Samsung may produce a Galaxy Note S Pen that doubles as a stand

Kickstands are a welcome addition to practically any mobile device. There’s really only so long that you can awkwardly support your phone with the side of your pinky finger (like you may be doing right now), so it would be nice if you could just set your smartphone down at a nice viewing angle to keep browsing or streaming. Unfortunately, kickstands kind of grate against the aesthetic of premium devices. If your casing is made of plastic, a stand is all well and good, but they feel out of place on metal and glass. According to some recent patents, it would seem that Samsung has found a work-around.

The patent, discovered by Patently Mobile, outlines a design for a stylus that bends in the middle, which allows it to function as a kickstand while halfway inserted into its slot. The idea is to let users take advantage of their gorgeous displays without compromising the design’s overall aesthetic.

When the S Pen is bent into a stand, a lock engages inside the slot so you don’t have to worry about it falling out. Once you bend the stylus back into its straight alignment, the lock disengages, and you can slip the S Pen all the way back in for storage or start scribbling away with it. If you’re worried about a bendable pen feeling unwieldy, you shouldn’t be too concerned. The joint seems to lock into place, creating a sturdy pen while you’re using it.

Samsung filed this patent in the third quarter of 2015, but the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office didn’t publish the application until this year. We’re not certain when this feature may be making its way to commercial products, but it is definitely a creative and innovate use of the S Pen. What are your thoughts regarding this patent? Let us know in the comments below!