Personal digital assistant cover with an integrated keypad

Claim 2

1 . A cover for a personal computing device, the cover comprising: a support portion including a stand section coupled to a support section, the support section configured to couple to a personal computing device for securing the computing device to the cover, the stand section pivotable away from a computing device secured to the cover and retained in a fixed position relative to the computing device for supporting the computing device at an inclined angle relative to a support surface, when the cover is placed on the support surface; and a user interface portion coupled to the support portion, the user interface portion pivotable away from a user interface surface of a personal computing device secured to the cover to inhibit the cover from interfering with a user accessing the personal computing device.

Claim 3

2 . The cover of claim 1 wherein the support portion extends generally parallel to a back surface of a personal computing device secured to the cover and the user interface portion extends generally parallel to the user interface surface of the personal computing device when the cover is in a closed position to inhibit damage to the personal computing device.

Claim 4

3 . The cover of claim 2 wherein the stand section is generally aligned with the support section when the cover is in the closed position.

Claim 5

4 . The cover of claim 2 further comprising: a locking apparatus coupled to one of the support portion and user interface portion to inhibit the cover opening inadvertently.

Claim 6

5 . A cover for a personal computing device, the cover comprising: a support portion including a stand section pivotably coupled to a support section, the support section configured to secure a personal computing device to the cover and to electronically couple the personal computing device to the cover, the stand section pivotable between the personal computing device and support section until the stand section forms a desired angular relationship with the computing device, the stand section retained in its angular relationship to support the computing device at an inclined angle relative to a support surface, when the cover is placed on the support surface; and a user interface portion coupled to the support portion, the user interface portion being pivotable away from a user interface surface of a personal computing device coupled to the cover to inhibit the interface portion from interfering with a user accessing the user interface surface of the personal computing device, the interface portion including a data entry and manipulation device coupled to a personal computing device coupled to the cover.

Claim 7

5 . A cover for a personal computing device, the cover comprising: a support portion including a stand section pivotably coupled to a support section, the support section configured to secure a personal computing device to the cover and to electronically couple the personal computing device to the cover, the stand section pivotable between the personal computing device and support section until the stand section forms a desired angular relationship with the computing device, the stand section retained in its angular relationship to support the computing device at an inclined angle relative to a support surface, when the cover is placed on the support surface; and a user interface portion coupled to the support portion, the user interface portion being pivotable away from a user interface surface of a personal computing device coupled to the cover to inhibit the interface portion from interfering with a user accessing the user interface surface of the personal computing device, the interface portion including a data entry and manipulation device coupled to a personal computing device coupled to the cover.

Claim 8

6 . The cover of claim 5 wherein the support portion extends generally parallel to a back surface of a personal computing device secured to the cover and the user interface portion extends generally parallel to the user interface surface of the personal computing device when the cover is in a closed position to inhibit damage to the personal computing device.

Claim 9

7 . The cover of claim 6 wherein the cover is altered from the closed position to a viewing position by pivoting the user interface portion away from the user interface surface of the personal computing device coupled to the cover, the stand section then being pivoted away from the back surface of the computing device and toward the support section until the stand section forms a desired angular relationship with the computing device, to position the cover in the viewing position, and whereby upon positioning the cover in the viewing position, the cover is placed on the support surface, such that the stand section supports the computing device at an inclined angle on the support surface to facilitate access to the user interface surface of the personal computing device.

Claim 10

8 . The cover of claim 6 further comprising: a locking apparatus coupled to the stand section, the locking apparatus configured to couple the user interface portion to the support portion to inhibit the cover from opening inadvertently.

Claim 11

9 . The cover of claim 8 wherein the locking apparatus is further configured to abut the back surface of the personal computing device when the cover is positioned in a viewing position to aid with supporting the computing device.

Claim 12

10 . The cover of claim 5 wherein the support section further comprises a data connection located on an inner surface thereof, the data connection configured to couple to a data port of a personal computing device to electronically couple the personal computing device to the data entry and manipulation device.

Claim 13

11 . A cover for a personal computing device, the cover comprising: a support portion including a stand section pivotably coupled to a support section, the support section configured to secure a personal computing device to the cover and to electronically couple the personal computing device to the cover, the stand section being pivotable between a back surface of a personal computing device secured to the cover and the support section, such that the stand section forms different desired angular relationships with the computing device, the stand section retained in a desired angular relationship with the computing device to support the computing device at a desired inclined angle relative to a support surface, when the cover is placed on the support surface; and a user interface portion flexibly coupled to the support section, the user interface portion pivotable away from a user interface surface of a personal computing device coupled to the cover to inhibit the interface portion from interfering with a user accessing the user interface surface of the personal computing device, the interface portion including an integrated data entry and manipulation device electronically coupled to the personal computing device coupled to the cover, the data entry and manipulation device including at least one key that provides manipulation of data stored in the personal computing device.

Claim 14

11 . A cover for a personal computing device, the cover comprising: a support portion including a stand section pivotably coupled to a support section, the support section configured to secure a personal computing device to the cover and to electronically couple the personal computing device to the cover, the stand section being pivotable between a back surface of a personal computing device secured to the cover and the support section, such that the stand section forms different desired angular relationships with the computing device, the stand section retained in a desired angular relationship with the computing device to support the computing device at a desired inclined angle relative to a support surface, when the cover is placed on the support surface; and a user interface portion flexibly coupled to the support section, the user interface portion pivotable away from a user interface surface of a personal computing device coupled to the cover to inhibit the interface portion from interfering with a user accessing the user interface surface of the personal computing device, the interface portion including an integrated data entry and manipulation device electronically coupled to the personal computing device coupled to the cover, the data entry and manipulation device including at least one key that provides manipulation of data stored in the personal computing device.

Claim 15

12 . The cover of claim 11 wherein the support section further comprises a support bracket located on an inner surface thereof, the support bracket configured to detachably secure a personal computing device to the cover, the support bracket housing a data connection configured to couple to a data port of a personal computing device.

Claim 16

13 . The cover of claim 11 further comprising: a hinge coupled to the support section and stand section for pivotably coupling the stand section to the support section, the hinge allowing the stand section to form different desired angular relationships with the computing device and retaining the stand section in a desired angular relationship with the computing device.

Claim 17

14 . The cover of claim 11 further comprising: a locking apparatus coupled to the stand section, the locking apparatus configured to detachably couple the user interface portion to the support portion to inhibit the cover from opening inadvertently, the locking apparatus configured to abut the back surface of the personal computing device when the cover is positioned in a viewing position to aid with supporting the computing device.

Claim 18

15 . The cover of claim 11 wherein each the support portion and user interface portion has a height and a width substantially similar to a height and width of the personal computing device coupled to the cover.

Claim 19

16 . The cover of claim 15 wherein the integrated data manipulation device is dimensioned to fit within the periphery of the interface portion.

Claim 20

17 . The cover of claim 11 wherein the integrated data manipulation device is located on an inner surface of the user interface portion of the cover, the data manipulation device comprising a keyboard that includes at least one key that provides data entry and manipulation of data stored in the personal computing device coupled to the cover, the keyboard coupled to the data connection for coupling the keyboard to the personal computing device.

Claim 21

18 . The cover of claim 17 wherein the integrated keyboard comprises a membrane keyboard.

Claim 22

19 . The cover of claim 17 wherein the integrated keyboard includes an alphanumeric keypad configured in a QWERTY configuration.