So those rounded corners would also be
considered
functional.
When the Autobus Nouvelle II coach (bus)
came out (around 2000), my company was one of the first to get one. Shortly
afterwards it was returned for mods which we suggested and some (if not all)
were incorporated into the model for later sales.
One of the most obvious
safety mods was a change to the end of the raised seating areas - it was
a sharp corner at the top of the entrance stars which could have caused injury
to the shins of passengers as they turned into the bus which we requested be
rounded off (it came back rounded off),
When we changed the worktop in our
kitchen at home (a few years ago), the end leaves a short gap by one of the
doors. For safety reasons to prevent injury I rounded off the
corner.
Having rounded corners to prevent injury also has the benefit that
it makes the thing easier to put into one's pocket - just like my wallet has
rounded corners and doesn't snag on the lining of my pockets.
All my hard
glasses cases are rectangular with rounded corners. Prevents injury from a
sharp corner and has the benefit that it doesn't snag on the lining of my
pocket.
However, someone who is not so safety aware [something I was
especially taught as part of training to be a bus driver] may just consider the
rounded corners were there to put it easily into the pocket as that's the
benefit they see from the shape: only if they injure themselves with a sharp
corner would they consider that the rounded corners have prevented it.
So
yes, rounded corners certainly are functional - to prevent injury - and
have been for years prior to the iPhone/iPad; they also have other benefits like
making the item slip easier into (and out of!) a pocket.
Why does "Doing in
on a new device" suddenly make it patentable?
[That was sort of rhetorical,
but an obvious answer is: MONEY - a patent lawyer can make more money every time
the same invention is done on a different device by filling in the forms and
charging fees!] [ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
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