Exchangeable covers for radio communication terminals

• US 20070093140A1
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stig Frohlund, Stjepan Begic
• Original Assignee: Stig Frohlund, Stjepan Begic
• Inventors: Begic, Stjepan, Frohlund, Stig
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/676
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A radio communication terminal, includes a substantially flat terminal core with a frame unit having two opposing faces, two opposing shorter sides and two opposing longer sides. The terminal includes a cover which is detachably connectable to the frame unit. The cover includes at least two cover members, devised to be assembled and disassembled in a predetermined order. One assembled cover member engages a previously assembled cover member. The previously assembled cover member is thereby more firmly attached. A cover member latches onto, and covers, a portion of one of the opposing faces, a second cover member engages with another cover member and covers another of the opposing faces and another cover member engages with and locks one of the cover members to the frame unit.

Claims

1. A radio communication terminal, comprising:

a flat terminal core with a frame unit having first and a second opposing faces;

a first and a second opposing shorter sides and first and a second opposing longer sides;

the terminal further comprising first, second and third cover members which are detachably connectable to said frame unit, wherein;

the first, second and third cover members are configured to be assembled and disassembled in a predetermined order, wherein;

the first cover member is configured to latch onto the frame unit and cover a first portion of said first face;

the second cover member is configured to engage with said first cover member and cover said second face; and

the third cover member is configured to engage with and lock said second cover member to said frame unit.

2. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the third cover member covers a second portion of the first face of the frame unit.

3. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 2, wherein the second portion is complementary to the first portion of the first face of the frame unit.

4. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cover member is configured to engage with the first shorter side and the longer sides of the frame unit.

5. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cover member is configured to hook into a notch at the first shorter side and pivotably latch into engagement with attachment means at the longer sides of the frame unit.

6. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises a shoulder portion cooperating with an attachment member on the first cover member for maintaining engagement between the first cover member and the frame unit.

7. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the second cover member is configured to hook onto and engage about the first cover member at the first shorter side.

8. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 7, wherein the second cover member is configured to pivotably latch into connection with retaining means at the longer sides of the frame unit.

9. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 7, wherein the second cover member comprises a protruding member configured to cooperate with a recess in the frame unit for maintaining engagement between the second cover member and the frame unit.

10. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the third cover member is configured to slide along the first face into a cooperating rim and groove engagement with the second cover member from the second shorter side for maintaining engagement between the third cover member and the frame unit.

11. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 10, wherein the second and third cover members engage adjacent to said longer sides of said frame unit.

12. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 10, characterised in that said second and third cover members engage adjacent to second shorter side of the frame unit.

13. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 10, wherein the third cover member comprises a latch member devised to engage with cooperating latch means on the frame unit, adjacent to the first cover member.

14. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 13, wherein the latch member projects underneath the first cover member.

15. The radio communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cover member is configured to cover an antenna portion, the second cover member is configured to cover a front portion, and the third cover member is configured to cover a battery portion of the terminal.

16-20. -20. (canceled)