Casing for a portable communication device

• US 7,664,469 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Hutchison, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B
• Application Number:
  US10/451,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,979 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.8, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 361/679, 361/724, 361/725, 361/726
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/082 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/026 Guiding or lubricating nylon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/03 Stoppers for on or off position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/00 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/034 Bezel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• 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 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0243 for decorative purposes

Abstract

The invention relates to personal communications devices and housings for such devices. The casing includes a front face that needs protection and is supported by a substrate that is gripped between an overlaying any underlaying part to secure it in position.

Claims

1. A casing comprising:

an exterior;

a substrate;

a surface layer mounted on a defined area of the substrate leaving exposed areas;

a housing configured so that the housing and the surface layer define the exterior of the casing; and

a housing element for engaging the exposed areas of the substrate with the housing,

wherein the surface layer is brittle relative to the substrate and the casing is for a portable communication device for receiving an engine for operation of the device.

2. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer and the housing are retained spaced one from the other.

3. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises an operating face having a display and/or a user input mechanism, the surface layer providing the operating face.

4. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer adheres to the substrate.

5. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the adherent is a UV curing adhesive.

6. A casing according to claim 1 wherein a flexible gasket is provided around the surface layer at the interface between the surface layer and the casing.

7. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is flexible relative to the surface layer.

8. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer is a precious stone.

9. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer is formed from sapphire or diamond or glass.

10. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer is formed from a ceramic material.

11. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is optically permeable.

12. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the optically permeable substrate is a light guide.

13. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer and the substrate have the same optical qualities.

14. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer and the substrate are the same colour.

15. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer is arranged on the substrate in segments with lateral discontinuities.

16. A casing according to claim 15 wherein the lateral discontinuities extend across the full lateral extent of the surface layer.

17. A casing according to claim 15 wherein the lateral discontinuities act as hinges.

18. A casing according to claim 15 wherein the lateral extending discontinuities are shaped to receive user input elements of an array for user input.

19. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is captured between a housing element overlaying the substrate and the rest of the housing elements.

20. A casing according to claim 19 wherein the substrate is gripped between the overlay and the rest of the housing to retain it in position.

21. A casing according to claim 20 wherein a connector is provided to pull the overlay to the housing and capture the substrate.

22. A casing according to claim 21 wherein the connector has a screw thread.

23. A casing according to claim 19 wherein the housing element overlaying the substrate protects the edges of the surface layer.

24. A casing according to claim 19 wherein a rail for concealing raw edges may be caught in position as the overlay and the rest of the housing are squeezed together.

25. A casing according to claim 19 wherein the overlay is a bezel that surrounds the surface layer for protecting the exposed edges of the surface layer.

26. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the communications device is a radio telephone.

27. A casing comprising:

an exterior;

a substrate

a surface layer mounted on a defined area of the substrate leaving exposed areas;

a housing configured so that the housing and the surface layer define the exterior of the casing; and

means for engaging the exposed areas of the substrate with the housing,

wherein the surface layer is brittle relative to the substrate and the casing is for a portable communication device for receiving an engine for operation of the device.

28. A casing according to claim 27 wherein the surface layer and the housing are retained spaced one from the other.

29. A casing according to claim 27 wherein the device comprises an operating face having a display and/or a user input mechanism, the surface layer providing the operating face.

30. A portable communication device comprising:

an exterior;

a casing for receiving an engine for operation of the device, the casing comprising;

a substrate;

a surface layer mounted on a defined area of the substrate leaving exposed areas;

a housing configured so that the housing and the surface layer, define the exterior of the casing; and

a housing element for engaging the exposed areas of the substrate with the housing,

wherein the surface layer is brittle relative to the substrate.

31. A casing according to claim 30 wherein the surface layer and the housing are retained spaced one from the other.

32. A casing according to claim 30 wherein the device comprises an operating face having a display and/or a user input mechanism, the surface layer providing the operating face.