Combination protective case and stand for a tablet device and keyboard

Abstract

A combination protective case and stand for a tablet device and keyboard. The case includes a first panel configured to receive a tablet device on a first face of the first panel, a second panel pivotably coupled to the first panel and configured to receive a keyboard on a first face of the second panel, and a cover portion pivotably coupled to the first panel and configured to enclose the first panel and the second panel such that a first face of the cover portion is disposed in facing relation to the first panel and in facing relation to the second panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination protective case and stand for a tablet device and keyboard, comprising:
 a tablet panel configured to receive and secure a tablet device, the tablet panel comprising a first tablet panel face and a second tablet panel face, the second tablet panel face located on an opposite side of the tablet panel with respect to the first tablet panel face;   a flexible panel comprising a first flexible panel face and a second flexible panel face; and   a keyboard panel pivotably coupled to the tablet panel by the flexible panel, the keyboard panel comprising a first keyboard panel face and a second keyboard panel face, the first keyboard panel face integral with a keyboard or configured to receive a keyboard, and the keyboard panel being movable from a first position to a second position, wherein   the keyboard panel directly contacts the second face of the tablet panel at the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first cover portion panel;   a second cover portion panel; and   a central cover portion panel, the central cover portion panel disposed between the first cover portion panel and the second cover portion panel.   
     
     
         3 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a sheath configured to connect to the keyboard panel, the sheath comprising a third fastener.   
     
     
         4 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 3 , comprising:
 a third fastener disposed on the first cover portion panel.   
     
     
         5 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third fasteners comprise a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         6 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a cover portion comprising a first cover portion panel, a second cover portion panel, and a central cover portion panel interposing the first cover portion panel and the second cover portion panel, wherein   the central cover portion panel is flexible and pivotably coupled to the first cover portion panel and the second cover portion panel.   
     
     
         7 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 5 , wherein
 the central cover portion panel is rigid and pivotably coupled to the first cover portion panel, and   the tablet device further comprises a first flexible panel and a second flexible panel, the central cover portion pivotably coupled to the first cover portion panel by the first flexible panel, and the central cover portion pivotably coupled to the second cover portion panel by the second flexible panel.   
     
     
         8 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 1 , wherein the keyboard panel further comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
         9 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 1 , wherein the keyboard is removable from the keyboard panel. 
     
     
         10 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 8 , wherein the keyboard is directly attached to the tablet panel. 
     
     
         11 . The combination protective case and stand of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a covering disposed on the first cover portion panel;   a first fastener disposed on the second tablet panel face; and   a second fastener disposed on the keyboard panel.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . A combined case and stand apparatus, comprising:
 a tablet panel comprising a first tablet panel face and a second tablet panel face, the first tablet panel face comprising a tablet retaining structure, the tablet retaining structure configured to receive and securely maintain a tablet device comprising a screen, the tablet retaining structure configured to expose the screen of the tablet device for user operation; and   a keyboard panel comprising a first face and a second face, the first face comprising a retaining structure, wherein the retaining structure is an outer shell configured to receive, cover, and securely maintain a keyboard, the keyboard panel pivotably coupled to the tablet panel whereby the keyboard panel is movable with respect to the tablet panel, the keyboard panel movable to a compact configuration, wherein   the second tablet panel face and the second keyboard face are positioned to face each other.