Sam Oliver
Apple on Tuesday secured ownership of a number of key design-related patents covering the iPhone 4, credited in part to Steve Jobs, as well as the L-shaped MagSafe charging connector, and the iPad with Smart Cover.
Jobs, the late Apple co-founder, is among those credited in U.S. Patent D671937, entitled simply "Electronic Device." It covers the design of the iPhone 4, including the original antenna design that was eventually improved upon and replaced with the iPhone 4S.
Also credited for the appearance of the iPhone 4 is famed Apple designer Jony Ive, who was also among those credited in a handful of other noteworthy patents awarded to Apple by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office this week. They include U.S. Patent D671930, entitled "Cover," which details the design of the iPhone 4 "Bumper" accessory made by Apple.
Another important invention credited to Ive is U.S. Patent D671947, entitled "Housing for an Electronic Device," which shows the design of the iPad 2. Apple has kept this same basic design with minor tweaks since 2011.
That's joined by another patent named "Cover," this one identified as U.S. Patent D671948. For that invention, Ive and others are credited with designing the magnetic Smart Cover that debuted with the iPad 2, and continues to be sold.
Finally, Ive is also credited among other names for inventing the L-shaped MagSafe connector found on previous-generation MacBooks in U.S. Patent D671898, named "Connector." That design has since been improved upon with the new MagSafe 2 connection found on Apple's latest notebooks.
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33 Comments
cue the 'Apple patents a rectangle' crowd
[QUOTE]Finally, Ive is also credited among other names for inventing the L-shaped MagSafe connector found on previous-generation MacBooks in U.S. Patent D671898, named "Connector." That design has since been improved upon with the new MagSafe 2 connection found on Apple's latest notebooks. [/QUOTE] I don't see MagSafe2 improving on the L-shaped connector. Cannot understand why they have gone back to the old T design.
Oh boy HERE we go. These are big.
I don't see MagSafe2 improving on the L-shaped connector. Cannot understand why they have gone back to the old T design.
Because the L sucked? I've never liked it, at least.
Wasn't it more prone to damage?
cue the 'Apple patents a rectangle' crowd
They'd be better off joining the "Apple is smart as f*** to attempt to patent anything and everything they can get their hands on."
I think the L-shaped one is probably worse when you apply tension in the direction opposite to where it's pointing. At least the T-shaped one gets the same pressure/tension applied to it from all directions, I guess. Not sure what they did to prevent the breaks which were a problem before. Maybe better materials...