Enclosure for electronic device

• US 7,435,921 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lafrance Corporation
• Original Assignee: La France Corporation
• Inventors: Mazzoni, Justin M., Wolstenholme, Roland M., Rae, Patrick A. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMZA, LISA NHUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/470,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20080053802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 200512-520, 200/333
• US Class Current: 200/333
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/003 Membrane embracing all keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0242 Protective enclosures; Cushioning means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/04 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings

Abstract

An enclosure for an electronic device includes a base having an outwardly extending peripheral wall which forms a compartment for receiving the electronic device. A caseplate is mounted to the peripheral wall for enclosing the electronic device. The caseplate has an access opening extending completely through the caseplate and located at a switch on the electronic device. The access opening is covered by a thin membrane which protects the electronic device and yet permits actuation of the switch. The caseplate can be decorated by art work on by another layer of material or can be clear and cover the device and an optional art work insert.

Claims

1. An enclosure for an electronic device having a switch on its outer surface, said enclosure comprising a case having a rigid base and an outwardly extending peripheral wall to form a compartment for receiving the electronic device with the switch being on an outer surface remote from said base, said case being separate and distinct from the electronic device, a rigid caseplate mounted to said peripheral wall for enclosing the electronic device, said rigid caseplate being separate and distinct from both the electronic device and said base and being detachably mounted to expose said compartment and permit the electronic device to be selectively inserted into and removed from said compartment, said caseplate having an interior surface disposed toward said base within said compartment and an exterior surface remote from said base, an access opening extending through said caseplate from said interior surface to said exterior surface for being disposed at the switch to provide access to the switch to permit the switch to be manipulated without removing the electronic device from said compartment, a liner in the form of a thin membrane mounted in surface to surface contact with one of said interior surface and said exterior surface of said caseplate, said membrane completely covering said access opening to thereby completely cover the top of the switch and to permit manipulation of the switch by a user pressing against said membrane, said caseplate and said membrane forming a unitary laminate whereby detachment of said caseplate from said compartment also results in said membrane being detached from said compartment and moved away from the switch, said membrane having an offset region and a remaining region at said access opening, said offset region being in a plane which is displaced from and non-coplanar with said remaining region, and said offset region being surrounded by said remaining region.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said membrane is adhesively secured to said caseplate.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said membrane is in-molded to said caseplate.

4. The enclosure of claim 1 including a removable card insertable within said compartment for being between said caseplate and the device.

5. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said membrane contains art work.

6. The enclosure of claim 1 in combination with an electronic device mounted in said compartment, including a card detachably inserted between said device and said caseplate.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said offset region is a tactile region which is more flexible than said remaining region.

8. The enclosure of claim 1 including a partial layer mounted to and covering at least a portion of said caseplate, and said partial layer having an open area extending completely therethrough in registry with said access opening.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein said partial layer is comolded to said caseplate.

10. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein said open area is a first open area, partial layer including a second open area spaced from said first open area, and both said first open area and said second open area being surrounded by said partial layer.

11. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein said partial layer is made of metal.

12. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein said partial layer is mounted to said exterior surface of said caseplate, said partial layer being colored, and said enclosure is transparent except for said partial layer.

13. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is entirely transparent.

14. The enclosure of claim 1 in combination with an electronic device mounted in said compartment, and artwork being located between said membrane and said electronic device.

15. The enclosure of claim 14 wherein said artwork is three-dimensional.

16. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said caseplate is completely detachably snap mounted to said peripheral wall of said base.

17. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said caseplate comprises a plate having a peripheral wall extending downwardly from said plate at least partially around the periphery of said plate, and said caseplate peripheral wall being of substantially lesser height than said peripheral wall of said base whereby the entire electronic device could be within said peripheral wall of said base.

18. The enclosure of claim 1 in combination with said electronic device wherein said electronic device is removably mounted in said case.

19. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said membrane has a thickness in the range of 0.005 to 0.020 inches.

20. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said membrane is mounted to said interior surface of said caseplate, and said offset region extending into said access opening toward said exterior surface of said caseplate.

21. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said access opening is of circular shape, and said offset region being of circular shape concentric with said access opening.

22. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said partial layer is mounted to said exterior surface of said caseplate, and said partial layer is colored.

23. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein said open area and said access opening are of circular shape with a common center point, said partial layer having a second open area displaced from said access area which is of rectangular shape, and said partial layer completely covering said caseplate except for said circular open area and said rectangular open area.

24. An enclosure for an electronic device having a switch on its outer surface, said enclosure comprising a case having a rigid base and an outwardly extending peripheral wall around at least a portion of said base to form a compartment for receiving the electronic device with the switch being on an outer surface of the device remote from said base said case being separate and distinct from the electronic device, a rigid caseplate completely detachably snap mounted to at least a portion of said peripheral wall for enclosing the electronic device to permit the electronic device to be selectively inserted into and removed from the case, said caseplate having an interior surface disposed toward said base within said compartment and an exterior surface remote from said base, an access opening extending through said caseplate from said interior surface to said exterior surface for being disposed at the switch to provide access to the switch to permit the switch to be manipulated without removing the electronic device from said compartment, a liner in the form of a thin membrane mounted in surface to surface contact with one of said interior surface and said exterior surface of said caseplate, said membrane completely covering said access opening to thereby completely cover the top of the switch and to permit manipulation of the switch by a user pressing against said membrane, and said caseplate and said membrane forming a unitary laminate whereby detachment of said caseplate from said compartment also results in said membrane being detached from said compartment and moved away from the switch.

25. An enclosure for an electronic device having a switch on its outer surface, said enclosure comprising a case having a rigid base and an outwardly extending peripheral wall to form a compartment for receiving the electronic device with the switch being on an outer surface remote from said base, said case being separate and distinct from the electronic device, a rigid caseplate mounted to said peripheral wall for enclosing the electronic device, said rigid caseplate being separate and distinct from both the electronic device and said base and being detachably mounted to expose said compartment and permit the electronic device to be selectively inserted into and removed from said compartment, said caseplate having an interior surface disposed toward said base within said compartment and an exterior surface remote from said base, an access opening extending through said caseplate from said interior surface to said exterior surface for being disposed at the switch to provide access to the switch to permit the switch to be manipulated without removing the electronic device from said compartment, a liner in the form of a thin membrane mounted in surface to surface contact with one of said interior surface and said exterior surface of said caseplate, said membrane completely covering said access opening to thereby completely cover the top of the switch and to permit manipulation of the switch by a user pressing against said membrane, a partial layer mounted to and covering at least a portion of said caseplate, said partial layer having an outer surface, said membrane being recessed below said outer surface of said partial layer, said partial forming part of a unitary laminate with said caseplate and said membrane whereby detachment of said caseplate from said compartment also results in said partial layer and said membrane being detached from said compartment and moved away from the switch, and said partial layer having an open area extending completely therethrough in registry with said access opening whereby said partial layer does not interfere with manipulation of the switch through said membrane.

26. The enclosure of claim 25 wherein said partial layer is mounted to said exterior surface of said caseplate, and said partial layer is colored.

27. The enclosure of claim 25 wherein said open area and said access opening are of circular shape with a common center point, said partial layer having a second open area displaced from said access area which is of rectangular shape, and said partial layer completely covering said caseplate except for said circular open area and said rectangular open area.

28. The enclosure of claim 25 in combination with said electronic device wherein said electronic device is removably mounted in said case.