Method of producing a telephone device

• US 20040102231A1
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Nuovo, Frank, Hutchison, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of customisation of portable communication devices. A plurality of casing elements capable of individual formation are designated. The character of these elements is selectable by a commissioning party. The characters selected are communicated to a production facility for realisation of the customised casing.

Claims

1. A method of providing means for the commissioning of a customised casing for a personal portable communications device defining an internal space for accommodating an engine, the casing having a user interface including a plurality of keys for user input, the method comprising:

providing a list of options for selecting the character of predetermined casing elements capable of individual formation to a commissioning party; and

communicating the selections for initiating production of the customised casing.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the characters of a plurality of casing elements capable of individual formation respectively selected by a commissioning party; and

assembling a casing in accordance with the selected characters in response to receiving the characters.

3. A method of producing a portable communication device comprising producing a casing in accordance with claim 2, selecting an engine having a desired functionality and assembling the casing and engine.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising the step of dispatching the assembled casing.

5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein a character of at least one of the respective casing elements capable of individual formation is selected from a predetermined set.

6. A method according to any preceding claim wherein a character of at least one of the respective casing elements capable of individual formation is fashioned to individual specification.

7. A method of assembling a casing in accordance with claim 6 when dependent on claim 2 comprising forming an individual element and assembling with other casing elements to produce a customised casing.

8. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the casing comprises a front face, rear face and side frame incorporating the casing elements having characters in accordance with respective selections.

9. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the character of a casing element is defined by the material from which the element is formed.

10. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the character of a casing element is defined by a surface decoration provided on the casing element.

11. a method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, 11a and 12 to 21 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, 11b and 12 to 21 of the accompanying drawings.