Transparent cover with access to multi-way navigation assembly

• US 6,914,774 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Albertini, Michael, Hulick, Troy, Dettmann, Ben, Annerino, Frank, Webb, William
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/375,999
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-683, 361/684, 361/686, 345/156, 345/179, 345/168, 345/169, 345/905, 400691-693, 220/581, 220/836, 220/843, 220/845, 220/811, 220/813, 220/815, 220/4.22, 220/848, 220/4.23, 206/38, 206/214, 206/232, 206/472, 206/471, 206/320, 163/19, 162/84, 162/92, 163/17, 162/97, 162/23, 162/35, 379/433.01, 429/26, 248632-634
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

A cover for an electronic device made of a transparent material and having a form factor that protects function buttons of the device from inadvertent actuation. The cover has an opening of a size, shape and location to afford access to an interface device for multi-way navigation with the cover in place. Protrusions in tabs at the sides of the cover snap into cutouts located midway along the side of the electronic device and may be used to hold the cover in place. The cover may be stored on the back of the device while the device is in use. The transparent nature of the cover affords viewing of a display screen with the cover in place.

Claims

1. A cover comprising:

a substantially transparent material having;

a form factor that protects function buttons of a device from inadvertent actuation; and

an opening of a size, shape and location to afford access to an interface apparatus for a multi-way navigation assembly located on a top face of said device, said opening allowing for navigating with said cover in place; and

a mechanism for coupling said cover to said device, said mechanism comprising protrusions for snapping into cutouts located midway along the sides of said device.

2. The cover as described in claim 1 wherein said cover is storable on the back of said device while said device is in use.

3. The cover as described in claim 1 wherein said opening in said cover is circular.

4. The cover as described in claim 1 wherein said multi-way navigation assembly comprises actuators coupled to circuitry within said device.

5. The cover as described in claim 4 wherein said actuators comprise steel domes.

6. The cover as described in claim 4 wherein said actuators are actuated by pressing said interface device, said interface device comprising a ring surrounding a central button.

7. The cover as described in claim 6 wherein said ring interfaces with actuators situated substantially within a first plane.

8. The cover as described in claim 7 wherein said button interfaces with an actuator situated within a second plane.

9. The cover as described in claim 8 wherein actuators in said first plane are offset from said actuator in said second plane.

10. The cover as described in claim 9 wherein said button comprises an extension for depressing said actuator in said second plane through an opening in said first plane.

11. The cover as described in claim 1 wherein a power switch on said device is accessible with said cover in place.

12. A handheld computing device with a cover, said cover comprising:

a substantially transparent material having;

a form factor that protects function buttons of a device from inadvertent actuation; and

an opening of a size, shape and location to afford access to an interface apparatus for a multi-way navigation assembly located on a top face of said device, said opening allowing for navigating with said cover in place, and wherein said multi-way navigation assembly comprises actuators coupled to circuitry within said device; and

a mechanism for coupling said cover to said device.

13. The handheld computing device as described in claim 12 wherein said cover comprises protrusions for snapping into cutouts located midway along the sides of said device.

14. The handheld computing device as described in claim 12 wherein said cover is storable on the back of said device while said device is in use.

15. The handheld computing device as described in claim 12 wherein said opening in said cover is circular.

16. The handheld computing device as described in claim 12 wherein said actuators comprise steel domes.

17. The handheld computing device as described in claim 12 wherein said actuators are actuated by pressing said interface device, said interface device comprising a ring surrounding a central button.

18. The handheld computing device as described in claim 17 wherein said ring interfaces with actuators situated substantially within a first plane.

19. The handheld computing device as described in claim 18 wherein said button interfaces with an actuator situated within a second plane.

20. The handheld computing device as described in claim 19 wherein actuators in said first plane are offset from said actuator in said second plane.

21. The handheld computing device as described in claim 20 wherein said button comprises an extension for depressing said actuator in said second plane through an opening in said first plane.

22. The handheld computing device as described in claim 12 wherein a power switch on said device is accessible with said cover in place.

23. A portable electronic device comprising:

circuitry disposable within a housing and coupleable to a computer system;

a plurality of actuators for connecting to said circuitry, said actuators disposed within a first plane;

an actuator for connecting to said circuitry, said actuator disposed within a second plane and wherein said first plane and said second plane are substantially parallel;

an interface device on said housing, wherein said interface device is configured for actuating said actuators in said first plane and said second plane; and

a movable transparent cover configured to allow access to said interface device when in place.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 23 wherein said actuators in said first plane are offset from said actuator in said second plane.

25. The portable electronic device of claim 23 wherein said interface device comprises a select button surrounded by a ring.

26. The portable electronic device of claim 25 wherein said select button comprises an extension for depressing said actuator in said second plane through a hole in said first plane.

27. A cover comprising:

a substantially transparent material having;

a form factor that protects function buttons of a device from inadvertent actuation; and

an opening of a size, shape and location to afford access to an interface apparatus for a multi-way navigation assembly located on a top face of said device, said opening allowing for navigating with said cover in place; and

a mechanism for coupling said cover to said device and wherein said cover is storable on the back of said device while said device is in use.

28. The cover as described in claim 27, comprising protrusions for snapping into cutouts located midway along the sides of said device.

29. The cover as described in claim 27 wherein said opening in said cover is circular.

30. The cover as described in claim 27 wherein said multi-way navigation assembly comprises actuators coupled to circuitry within said device.

31. The cover as described in claim 30 wherein said actuators comprise steel domes.

32. The cover as described in claim 30 wherein said actuators are actuated by pressing said interface device, said interface device comprising a ring surrounding a central button.

33. The cover as described in claim 32 wherein said ring interfaces with actuators situated substantially within a first plane.

34. The cover as described in claim 33 wherein said button interfaces with an actuator situated within a second plane.

35. The cover as described in claim 34 wherein actuators in said first plane are offset from said actuator in said second plane.

36. The cover as described in claim 35 wherein said button comprises an extension for depressing said actuator in said second plane through an opening in said first plane.

37. The cover as described in claim 27 wherein said power switch on said device is accessible with said cover in place.