Like many other tech companies, Apple is constantly patenting various ideas and technologies, though many of them have never been implemented in consumer devices. The device described in one of Apple's recent patents may also never appear, but it shows that Apple has considered all sorts of crazy ideas.
A patent discovered by Patently Apple shows an iPad with a dock that is unusually similar to Microsoft's Surface Book. It has a detachable keyboard, a trackpad, and a hinge that enables different locations, such as tent mode, laptop mode, canvas mode, etc. In addition, the hinge in the base can also display brief information, contain a camera, microphone or projector, and serve as a stand for the Apple Pencil.
Another notable aspect of the patent is that the iPad shown uses macOS instead of iPadOS. With Apple using the M1 processor for more iPads and Macs, many fans want to see an iPad or tablet that supports macOS switch between macOS and iPadOS depending on the connected accessory.
It's hard to say whether Apple will make such a device, especially since the company's business model is unlikely to make a general-purpose device that can replace laptops and tablets (if it can sell two, why sell one). In addition, Apple constantly reminds everyone that it wants to separate macOS from iPadOS and develop iPad and Mac side by side, rather than merging them into a single device.
Finally, it's worth noting that surface Studio was also a crazy patented idea that turned into one of the craziest (though now refrigerated) Windows devices.