Patents by Inventor Robert Michael Merritt
Robert Michael Merritt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10543669Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Santhana Balaji, Kevin Kenney, Andrew Lauder, Robert Michael Merritt, Michael Nashner, Samuel Gilkison Smith, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Jared A. Sartee, Crenshaw Whitley, Kathryn P. Crews
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Patent number: 10283996Abstract: Packaging is disclosed. The packaging may include a charging element to charge an electronic device contained within the packaging. The charging may be performed by inductive charging. The packaging may include a magnet to position and retain an item within the packaging. The packaging may include protective surfaces formed of microfiber to help protect an item contained therein. The microfiber may be debossed around its periphery to minimize interruption between the microfiber and an underlying surface to which it is applied.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2015Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin Scott Fetterman, Jonathan Berk, Daniel David Hershey, Alissa Anderson, Margaret Madigan Burke, Jack Wanderman, Brett Evans Krasniewicz, Peter Coxeter, Benjamin Arthur Stevenson, Matthew Phillip Casebolt, Felix Chung Fan Lam, Robert Michael Merritt, Mark Toki Niiro
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Patent number: 9819378Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin Kenney, Robert Michael Merritt, Andrew D. Lauder, Santhana K. Balaji, Jared A. Sartee
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Publication number: 20160191103Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2016Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Santhana Balaji, Kevin Kenney, Andrew Lauder, Robert Michael Merritt, Michael Nashner, Samuel Gilkison Smith, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Jared A. Sartee, Crenshaw Whitley, Kathryn P. Crews
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Patent number: 9315004Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Santhana Balaji, Kevin Kenney, Andrew Lauder, Robert Michael Merritt, Michael Nashner, Samuel Gilkison Smith, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Jared A. Sartee, Crenshaw Whitley, Kathryn P. Crews
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Publication number: 20160064993Abstract: Packaging is disclosed. The packaging may include a charging element to charge an electronic device contained within the packaging. The charging may be performed by inductive charging. The packaging may include a magnet to position and retain an item within the packaging. The packaging may include protective surfaces formed of microfiber to help protect an item contained therein. The microfiber may be debossed around its periphery to minimize interruption between the microfiber and an underlying surface to which it is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Kevin Scott FETTERMAN, Jonathan BERK, Daniel David HERSHEY, Alissa ANDERSON, Margaret Madigan BURKE, Jack WANDERMAN, Brett Evans KRASNIEWICZ, Peter COXETER, Benjamin Arthur STEVENSON, Matthew Phillip CASEBOLT, Felix Chung Fan LAM, Robert Michael MERRITT, Mark Toki NIIRO
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Publication number: 20140283979Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Inventors: Kevin Kenney, Robert Michael Merritt, Andrew D. Lauder, Santhana K. Balaji, Jared A. Sartee
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Patent number: 8790758Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin M. Kenney, Robert Michael Merritt, Andrew D. Lauder, Santhana K. Balaji, Jared A. Sartee
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Publication number: 20130236667Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin Kenney, Robert Michael Merritt, Andrew D. Lauder
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Publication number: 20130233762Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2012Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Santhana Balaji, Kevin Kenney, Andrew Lauder, Robert Michael Merritt, Michael Nashner, Samuel Gilkison Smith, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Jared A. Sartee, Crenshaw Whitley, Kathryn P. Crews