Replaceable outer cover for personal communication device

• US 5,923,752 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LCC International Incorporated (Tech Mahindra Network Services International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LCC, LLC
• Inventors: McBride, Larry J., McBride, Margaret A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/760,876
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 379/428, 379/434, 379/451, 379/452, 379/437, 379/439, 485/90, 485/357
• US Class Current: 379/433.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate

Abstract

A replaceable outer cover for a personal communication device having a permanent rigid inner cover, a front side with controls and a back side, said outer cover comprising a second rigid cover having inside dimensions configured to conform to the outside dimensions of said inner cover, said second cover formed to comprise a unitary structure with an open back side of sufficient size to permit insertion of said inner cover into said outer cover through said back side, said outer cover having at one end thereof a partial extension over said back side to receive and hold said inner cover in position and said outer cover having at the outer end of said back side at least one clasp to grasp and hold said inner cover in place at said other end.

Claims

1. A replaceable outer cover for a personal communication device, the device having a permanent rigid external housing enclosing internal working components of the device, the housing being substantially noninteractive with internal working components, the housing having a front side exposing controls of the device and a back side secured to the front side, said outer cover comprising a rigid cover having inside dimensions configured to conform to the outside dimensions of said external housing, said rigid cover formed to define an open back side of sufficient size to permit insertion of said external housing into said outer cover through said open back side, said outer cover having at one end thereof a partial extension proximate said open back side to receive and hold said external housing in position, and said outer cover having at an opposite end of said open back side at least one clasp to grasp and hold said external housing in place at said opposite end, said outer cover comprising a unitary structure permitting insertion and removal of said external housing into and out of said outer cover while said outer cover remains unitary.

2. An outer cover of claim 1 adapted for use with a portable telephone having a replaceable battery on the back side thereof, said open back side of said outer cover being sufficiently large to permit removal of said battery through said open back side.

3. An outer cover of claim 1 wherein said clasp comprises at least one indentation on an inner surface of said opposite end of said outer cover, said indentation adapted to cooperate with an indentation in said rigid external housing of said communication device to thereby act as a clasp.

4. A system of replaceable outer covers for a personal communication device, the device having a permanent rigid external housing enclosing internal working components of the device, the housing being substantially noninteractive with internal components, the housing having a front side exposing controls of the device and a back side secured to the front side, said outer covers each including inside dimensions configured to conform to the outside dimensions of said external housing, said outer covers each being a rigid structure formed to define an open back side of sufficient size to permit insertion of said external housing into said outer cover through said open back side, said outer covers each having at one end thereof a partial extension proximate said back side to receive and hold said external housing in position, and said outer covers each having at an opposite end thereof at least one clasp to removably grasp and hold said external housing in place at said opposite end, each of said plurality of outer covers having a different visual presentation allowing selective alteration of the visual presentation of said personal communication device.

5. A system of claim 4 adapted for use with a portable telephone having a replaceable battery on the back side thereof, said open back side of each said outer cover being sufficiently large to permit removal of said battery through said open back side.

6. A system of claim 4 wherein said clasp comprises at least one indentation on an inner surface of said opposite end of said outer covers, said indentation adapted to cooperate with an indentation in said rigid external housing of said communication device to thereby act as a clasp.

7. A replaceable outer cover for a personal communication device, the device having a permanent rigid external housing enclosing internal working components of the device, the housing being substantially noninteractive with internal working components, the housing having a front side exposing external features of the device and a back side secured to the front side, the outer cover having inside dimensions conforming to outer dimensions of the external housing, and a plurality of openings to correspond to external features of the personal communication device, said cover having sufficient rigidity so as to provide access to the external features through said plurality of openings.

8. The replaceable outer cover of claim 7, wherein said cover is a unitary structure comprised of a molded plastic material having a relatively high rigidity and obtainable in a variety of colors.