Enclosure for wireless communication device

• US 6,456,487 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hetterick, Charlotte
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/847,882
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/689, 361/683, 361/686, 361/682, 361/725-727, 361/741, 361/756, 361/728, 361/730, 361/752, 361/807, 361/809, 361/814, 345/168, 345/169, 345/905, 345/173, 400/691-693, 220/581, 220/836, 220/843-848, 220/811-815, 220/4.22, 220/4.23, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/208.1, 312/208.4, 174/17.05, 174/17.06, 174/50.5, 174/50.51, 174/52.1, 379/433, 379/434, 379/420, 379/429, 181/141, 181/150, 181/125, 181/199, 181/151, 381/153, 381/188, 381/189, 381/205, 364/708.1, 341/22, 248/917, 248/309, 248/688, 206/320, 455/574
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A protective enclosure for protecting and enclosing an electronic device. The protective enclosure provides communication capabilities with the electronic device while the electronic device is enclosed and protected by the protective enclosure. The enclosure also provides an alert upon an unsolicited activation of the electronic device and allows the user to communication with electronic device without removing the electronic device from the enclosure.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure for protecting an electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising:

a housing, the housing having an open position and a closed position, such that when said housing is in said closed position, said housing encloses the electronic device;

a connector provided on said housing, said connector communicating with the enclosed electronic device when said housing is in said closed position containing the electronic device;

an indicator provided on said housing, said indicator for providing an alert upon an unsolicited activation of the electronic device while said housing is in said closed position enclosing the electronic device; and

an actuator provided on said housing, said actuator communicating with the electronic device via said connector, where said actuator controls the functionality of the enclosed electronic device.

2. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises:

a speaker, said speaker for communicating with the enclosed electronic device.

3. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said speaker is capable of providing an audio signal from the enclosed electronic device.

4. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector is provided inside said housing.

5. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electrical connection is formed between said actuator and the electronic device via said connector.

8. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unsolicited activation comprises an incoming call at the electronic device.

9. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 8, wherein actuating said actuator when said incoming call is received at the electronic device, will answer said incoming call.

10. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant.

11. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile terminal.

12. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said indicator comprises a Light Emitting Diode connected to the electronic device via said connector.

13. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 12, wherein said indicator comprises intermittent illumination of said Light Emitting Diode.

14. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said indicator comprises a Liquid Crystal Display connected to the electronic device via said connector on said housing.

15. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 14, wherein said alert comprises displaying a message on said Liquid Crystal Display.

6. The protective enclosure as claimed in clam 1, wherein a wireless connection is formed between said actuator and the electronic device via said connector.

7. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 6, wherein said wireless connection comprises a standard defined by Bluetooth.

16. A protective enclosure for an electronic device operable in a wireless communication system, the protective enclosure comprising:

a housing, said housing having at least one cover for sealing the electronic device within said housing;

a connector provided on said housing, said connector communicating with the electronic device sealed within said housing;

an indicator provided on said housing, said indicator providing an alert upon an unsolicited activation of the electronic device while the electronic device is sealed within said housing; and

an actuator provided on said housing, said actuator for communicating with the electronic device via said connector, where said actuator controls the functionality of the electronic device sealed within said housing.

17. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 16, said housing further comprising:

a speaker, said speaker for communicating with the electronic device sealed within said housing.

18. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 17, wherein said speaker is capable of providing an audio signal from the electronic device sealed within said housing.

19. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 16, wherein said connector is provided inside said housing.

20. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 16, wherein said indicator is a Light Emitting Diode connected via said connector on said housing.

21. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 16, wherein said indicator is a Liquid Crystal Display connected via said connector on said housing.

22. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 16, wherein an electrical connection is formed between said actuator and the electronic device via said connector.

25. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 16, wherein said unsolicited activation comprises an incoming call at the electronic device.

26. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 25, wherein actuating said actuator when said incoming call is received at the electronic device, will answer said incoming call.

27. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 16, wherein the electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant.

28. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 16, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile terminal.

23. The protective enclosure as claimed in clam 16, wherein a wireless connection is formed between said actuator and the electronic device via said connector.

24. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 23, wherein said wireless connection comprises a standard defined by Bluetooth.

29. A composite handset operable in a wireless communication system, the composite handset comprising:

an electronic device;

a housing, said housing having an open position and a closed position, such that when the housing is in said closed position said housing encloses said electronic device;

a connector provided on said housing, said connector communicating with said electronic device when said housing is in said closed position containing said electronic device;

an indicator provided on said housing, said indicator providing an alert upon an unsolicited activation of said electronic device while said housing is in said closed position enclosing said electronic device; and

an actuator provided on said housing, said actuator for communicating with said electronic device via said connector, where said actuator controls the functionality of said enclosed electronic device.

30. The composite handset as claimed in claim 29, said housing further comprising:

a speaker, said speaker for communicating with said enclosed electronic device.

31. The composite handset as claimed in claim 30, wherein said speaker is for providing an audio signal from said enclosed electronic device.

32. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 29, wherein said connector is provided inside said housing.

33. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 29, wherein said indicator is a Light Emitting Diode connected via said connector on said housing.

34. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 29, wherein said indicator is a Liquid Crystal Display connected via said connector on said housing.

35. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 29, wherein an electrical connection is formed between said actuator and said electronic device via said connector.

36. The protective enclosure as claimed in clam 29, wherein a wireless connection is formed between said actuator and said electronic device via said connector.

37. The protective enclosure as claimed in claim 36, wherein said wireless connection comprises a standard defined by Bluetooth.

38. A protective enclosure for protecting an electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising:

a housing, said housing having an open position and a closed position, such that when said housing is in said closed position, said housing encloses the electronic device;

a connector provided on said housing, said connector communicating with the enclosed electronic device when said housing is in said closed position containing the electronic device;

an indicator provided on said housing, said indicator providing an alert upon an unsolicited activation of the electronic device while said housing is in said closed position enclosing the electronic device; and

an actuator area provided on said housing, said actuator area in communication with the electronic device via said connector, where said actuator area controls the functionality of the enclosed electronic device.