X

Apple wants to make super-secure magnetic mount for iPad

A patent application shows the company's vision for an easy way to mount and remove an iPad for cars, tripods, treadmills, and more.

Donna Tam Staff Writer / News
Donna Tam covers Amazon and other fun stuff for CNET News. She is a San Francisco native who enjoys feasting, merrymaking, checking her Gmail and reading her Kindle.
Donna Tam
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Apple wants to make a magnetic stand for iPads that will hold the tablet securely in place, while also allowing for quick removal when needed, according to a patent application published today.

Spotted by Patently Apple, the application includes images of various tablet mounting situations, including inside cars, on tripods, treadmills, and on a music sheet stand. Apple even thinks the technology could be used to connect two iPads with a magnetic hinge.

Apple writes in the application:

Tablet devices are used in an increasingly wide range of applications. In many of these applications a way for conveniently mounting the device is required. A number of manufacturers have tried to produce such a device; however since most tablets have no built-in mounting mechanism, mounting devices tend to be somewhat cumbersome and generally do not allow for easy removal.

Therefore, what is desired is a way for securely attaching a tablet device to a stand where it can be removed and replaced with ease.

Apple also makes note that there will be a shield in place on the magnetic mounting to protect other nearby devices that are sensitive to strong magnetic fields. This probably would apply to credit cards swiped in a card reader attached to an iPad.

 
Two iPads are better than one? U.S. Patent and Trademark Office