Encasement for a handheld computer

• US 6,266,240 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Urban, Alan, Musich, Jan, Francavilla, Madeleine L., Lunsford, E. Michael, Canova, Francis J., Han, Amy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/502,169
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 150/154, 206/472, 312/223--22, 345/901, 361/681, 361/683, 361/686
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

An encasement for a handheld computer is provided. The encasement includes a spine that is slideably engageable with an accessory slot of a handheld computer; and an encasement portion joined to the spine. The encasement portion is dimensioned to encase the handheld computer when the spine is engaged to the handheld computer.

Claims

1. An encasement for a handheld computer, the encasement comprising:

a spine that is slideably engageable with an accessory slot of a handheld computer; and

an encasement portion joined to the spine, the encasement portion being dimensioned to encase the handheld computer when the spine is engaged to the handheld computer.

2. The encasement of claim 1, wherein the encasement portion is formed from flexible material.

3. The encasement of claim 2, wherein the encasement portion includes a first segment that extends over a front surface of the handheld computer, and a second segment that extends over a back surface of the handheld computer, the first segment and the second segment being moveably joined to the spine so as to move between an open position and a closed position, the front surface of the handheld computer being accessible when the first segment and the second segment are in the open position, and the front surface of the handheld computer being encased when the first segment and the second segment are in the closed position.

4. The encasement of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical coupling, the mechanical coupling enabling the first segment and the second segment to be retained in the closed position.

5. The encasement of claim 4, wherein the mechanical coupling includes a female zipper strip that extends a lengthwise segment of one of the first segment or the second segment, and a male zipper strip that extends a lengthwise segment of the other of the first segment or the second segment.

6. The encasement of claim 5, wherein the mechanical coupling is a male velcro element positioned on one of the first segment or the second segment and a female velcro element positioned on the other of the first segment or second segment.

7. The encasement of claim 1, wherein the encasement portion is formed from a rigid material.

8. The encasement of claim 1, wherein upon the encasement being engaged with the handheld computer, a first segment of the encasement extends over a front surface of the handheld computer, and a second segment of the encasement extends over a back surface of the handheld computer, the first segment being hinged to the second segment.

9. The encasement of claim of claim 3, wherein an interior surface of the first segment or the second segment is provided one or more pockets.

10. The encasement of claim 3, wherein an interior surface of the first segment or the second segment is provided a vinyl enclosure having dimensions for retaining a business card.

11. The encasement of claim 9, wherein the encasement portion comprises a leather material.

12. The encasement of claim 1, wherein the spine insert into an accessory slot of the handheld computer.

13. The encasement of claim 12, wherein the spine is dimensioned to be received by a slot of the handheld computer, the slot being adapted to receive a stylus of the handheld computer.

15. The encasement assembly of claim 12, wherein the spine is formed from a rigid material, and the encasement portion is formed from a flexible material.

16. The encasement assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more structures are looped extensions forming an opening, the one or more structures being aligned in the middle region so that the openings are colinear.

19. The encasement of claim 15, wherein the encasement portion comprises a first segment that encases a front region of the handheld computer having a display, and a second segment that encases a back region of the handheld computer, the first segment and the second segment being moveably joined to the spine so as to move between an open position that accesses the handheld computer and a closed position that encases the handheld computer.

20. The encasement of claim 16, further comprising a mechanical coupling that secures the first segment to the second segment when the first and second segment are in the closed position.

21. The encasement of claim 15, wherein the mechanical coupling includes a female zipper strip that extends a lengthwise segment of one of the first segment or the second segment, and a male zipper strip that extends a lengthwise segment of the other of the first segment or the second segment, wherein a seal formed by the mechanical coupling is water resistant.

14. An encasement assembly for a handheld computer, the encasement assembly comprising:

a spine that is slideably insertable into an accessory slot of a handheld computer; and

an encasement portion including a middle region, the middle region containing one or more structures to releaseably retain the spine, the one or more structures being configured so that the spine is insertable into the accessory slot of the handheld computer when the spine is received by the one or more structures.

17. An encasement for a handheld computer, the encasement comprising:

an encasement portion dimensioned so as to be able to encase the handheld computer, the encasement portion comprising a water-resistant material; and

a spine positioned on an interior region of the encasement portion, the spine being slideably engageable with an accessory slot of a handheld computer to couple the encasement portion with the handheld computer.

18. The encasement of claim 17, wherein the encasement portion comprises a neoprene material.

22. An encasement for a handheld computer, the encasement comprising:

an encasement portion dimensioned so as to be able to encase the handheld computer, the encasement including an opening aligned to access a wireless port of the handheld computer when the handheld computer is contained within the encasement; and

a spine positioned on an interior region of the encasement portion, the spine being slideably engageable with an accessory slot of a handheld computer to couple the encasement portion with the handheld computer.

23. The encasement of claim 22, wherein the opening is positioned on a surface of the encasement portion that is aligned orthanormally to a front surface or back surface of the handheld computer.

24. The encasement of claim 22, wherein the encasement portion includes a first segment that covers a front surface of the handheld computer, and a second segment that covers a back surface of the handheld computer, the encasement further comprising a joint that enables the first segment to rotate with respect to the second segment.

25. The encasement of claim 24, wherein the joint is positioned adjacent to the spine.

26. An encasement for a handheld computer, the encasement comprising:

a spine that is insertable with an accessory slot of a handheld computer;

an encasement portion joined to the spine, the encasement portion being dimensioned to encase the handheld computer when the spine is engaged to the handheld computer, the encasement portion including a first segment and a second segment that are moveably joined to the spine, the first segment and second segment being moveable between an open position and a closed position; and

a means for retaining the first segment to the second segment of the encasement portion so as to enclose the handheld computer within the encasement when the spine is inserted into the accessory slot of the handheld computer.