When a very rough beta version of what industry insiders are calling the "paper phone" emerged last year, people began to wonder exactly how this new, bendable mobile device could be used in a practical way. In a recent filing with the U.S. Patent Office, Apple may be tipping its hand as to how the tech giant envisions using it in future iPhone models.

The patent shows an iPhone with a 360-degree wrap-around display. From NBC's tech department: "Instead of sharp edges, the curved, wraparound design would allow for a wider selection of items on display, so users could hypothetically view 10 apps on their screen instead of, say, 5, and view photos, videos and text on their screen from all 360 degrees around. Plus, going for a wraparound display would abandon physical buttons, so users would be fully reliant on touch gestures to use their device."

While the patent is a long way from a reality, it shows that paper-phone tech is at least on the minds of those who could bring it to the masses.