Mobile device having a protective user interface cover

• US 7,054,441 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pletikosa, Velimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/010,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.12, 379/433.13, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/90.3, 455/90.1, 455/418, 361/381, 361/681
• US Class Current: 379/433.12
• 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 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile device having a protective user interface cover is provided. The mobile device includes a mobile device housing having a top surface. The user interface is preferably mounted within the top surface of the mobile device, and may include a display, a keyboard, a touch screen, a touch surface, or any other type of user input and display apparatus. The protective cover comprises a protective surface and a positioning mechanism, wherein the protective cover is mounted to the mobile device housing such that the positioning mechanism positions the protective surface between a first position in which the protective surface covers the user interface in the top surface and a second position in which the protective surface does not cover the user interface in the top surface. The protective surface may include a plurality of apertures for receiving user input while the protective cover is in the first position, and may also be at least partially transparent so that a display is visible while the protective cover is in the first position.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a mobile device housing having a top surface;

a touch screen for displaying information to the user of the mobile device and for receiving input commands from the user, wherein the touch screen is mounted in the top surface of the housing; and

a protective cover comprising a protective surface and a positioning mechanism, wherein the protective cover is mounted to the mobile device housing such that the positioning mechanism positions the protective surface between a first position in which the protective surface covers the touch screen in the top surface;

a second position in which the protective surface can be used as a support mechanism for the mobile device; and

a third position in which the protective surface is in a stowed position adjacent to the bottom surface of the mobile device;

wherein at least a portion of the protective surface is transparent to enable viewing of information displayed on the touch screen while the protective cover is in the first position.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the protective surface includes a plurality of apertures, and wherein a plurality of controls are displayed on the touch screen below the apertures.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism includes a pair of pins on the protective cover that mount to a pair of rails on the mobile device housing.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the pins rotate about the rails in order to position the protective surface between the first, second and third positions.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone, a two-way pager, or a personal digital assistant.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a hinge.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the hinge includes two parts, a first part integral to the protective cover, and a second part integral to the mobile device housing.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a keyboard, wherein the protective cover extends over the keyboard when biased in the first position.

16. The mobile device of claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of detachable and interchangeable protective covers which may be detachably mounted to the mobile device, each of the detachable and interchangeable protective covers including a plurality of apertures; and

a plurality of cover models stored within the mobile device, each cover model corresponding to one of the plurality of detachable and interchangeable protective covers and describing the position of the apertures within the protective cover.

9. A mobile device, comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a touch surface for receiving input commands from a user of the mobile device, wherein the touch surface is mounted in the top surface of the housing; and

a protective cover comprising a transparent protective surface and a positioning mechanism, wherein the protective cover is mounted to the housing such that the positioning mechanism positions the transparent protective surface between a first position in which the protective surface covers the touch surface and a second position in which the protective surface is in a stowed position adjacent to the bottom surface of the mobile device, the positioning mechanism including a pair of pins configured on the protective cover that mount to and engage with a pair of rails integral to and extending substantially along the sides of the housing, wherein the pins rotate about the rails and slidably engage therewith in order to translate the protective cover between the first position and the second position;

wherein the protective cover includes a plurality of apertures for providing input commands to the touch surface while the protective cover is biased in the first position.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the touch surface is a touch screen.

11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the touch surface is a touch keyboard.

12. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the touch surface comprises a touch control area and a display area, wherein the plurality of apertures are aligned in the protective cover above the touch control area when the protective cover is in the first position.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the touch surface is a touch screen, and wherein a plurality of controls are displayed on the touch screen below the plurality of apertures in the protective cover when the protective cover is in the first position.

14. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone, a two-way pager, or a personal digital assistant.

15. The mobile device of claim 9, further comprising a keyboard, wherein the protective cover extends over the keyboard when biased in the first position.

17. The mobile device of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of detachable and interchangeable protective covers which may be detachably mounted to the mobile device, each of the detachable and interchangeable protective covers including a plurality of apertures; and

a plurality of cover models stored within the mobile device, each cover model corresponding to one of the plurality of detachable and interchangeable protective covers and describing the position of the apertures within the protective cover.