Abstract: A system and method for aligning a screen protector to a cell phone comprises a screen protector with an alignment liner disposed over the screen protector; alignment indicia disposed on the alignment liner; and a display source configured to enable display of alignment indicia on the display screen of the cell phone. The alignment indicia of the display screen correspond to the alignment indicia of the alignment liner so that the alignment indicia of the alignment liner is capable of being aligned over the alignment indicia on the display screen to properly align the screen protector with the display screen when the screen protector is positioned above the display screen.

Abstract: A screen protector laminate applicator is used with an installation machine to install a screen protector on a mobile device. The laminate applicator comprises a web secured to the installation machine; the screen protector carried by the web, and a backing layer covering the screen protector opposite the web. The web, the screen protector and the backing layer are removably coupled together as a laminate. A tab of the backing layer extends beyond the perimeter of the screen protector and comprises an enlarged head connected to the backing layer by a narrower neck.

Abstract: A keyboard folio for a tablet computer provides a case and a wireless keyboard. A connection utilizes a magnetic attachment and an insert to adapt to the tablet computer. The panel has a bottom ledge to receive the tablet computer on the bottom ledge. In addition, the panel has ferromagnetic elements to magnetically attach to an attachment plate adhered to the tablet computer. The panel and the wireless keyboard can be releasably attached together with a magnetic attachment.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a screen protector to a portable handheld electronic device or cell phone with a user facing surface comprises a mold having an outer surface matching a user facing surface. A stack of layers including the screen protector is disposed over the outer surface of the mold. A vacuum bag receives and surrounds the stack of layers disposed over the mold. The vacuum bag is sealed and evacuated of air. The screen protector is heated and/or cured while in the vacuum bag to shape the screen protector over the mold to have curved lateral edges matching curved lateral edges of the outer surface of the mold and the user facing surface of the display screen of the cell phone. The vacuum bag maintains the curved lateral edges of the screen protector against the curved lateral edges of the outer surface of the mold.

Abstract: A screen protector installation machine uses a screen protector laminate to apply a screen protector to a cell phone. The laminate comprise a web that carries the screen protector and a backing layer. The laminate is carried by a lid coupled to a base and closable over the base. An impression in the base receives the cell phone. A first slider is carried by the lid and comprises a spool rotatable with respect to the lid. A tab of the backing layer is coupled to the spool. As the slider slides over the cell phone, the spool rotates to wind the backing layer around the spool to expose the screen protector. The lid properly positions and orients the screen protector over the mobile device. The lid is automatically lowered onto the base, and the screen protector is automatically lowered onto the mobile device, by movement of the first slider after the backing layer is removed.

Abstract: A system for protecting a surface of an electronic device includes a protective film and a liner. The protective film includes an adhesive-coated surface. The liner, which covers the adhesive-coated surface until the protective film is secured to the surface of an electronic device, covers a periphery of the adhesive-coated surface. The liner may also include one or more tabs for facilitating removal of the liner from the adhesive-coated surface of the protective film. Methods for using the system to apply a protective film to a surface, such as a surface of a display screen, of an electronic device are also disclosed.

Abstract: An accessory for an electronic device, such as a mobile computing device, includes a housing and a support element that are configured to support the electronic device in an inclined orientation. The support element of the accessory may comprise an elongated recess that receives a portion (e.g., an edge portion) of an electronic device to orient and support the electronic device in the inclined orientation. The accessory may also include a peripheral component, such as a user interface component (e.g., a keyboard, a track pad, etc.) or any other component that may enhance or supplement functionality of the electronic device.

Abstract: A system for protecting a surface of a substrate includes a protective film, which is configured to be applied and secured to the surface, as well as a backing on an adherent surface of the protective film and an application tape over an exterior surface of the protective film. Protruding features, such as tabs, adjacent to different peripheral edges of the protective film may enable removal of the backing and the application tape from the protective film, and may include features that indicate the order in which each protruding feature is to be grasped to peel its corresponding element away from the protective film.

