Best Patent in 2014 – Apple’s Self-Deploying Screen Protector

Smart Design & Risk Mitigation: Apple’s Self-Deploying Screen

 

This Apple patent is a prime example of applying engineering innovation not just to a primary product, but to solve a critical user experience problem—a focus that drives high-value R&D investment within the innovationCAFE community.

In 2014, inventors Stephen Lynch, Tyson Manullang, and Emergy Stanford filed a patent for a sophisticated self-deploying screen protector. This technology utilizes sensors to detect a drop, instantly extending retractable tabs to create a “buffer zone” that shields the phone’s fragile display from impact.

 

Why This Patent is Relevant to R&D Funding:

 

This is a textbook case of qualified R&D activity, demonstrating the kind of complex engineering necessary to secure maximum tax incentives:

• Engineering Uncertainty: Developing a system that uses internal sensors, precision mechanics (retractable tabs), and shock absorbers to deploy protection before impact involves significant technical risk and experimentation—all eligible for R&D tax credits.
• Superior Functionality: The goal is to provide superior protection without the need for a bulky case, effectively improving product performance and user satisfaction.
• Intangible Asset Value: While the product has not yet hit the market, the patent itself represents a valuable intangible asset. The work put into securing and defending this kind of design innovation is what drives business valuation in the tech sector.

This kind of ingenious, problem-solving design reinforces the concept that R&D applies not just to core technology, but to every component that dramatically improves the customer experience.

---