If you’re like my grandma, you’ll pop a rum raisin in your mouth and say, “I’ve seen every iPad case, pack, flap and stand that’s been squeezed from a designer’s forehead pores!” True, there are many iPad cases, but every once in a while, someone actually thinks of the problems that come with the burden of high-tech devices like an iPad Air and provide a dead simple solution. Mozzic has done this with the design of Loop, the iPad case that can hang.
Hang Around A Bit
When I first bought an iPad, there was no way or any case for hanging the dang thing anywhere. I wanted to hang it in the shop, my car, my kitchen, my shower… yep, and there wasn’t a good solution. I strung it up with yarn, of course, but the Loop case does it all with a touch more panache. Creator C.T. Truong, sent the details on how he came up with the design and how he made the idea happen.
I came up with that hanging system while on a vacation trip to California with my family. My son and wife struggled with their iPads while watching movies with all the drinks and foods on the tray.
I thought, “Why can’t we just hang that iPad and also be able to adjust the angle?” I started sketching the idea right away when I got home, made a prototype out of cardboard, put string on it and started hanging on all the objects in my house.
The hardest part was how to incorporate that hanging system so it’s not in the way when you don’t use it. That is when I engineered the integrated retractable cable and made a 3D printed prototype. Then I patented the design and started to work with my friends in China to find suppliers to support the project.
Getting started:
Lots of sketching was done and many paper/foam core mockups to make sure the idea is valid before we even move forward with any designs. When we started engineering the retractable cable hinge, it was the pain. So many plastic hinges kept broken off when we pull on the stainless steel cable and springs. We had to 3D print the hinge out of stainless steel material as well to make it work. Therefore the final product the hinge is CNC aluminum with stainless steel alloy detail for durability and premium appearance.
Prototyping and rework:
The back case was difficult, because we didn’t have the exact drawing of the iPad Air. Initially, we had to search online, using some very generic 3D drawings that were available. Then we made many plastic 3D printed/SLA housings and tested them on an iPad Air, modifiying until it fit perfectly, like a glove.
Manufacturing and fulfillment:
We worked with my engineer friends in China and have working prototypes in hand. They tested in car, kitchen and aircraft, giving them to family and friends to test as well. We have suppliers ready for tooling after funding is complete. When we secure funding and start tooling by the end of August we will have the Loop iPad case in Backer’s hands by early December 2014–perfect timing for the Holiday season.
They’re launching the project with a Kickstarter campaign, where you can grab the Loop iPad case at the Earlybird price of USD $59. After the specials are gone, you can pick it up for the regular price of USD $79 with the choice between brown or black leather cover. Two cases are available at a price of USD $145. The campaign runs until September 15th with a goal of $110,000. However, this is one iPad case I’m convinced many will see the value in, including Grandma.
