AppleInsider Staff
Apple won a total of 25 patents on Tuesday, representing a mix of software, hardware and GUI design applications.
One of the more recognized patents is the company's Smart Cover for the iPad which features a unique magnetic closure system that automatically powers the tablet on and off.
In the filing, U.S. Design Patent D658,186, a simple claim to the ornamental design for the cover and not the mechanics involved in interfacing with the iPad.
Prominently featured in the accompanying images are the fold points that allow the Smart Cover to fold into a tablet stand.
First introduced alongside the iPad 2, Apple's Smart Cover has become a hot-selling accessory that is compatible with the third-generation iPad.
Smart Cover patent. | Source: USPTO
An application for Apple's Time Machine data backup program was also granted and describes a graphical user interface that allows a user to easily move between current data and previous saved versions of said data.
Included in U.S. Patent 8,166,415 are various UIs not currently used in Time Machine like the "Timeline Stack" which is basically a stack of tiled windows and the curious "Timeline Book" shown below.
Illustration of the "Timeline Book." | Source: USPTO
Other patents issued involve power adapter technology and design, various software patents including one involving iTunes rentals and electrical engineering properties.
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15 Comments
Does the smart cover patent cover cases for the iPad alone, or tablets all together? Because it wasn't that long after the smart cover first premiered that Samsung's flagship tab had their own smart cover that blatantly ripped off Apple's design.
Does the smart cover patent cover cases for the iPad alone, or tablets all together? Because it wasn't that long after the smart cover first premiered that Samsung's flagship tab had their own smart cover that blatantly ripped off Apple's design.
It is very unlikely (almost unthinkable) that the patent would cover only cases for the iPad. You always want to write your patents in generic form so that they have the broadest possible coverage.
In addition, if they tried to patent a case specifically for the iPad, that would suggest that they didn't think the patent applied to other tablets - which would raise serious questions about novelty.
samsung would never rip apple designs/patents off..come on...ha
I just want to clarify that Samsung didn't manufacture the smart cover clone -- one of their accessory makers did -- but it was just another case of the competition trying to blur the line between iPads and everything else.
Does the smart cover patent cover cases for the iPad alone, or tablets all together? Because it wasn't that long after the smart cover first premiered that Samsung's flagship tab had their own smart cover that blatantly ripped off Apple's design.
If you search Amazon, there are actually products that use the name "SmartCover" that functionally and visually duplicate Apple's SmartCover design. I think Apple will probably go after these people with a vengeance.