Mobile station body comprised of stacked elements

• US 7,398,114 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Gartrell, Andrew Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): West; Lewis G
• Application Number:
  US10/993,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.8, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 369/679, 369/735, 361/679, 361/735, 361/814
• US Class Current: 455/575.8
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/187 having symbols engraved or printed by laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/046 convertible
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/05 composed of hingedly connected sections
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/02 Laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/038 Folding of flexible printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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
• 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

An improved body design for a mobile station or other electronic device is provided. Unlike conventional mobile station bodies, which are comprised of durable polymer shells that are rigidly joined together (e.g., by ultra-sonic welding, adhesives, etc.) to enclose operational elements and circuitry, a replaceable and enhanceable body structure comprised is provided that is comprised of one or more stacked elements. The stacked elements are positioned one atop the next in a facing relationship. In one embodiment, the stacked elements define one or more apertures for receiving and enclosing one or more operational elements (e.g. a display, a keypad, an antenna, a mobile station engine, etc.).

Claims

1. A mobile station, comprising:

a body defining a first end, a second end, and a foldable region disposed therebetween, the body comprising a plurality of stacked elements, wherein the plurality of stacked elements define opposed surfaces and a perimeter edge extending thereabout, wherein the opposed surfaces are configured in a facing relationship, wherein at least a portion of the opposed surfaces of at least two of the plurality of stacked elements are structured to slidably translate relative to one another along a slide axis, and wherein the plurality of stacked elements are at least partially flexible within the foldable region such that the body is moveable between open and folded positions.

2. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of stacked elements defines an aperture for receiving an operational element.

3. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of stacked elements is configured adjacent one or more operational elements.

4. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of stacked elements define respective non-aligned apertures configured to receive and distribute operational elements over two or more stacked element layers.

5. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of stacked elements are configured to be removable and replaceable.

6. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of stacked elements are ring-shaped.

7. The mobile station of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of ring-shaped stacked elements are configured to surround an operational element.

8. The mobile station of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of ring-shaped stacked elements combine to define a ring-shaped body.

9. The mobile station of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second covers removably attached to first and second sides of the mobile station body.

10. The mobile station of claim 9, wherein:

the first and second covers include fasteners having a locked and unlocked state, wherein the plurality of stacked elements are held in place in the locked state and the plurality of stacked elements are removable in the unlocked state.

11. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

the perimeter edges of the plurality of stacked elements are aligned to define a substantially uniform lateral edge.

12. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

the perimeter edges of the plurality of stacked elements are aligned to define a tapered lateral edge.

13. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

the perimeter edges of the plurality of stacked elements are aligned to define a curved lateral edge.

14. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

the opposed surfaces of the plurality of stacked elements are substantially planar.

15. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of stacked elements is tapered between a first end and a second end.

16. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of stacked elements extends outwardly beyond the perimeter of adjacent stacked elements to define a hanger for suspending the mobile station.

17. The mobile station of claim 1, further comprising:

conductive regions provided adjacent the opposed surfaces of at least two of the plurality of stacked elements, wherein the conductive regions are configured for electrically connecting the at least two stacked elements.

18. A method of manufacturing a mobile station comprising the steps of:

stacking a plurality of replaceable stacked elements to form a body, the body defining a first end, a second end, and a foldable region disposed therebetween, the plurality of replaceable stacked elements each including opposed surfaces and a perimeter edge extending thereabout, wherein the opposed surfaces of the plurality of stacked elements are configured in a facing relationship, wherein at least a portion of the opposed surfaces of at least two of the plurality of stacked elements are structured to slidably translate relative to one another along a slide axis, and wherein the plurality of stacked elements are at least partially flexible within the foldable region such that the body is moveable between open and folded positions; and

removably coupling at least a first cover to the body.

19. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

providing at least one replaceable stacked element defining an aperture for receiving an operational element.

20. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

attaching one or more operational elements to at least one of the plurality of replaceable stacked elements.

21. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

providing non-aligned apertures configured in two or more of the plurality of replaceable stacked elements; and

inserting different operational elements in respective non-aligned apertures defined by the two or more stacked element layers.

22. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 18, wherein:

the plurality of replaceable stacked elements are ring-shaped.

23. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 22, further comprising:

inserting an operational element within the plurality of ring-shaped stacked elements.

24. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

constructing a ring-shaped mobile station body from the plurality of ring-shaped stacked elements.

25. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

removably attaching first and second covers to first and second sides of the mobile station body.

26. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

securing first and second covers to the first and second sides of the mobile station body via fasteners having a locked and unlocked state, wherein the plurality of replaceable stacked elements are fixed together in the locked state and the plurality of stacked elements are removable in the unlocked state.

27. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

electrically connecting at least two of the plurality of replaceable stacked elements.

28. The method of manufacturing the mobile station of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

providing at least two operational elements in electrical communication via the electrical connection of the at least two replaceable stacked elements.