Housing for receiving and encasing an object

• US 8,342,325 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Inventors: Rayner, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US13/272,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20120211382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 206/305, 206/320, 220 421- 424, 361/679.1, 361/679.2, 361/679.3, 361/679.4, 361/679.26, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.03, 422/575.1, 422/575.8, 455/575.1, 455/575.8
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/002 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 : sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/069 : Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and/or system for housing a device. The apparatus includes a housing that is configured such that a device may be fitted within the housing and thereby be protected, such as from shocks and/or liquid. The housing may include top and bottom members that may be removably coupled together so as to form the housing. Each top and bottom member optionally includes front and back surfaces surrounded by a perimeter. The perimeter is defined by proximal and distal ends as well as opposing sides. The top and bottom members may include respective clasping mechanisms that extend along the perimeter of the top and bottom members. The clasping mechanisms are configured for coupling the top and bottom members with one another thereby sealing the housing, for instance, in a shock-proof and/or water tight seal.

Claims

1. A housing for an electronic device, the housing comprising:

a top member having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the top member further comprising a rigid frame that defines a cavity into which the electronic device may be fitted;

a bottom member configured for being removably coupled with the top member, the bottom member having a front surface and a back surface surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the perimeter portion of the bottom member corresponding to a shape of the perimeter portion of the top member;

a membrane defining the front surface and back surface of the top member and being mated on a top ridge of the rigid frame, the membrane extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and across the opposing side portions of the top member;

a channel in a top surface of the perimeter portion of the bottom member to receive a bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the channel including a gasket to compress against the bottom ridge of the rigid frame when the top member and the bottom member are coupled together to seal the housing; and

each of the top and bottom members having a respective clasping mechanism that extends along a respective perimeter portion of its respective top or bottom member, each clasping mechanism interfacing with the other clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together, the clasping mechanism of the bottom member having a groove in a side of the channel, and the clasping mechanism of the top member having a lip extending from the bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the lip engaging the groove when the top member and bottom member are coupled together.

2. The housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rigid frame has a side wall that includes at least one aperture.

3. The housing in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a door pivotally connected to the bottom member, the door for closing and sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.

4. The housing in accordance with claim 3, wherein the door includes a rigid surface defining a gasket seat, and a gasket positioned in the gasket seat for sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.

5. The housing in accordance with claim 2, wherein the rigid frame includes a second aperture configured for being removably connected to a sealing member.

6. The housing in accordance with claim 5, wherein the second aperture is removably connected to the sealing member, and wherein the second aperture and the sealing member each have corresponding thread elements.

7. The housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of the membrane is transparent, which transparent portion is sized and adapted to overlay a screen of the electronic device.

8. The housing in accordance with claim 7, wherein a portion of the membrane is non-transparent and the non-transparent portion of the membrane includes at least one transparent lens.

9. The housing in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one transparent lens includes:

a first transparent lens positioned to be overlaid a camera lens portion of the electronic device; and

a second transparent lens positioned to be overlaid a proximity sensor portion of the electronic device.

10. The housing in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a camera lens defined in the bottom member and extending through the front surface and back surface of the bottom member.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a top member comprising;

a rigid frame that defines a perimeter portion having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions of the top member, the rigid frame having a top ridge and a bottom ridge, the bottom ridge including a first clasping mechanism;

a membrane defining a front surface and a back surface of the top member and being mated on the top ridge of the rigid frame, the membrane spanning from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and across the opposing side portions of the perimeter portion of the top member; and

a bottom member, which when coupled to the top member, forms a housing to enclose an electronic device to allow touch-sensitive user inputs to the electronic device via the membrane of the top member, the bottom member comprising;

a channel in a top surface of the perimeter portion of the bottom member to receive the bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the channel including a gasket positioned therein to compress against the bottom ridge of the rigid frame to seal the housing when the top member and the bottom member are coupled together, the channel further including a second clasping mechanism to interface with the first clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the rigid frame includes at least one aperture in a side wall of the rigid frame.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a door pivotally connected to the housing, the door for closing and sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the door includes a rigid surface defining a gasket seat, and a gasket positioned in the gasket seat for sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the clasping mechanism of the bottom member includes a groove in a side of the channel, and wherein the clasping mechanism of the top member includes a lip extending from the bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the lip engaging the groove when the top member and bottom member are coupled together.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least a part of the membrane is transparent and a part of the membrane is not transparent, the non-transparent portion of the membrane including at least one transparent lens.

17. An apparatus for housing an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a bottom member comprising a front surface and a back surface with at least one lens formed therein, and surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the perimeter portion of the bottom member having a channel formed by an interior perimeter portion and an exterior perimeter portion, the channel including a compressible gasket positioned therein;

a top member having an inner perimeter defined by a rigid frame that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the electronic device and the perimeter portion of the bottom member, the rigid frame extending to a ridge that is adapted to clasp within the channel of the bottom member and seal against the gasket, the top member further including a plurality of sealed buttons and a plurality of sealable apertures, and a membrane that overlays the rigid frame opposite the ridge, the membrane having a transparent area.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the top member further includes a flexible portion overlaid on at least part of an exterior portion of the rigid frame and over at least part of a perimeter portion of the membrane.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the bottom member includes a hinged door to latch over and seal one of the plurality of sealable apertures of the top member.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a removable sealing member for sealing one of the plurality of apertures of the top member.