Patent · US Active

Foldable accessory device

US8143982B1 · kind B1 · utility

201Cited by

71References

16Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Apple Inc. · US

Inventors

Andrew Lauder · San Francisco, US
Matthew Dean Rohrbach · San Francisco, US
Daniel J. Coster · San Francisco, US
Christopher J. Stringer · Woodside, US
Florence W. Ow · Burlingame, US
Jiang Ai · Cupertino, US
Jonathan P. Ive · San Francisco, US
Elvis M. Kibiti · Daly City, US
John P. Ternus · Loomis, US
Sean D. Lubner · Trumbull, US

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 17, 2010
Grant date	Mar 27, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 17, 2030

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY10T29/49826
WIPO fieldComputer technology
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.