As Apple increasingly produces folding devices — from the rumored smart rings and any href=”https://appleinsider.com/inside/iPhone-Fold” target=”_blank”>folding iPhone” to the shipping MagSafe Duo Charger — it is researching how to make hinges stronger.

Amongst other criticisms of the new MagSafe Duo Charger, the most surprising was how soon its hinge may fail. A newly-revealed patent application shows that Apple is researching ways to make devices hinges more reliable, while not increasing their bulk.