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).

  • Patent number: 10543669
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 10283996
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 9819378
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Kenney, Robert Michael Merritt, Andrew D. Lauder, Santhana K. Balaji, Jared A. Sartee
  • Publication number: 20160191103
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    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
  • Patent number: 9315004
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20160064993
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    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
  • Publication number: 20140283979
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Kevin Kenney, Robert Michael Merritt, Andrew D. Lauder, Santhana K. Balaji, Jared A. Sartee
  • Patent number: 8790758
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Kenney, Robert Michael Merritt, Andrew D. Lauder, Santhana K. Balaji, Jared A. Sartee
  • Publication number: 20130236667
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Kenney, Robert Michael Merritt, Andrew D. Lauder
  • Publication number: 20130233762
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: 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