Apple Patent Reveals Bland iPhone Case, Hopefully Does Not Result in Lawsuits

[Phillip Swanson]

A recent patent application uncovered by AppleInsider depicts and new Apple iPhone case and likely successor to the minimalistic "Bumper."

The patent in question depicts a rather uninspiring case that appears to be the average form-fitting affair with a small hole on the bottom cut out for the microphone with a mesh cover to reduce wind noise and improve call quality. The mesh screen would also prevent dirt, moisture and other things that mess up electronics from affecting the mics quality.

The patent itself is rather broad in its description allowing Apple to release numerous variations made out different materials like rubber, silicon, acrylic, plastic, and polycarbonate. Nothing innovative or new is included in the patent, but potentially the most damning aspect is the fact Apple was able to patent a specific case, as well as the features of that case. None of the ideas patented are new, but Apple might be the first to own patents on the features, and could potentially leverage them in court.

Hopefully this patent does not result in Apple suing case makers for including wind-screens and other basic features into their designs. The accessory market is too large, and too vast with too many small, medium, and large players for Apple to invest resources in suing them all. I hope.

Source: AppleInsider

[lkailburn]

Love the last paragraph! So true.

[amoamare]

Another patent apple shouldn't even be allowed to get...

[Raptor2213]

Another patent apple shouldn't even be allowed to get...

Agreed!

[PokemonDesigner]

I have $100 saying crapple tries to sue at least one company for this. However I know they'll probably try to sue everyone.

[Silverado1987]

I'm sure everyone realizes that not apple but all companies submit hundreds of patents. Not all of them get accepted. An iPhone case that apple would have to patent would be hard in my opinion

[Rob2G]

I have $100 saying crapple tries to sue at least one company for this. However I know they'll probably try to sue everyone.

crapple? Seriously? If you dislike apple so much why are you on an Apple device website? Even if you do have a valid reason, it is immediately invalid because your name is PokemonDesigner.

[Anonymous]

crapple? Seriously? If you dislike apple so much why are you on an Apple device website? Even if you do have a valid reason, it is immediately invalid because your name is PokemonDesigner.

+1

[loismustdie555]

this would be a dream come true if they made this for the iPad 3, I have been searching for a case like this on my iPad since I first got it.

[geeked_squad]

crapple? Seriously? If you dislike apple so much why are you on an Apple device website? Even if you do have a valid reason, it is immediately invalid because your name is PokemonDesigner.

I logged in just to post "LOL."

[hapishyguy]

Lol

[Glocknine]

Next time apple will file a patent for making smart phones so they can sue any company that makes smartphones. Sueing rival companies is what apple do best this days.

[bigboyz]

Silly..anyway moving forward. So Apple is taking the design already in place and putting patents on it? Smart business decision..not sure about ethics

[mori]

have you guys though of that maybe apple its gonna build a simple case, in the future and wants to cover its rear end so they dont get sue over it?

[Mrteacup]

I'm sure everyone realizes that not apple but all companies submit hundreds of patents. Not all of them get accepted. An iPhone case that apple would have to patent would be hard in my opinion

Agreed. And they only hear about apples cause 1. This is an APPLE FORUM
2. The media hates on apple cause it will get tons of views cause there are apple haters and apple lovers

Silly..anyway moving forward. So Apple is taking the design already in place and putting patents on it? Smart business decision..not sure about ethics

..I'm not sure you guys realize that this patent was probably submitted before these were the "current" case designs

[control635]

You know apple is going to sue anyone with a design even closely related to this

[soidroidios]

Guys, the patent is about placing a mesh on just the right spot so that it protects the microphone and prevents noise during calls. They are the first to be able to do this an no other company has ever tried to cover the microphone with a mesh.

[brodimus]

And they want the patent so they can charge 49.99 for what another company would charge $15 for.