Apple has been granted a patent for an iPad case that comes with its own built-in display.
The company first filed for the patent way back on August 11, 2011, but the US Patent and Trademark Office only gave it the thumbs-up today. This means that no one can nab Apple’s idea in the USA, at least not legally, anyway.
The patent abstract reads as follows:
“A tablet device with a flexible cover is disclosed. Thin flexible display technology can be integrated into the flexible cover without affecting the overall form factor of the cover or tablet device.”
But the case won’t just be used to displaying information. It’s also able to function as a live drawing pad. This pad would support a stylus, just like a Wacom pad. Interestingly, the Apple Pencil didn’t even exist – at least publicly – when this patent was filed.
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The iPad case can also be positioned to prop the tablet up, while supporting media controls on the back. According to the patent, the rear of the case would offer buttons like ‘Play’, ‘Pause’, and ‘Fast Forward’, which could be used to control videos or songs playing on the iPad.
But here’s the caveat: Apple may never actually build a case like the one described in its patent. The design might be secured from IP theft, but nothing can force Apple to create the case. Sorry, folks.
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What would you change about Apple’s iPad? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
