Housing for encasing an object having a proximity sensor

• US 8,548,541 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US13/689,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20130088828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 206/305, 206/320, 36167901-67903, 3616791-6794, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 4555751-5758
• US Class Current: 455/575.8
• 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 covering at least part of a mobile computing device having a touch screen display and a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor having an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver. The apparatus includes 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 gasket having at least one transecting element 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 infrared transmitter from being received by the infrared receiver prior to transmission through the optically transmissive member.

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 infrared transmitter and an infrared 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 gasket having at least one transecting element 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 infrared transmitter from being received by the infrared receiver prior to transmission through the optically transmissive member.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one transecting element will be 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 at least one transecting element will be 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 transecting element includes a plurality of transecting elements.

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

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

8. 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 infrared transmitter and an infrared 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 gasket having at least one transecting element to inhibit light from the infrared transmitter from being received by the infrared receiver prior to transmission through the optically transmissive member.

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

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one transecting element will be aligned perpendicular to an axis through the proximity sensor from opposing sides of the mobile computing device.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one transecting element will be 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 8, wherein the at least one transecting element includes a plurality of transecting elements.

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

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of transecting elements in the transecting region will be 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 transecting elements in the transecting region will be 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 8, wherein the 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 infrared transmitter and an infrared 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 gasket having at least one transecting element to inhibit light from the infrared transmitter from being received by the infrared receiver prior to transmission through the optically transmissive member.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the at least one transecting element will be 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 at least one transecting element will be 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 transecting element includes a plurality of transecting elements.

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

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of transecting elements in the transecting region will be 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 transecting elements in the transecting region will be 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 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 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 infrared transmitter and an infrared 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 gasket having at least one transecting element to inhibit light from the infrared transmitter from being received by the infrared receiver prior to transmission through the second optically transmissive region of the top member.