Customized non-volatile memory device packages
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of forming a memory device with customized outside characteristics, which comprises:
- utilize a core unit including a housing with electrical contacts accessible from the outside of the housing at one end thereof and operably connected to a re-programmable non-volatile memory enclosed within the housing,select one of two or more covers that are individually slidable over an outside surface of the housing from an end thereof opposite said one end to surround the housing at least adjacent said opposite end without restricting access to the electrical contacts from outside of the housing, wherein the two or more covers (1) are individually slidable off of the housing from said opposite end and (2) have different external indicia selected from a group consisting of alpha-numeric characters and graphical patterns, andslide said one cover over the housing from said opposite end thereof, thereby to customize the core memory unit with said one cover.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Non-volatile data memory cards, flash drives and other memory devices are customized by manufacturing core memory units all the same and then covering them by outer skins which may be made to have different appearances and/or tactile characteristics. The skins are slid over the core memory units by hand from one end. End users of such memory devices may then select how they will look and feel by separately purchasing covers. Sellers of such memory devices may more easily control how their products look and feel.
34 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of forming a memory device with customized outside characteristics, which comprises:
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utilize a core unit including a housing with electrical contacts accessible from the outside of the housing at one end thereof and operably connected to a re-programmable non-volatile memory enclosed within the housing, select one of two or more covers that are individually slidable over an outside surface of the housing from an end thereof opposite said one end to surround the housing at least adjacent said opposite end without restricting access to the electrical contacts from outside of the housing, wherein the two or more covers (1) are individually slidable off of the housing from said opposite end and (2) have different external indicia selected from a group consisting of alpha-numeric characters and graphical patterns, and slide said one cover over the housing from said opposite end thereof, thereby to customize the core memory unit with said one cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 10, 11)
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4. A method assembling memory devices, comprising:
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first and second entities acquire core memory units having a re-programmable non-volatile memory therein connected to electrical contacts that are externally accessible, the first entity obtains first covers that are individually slidable over and around the core memory units from one end thereof without restricting access to the electrical contacts and which have first permanently attached indicia on an outside surface thereof, the second entity obtains second covers that are slidable over and around the core memory units from one end thereof without restricting access to the electrical contacts and which have second permanently attached indicia on an outside surface thereof that is distinct from the first indicia, the first entity slides a plurality of the first covers over a first plurality of core units from said one end thereof, thereby resulting in a first plurality of memory devices with the first indicia on the outside thereof, and the second entity slides a plurality of the second covers over a second plurality of core units from said one end thereof, thereby resulting in a second plurality of memory devices with the second indicia on the outside thereof; whereby the core memory units are customized according to desires of the first and second entities. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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12. A method of customizing a flash drive memory device with selected outside characteristics, comprising:
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utilizing an elongated body with an electrical connector according to a USB standard extending from a first end thereof and operably connected to a re-programmable non-volatile flash memory on the inside of the body, the body also having a second end opposite the first end, selecting one of two or more sleeves that each have an internal cavity open at a first end and closed at a second end to form walls that tightly conform to outside surfaces of the memory device body between the body'"'"'s first and second ends when the sleeve is positioned over the body, wherein the two or more sleeves have at least one different indicia on at least one of the walls thereof that is selected from a group consisting of color, alpha-numeric characters and graphical patterns, and positioning the second end of the body into the cavity of the selected sleeve through the sleeve'"'"'s first end and sliding the sleeve over the body a distance to cover the body without extending over the electrical connector, thereby to customize the flash memory device with said one sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification