Sliding cover

• US 7,072,699 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Eiden, Niko
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/401,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20030165047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.4, 455/575.8, 455 901- 903, 455347-349, 379/433.01, 37943311-43313, 379/437, 379/440, 379451-452, 361724-727, 361/616, 361/618, 361/681, 361/683, 708/100
• US Class Current: 455/575.8
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

An electronic device with a body having a first side, a second side a distance from the first side, and a third side between the first and second side. Portions define a space extending from the first side to the second side across the third side. A sliding cover can be fitted in the space. A first housing part is detachably attachable to the electronic device and can cover at least part of the space when the housing part is attached to the electronic device. The first housing part can restrain the sliding cover from escaping the space when attached to the electronic device. The electronic device can allow, when the first housing part is detached from the electronic device, entry and removal of the sliding cover to and from the space. A cover system detachably attaches a sliding cover to an electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device (MS) comprising:

a body (100) comprising a first side (S1), a second side (S2) at a distance from said first side, and a third side (E2) between said first and second side, said body (100) having portions (108) defining a space (106) extending from said first side (S1) across said third side (E2) to said second side (S2);

a first element (104) at said first side (S1), said first element being a sensitive fragile or wearing component having a need to be protected during storing and transportation of the electronic device (MS);

a sliding cover (110) adapted to be fitted in said space (106) and being slidably movable between a closed configuration wherein said cover (110) covers said first element (104) at said first side (S1), and an opened configuration wherein said cover is slid from said first side across said third side (E2) to said second side (S2) to uncover said first element (104), characterized in that

said portions (108) in said body (100) comprise mutually facing side walls between which said space (106) is defined, said side walls having mutually facing recessing grooves (102) opening at their one end to said third side (E1) of said body (100), and

that the electronic device (MS) further comprises

a first housing part (120) adapted to cover at least part of said space (106), when said first housing part is attached to said electronic device (MS), to restrain said sliding cover (110) from escaping said space (106), and to allow, when said first housing part (120) is detached from said electronic device, entry and removal of said sliding cover (110) to and from said space (106), said first housing part (120) having side portions (124) being adapted to be slidably fitted into said recessing grooves (102) in a direction defined by said recessing grooves for detachably attaching said first housing part (120) to said body (100) by a simple movement in said one direction.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first element (104) is selected from a group consisting of the following:

a display, a touch screen, a speaker, a microphone, a set of keys comprising at least one key, a pointing device, and any combination of them.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic device further comprises:

a plurality of sensitive components (42); and

a second housing part (43) covered by the first housing part, covering the sensitive components in order to prevent the user from accidentally damaging the sensitive components while the first housing part (120) is detached.

4. An electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic device (MS) further comprises a snap-on attaching means for snap-on attaching the first housing part (120) to the electronic device.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first housing part (120) is a rear cover adapted to be fitted on the backside of the body (100) to form part of the outer surfaces of the electronic device (MS).

6. An electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic device is a device selected from the group consisting of:

a mobile communications device and a mobile gaming device.

7. A cover system for an electronic device, said cover system comprising:

a body (100) comprising a first side (S1), a second side (S2) at a distance from said first side, and a third side (E2) between said first and second side, said body (10) having portions (108) defining a space (106) extending from said first side (S1) across said third side (E2) to said second side (S2);

a sliding cover (110) adapted to be fitted in said space (106) and being slidably movable between a closed configuration wherein said cover (110) covers said first side (S1), and an opened configuration wherein said cover is slid from said first side to said second side (S2) across said third side (E2), characterized in that

said portions (108) in said body (100) comprise mutually facing side walls between which said space (106) is defined, said side walls having facing recessing grooves (102) opening at their one end to said third side (E1) of said body (100), and

that the cover system further comprises

a first housing part (120) adapted to cover at least part of said space (106), when said first housing part (120) is attached to said body (100) to restrain said sliding cover (110) from escaping said space (106), and to allow, when said first housing part (120) is detached from said body (100), entry and removal of said sliding cover (110) to and from said space (106), said first housing part (120) having side portions (124) adapted to be slidably fitted into said recessing grooves (102) in a direction defined by said recessing grooves for detachably attaching said first housing part (120) to said body (100) by a simple movement in said one direction.

8. A cover system according to claim 7, characterized in that the cover system comprises means for snap-on attaching for attaching said first housing part (120) to said body (100).

9. A cover system according to claim 7, characterized in that the first housing part (120) is a rear cover adapted to be fitted on the backside of the body (100) to form part of the outer surfaces of the electronic device (MS).