Housing for encasing a mobile computing device

• US 9,559,741 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• 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): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US14/631,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20150171913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 200/255
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/06 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/10 characterised by the material or arrangement of seals between parts, e.g. between cap and base of the container or between leads and walls of the container
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/035 Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities
• 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: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An apparatus and a system for housing a device are described. 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 includes a perimeter portion. 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 and may be configured for engaging a third clasping mechanism, such as a locking comb or wedge feature. 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 protective encasement for a mobile computing device having a housing defined by a back side, a perimeter, and a front side that includes a touch screen display and a navigation button, the protective encasement comprising:

a top member to at least partially cover the housing of the mobile computing device, the top member comprising;

a frame having an inside edge spaced apart from an outside edge, the inside edge to frame the touch screen display when the top member at least partially covers the mobile computing device, the outside edge defining an outer perimeter, the frame providing direct touch access to at least a portion of the touch screen display when the top member at least partially covers the housing of the mobile computing device;

a protrusion that extends down from an inner surface of the frame between the inside edge of the frame and the outer perimeter of the frame; and

a second seal proximate and attached to the inside edge of the frame, the second seal configured to form a seal between the inside edge of the frame of the top member and the front side of the mobile computing device proximate the touch screen display when the top member at least partially covers the housing of the mobile computing device; and

a bottom member to mate with the top member, the bottom member comprising;

an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface for receiving at least part of the perimeter or back side of the mobile computing device;

an inner wall extending from the inner surface;

an outer perimeter defining an outer wall, the outer wall being spaced apart from the inner wall;

a first channel formed between the outer wall and the inner wall, the first channel to receive the protrusion of the top member; and

a first seal disposed within the first channel to mate with the protrusion of the top member when the top member is mated with the bottom member to seal the first channel.

2. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second seal extends along the inside edge of the frame to seal against the front side of the mobile computing device.

3. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second seal is formed of an injection molded material.

4. A protective encasement for a mobile computing device having a housing defined by a back side, a perimeter, and a front side that includes a touch screen display, the mobile computing device further having a control switch, the protective encasement comprising:

a top member to at least partially cover the housing of the mobile computing device, the top member comprising;

a frame having an inside edge spaced apart from an outside edge, the inside edge to frame the touch screen display when the top member at least partially covers the housing of the mobile computing device, the frame providing direct touch access to at least a portion of the touch screen display when the top member at least partially covers the housing of the mobile computing device, the inside edge having a first seal configured to mate with and seal against the front side of the mobile computing device proximate the touch screen display when the top member at least partially covers the housing of the mobile computing device, the outside edge defining an outer perimeter; and

a protrusion that extends down from an inner surface of the frame between the inside edge of the frame and the outer perimeter of the frame;

a bottom member to mate with the top member, the bottom member comprising;

an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface for receiving at least part of the perimeter or back side of the mobile computing device; and

an outer perimeter defining an outer wall; and

a second seal disposed along the outer perimeter of the bottom member to mate with the protrusion of the top member when the top member is mated with the bottom member to seal the protective encasement between the top member and the bottom member.

5. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 4, wherein the bottom member further comprises:

an inner wall extending from the inner surface and being spaced apart from the outer wall; and

a first channel formed between the outer wall and the inner wall, the first channel to receive the protrusion of the top member to mate with the second seal.

6. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 4, wherein either the top member or the bottom member further comprises a switch feature positioned to operate the control switch of the mobile computing device when the top member is mated with the bottom member to encase the mobile computing device.

7. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 6, wherein the switch feature includes a switch interface to control the control switch of the mobile computing device, and one or more actuators coupled between the switch interface and a user interface.

8. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 7, wherein the switch interface includes two or more teeth to abut the control switch of the mobile computing device.

9. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 7, wherein the switch interface includes a receptacle to receive at least a portion of the control switch of the mobile computing device.

10. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 7, wherein the switch interface rotates about the one or more actuators of the switch feature.

11. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 7, wherein the user interface includes a knob.

12. A protective encasement for a mobile computing device having a housing defined by a back side, a perimeter, and a front side that includes a touch screen display, the mobile computing device further having a volume control, the protective encasement comprising:

a top member to at least partially cover the housing of the mobile computing device, the top member comprising;

a frame having an inside edge spaced apart from an outside edge, the inside edge to frame the touch screen display when the top member at least partially covers the housing of the mobile computing device, the inside edge of the frame having a first seal to mate with and form a watertight seal against the ouch screen display, the frame providing direct touch access to at least a portion of the touch screen display, the outside edge defining a top outer perimeter;

a bottom member to mate with the top member, the bottom member comprising;

an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface for receiving at least part of the perimeter or back side of the mobile computing device; and

an outer wall defining a bottom outer perimeter; and

a second seal disposed between the bottom outer perimeter of the bottom member and the top outer perimeter of the top member when the bottom member is mated with the top member to seal the protective encasement between the bottom member and the top member.

13. The protective encasement in accordance with claim 12, wherein the bottom member further comprises a rigid frame.

14. A protective encasement for a mobile computing device having a housing, the housing of the mobile computing device having a first portion, a second portion, and a sound transmission feature, the first portion including a touch-sensitive display affixed to the first portion of the housing, the protective encasement comprising:

a bottom member to receive and encase the second portion of the housing for the mobile computing device, the mobile computing device being a separate unit from the protective encasement;

a top member to receive and encase the first portion of the housing of the mobile computing device, the top member having an inner edge to frame at least a portion of the touch-sensitive display to allow direct touch access to at least a portion of the touch-sensitive display when the mobile computing device is inside the protective encasement, the top member further having a seal attached to and extending around the inner edge of the top member to seal the top member to the mobile computing device proximate the touch-sensitive display when the mobile computing device is inside the protective encasement; and

a coupling mechanism to couple the top member with the bottom member to encase the first and second portions of the housing of the mobile computing device, to directly seal the top member with the bottom member, and to seal the inner edge of the top member with a region proximate the portion of the touch-sensitive display.