# US 11,307,615 B2 · Accessories for portable electronic devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,615 B2 - Document ID: US11307615B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/879,341 - Filed: 2020-05-20 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-04 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Aidan N. Zimmerman; Bradley J. Hamel; Christopher J. Stringer; Markus Diebel; Sung-Ho Tan; Mikael M. Silvanto; Kevin M. Robinson; Daniel L. McBroom; Michael D. McBroom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307615B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations} - A45C 11/00: Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) - F16M 11/10: around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} - F16M 11/38: by folding {, e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms} - F16M 13/00: Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} - G06F 1/1643: {the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615)} - G06F 1/166: {related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle} - G06F 1/1677: {for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment} - G06F 1/1698: {the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone (details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266)} - G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips} - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - G06F 3/0383: {Signal control means within the pointing device} - H04M 1/04: Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers - A45C 11/002: {for storing portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones} - A45C 11/003: {for storing portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators} - A45C 2200/15: Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes - G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]} - G06F 2200/1632: Pen holder integrated in the computer - G06F 2200/1633: Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer - G06F 2200/1634: Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer - H04M 1/185: {Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Accessory devices for portable electronic devices are described. An exemplary accessory device can include a first segment coupled to a second segment via a first hinge assembly. The accessory can include a third segment coupled to the second segment via a second hinge assembly such that the second segment is positioned between the first and third segments. The accessory device can be arranged between a closed configuration and a configuration of a stand that supports the portable electronic device at a viewing angle. At the support configuration, the second segment can be at an acute angle relative to the first segment to shift the center of gravity of the system towards the middle. The third segment can be suspended above the first segment and be inclined outwards. The hinge assemblies of the system can be sufficiently stiff to withstand the weight of the electronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article for use with a portable electronic device, the article comprising: a first segment comprising a keyboard and a track pad; a first hinge assembly connected to the first segment; a charging mechanism located in the first hinge assembly; a second segment connected to the first hinge assembly; a second hinge assembly connected to the second segment; and a third segment connected to the second hinge assembly, wherein the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly are capable of supporting the portable electronic device on the third segment such that the first segment is separated from the portable electronic device by a gap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, further comprising a power inlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein the third segment is larger than the second segment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to electrically couple to the portable electronic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The article of claim 4, wherein the interface comprises an electrical contact located on the third segment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein the gap defines a space between the first segment and the portable electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein the third segment comprises a magnet configured to magnetically couple with a device magnet in the portable electronic device. ### Claim 8 An article for use with a portable electronic device, the article comprising: a first segment comprising a keyboard and a track pad; a first hinge assembly connected to the first segment; a second segment connected to the first hinge assembly, the second segment separated from the first segment by an angular limit defined by the first hinge assembly; and a third segment connected to the second segment by a second hinge assembly, wherein the second hinge assembly limits movement of the third segment relative to the second segment until the second segment is separated from the first segment by the angular limit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The article of claim 8, wherein a support configuration comprises the second segment separated from the first segment by the angular limit, and wherein when the third segment carries the portable electronic device, the first segment is free of contact from the portable electronic device in the support configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The article of claim 9, wherein the second hinge assembly is capable of position the third segment at a first angle relative to the second segment, and a second angle relative to the second segment, the second angle different from the first angle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The article of claim 9, wherein the support configuration comprises the first segment separated from the portable electronic device by a gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The article of claim 8, wherein the first segment is configured to cover a front surface of the portable electronic device, and wherein a combination of the second segment and the third segment is configured to cover a back surface of the portable electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The article of claim 8, further comprising a power inlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The article of claim 8, further comprising a charging mechanism located in the first hinge assembly. ### Claim 15 A method for holding a portable electronic device with an article comprising a first segment, a second segment connected to the first segment by a first hinge assembly, and a third segment connected to the second segment by a second hinge assembly, the method comprising: by the article: receiving, at the third segment, the portable electronic device; causing, by the first hinge assembly, the second segment to rotate relative to the first segment such that the second segment is separated from the first segment by a first angle; and causing the third segment to rotate, by the second hinge assembly, relative to the second segment such that the third segment is separated from the second segment by a second angle, wherein the portable electronic device is separated, based on the first angle and the second angle, from the first segment by a gap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first angle defines an angular limit, and wherein causing the third segment to rotate relative to the second segment is subsequent to the causing the second segment to rotate relative to the first segment such that the second segment is separated from the first segment by the angular limit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein receiving, at the third segment, the portable electronic device comprises magnetically coupling the portable electronic device to a magnet embedded in the third segment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first hinge assembly provides a frictional force that maintains the gap between the first segment and the portable electronic device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising causing, by the second hinge assembly, the third segment to rotate relative to the second segment by a third angle different from the first angle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: causing, by the first hinge assembly, the first segment to cover a front surface of the portable electronic device, and causing, by the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly, a combination of the second segment and the third segment to cover a back surface of the portable electronic device.