HOUSING FOR ENCASING AN OBJECT HAVING A PROXIMITY SENSOR

• US 20130088828A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.26
• 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 covering at least part of a mobile computing device having a touch screen display and a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor having an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, the apparatus comprising:

an encasement that covers at least part of the mobile computing device and enables operation of the touch screen display;

an optically transmissive member coupled with the encasement and positioned to overlay the proximity sensor; and

a light gasket having at least one light divider to control an angle of light transmission through the optically transmissive member and to or from the proximity sensor, and to inhibit light from the optical transmitter from being received by the optical receiver prior to transmission through the optically transmissive member.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the light divider is aligned perpendicular to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the light divider is aligned in parallel to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one light divider includes a plurality of light dividers.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the plurality of light dividers form a transecting region

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of light dividers in the transecting region is perpendicular to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of light dividers in the transecting region is aligned in parallel to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

9. An apparatus for covering at least part of a mobile computing device having a touch screen display and a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor having an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, the apparatus comprising:

an encasement that covers at least part of the mobile computing device and enables operation of the touch screen display;

an optically transmissive member coupled with the encasement and positioned to overlay the proximity sensor; and

a light gasket having at least one light divider to inhibit light from the optical transmitter from being received by the optical receiver prior to transmission through the optically transmissive member.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the light gasket includes a light transmissive layer disposed between the mobile computing device and the optically transmissive member and proximate the proximity sensor.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the light divider is aligned perpendicular to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the light divider is aligned in parallel to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the at least one light divider includes a plurality of light dividers.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein the plurality of light dividers form a transecting region

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of light dividers in the transecting region is perpendicular to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of light dividers in the transecting region is aligned in parallel to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the light gasket includes a light transmissive layer disposed between the mobile computing device and the optically transmissive member and proximate the proximity sensor.

17. An apparatus for covering at least part of a mobile computing device having a touch screen display and a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor having an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, the apparatus comprising:

an encasement having a bottom member to cover at least a first portion of the mobile computing device, and a top member to cover at least a second portion of the mobile computing device, the top member configured to allow touch access to the touch screen display;

a coupling mechanism to couple the top member with the bottom member to cover the first and second portions of the mobile computing device, the coupling mechanism including a first seal to seal the top member with the bottom member;

an optically transmissive member coupled with the encasement and positioned to overlay the proximity sensor; and

a light gasket having at least one light divider to inhibit light from the optical transmitter from being received by the optical receiver prior to transmission through the optically transmissive member.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the light divider is aligned perpendicular to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the light divider is aligned in parallel to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the at least one light divider includes a plurality of light dividers.

21. The apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein the plurality of light dividers form a transecting region

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of light dividers in the transecting region is perpendicular to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of light dividers in the transecting region is aligned in parallel to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

24. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the light gasket includes a light transmissive layer disposed between the mobile computing device and the optically transmissive member and proximate the proximity sensor.

25. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the optically transmissive member is formed in a membrane that defines a top surface of the top member.

26. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the light gasket is formed of a compressive material.

27. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein the compressive material is adhesively coupled with an inner surface of the top member of the encasement.

28. An apparatus for covering at least part of a mobile computing device having a touch screen display and a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor having an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, the apparatus comprising:

an encasement having a bottom member to cover at least a first portion of the mobile computing device, and a top member to cover at least a second portion of the mobile computing device, the top member configured to allow touch access to the touch screen display;

a coupling mechanism to couple the top member with the bottom member to cover the first and second portions of the mobile computing device, the coupling mechanism including a first seal to seal the top member with the bottom member;

a first optically transmissive region of the top member positioned to overlay the touch screen display;

a second optically transmissive region of the top member positioned to overlay the proximity sensor; and

a light gasket having at least one light divider to inhibit light from the optical transmitter from being received by the optical receiver prior to transmission through the second optically transmissive region of the top member.