# US 2013/0155610 A1 · Apparatus for protecting a smart device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155610 A1 - Document ID: US20130155610A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/330,419 - Filed: 2011-12-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: Steve Schroeder - Inventors: Steve Schroeder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155610A1 ## CPC - 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) - B23P 11/00: Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for (connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00) - G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements - G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]} - G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)} - G06F 1/1671: {Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence)} - G06F 21/00: Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity - H05K 5/0208: {Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof} - 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} - G06F 2200/1633: Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer - Y10T 29/49002: Electrical device making - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - Y10T 70/5009: For portable articles - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A removable pad kit for a smart device, such as an iPhone®, an iPad®, a Samsung Galaxy®, a Samsung Galaxy Tab®, or the like, is disclosed. The removable kit may comprise a removable pad. The removable pad is configured to at least partially cover a home button, or the like, of the smart device to protect the home button and prevent accidental or intentional tapping on the home button. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A child-lock kit to control a user's access of a smart device, the kit comprising: an attachment mechanism for attaching the child-lock kit to the smart device, the smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttons that control operation of the smart device, wherein a user's tapping on at least one of the one or more buttons of the smart devices affects content displayed within the display portion of the smart device; a removable pad connected to the attachment mechanism, the removable pad having a first setting and a second setting, the first setting enabling operation of the one or more buttons by providing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, the second setting preventing operation of the smart device via the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons; and a toggle mechanism for switching the removable pad between the first setting and the second setting, the toggle mechanism configured such that the second setting is a child-safe state tending to prevent toggling from the second setting to the first setting. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The child-lock kit of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism, the removable pad, and the toggle-mechanism are part of a carrying case for the smart device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The child-lock kit of claim 2, wherein the carrying case further includes a connection element, the connection element configured such that the user can selectively attach the removable pad to the connection mechanism, enabling the user to selectively convert the carrying case to the child-lock kit by attachment of the removable pad. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The child-lock kit of claim 1, wherein the removable pad is connected to the attachment mechanism such that the removable pad is a flip-up lid hinged to the attachment mechanism, the flip-up lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the flip-up lid is flipped down onto the smart device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The child-lock kit of claim 4, wherein a first end portion of the flip-up lid is a pivot mechanically connected to the attachment mechanism and a second end is configured to toggle between a flip-up state and a flip-down state, the flip-up state allowing physical access to the one or more buttons and the flip-down state preventing physical access to the one or more buttons in the non-display portion of the smart device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The child-lock of claim 5, wherein the flip-up lid, upon operation in a flip-up state, is configured to support the smart device in a substantially upright position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The child-lock kit of claim 3, wherein the removable pad is a sliding lid that is configured to slide relative to the attachment mechanism, the sliding lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the sliding lid is slid onto the smart device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The child-lock kit of claim 3, wherein the removable pad is a rolling lid that is configured to roll relative to the attachment mechanism, the rolling lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the rolling lid is rolled onto the smart device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The child-lock kit of claim 1, wherein the smart device is one of a smart phone or a tablet computing device. ### Claim 10 A method for child-locking a smart device to control a user's access of the smart device, the method comprising: fitting a removable pad to a carrying case of a smart device, the carrying case for covering at least a portion of the smart device and to prevent damage to the smart device, the smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttons that control operation of the smart device, wherein a user's tapping on at least one of the one or more buttons of the smart devices affects content displayed within the display portion of the smart device; and attaching the removable pad to the carrying case in conjunction with a toggle mechanism, the toggle mechanism for switching the removable pad between a first setting and a second setting relative to the smart device, wherein: the first setting enables operation of the one or more buttons by providing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, the second setting prevents operation of the smart device via the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, and the toggle mechanism is configured such that the second setting is a child-safe state tending to prevent toggling from the second setting to the first setting. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the removable pad is one of a flip-up lid, or a sliding lid, or a rolling lid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the smart device is one of a smart phone or a tablet computing device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing a connection mechanism to the carrying case to enable the user to selectively attach the removing pad to the carrying case to convert the carrying case to a child-lock kit. ### Claim 14 A carrying case for a smart device, the carrying case comprising: a base feature for protecting a rear surface of the smart device; a front feature coupled to the base feature and configured to cover at least a portion of a front surface of the smart device, the smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttons that control operation of the smart device, wherein a user's tapping on at least one of the one or more buttons of the smart devices affects content displayed within the display portion of the smart device; a removable pad optionally connected to the carrying case by attachment using the connection element; and a connection element configured such that a given user can selectively attach the removable pad to the connection mechanism, enabling the user to selectively convert the carrying case to a child-lock kit by attachment of the removable pad, the removable pad having a first setting and a second setting, the first setting enabling operation of the one or more buttons by providing access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, the second setting preventing operation of the smart device via the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The carrying case of claim 14, further comprising: a toggle mechanism for switching the removable pad between the first setting and the second setting, the toggle mechanism configured such that the second setting is a child-safe state tending to prevent toggling from the second setting to the first setting. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The carrying case of claim 14, wherein the removable pad is connected to the carrying case such that the removable pad is a flip-up lid, the flip-up lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on the home button when the flip-up lid is flipped down onto the smart device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The carrying case of claim 15, wherein a first end portion of the flip-up lid is a pivot mechanically connected to the carrying case and a second end is configured to toggle between a flip-up state and a flip-down state, the flip-up state allowing physical access to the one or more buttons and the flip-down state preventing physical access to the one or more buttons in the non-display portion of the smart device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The carrying case of claim 17, wherein the flip-up lid, upon operation in a flip-up state, is configured to support the smart device in a substantially upright position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The carrying case of claim 14, wherein the removable pad is a sliding lid that is configured to slide relative to the carrying case, the sliding lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the sliding lid is slid onto the smart device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The carrying case of claim 14, wherein the removable pad is a rolling lid that is configured to roll relative to the carrying case, the rolling lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the rolling lid is rolled onto the smart device.