Water-resistant portable receiver case

• US 5,713,466 A
• Filed: 01/23/1997
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OI Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: OI Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Tajima, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US08/788,824
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 206/305, 206/320, 206/579, 224/252, 224/253
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/08 Constructional details, e.g. cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/086 Portable receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

Although this water-resistant case covers the entire body of a portable receiver, it does not decrease the sound effect of a buzzer from the receiver. The case also offers the same water-proof effect as the prior product. It is a water-resistant portable receiver case that prevents any water from getting into the portable receiver. The characteristics of the subject case is that, it has a display window positioned to match that of the display light on the aforementioned portable receiver, a hole tightly closed with a seal capable of letting the air to get through but not a drop of water positioned to match the buzzer of the aforementioned receiver, and a button to push the switch on the aforementioned receiver from the outside.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a water-tight case for a receiver, wherein the receiver may include an audio alarm, a display, a vibrating transducer, and a control button, the method comprising:

providing a case body having an outside and an inside surface, and defining an audio alarm opening, a display opening, and a control button opening;

positioning a film across the audio alarm opening, wherein the film has a pore size small enough to prevent water from passing therethrough and large enough to allow sound from the alarm to pass therethrough;

securing the film to one of the inside and the outside of the case, thereby forming a water-tight seal;

positioning a means for transferring vibrations comprised of a material that transfers palpably perceptible vibrations between the receiver and the inside surface of the case body, wherein the vibrations transferred by the means for transferring vibrations are palpably perceptible on the outside of the case body.

2. A case for holding a receiver having an external surface, wherein the receiver may include at least one control button, an audio alarm, a vibrating transducer, and a display for displaying received information, the case comprising:

a first and second case portion having interior and exterior surfaces, coupled together in one of a first closed position and a second open position, wherein in the first closed position the interior surfaces of the first and second case portions form a closed, water-tight housing for securely holding the receiver, and wherein in the second open position the receiver may be removed from the housing formed by the first and second case portions;

a film positioned across the audio alarm opening, wherein the film has a pore size small enough to prevent water from passing therethrough and large enough to allow sound from the alarm to pass therethrough; and

a means for transferring vibrations comprised of a material that transfers palpably perceptible vibrations between the receiver and the inside surface of the case body, wherein the vibrations generated by the vibrating transducer of the receiver are palpably perceptible on the exterior surface of the case body.

3. The case as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for transferring vibrations comprises at least one rib positioned between the interior surface of at least one of the case portions and the receiver.

4. The case as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

an audio opening in at least one of the case portions, wherein the audio opening is opposed to the audio alarm when the receiver is disposed within the cavity formed by the case portions in the first position; and

a film having a pore size sufficient to block a water droplet, the film being sealed across the audio opening, wherein sound from the audio alarm can be heard but water cannot penetrate past the film.

5. The case of claim 2, further comprising:

a display opening disposed in at least one of the case portions, wherein the display opening is opposed to the receiver display when the receiver is disposed in the cavity formed by the case portions in the first position; and

a water-tight mounting; and

a clear window mounted on the water-tight mounting across the display opening, wherein the receiver display is visible to a receiver user.

6. The case of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one button opening disposed in at least one of the case portions, wherein the button opening is opposed to the receiver control button when the receiver is disposed within the cavity formed by the case portions in the first position;

a flexible case button mounted across the button opening in one of a first button position and a second button position, wherein in the first button position the case button engages the receiver control button, and wherein in the second button position the case button is disengaged from the receiver control button; and

a watertight mounting means for mounting the case button within the button opening.

7. The case as defined in claim 3, wherein each rib is integral with the case body and comprised of the same material as the case body.

8. A case for holding a receiver having an external surface, wherein the receiver may include at least one control button, an audio alarm, a vibrating transducer, and a display for displaying received information, the case comprising:

a first and second case portion having interior and exterior surfaces, coupled together in one of a first closed position and a second open position, wherein in the first closed position the interior surfaces of the first and second case portions form a closed, water-tight housing for securely holding the receiver, and wherein in the second open position the receiver may be removed from the housing formed by the first and second case portions; and

a means for transferring vibrations comprised of a material that transfers palpably perceptible vibrations between the receiver and the inside surface of the case body, wherein the vibrations generated by the vibrating transducer of the receiver are palpably perceptible on the exterior surface of the case body;

at least one button opening disposed in at least one of the case portions, wherein the button opening is opposed to the receiver control button when the receiver is disposed within the housing formed by the case portions in the first position;

a flexible case button disposed within the button opening in one of a first button position and a second button position, wherein in the first button position the case button engages the receiver control button, and wherein in the second button position the case button is disengaged from the receiver control button; and

a collar disposed between the case button and the button opening, wherein the collar mounts the case button within the button opening.

9. A method for assembling a water-tight case for a receiver, wherein the receiver may include an audio alarm, a display, and a control button, the method comprising:

providing a case body having an outside and inside surface and defining an audio alarm opening, a display opening, and a control button opening;

positioning a film having a pore size smaller than a drop of water across the audio alarm opening;

securing the film to one of the inside and the outside of the case, thereby forming a water-tight seal;

positioning a button in the control button opening with a depression side extending beyond the outside surface and having a collar extending around the button, the collar being larger than the button opening; and

applying a material to at least one of the inside and the outside surface of the button opening such that the button opening has a watertight seal.

10. A method for assembling a water-tight case for a receiver, wherein the receiver may include an audio alarm, a display, a vibrating transducer, and a control button, the method comprising:

providing a case body having an outside and inside surface, wherein the inside surface forms a housing for holding the receiver;

positioning a film across the audio alarm opening, wherein the film has a pore size small enough to prevent water from passing therethrough and large enough to allow sound from the alarm to pass therethrough; and

;

positioning a means for transferrint vibrations comprises of a material that transfers palpably perceptible vibrations betweent the transducer and the case body.

11. A case for holding a receiver having an external surface, wherein the receiver includes at least one control button, an audio alarm, a vibrating transducer, and a display for displaying received information, the case comprising:

a film positioned across the audio alarm opening, wherein the film has a pore size small enough to prevent water from passing therethrough and large enough to allow sound from the alarm to pass therethrough;

a first and second case portion comprised of a material that transfers palpably perceptible vibrations, having interior and exterior surfaces, moveably coupled together between a first closed position and a second open position, wherein in the first position the interior surfaces of the first and second case portions form a closed, water-tight housing for securely holding the receiver, and wherein in the second position the receiver may be removed from the housing formed by the first and second case portions at least one of the case portions comprises a means for transferring vibrations comprised of a material that transfers palpably perceptible vibrations between the receiver and the inside surface of the case body, wherein the vibrations generated by the vibrating transducer of the receiver are palpably perceptible on the exterior surface of the case body; and

at least one cushion positioned between the external surface of the receiver and one of the case portions in the closed position to maintain a surface of the receiver engaged with the interior surface of one of the case portions to transfer palpably perceptible vibrations from the transducer to the case.