edge of the portable electronic device and a second edge of the portable electronic device.
10. The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the first section comprises a second dimension such that the first section extends beyond a third edge of the portable electronic device.
11. The accessory device of claim 10 , wherein the second section extends beyond the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge.
12. The accessory device of claim 8 , further comprising a magnetic element carried by the second section, the magnetic element configured to form a magnetically coupling with a magnetic element of an audio module located in the portable electronic device, wherein the magnetic coupling maintains the second section engaged with the portable electronic device.
13. The accessory device of claim 8 , wherein the first segment lacks a magnetic coupling with the second segment.
14. An accessory device for a portable electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a first section that defines a receiving surface for the portable electronic device, the first section further comprising a back surface opposite the receiving surface;
a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element embedded in the first section; and
a second section coupled with the first section and capable of covering the portable electronic device, the second section comprising:
a first segment comprising a third magnetic element, and
a second segment rotationally coupled with the first segment,
wherein:
a first magnetic coupling between the first magnetic element and the third magnetic element causes an alignment of the second section with the back surface, and
a second magnetic coupling between the second magnetic element and the third magnetic element cause the first segment to remain engaged with the second segment.
15. The accessory device of claim 14 , further comprising a hinge that connects the first section with the second section.
16. The accessory device of claim 15 , wherein the second segment is closer to the hinge than the first segment.
17. The accessory device of claim 14 , wherein the first magnetic coupling causes the second section to align with the back surface prior to the second section lying flat on the back surface.
18. The accessory device of claim 14 , wherein the first segment lacks a magnetic coupling with the second segment.
19. The accessory device of claim 14 , further comprising:
an opening in the first section; and
a reinforcement layer embedded in the first section and surrounding the opening, the reinforcement layer configured to maintain a camera assembly of the portable electronic device within the opening.