Earlier today, we reported about a patent filing by Samsung that showcased some possible upcoming improvements to the Gear VR. Now, the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) has awarded a series of design patents to Samsung covering the Gear Fit and some new type of smartphone cases.
The Gear Fit was originally announced back in February 2014, and was Samsung's first fitness tracker, but it has received a design patent just now. In addition, Samsung has been awarded a design patent for a new type of smartphone case that has a fashionable chained handle that makes it appear like a purse. It also features pockets to store credit or loyalty cards, similar to the Wallet Case that Samsung already sells.
Unlike patent applications, design patents published by the USPTO doesn't reveal details about the design such as underlying technology or materials used to achieve the said design. It also doesn't spill out details about unique internal components or features that might be hidden in the device.
Other design patents awarded to Samsung includes a camera lens, a smartphone flip case with a circular opening on the front, and what appears to be a keyboard dock. The smartphone case appears to have an opening or a see-through area on the front that can be used to view a part of the screen, similar to the S View case, but with a circular opening. The keyboard dock appears similar to the Surface Type Cover for the Microsoft Surface tablet, and it might be designed for an upcoming smartphone or tablet from Samsung.
