Mobile station enclosure

• US 7,366,555 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mckay, Michael, Jokinen, Tapani
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US10/260,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20040198247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,038 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.8, 455/95, 455/100, 455/347, 455/348, 455/351
• US Class Current: 455/575.8
• 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 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate

Abstract

An enclosure for a mobile station such as a cellular telephone. The enclosure has a front cover and a back cover integrally formed with a living hinge, which may itself function as an end cover. The front and back covers rotate away from each other about the living hinge sufficiently to allow the mobile station internal assembly to be placed between them and, when it is thus disposed, rotate back together into a closed configuration where they can be secured together to prevent accidental opening. An end cover may also be formed by an intermediate cover portion, which may itself be connected to the front and back covers by living hinges.

Claims

1. An enclosure for a mobile station having an internal assembly, said enclosure comprising:

a front cover configured to allow interaction with the internal assembly;

a back cover; and

a living hinge connected to at least one of the front cover and the back cover such that the front cover and back cover of the enclosure are operable to rotate about the hinge between an open configuration for receiving the internal assembly and a closed position for securely retaining the internal assembly after receipt and allowing interaction with the internal assembly via at least the front cover to operate the mobile station.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate cover attached to the enclosure.

3. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the intermediate cover is attached to the back cover of the enclosure.

4. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the intermediate cover is attached to the front cover and the back cover of the enclosure.

5. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the intermediate cover is integrally formed with the enclosure.

6. The enclosure of claim 5, further comprising at least one living hinge formed between the enclosure and the intermediate cover.

7. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the intermediate cover has a contoured surface for interlocking with a corresponding interlocking surface located on another cover of the enclosure.

8. The enclosure of claim 2, where in the intermediate cover is removably attachable to at least one other cover of the enclosure.

9. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the intermediate cover is removably attached using a snap connection.

10. The enclosure of claim 2, further comprising an internal snap assembly.

11. The enclosure of claim 2, further comprising an external snap assembly.

12. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the intermediate cover forms an opening for providing access to the internal assembly when it is secured within the enclosure.

13. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the intermediate cover is contoured.

14. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the intermediate cover is expandable.

15. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the intermediate cover is divided by at least one living hinge such that it can fold when the enclosure is opened.

16. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the front cover forms an integrated keypad.

17. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the internal assembly includes a display, and wherein the front cover forms a transparent window pane though which the display may be viewed when the internal assembly is secured within the enclosure.

18. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the living hinge is integrally formed with at least one of the front cover and the back cover.

19. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the living hinge is integrally formed with the front cover and with the back cover.

20. A mobile station comprising:

an internal assembly comprising operational components of the mobile station; and

an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a front cover and a back cover joined by a living hinge about which the enclosure may open to receive the internal assembly and close to securely contain the internal assembly after receipt and to allow interaction with the internal assembly via the enclosure to operate the mobile station.

21. The mobile station of claim 20, wherein the living hinge is discontinuous.

22. The mobile station of claim 20, wherein the enclosure further comprises an intermediate cover attached to at least one of the other enclosure covers.

23. The mobile station of claim 20, wherein the enclosure front cover forms an integrated keypad.

24. The mobile station of claim 20, further comprising a keymat.

25. The mobile station of claim 20, further comprising at least one spacer disposed near the external assembly to restrict its undesirable movement.