Abstract: An on-demand production system for accessories for use with electronic devices is configured to generate digital templates defining the design of the accessories and provide the digital templates to retail or other locations. The retail or other locations may receive access to the digital templates automatically and/or electronically within a week, a day, or even minutes, of the digital template being created. When a customer requests an accessory, the digital template may be accessed. Using an electronic production machine and a supply of stock material, the accessory can be cut, formed, printed, or otherwise produced based on instructions or designs of the digital template. The electronic production machine may automatically read the digital template to automate the production at a retail location. The electronic production machine may produce the accessory on-demand, and production of the accessory may be completed within two hours, or potentially within ten minutes, of a request.

Abstract: A system for protecting a surface of a substrate includes a protective film, which is configured to be applied and secured to the surface, as well as a backing on an adherent surface of the protective film and an application tape over an exterior surface of the protective film. Protruding features, such as tabs, adjacent to different peripheral edges of the protective film may enable removal of the backing and the application tape from the protective film, and may include features that indicate the order in which each protruding feature is to be grasped to peel its corresponding element away from the protective film. Methods of using such a system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wireless keyboard wirelessly connects to a desktop computer, a tablet and/or a cellular phone, and carries the tablet and/or cellular phone in a dock. The dock has a slot formed in an upper wall of a keyboard panel. A bar with a channel is pivotally carried by the keyboard panel and pivots in the slot. One or more ribs and/or notches on an exterior of the bar are engaged by a pawl in the keyboard panel to releasably maintain a position of the bar.

Abstract: An accessory for an electronic device, such as a mobile computing device, includes a housing and a support element that are configured to support the electronic device in an inclined orientation. The support element of the accessory may comprise an elongated recess that receives a portion (e.g., an edge portion) of an electronic device to orient and support the electronic device in the inclined orientation. The accessory may also include a peripheral component, such as a user interface component (e.g., a keyboard, a track pad, etc.) or any other component that may enhance or supplement functionality of the electronic device.

Abstract: A system for protecting a surface of an electronic device includes a protective film and a liner. The protective film includes an adhesive-coated surface. The liner, which covers the adhesive-coated surface until the protective film is secured to the surface of an electronic device, includes a main element that covers a majority of the adhesive-coated surface and a strip element that covers a smaller strip of the adhesive-coated surface, which strip is located adjacent to an edge of the adhesive-coated surface. One or both of the strip element and the main element of the liner may also include a tab for facilitating their removal from the adhesive-coated surface of the protective film. Methods for using the system to apply a protective film to a surface, such as a surface of a display screen, of an electronic device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for protecting a surface of a substrate includes a protective film, which is configured to be applied and secured to the surface, as well as a backing on an adherent surface of the protective film and an application tape over an exterior surface of the protective film. Protruding features, such as tabs, adjacent to different peripheral edges of the protective film may enable removal of the backing and the application tape from the protective film, and may include features that indicate the order in which each protruding feature is to be grasped to peel its corresponding element away from the protective film.

Abstract: Systems and films for protecting surfaces of various substrates, including electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices, include a liner with a strip liner and a main liner. The strip liner, which covers a small strip of adhesive on the back side of a protective film, is configured to be removed before the main liner. With the small strip of adhesive exposed, the protective film may be aligned with a substrate and, if necessary, removed from the substrates and repositioned thereon. Thereafter, the main liner may be removed to enable complete application of the protective film to the substrate. Methods for securing protective films to substrates are also disclosed.

Abstract: Tablet computer cases and associated methods are disclosed and described. In one embodiment, a tablet computer case may include a first panel configured to releasably engage and hold a tablet computer of a predetermined size and shape, a second panel, and a hinge rotatably attaching the two panels.

Abstract: A hinge resistively holds an orientation between first and second members. The hinge has an elongated shaft with a head mating with a bore in the first member. A key is rotatably disposed on an axel portion of the shaft and has a tab mating with a slot in the second member. A friction ring is disposed on the shaft adjacent the key, and keyed to rotated with the shaft. The friction ring and the key have opposing bearing surfaces to hold their relative position by friction. One of the friction ring and the key can have a dimple while the other has a detent. A spring is carried by the shaft and biases the key and the friction ring together.

Abstract: A keyboard folio comprises a shell to receive a tablet computer. The shell has an attachment strip along a side thereof. A wireless keyboard has a keyboard panel with an alphanumeric keyboard pivotally coupled to an attachment bar. The attachment bar of the wireless keyboard removably attaches to the attachment strip of the shell in a fixed relationship. The keyboard panel pivots with respect to the attachment bar, and thus the shell.