HOUSING FOR ENCASING AN OBJECT

• US 20120118773A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Inventors: RAYNER, GARY
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/002 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 : sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/069 : Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and/or system for housing a device. The apparatus includes a housing that is configured such that a device may be fitted within the housing and thereby be protected, such as from shocks and/or liquid. The housing may include top and bottom members that may be removably coupled together so as to form the housing. Each top and bottom member optionally includes front and back surfaces surrounded by a perimeter. The perimeter is defined by proximal and distal ends as well as opposing sides. The top and bottom members may include respective clasping mechanisms that extend along the perimeter of the top and bottom members. The clasping mechanisms are configured for coupling the top and bottom members with one another thereby sealing the housing, for instance, in a shock-proof and/or water tight seal.

Claims

1. A housing within which an electronic device may be fitted, the housing comprising:

a top member and a bottom member configured for being removably coupled together to form the housing, each top and bottom member of the housing comprising a front and a back surface surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the bottom member having a perimeter portion corresponding to a shape of the perimeter portion of the top member;

the top member comprising a rigid frame that defines an interior perimeter portion of the top member including the proximal and distal end portions and the opposing side portions of the top member;

a membrane defining the front and back surface of the top member and being mated on a top ridge of the rigid frame, the membrane spanning from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and across the opposing side portions of the interior perimeter portion, the rigid frame and the membrane defining a cavity into which the electronic device may be fitted;

an exterior perimeter portion of the top member comprising a flexible portion overlaid on at least part of an exterior portion of the rigid frame and at least part of a perimeter portion of the membrane;

a channel in a top surface of the perimeter portion of the bottom member to receive a bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the channel including a gasket positioned therein to compress against the bottom ridge of the rigid frame when the top member and the bottom member are coupled together to seal the housing; and

the top and bottom members of the housing comprising clasping mechanisms that extend along respective perimeter portions of the top and bottom members, each clasping mechanism interfacing with at least one other clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.

2. The housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rigid frame includes at least one aperture in a side wall of the rigid frame.

3. The housing in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a door pivotally connected to the housing, the door for closing and sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.

4. The housing in accordance with claim 3, wherein the door includes a rigid surface defining a gasket seat, and a gasket positioned in the gasket seat for sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.

5. The housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein the clasping mechanism of the bottom member includes a groove in a side of the channel, and wherein the clasping mechanism of the top member includes a lip extending from the bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the lip engaging the groove when the top member and bottom member are coupled together.

6. The housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a part of the membrane is transparent.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a top member comprising;

a rigid frame that defines a perimeter portion of the top member, the perimeter portion defining a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions of the top member, the rigid frame having a top ridge and a bottom ridge, the bottom ridge including a first clasping mechanism;

a membrane defining a front and back surface of the top member and being mated on the top ridge of the rigid frame, the membrane spanning from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and across the opposing side portions of the perimeter portion of the top member; and

a flexible portion overlaid on at least part of an exterior portion of the rigid frame and at least part of a perimeter portion of the membrane; and

a bottom member, which when coupled to the top member, form a housing to enclose an electronic device to allow touch-sensitive user inputs to the electronic device via the membrane, the bottom member comprising;

a channel in a top surface of the perimeter portion of the bottom member to receive the bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the channel including a gasket positioned therein to compress against the bottom ridge of the rigid frame to seal the housing when the top member and the bottom member are coupled together, the channel further including a second clasping mechanism to interface with the first clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the rigid frame includes at least one aperture in a side wall of the rigid frame.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a door pivotally connected to the housing, the door for closing and sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the door includes a rigid surface defining a gasket seat, and a gasket positioned in the gasket seat for sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the clasping mechanism of the bottom member includes a groove in a side of the channel, and wherein the clasping mechanism of the top member includes a lip extending from the bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the lip engaging the groove when the top member and bottom member are coupled together.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least a part of the membrane is transparent.

13. An apparatus within which a portion of an electronic device may be fitted, the apparatus comprising:

a top member configured for being removably coupled with a bottom member to form a housing therewith, the top member comprising a front and a back surface surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions;

the top member further comprising a rigid frame that defines an interior perimeter portion of the top member including the proximal and distal end portions and the opposing side portions of the top member, the rigid frame comprising a clasping mechanism that extends along the perimeter portion of the top member, the clasping mechanism being configured for interfacing with a corresponding clasping mechanism of a bottom member thereby allowing the top member and the bottom member to be coupled together;

the top member further comprising a membrane defining the front and back surface of the top member and being mated on a top ridge of the rigid frame, the membrane spanning from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and across the opposing side portions of the interior perimeter portion, the rigid frame and the membrane defining a cavity into which the electronic device may be fitted, the membrane further comprising a camera lens feature, a proximity sensor feature, and a waterproof sound transmission feature, wherein the sound transmission feature includes an aperture and a water impermeable gasket, the gasket overlaying the aperture; and

the top member further comprising an exterior perimeter portion comprising a flexible portion overlaid on at least part of an exterior portion of the rigid frame and at least part of a perimeter portion of the membrane.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the perimeter portion further comprises an earphone jack port that is configured for being mated with a removable earphone jack port bung so as to from a waterproof seal therewith.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the perimeter portion further comprises a silence switch feature configured for interfacing with a silence switch of an inserted electronic device so as to manipulate the silence switch thereof from a first to a second position.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the perimeter portion further comprises one or more volume control toggles.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the top member further comprises a button feature wherein the button feature is configured for manipulating a navigation button positioned on a top front surface of an inserted electronic device.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a bottom member configured for being removably coupled with a top member to form a housing to enclose an electronic device, the bottom member comprising a front and a back surface surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the bottom member having a perimeter portion corresponding to a shape of a perimeter portion of the top member;

the top surface of the bottom member comprising a perimeter portion having a channel positioned therein, is the channel being bounded by an interior perimeter portion and an exterior perimeter portion and having a compressible gasket positioned therein;

the back surface of the bottom member comprising a perimeter portion having a raised rim that is offset therefrom;

the front and back surface of the bottom member further having a waterproof lens formed therein.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the top surface of the bottom member comprises polypropylene.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein the lens feature includes an aperture and an optically clear membrane, wherein the optically clear membrane overlays the aperture so as to form a waterproof seal therewith.