With all the concern about Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus being too easy to bend, it appears as though Apple has taken the concept of a bendable device one step further. It may be a little more than a dream at this point, but Apple has recently filed a patent for a mobile device that is completely bendable and able to return to its previous shape. And not just a small bend either, but a phone that could be partially folded and then snap back.

The patent itself describes a device in which the case, battery, chipset, screen, and all other components are flexible enough to be bent significantly before snapping back into shape. Well, at least that is what is suggested by the patent illustrations provided by Apple. While not every part of every component would be bendable, it appears as though Apple is at least toying with the idea of using rubber or silicone connectors within components to allow the device to be bent.

It may very well be a while before such a phone or tablet comes to market. While the idea seems to be sound, the technology needed to make such a device functional seems to be rooted in the future. For example, while OLED bendable screens have been demonstrated in the past, their cost effectiveness has not been able to make them viable components in new devices yet. In addition, the idea of a bendable chipset seems particularly daunting from a technological point of view.

Nevertheless, it does show that Apple has taken at least some of the concerns, justified or not, about the fragility of smartphones to heart, and is exploring the idea of a far more robust device in the future.