Mobile device having a protective user interface cover

• US 7,324,642 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• 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:
  US11/701,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20070135184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 379/433.12, 379/433.13, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 455/418
• 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 housing having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a cover comprising a protective surface and a positioning mechanism, wherein the positioning mechanism positions the protective surface between a first position in which the protective surface covers at least a portion of a user interface in the top surface of the mobile device housing, a second position in which the protective surface supports the mobile device, and a third position in which the protective surface is at least partly adjacent to the bottom surface of the mobile device housing.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the protective surface is transparent to enable viewing of the user interface while the protective cover is in the first position.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the protective surface includes a plurality of apertures, and wherein a plurality of controls are selectable on the user interface through the apertures.

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

5. 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.

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

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

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the comprises a first part integral to the protective cover and a second part integral to the housing.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a keyboard, and wherein the cover extends over the keyboard when in the first position.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.

11. A mobile device, comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface; and

a cover comprising a surface and a positioning mechanism, wherein the cover is mounted to the housing such that the positioning mechanism positions the protective surface between a first position in which the protective surface covers at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile device, and a second position in which the protective surface is at least partly adjacent to the bottom surface of the mobile device;

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

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the positioning mechanism including a pair of pins configured on the 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 cover between the first position and the second position.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen.

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the protective surface is at least partially transparent.

15. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the user interface includes a keyboard.

16. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the user interface comprises a touch control area and a display area, wherein the plurality of apertures are aligned in the cover above the touch control area when the cover is in the first position.

17. A mobile device, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of covers which may be detachably mounted to the mobile device, each of the covers including at least one aperture; and

a plurality of cover models stored within the mobile device, each cover model corresponding to one of the plurality of covers and describing the position of the at least one aperture within the cover, the cover models being selectable from a user interface of the mobile device.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein a user of the mobile device physically attaches one of the plurality covers to the mobile device and then interacts with the user interface to select the cover model corresponding to the attached cover.