Samsung patents the design of a tablet with... a hole in it?

posted by Florin T.

Apr 09, 2014, 4:37 PM

Samsung patents the design of a tablet with... a hole in it?

Samsung continues to create new tablet designs, and, although it may never use them for real devices, it makes sure to patent them. Last month, we saw the design of a Samsung tablet with slightly curved margins. Now, the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) granted Samsung a patent for the design of a slate that seemingly has a relatively large hole in its bottom right corner.

There’s no way of telling how this hole is supposed to help the tablet offer a better experience. If our readers have suggestions, they shouldn’t hesitate to use the comments section and share them.

Apart from the unusual hole, the new tablet designed by Samsung seems to be pretty normal, having speakers on the sides, and a camera on the back. There might even be a place for an S Pen stylus on one of the sides - which would make this device a Galaxy Note. You can see Samsung’s drawings depicting the tablet, as published by the USPTO, in the slideshow below.

source: USPTO

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23 Comments

22. grams17

Posts: 22; Member since: May 10, 2011

So am I the only one thinking f@ck hole?

posted on Apr 10, 2014, 2:21 PM 0

23. g2a5b0e unregistered

Yes. As a matter of fact, you are.

posted on Apr 12, 2014, 2:01 PM 0

20. Stuntman

Posts: 843; Member since: Aug 01, 2011

There's only one tablet with a hole in the side. Tweet tweet. Twiddle twiddle. :)

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 10:07 PM 0

19. rns122112 unregistered

Actually before nook and Samsung... Does anybody remember the Nokia 7705? That had a hole in it. phonearena.com/phones/Nokia-7705-Twist_id3748

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 8:16 PM 0

18. CX3NT3_713

Posts: 2365; Member since: Apr 18, 2011

Really?? A hole??

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 7:32 PM 0

17. gigaraga

Posts: 1454; Member since: Mar 29, 2013

Could it be for a like a seperate accessory that Samsung may release to take advantage of this hole?????

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 7:20 PM 2

16. StanleyG88

Posts: 240; Member since: Mar 15, 2012

So does B&N have to pay SS royalties for all the millions of Nook Tablets they have sold over the last 2 1/2 years that had a hole in it?

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 7:18 PM 1

13. StanleyG88

Ahhh.. my Nook Tablet that I bought over 2 years ago has the same type hole in it... prior use anyone???

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 7:02 PM 1

10. qxavierus

Posts: 51; Member since: Mar 20, 2012

In my opinion the hole could be a bit larger, as to put your thumb finger through it. Just like a painter's palette. It seems to me it would be more comfortable to hold a tablet this way.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 6:01 PM 2

9. turbalejo

Posts: 13; Member since: May 10, 2012

Bottle opener?

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 5:59 PM 3

8. chemhaz

Posts: 161; Member since: May 04, 2012

A mount to hold and secure a larger stylus for ordering items in a food outlet or signing doccuments.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 5:52 PM 1

7. ocilfa

Posts: 334; Member since: Aug 03, 2012

I know people claim that samsung copy's, but this is silly. The hole is the Nook's thing.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 5:21 PM 4

14. SPASE

Posts: 261; Member since: May 03, 2013

Nook' is not round, more trianglish.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 7:13 PM 0

15. StanleyG88

So others now can use a triangular or pentagon or octogon, etc shaped hole and they are OK for use?

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 7:15 PM 0

4. _Bone_

Posts: 2155; Member since: Oct 29, 2012

Interchangeable camera lens, you heard it here first.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 5:08 PM 0

3. DAMONORIBELLO

Posts: 109; Member since: Mar 18, 2012

I see commercial and personal use written all over this. The hole, combined with some sort of knob that has a lock built into it could allow this tablet to be easily locked into place on a surface and then removed later with ease, provided you have the key. Could be a wall or any type of flat surface really. The other side of the tablet would be secured in place by some sort of molded piece in the wall that is made to fit this particular tablet. You could replace the molded piece with a different size in the future if you upgraded or downgraded to a different size Samsung Galaxy tablet.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 4:53 PM 2

5. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Kiosk function you say? I could see that.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 5:09 PM 0

12. HildyJ

Posts: 346; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

It might be even simpler - the hole could be used with a cable lock (since I suspect the chassis is too small/weak to support a Kensington lock slot. A good BYOD or Enterprise feature.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 6:48 PM 0

1. Ninetysix

Posts: 2967; Member since: Oct 08, 2012

OMG..this changes everything! Samsung Galaxy BlackHole.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 4:38 PM 20

2. kryme

Posts: 470; Member since: Oct 24, 2013

lol haha good one

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 4:45 PM 1

6. Finalflash

Posts: 4063; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

Only until Apple patents TWO holes in a rounded rectangle with a screen on it. Then he'll lose his mind from an overload of innovation.

posted on Apr 09, 2014, 5:09 PM 4

11. HildyJ

You've got it wrong. Based on a reliable leak from an Azerbaijani heavy equipment manufacturer, Apple is going to patent a Square hole and a round iPeg to go in it.