Apple wins new iPhone 4, iPad, MagSafe design patents
updated 01:58 pm EST, Tue December 4, 2012
Core designs of iPhone 4, iPad 2 secured
Apple has won the rights to several important design patents from the US Patent and Trademark Office. These include the look of the iPhone 4, which is credited in part to lead designer Jonathan Ive, as well as the company's co-founder, Steve Jobs. Ive is also cited in all the other new patents, such as one for the iPhone 4 "Bumper" case.
Another patent covers the housing for the iPad 2, which has served as the template for third- and fourth-generation iPads as well, although the fourth-gen model switched to a Lightning connector instead of the depicted 30-pin port. Coinciding with the win is a patent on the Smart Cover, which has likewise been around since early 2011.
The last new patent documents a previous version of the MagSafe connector used for MacBook power cables. Whereas the current MagSafe 2 connector is T-shaped, the one in the USPTO filing is L-shaped.
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iPhone, patents, industry, Steve Jobs, Cases, accessories, Jonathan Ive, Apple, iPad, iPhone 4, iPad 2, Smart Cover
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Joined: 01-21-10
Yay! Patents encourage innovation by preventing blatant copying.
Discuss.