Protective case for electronics in a mobile device
First Claim
1. A case for a mobile device, comprising:
- a back surface that is arranged to receive a printed circuit board and a display;
a plurality of sidewalls that are arranged to enclose a plurality of peripheral edges of a display;
a platform and an opening that are arranged on the front side of the case, wherein the platform is arranged to separate a keyboard and a printed circuit board and the opening is arranged to provide access to the display from the front side of the case; and
a channel within the case that is configured to slidably receive a boot, wherein the channel includes a first detent that is configured to secure the boot in a closed position in the case and a second detent that is configured to secure the boot in an open position in the case, wherein the first detent is further configured to require a first force to slide the boot from the closed position to the open position, the second detent is further configured to require a second force to slide the boot from the open position to the closed position, and the channel is further configured to require a third force that is greater than the first and second forces to slidably remove the boot from the case.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device contains a case to rigidly secure and protect components of the mobile device, especially against large shock forces that can occur when the mobile device is dropped. The case is typically formed using a material that is generally rigid, lightweight (i.e., less dense), and relatively inexpensive, such as magnesium. The case further comprises rigid sidewalls that surround the peripheral edges of the device display. The sidewalls are arranged to protect the display by absorbing incidental shock forces. The case further comprises a surface is configured as a platform to receive a keypad. The surface is arranged to prevent forces from being transmitted from the keypad to an internal print circuit board, which provides protection against the internal printed circuit board from being flexed to the point of failure. The mobile device may further comprise a boot that is slidably coupled to the frame.
81 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A case for a mobile device, comprising:
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a back surface that is arranged to receive a printed circuit board and a display; a plurality of sidewalls that are arranged to enclose a plurality of peripheral edges of a display; a platform and an opening that are arranged on the front side of the case, wherein the platform is arranged to separate a keyboard and a printed circuit board and the opening is arranged to provide access to the display from the front side of the case; and a channel within the case that is configured to slidably receive a boot, wherein the channel includes a first detent that is configured to secure the boot in a closed position in the case and a second detent that is configured to secure the boot in an open position in the case, wherein the first detent is further configured to require a first force to slide the boot from the closed position to the open position, the second detent is further configured to require a second force to slide the boot from the open position to the closed position, and the channel is further configured to require a third force that is greater than the first and second forces to slidably remove the boot from the case. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for manufacturing a mobile device, comprising:
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providing a case having sidewalls, a back side, a front side, a platform that separates the backside from the front side, and an opening from the front side to the backside; securing a printed circuit board for implementing electronic functions of the mobile device to the back side of a case, wherein the printed circuit board is separated from the front side by the platform; securing a display within the case such that sidewalls of the case extend around a plurality of the peripheral edges of a display, wherein the opening provides access to the display from the front side; securing a keypad to the platform such that the platform is interposed between the keypad and the printed circuit board; sliding a boot into a channel that is within the case; securing the boot in a closed position in the case by using a first detent; securing the boot in an open position in the case by using a second detent; sliding the boot from the closed position to the open position using a first force; and sliding the boot from the open position to the closed position using a second force, wherein the first and second forces are less than a third force required to slidably remove the boot from the case. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A case for a mobile device, comprising:
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means for securing a printed circuit board and a display to the back side of a case; means for securing a display within the case such that sidewalls of the case extend around a plurality of the peripheral edges of a display; means for securing a keypad to a platform of the case such that the case is interposed between the keypad and the printed circuit board and such that the display is accessible from a front side of the case by an opening in the case; means for sliding a boot into the case; means for securing the boot in a closed position in the case by using a first detent; means for securing the boot in an open position in the case by using a second detent; and means for requiring a first force for sliding the boot from the closed position to the open, and means for requiring a second force for sliding the boot from the open position to the closed position, wherein the first and second forces are less than a third force required to slidably remove the boot from the case. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A case for a mobile device, comprising:
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a back surface that is arranged to receive a printed circuit board and a display; a plurality of sidewalls that are arranged to enclose a plurality of peripheral edges of a display; a platform and an opening that are arranged on the front side of the case, wherein the platform is arranged to separate a keyboard and a printed circuit board and the opening is arranged to provide access to the display from the front side of the case; and a channel within the case that is configured to slidably receive a boot, wherein the channel includes a first detent that is configured to secure the boot in a closed position in the case and a second detent that is configured to secure the boot in an open position in the case, wherein the platform is further configured to captivate the keypad when the boot is in the closed position and to release the keypad when the boot is in the open position. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification