Casing

• US 7,830,671 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Nuovo, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Hung S
• Application Number:
  US10/451,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20040096054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,240 Days
• Field of Search: 361/790, 361/797, 361/800, 345/169, 455/575
• US Class Current: 361/797
• 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 1/0283 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

The invention relates to the casings for portable communications devices. In particular the invention provides a casing formed from precious materials.

Claims

1. A casing for a portable personal communication device defining an internal space for accommodating an engine, the casing including an outer front face carrying a user interface having a plurality of user input elements and an outer rear face, the outer front face of the casing comprising at least one casing element formed from a material from a first group consisting of precious metal, precious stones and ceramics, and the outer rear face of the casing comprising at least one casing element formed from a material from a second group consisting of precious metals and ceramics.

2. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one casing element of the outer front face is a display window formed from a precious stone.

3. The casing according to claim 2, wherein the display window comprises sapphire or diamond.

4. The casing according to claim 1, further comprising a bezel surrounding the outer front face.

5. The casing according to claim 4, wherein the bezel is made from a precious metal.

6. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the user input elements are keys.

7. The casing according to claim 6, wherein the keys comprise key tips made from a precious metal.

8. The casing according to claim 1, further comprising at least one front face protector.

9. The casing according to claim 8, wherein the at least one front face protector is made from a precious metal.

10. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the precious metal is a metal including gold or silver or platinum.

11. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the precious metal is an alloy.

12. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the outer front face of the casing comprises a further casing element formed from a precious metal.

13. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the casing is configured to enable the engine to be upgradeable by replacement.

14. A method, comprising

providing a precious casing of a portable electronic device and a first generation electronic device engine for housing within the precious casing;

and

subsequently providing a second generation electronic device engine for replacement of the first generation electronic device engine housed within the precious casing.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, before providing the precious casing, enabling a computer implemented selection of a design of the precious casing to be made.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, before providing the precious casing, enabling a computer implemented commissioning of a design of the precious casing to be made.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second generation electronic device engine has greater processing power than the first generation engine.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable communication device.

19. The method as according to claim 14, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable radio telephone.