Transparent cover with access to multi-way navigation assembly

• US 7,876,550 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Albertini, Michael, Hulick, Troy, Dettmann, Ben, Annerino, Frank, Webb, William
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/968,329
• Time in Patent Office: 2,290 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-683, 361/684, 361/686, 361/814, 345/156, 345/179, 345/168, 345/169, 345/905, 345160-163, 400/472, 400/481, 400/480, 400/485, 400691-693, 220/581, 220/836, 220/843, 220/845, 220811-815, 220/4.22, 220/848, 206/214, 206/232, 206/238, 206/472, 206/471, 206/320, 248632-634, 341/22, 341/23, 341/28
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

A cover for an electronic device made of a transparent material and having a form factor that protects function buttons of the device from inadvertent actuation. The cover has an opening of a size, shape and location to afford access to an interface device for multi-way navigation with the cover in place. Protrusions in tabs at the sides of the cover snap into cutouts located midway along the side of the electronic device and may be used to hold the cover in place. The cover may be stored on the back of the device while the device is in use. The transparent nature of the cover affords viewing of a display screen with the cover in place.

Claims

1. A cover comprising:

a substantially transparent material shaped to provide access to a first button of a device when said cover overlaps said device on at least two sides, wherein said substantially transparent material comprises;

a first portion operable to protect a second button of a device from inadvertent actuation, wherein said first portion enables viewing of said second button while said cover overlaps said device;

an opening operable to afford access to an interface component of said device, wherein said opening is operable to enable a user to reach through and physically interact with said interface component while said cover overlaps said device, wherein said opening is further operable to enable use of said device while said cover overlaps said device; and

a second portion enclosing said opening on all sides.

2. The cover of claim 1 further comprising:

an element operable to mechanically couple said cover to said device.

3. The cover of claim 1 further comprising:

protrusions operable to interface with and engage at least one side of said device.

4. The cover of claim 3, wherein said protrusions are tabs.

5. The cover of claim 1, wherein said opening is circular.

6. The cover of claim 1, wherein said interface component comprises a multi-way navigation assembly.

7. The cover of claim 6, wherein said multi-way navigation assembly comprises a plurality of actuators disposed in at least two different planes.

8. The cover of claim 7, wherein said plurality of actuators comprises steel domes.

9. The cover of claim 6, wherein said multi-way navigation assembly comprises a first actuator disposed in a first plane, and wherein said multi-way navigation assembly further comprises a component extending through said first plane and operable to actuate a second actuator disposed in a second plane.

10. The cover of claim 6, wherein said multi-way navigation assembly comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is operable to actuate a first actuator disposed in a first plane, and wherein said second portion is operable to actuate a second actuator disposed in a second plane.

11. The cover of claim 10, wherein said first portion comprises a ring, and wherein said second portion comprises a central portion surrounded by said ring.

12. The cover of claim 1, wherein said first button comprises a power button of said device.

13. The cover of claim 1, wherein said interface component comprises a function button of said device.

14. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed within said housing;

a memory disposed within said housing;

a cover operable to couple to said housing, wherein said cover comprises;

a substantially transparent material shaped to provide access to a first button of said portable electronic device when said cover overlaps said housing on at least two sides, wherein said substantially transparent material comprises;

a first portion operable to protect a second button of a portable electronic device from inadvertent actuation, wherein said first portion enables viewing of said second button while said cover overlaps said housing;

an opening operable to afford access to an interface component of said portable electronic device, wherein said opening is operable to enable a user to reach through and physically interact with said interface component while said cover overlaps said housing, wherein said opening is further operable to enable use of said device while said cover overlaps said housing; and

a second portion enclosing said opening on all sides.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14 further comprising:

an element operable to mechanically couple said cover to said device.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 14 further comprising:

protrusions operable to interface with and engage at least one side of said device.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein said protrusions are tabs.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein said opening is circular.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein said interface component comprises a multi-way navigation assembly.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein said multi-way navigation assembly comprises a plurality of actuators disposed in at least two different planes.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein said plurality of actuators comprises steel domes.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein said multi-way navigation assembly comprises a first actuator disposed in a first plane, and wherein said multi-way navigation assembly further comprises a component extending through said first plane and operable to actuate a second actuator disposed in a second plane.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein said multi-way navigation assembly comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is operable to actuate a first actuator disposed in a first plane, and wherein said second portion is operable to actuate a second actuator disposed in a second plane.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein said first portion comprises a ring, and wherein said second portion comprises a central portion surrounded by said ring.

25. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein said first button comprises a power button of said device.

26. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein said interface component comprises a function button of said device.