Housing for encasing a mobile computing device

• US 9,660,684 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• 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 A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US14/967,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20160099741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 2003021-3023
• 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 control switch, the protective encasement comprising:

a top member to at least partially cover the mobile computing device and a bottom member to mate with the top member, the top and bottom members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surfaces to receive at least a portion of the mobile computing device to at least partially encase the mobile computing device;

a coupling mechanism to couple the top member with the bottom member;

an aperture in one of the top member and the bottom member; and

a switch feature disposed on the one of the top member and the bottom member proximate the aperture, the switch feature positioned to operate the control switch of the encased mobile computing device when the top member is mated with the bottom member, the switch feature comprising;

a user-actuatable control disposed on the exterior surface of the one of the top member and the bottom member proximate the aperture,

a switch interface connected to the user-actuatable control and disposed on the interior surface of the one of the top member and the bottom member, the switch interface rotatable in conjunction with rotation of the user-actuatable control, the switch interface including a U-shaped opening to translate the rotation of the user-actuatable control into linear movement of the control switch of the encased mobile computing device.

2. The protective encasement of claim 1, wherein the linear movement has a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the protective encasement.

3. The protective encasement of claim 1, the switch feature further comprising a post member disposed through the aperture and attached to the user-actuatable control and the switch interface.

4. The protective encasement of claim 3 further comprising a seal positioned between the top member and the bottom member, and

the switch feature further comprising a post member gasket disposed on the post member, the post member gasket to form a waterproof seal between the post member and the aperture.

5. The protective encasement of claim 3, wherein one of the user-actuatable control and the switch interface includes the post member.

6. The protective encasement of claim 1, the switch feature further comprising a flexible housing.

7. The protective encasement of claim 1 further comprising a partially circular indentation disposed in the exterior surface of the one of the top member and bottom member, the user-actuatable control rotatable within the partially circular indentation.

8. A protective encasement for a mobile computing device having a control switch, the protective encasement comprising:

a top member to at least partially cover the mobile computing device and a bottom member to mate with the top member, the top and bottom members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surfaces to receive at least a portion of the mobile computing device;

a coupling mechanism to couple the top member with the bottom member;

an aperture in one of the top member and the bottom member; and

a switch feature disposed on the one of the top member and the bottom member, the 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, the switch feature comprising;

a handle member disposed on the exterior surface of the one of the top and the bottom member,

a switch interface connected to the handle member and disposed on the interior surface of the one of the top and the bottom member, the switch interface rotatable in response to a force applied to the handle member, and

a cavity disposed on the switch interface to at least partially surround the control switch and translate rotation of the handle member into linear movement of the control switch of the encased mobile computing device.

9. The protective encasement of claim 8, wherein the switch interface is rotatable to move the control switch of the mobile computing device linearly in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the protective encasement.

10. The protective encasement of claim 8, the switch feature further comprising a post member disposed through the aperture and attached to the handle member and the switch interface.

11. The protective encasement of claim 10 further comprising a seal positioned between the top member and the bottom member, and

the switch feature further comprising a post member gasket disposed on the post member, the post member gasket to form a waterproof seal with the aperture.

12. The protective encasement of claim 8, wherein the handle member includes a knob.

13. The protective encasement of claim 8, the switch feature further comprising a flexible housing.

14. The protective encasement of claim 8, the protective encasement further comprising a partially circular indentation disposed in the exterior surface of the one of the top member and the bottom member, the handle member being rotatable within the partially circular indentation.

20. The protective encasement of claim 8 wherein the cavity comprises a U-shaped cavity.

15. A protective encasement for a mobile computing device having a control switch, the protective encasement comprising:

a first member to at least partially cover the mobile computing device and a second member to mate with the first member, the first and second members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surfaces to receive at least a portion of the mobile computing device; and

a switch feature on the first member, the switch feature positioned to operate the control switch of the mobile computing device when the first member is mated with the second member to at least partially encase the mobile computing device, the switch feature comprising;

an actuator member disposed on the exterior surface of the first member,

a plurality of switch interfaces coupled with the actuator member, the switch interfaces to engage the control switch of the encased mobile computing device, such that force applied to the actuator member is transferred to at least one of the switch interfaces to manipulate the control switch linearly in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the protective encasement; and

a plurality of switch interface axles, each of the switch interface axles coupled with a corresponding one of the plurality of switch interfaces such that each of the switch interfaces rotate around the respective switch interface axles in response to a rotation of the actuator member.

16. The protective encasement of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of switch interfaces is configured as an oblong hook member.

17. The protective encasement of claim 15, wherein the actuator member is configured as a toggle, the switch feature further comprising a toggle axle attached to the actuator member to allow the actuator member to pivot on the toggle axle, such that force applied by a user on a portion of the actuator member is transferred to one of the switch interfaces and manipulates the control switch linearly in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the protective encasement.

18. The protective encasement of claim 15, wherein the actuator member is configured to be rotated in response to a force applied by a user on a portion of the actuator member, one of the switch interfaces translating rotation of the actuator member into linear movement of the control switch in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the protective encasement.

19. The protective encasement of claim 15, the switch feature further comprising a flexible housing.