Housing for encasing an object

• US 8,708,142 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• 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:
  US13/656,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20130043777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 206/305, 206/320, 220 421- 424, 361/679.03, 361/679.26, 36167955-67959, 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. An apparatus for housing an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a top member having an extended member forming a wall defined by a rigid frame that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the electronic device, the wall extending to a ridge, the rigid frame including a first plurality of openings, the first plurality of openings being overlaid with a flexible member to form sealed buttons and further including a second plurality of openings, the second plurality of openings being overlaid with a sound-passing, water-impermeable material to form sealed sound port apertures, and a membrane coupled to the rigid frame opposite the ridge, the membrane having a transparent area; and

a bottom member comprising a front surface and a back surface with at least one lens formed therein, the front surface and the back surface each being surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the perimeter portion having an extended wall to mate with the wall defined by the rigid frame and to seal the bottom member with the top member.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, 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.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the top member includes a sealable aperture, and the bottom member includes a door to latch over and seal the sealable aperture of the top member.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the top member includes a sealable aperture and further includes a removable sealing member for sealing the aperture of the top member.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the top member further comprises one or more button features for operating a corresponding button on the electronic device, each of the one or more button features having a molded overlay that seals the button feature.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the membrane includes a first optically transmissive region for being positioned over a camera of the electronic device.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the membrane further includes:

a second optically transmissive region for being positioned over a proximity sensor of the electronic device; and

a non-optically transmissive region provided between the first optically transmissive region and the second optically transmissive region, the non-optically transmissive region inhibiting light to transfer between the first optically transmissive region and the second optically transmissive region.

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

a top member comprising;

a rigid frame that defines a perimeter portion to bound an outer perimeter of the electronic device, the perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the rigid frame extending from a top ridge to a bottom ridge;

a membrane coupled with the top ridge of the rigid frame;

one or more sealed buttons formed in the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and opposing side portions of the rigid frame; and

one or more sealable apertures formed in the rigid frame; and

a bottom member comprising;

an inner surface and a back surface with at least one lens formed therein;

a perimeter portion surrounding the inner surface and the back surface, the perimeter portion having a wall to mate with the perimeter portion defined by the rigid frame to couple the bottom member with the top member; and

a compressible gasket seated in a first channel provided in either the top member or the bottom member, the compressible gasket to seal between the top member and the bottom member when the bottom member is coupled with the top member.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the top member further includes a first clasping mechanism, and wherein the bottom member further includes a second clasping mechanism to interface with the first clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first clasping mechanism includes one or more protrusions along the perimeter portion of the rigid frame of the top member.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the second clasping mechanism includes one or more indents along the inner wall of the perimeter portion of the bottom member, the one or more indents corresponding to the one or more protrusions.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the top member includes the first channel, and wherein the bottom member includes a second channel formed by the perimeter portion and a second inner wall, the second channel for receiving the compressible gasket and at least a portion of the bottom ridge of the rigid frame of the top member.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the bottom member includes the first channel.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the top member includes a second channel into which the compressible gasket is at least partially seated when the bottom member is coupled with the top member.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the membrane comprises one or more of a substantially waterproof sound transmission feature, a camera lens feature, and a proximity sensor feature.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the bottom member further comprises a second channel having the side wall that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the bottom member.

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

a top member having an extended member forming a wall defined by a rigid frame that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the electronic device, the wall extending to a ridge, the rigid frame including a first opening, the first opening being overlaid with a flexible member to form a sealed button, and further including a second opening, the second opening being covered with a sound-passing, water-impermeable material to form a sealed sound port aperture, and a membrane coupled to the rigid frame opposite the ridge, the membrane having a transparent area; and

a bottom member comprising a front surface and a back surface with at least one opening formed therein, the opening being covered with an optically transmissive material, the front surface and the back surface each being surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the perimeter portion having an extended wall to mate with the wall defined by the rigid frame and to seal the bottom member with the top member.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a compressible gasket seated in a channel provided in either the top member or the bottom member, the compressible gasket to seal between the top member and the bottom member when the bottom member is coupled with the top member.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein the top member and the bottom member comprise corresponding clasping mechanisms that function to further couple the top and bottom members together.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the ridge of the top member comprises a first clasping mechanism, and the extended wall of the bottom member comprises a second clasping mechanism.