Patents by Inventor Timothy C. Wulff

Timothy C. Wulff 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: 12287680
    Abstract: A case for an electronic device can include a case body including an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface being positioned opposite the exterior surface. The case can additionally include a button body positioned at least partially within the case body between the exterior surface and the interior surface, the button body being movable inward and outward relative to the case body along an axis of button travel. The case can further include a biasing structure having a contact surface configured to contact the button body, the biasing structure configured to bias the button body toward the interior surface along the axis of button travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Supratik Datta, Karan S. Jain, Ehsan Khajeh, Arash Akhavan Fomani, Daniel P Kumar, Eng Eow Goh, Meng Chi Lee, Gang Ning, Andrew W. Joyce, Chengrui Zhang, Stephen T. Schooley, Timothy C. Wulff, Ross D. Arriens, Hao Dong, Michael Sipper, Jenna Dancy, Deepak Sharma, Parin Patel
  • Publication number: 20250088581
    Abstract: An accessory device includes multiple walls and textile layers covers the walls. The textile layers may be of the same materials. However, one of the textile layers may include a film that provides protections against stains and fraying. The textile layers may come together at a seam. Accessory devices may include a shell that includes a pocket used to seat the textile layers in order to form the seam. An additional seam may be formed by two ends of a textile layer. The additional seam may be supported by a reinforcement layer, and may also align with an opening formed in the accessory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Kristen L. CRETELLA, Chengrui ZHANG, Joshua A. HOOVER, Mengshen WU, Timothy C. WULFF, Yue LIANG, Stephanie A. WHALEN, Camille I. HENROT, Deepak SHARMA, Stephen T. SCHOOLEY, Joshua SIU, Donald L. OLMSTEAD, Catherine A. DECLARO, Hao DONG, Amy ZHOU, Anne-Marie HECK, Jonathan Gomez GARCIA, Daniel J. HAGEWOOD, Jessica J. LU
  • Publication number: 20250082078
    Abstract: An accessory device with a button includes modifications and features to conceal internal features of the button as well as block light from passing through some locations of the button. The button may include several pillars and a compressible member between the pillars. The compressible member may conform to the shape of the pillars. In some exemplary implementations, the button may further include a seal that extends around the perimeter of the button to conceal internal features of the button. Additionally, the button may include extensions that further conceal internal components. Still further, the button may include an anti-reflective coating. Modifications to a sidewall may include a compressible member that inclines toward the button and/or an elevated lip used in conjunction with the extension of the button to conceal internal features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Timothy C. WULFF, Joshua A. HOOVER, Joshua SIU, Daniel J. HAGEWOOD, Yue LIANG, Stephen T. SCHOOLEY, Nishant R. JAYANT, Chengrui ZHANG, Mengshen WU
  • Patent number: 11839279
    Abstract: Accessories that can add new functionality to an electronic device. These accessories can provide additional functionality that allow for the replacement of a physical object that would otherwise be carried in addition to and separate from the electronic device. These accessories can further provide improvements, such as a reduction in size or improvement in functionality over the physical object to be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Wulff, Yang Zhou, James C. Wu, Tao Pan, Leon Zilun Zhang, Geng Luo
  • Publication number: 20220087389
    Abstract: Accessories that can add new functionality to an electronic device. These accessories can provide additional functionality that allow for the replacement of a physical object that would otherwise be carried in addition to and separate from the electronic device. These accessories can further provide improvements, such as a reduction in size or improvement in functionality over the physical object to be replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Wulff, Yang Zhou, James C. Wu, Tao Pan, Leon Zilun Zhang