Apple iPhone 7 Release Date Update: Apple Patent Shows ‘Iron Man-Like Gas Thrusters’ On Phone’s Body For Protection From Freefall

Apple is not new to filing innovative, one-of-a-kind and interesting patents with the USPTO andm evidently, most of their patented products have done well upon release. However, a recent report states that Apple has patented unique thrusters and gas canisters inside the upcoming iPhone's body. Also, the upcoming iPhone moniker is rumoured to be Apple iPhone 7 or iPhone 6S. Apparently, these thrusters will shoot out when the iPhone 7 is in danger of stumbling onto the ground during an accidental drop. Needless to say, it sounds almost like Tony Stark in Iron Man's suit falling off a tall building.

As it turns out, this interesting patent was filed way back in Sept. 2011. And this patent is tied to the document ID "US 20130073095 A1." As guessed, "protective mechanism for an electronic device" is the title of the filed patent, according to Slash Gear.

In general, the aforementioned patent documents some of the significant ways to protect an electronic device. If this patent comes true, this technology will help in protecting the smartphone by modifying the centre of mass of the device during accidental fall. For instance, this "reorientation technology" can be put to use by reportedly housing small gas canisters under the hood of the smartphone. Based on the patent, triggering a thrust mechanism could modify the "angular momentum and/or orientation of the device during freefall."

Moreover, the aforesaid patent also states that this thrust action could produce thrust force from various directions so as to change the direction of the device, i.e. saving it from a fall. This also means that, this thrust action might employ a gas canister, which in turn will activate the compressed gas outside of the smartphone to change its position, says the same site.

With an extensive scope, this technology might also deploy "air foils" to turn-around the smartphone as it falls from user's hand. Interestingly, this mechanism is believed to have the capability to sense when the device descends down accidentally. The description of this patent reportedly shows the ways the handset might be able to store details on umpteen different types of impacts and freefalls. Utilising this information, the smartphone will reorient the various modules of the device to prepare for a freefall.

Say for example, in case, the device falls out of the pocket accidentally, this mechanism will work by "creating a thicker enclosure on a particular area of the device, relocating particular components within the device, or changing an overall shape of the device." Although there is no confirmation that iPhone 7/iPhone 6S, or for that matter iPhone 8, could come bundled with such a technology, Apple is on track to bring Iron Man-like feature to its iPhones, sooner or later.

Interested readers should head to Slash Gear to see the patented sketch of gas canisters/thrusters. According to PC Advisor, the Apple iPhone 7 release date is pegged for Sept. 2015. In addition to the thrusters/canisters, Apple iPhone 7 could also come with "reversible USB charger." This means the iPhone 7 will reportedly feature a Lightning connector on one end and a reversible USB connector on the opposite end of the charger. What do you think of such thrusters on your next iPhone? Feel free to leave a comment.

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