Casing for a communication device

• US 7,375,973 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Hunt, Lisa, Nuovo, Frank, Hutchison, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Tuan T.
• Application Number:
  US10/250,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,365 Days
• Field of Search: 361/752, 361/814, 455/550, 455/90, 455/575
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

A casing for a handheld communication device includes a set of individual parts, each individual part being formed from the same metal. The set of individual parts have a purity of at least a hallmark purity level. The set of individual parts is severable from the casing without reducing the purity of the set of individual parts below the hallmark purity level.

Claims

1. The casing for a handheld communication device comprising:

a set of separate individual parts, each individual part being formed from the same metal, the set of individual parts having a purity of at least a hallmark purity level;

at least one non-hallmark purity casing part which is not comprised of a metal having a purity of at least a hallmark purity level, wherein the set of individual parts are fixedly connected with the at least one non-hallmark purity casing part to form the casing,

the set of individual parts being severable from the casing without reducing the purity of the set of individual parts below the hallmark purity level, wherein the set of individual parts are on an exterior of the casing, and wherein the casing is configured to at least partially surround electronic components of the handheld communication device.

2. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the metal is a precious metal.

3. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the set of individual parts is substantially all of the metal parts forming the casing.

4. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the set of individual parts is severable from the casing without retaining a residue that reduces the purity of the set of individual parts below the hallmark purity level.

5. The casing according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the parts is unsupported.

6. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the parts are made from solid metal.

7. The casing according to claim 1, comprising a further set of individual parts formed from a different metal to the set of individual parts.

8. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the set of individual parts is formed from white gold.

9. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the set of individual parts is formed from yellow gold.

10. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the set of individual parts is formed from platinum.

11. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the metal is substantially made from a single metallic element.

12. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the metal is made from a single metallic element.

13. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the set of individual parts are stationarily connected to the at least one non-hallmark purity casing part.

14. The casing according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the parts is mechanically connected to the casing.

15. The casing according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the parts is laser welded.

16. The casing according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the parts of the set is attached to the casing with solder formed from the same metal as the at least one part.

17. The casing according to claim 7 wherein the set of individual parts and further set of individual parts are substantially all of the metal parts forming the casing.

18. The casing according to claim 7, wherein the different metal used to form the further set of individual parts is more precious than the metal used to form the set of individual parts.

19. The casing according to claim 7, wherein the different metal used to form the further set of individual parts is a less precious metal than the metal used to form the set of individual parts.

20. The casing according to claim 8, wherein the hallmark purity level corresponds to a 375, 585 or 750 fineness hallmark.

21. The casing according to claim 10, wherein the hallmark purity level corresponds to is a 950 fineness hallmark.

22. The casing according to claim 11, wherein the single metallic element is an element from a group consisting of gold, silver and platinum.

23. The casing according to claim 12, wherein the single metallic element is an element from a group consisting of gold, silver and platinum.

24. The casing according to claim 14, wherein the mechanical connection comprises a screw.

25. The casing according to claim 14, wherein the mechanical connection comprises an aperture into which a mating protrusion on one part is flexibly inserted.

26. A casing for a handheld communication device comprising:

at least one casing member which is made of material not having a purity of at least a defined precious metal purity level; and

a set of separate individual parts fixedly connected to the at least one casing member on the exterior of the casing, each individual part being formed from the same precious metal, wherein the set of individual parts have a purity of at least a defined precious metal purity level; and

the set of individual parts being severable from the casing without reducing the purity of the set of individual parts below the defined precious metal purity level, wherein the casing is configured to at least partially surround electronic components of the handheld communication device.

27. The casing according to claim 26, wherein the set of individual parts are stationarily connected to the at least one casing member.

28. A casing for a handheld communication device comprising:

at least one casing member which is made of material not having a purity of at least a defined precious metal purity level; and

a set of separate individual parts fixedly connected to the at least one casing member on the exterior of the casing, each separate individual part having a homogeneous metallic composition; and

the set of individual parts being severable from the casing without changing the homogeneous metallic composition of the set of individual parts, wherein the casing is configured to at least partially surround electronic components of the handheld communication device.

29. The casing according to claim 28, wherein the set of individual parts are stationarily connected to the at least one casing member.