Protective shroud for handheld device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for a handheld device, comprising:
- a protective shroud selectively attachable to the handheld device and configured to protect at least a display portion of the handheld device when attached to the handheld device;
one or more electrical contacts integral with the protective shroud and configured to contact one or more electrical contacts of the handheld device when the protective shroud is attached to the handheld device;
andan input component integral with the protective shroud and configured to generate an input signal based upon received user input and further configured to transmit the input signal to the handheld device through the one or more electrical contacts, the input component comprising an alphanumeric keypad and a touchpad adjacent to the alphanumeric keypad, the input component positioned on an interior wall of the protective shroud and configured to make physical contact with the handheld device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for communicating with a handheld device (e.g., a cellular telephone) is provided herein. A protective shroud is configured to enclose the handheld device and protect it against incidents that commonly cause damage to handheld devices. Integral to the protective shroud is at least one of an input component configured to receive user input and a wireless transceiver configured to transmit signals to and/or receive signals from the handheld device. In one example, where both the input component and the wireless transceiver are integral to the protective shroud, signals related to received user input (e.g., where the shroud serves as a keypad) may be transmitted to the handheld device even if the protective shroud is removed from the handheld device.
49 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a handheld device, comprising:
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a protective shroud selectively attachable to the handheld device and configured to protect at least a display portion of the handheld device when attached to the handheld device; one or more electrical contacts integral with the protective shroud and configured to contact one or more electrical contacts of the handheld device when the protective shroud is attached to the handheld device; and an input component integral with the protective shroud and configured to generate an input signal based upon received user input and further configured to transmit the input signal to the handheld device through the one or more electrical contacts, the input component comprising an alphanumeric keypad and a touchpad adjacent to the alphanumeric keypad, the input component positioned on an interior wall of the protective shroud and configured to make physical contact with the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for a handheld device, comprising:
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a protective shroud selectively attachable to the handheld device and configured to cover at least a portion of the handheld device when attached to the handheld device; an alphanumeric keypad integral with the protective shroud; a power source integral to the protective shroud; and one or more electrical contacts integral with the protective shroud and configured to contact one or more electrical contacts of the handheld device when the protective shroud is attached to the handheld device and configured to provide for a transfer of information between the handheld device and the alphanumeric keypad, wherein the one or more electrical contacts integral with the protective shroud are configured to couple the power source to the handheld device, and the power source serves as a backup battery for the handheld device; and at least one of; a speaker integral with the protective shroud and configured to emit sound waves in response to receiving sound data from the handheld device through the one or more electrical contacts;
ora microphone integral with the protective shroud and configured to detect sound waves and generate sound data for transmission to the handheld device through the one or more electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for a handheld device, comprising:
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a protective shroud selectively attachable to the handheld device and configured to protect at least a portion of the handheld device when attached to the handheld device; an alphanumeric keypad positioned on a face of the protective shroud, wherein the alphanumeric keypad is embedded within the protective shroud; a touchpad positioned on the face of the protective shroud, wherein the touchpad is integral with the protective shroud, separate from the alphanumeric keypad, and adjacent to the alphanumeric keypad; a processing unit integral with the protective shroud; one or more electrical contacts integral with the protective shroud and configured to contact one or more electrical contacts of the handheld device when the protective shroud is attached to the handheld device and configured to provide for a transfer of at least one of power or information between the handheld device and the alphanumeric keypad and between the handheld device and the processing unit; and a hinge integral with the protective shroud and configured to rotate a portion of the protective shroud to which at least one of the alphanumeric keypad or the processing unit is integrated relative to the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification