Granted Patent B2

US 7,092,520 · App. 10/376,740 · Granted Aug 15, 2006

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. An electronic radiotelephone having electronic components, comprising:

a first housing forming a rear outer casing of the electronic radiotelephone;

a second housing releasably attachable and detachable to the first housing, wherein the second housing is attachable to the first housing by the end user without the need for a special tool, said second housing to meet with the first housing around the periphery of the radiotelephone and said second housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough;

at least one key unit having keys with a first portion extending through openings of the second housing and a second portion for user-actuation of a key sensor,

a third housing fixedly connected to the first housing for holding to the first housing and protecting from damage the electronic components of the radiotelephone when the second housing is released from attachment with the first housing, the third housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough for at least one second portion of the at least one key unit to actuate a key therethrough and wherein when the second housing is released from attachment with the first housing, the key unit is free to move, wherein the second housing is located directly opposite a top side of the third housing along a majority of the top side of the third housing.

2. An electronic radiotelephone as in claim 1 wherein the second housing comprises only a one-piece member with sound apertures and a transparent element connected to the one-piece member.

3. An electronic radiotelephone as in claim 1 further comprising key unit located directly between the second housing and the top side of the third housing.

4. An electronic radiotelephone as in claim 1 wherein the second housing is connected to the first and second housings by a catch projection adapted to be moved by an externally accessible activation element.

5. A handheld radio communication device having electronic components connected to a carrier plate comprising:

a housing substantially enclosing the electronic components connected to the carrier plate, the housing comprising a base element and a housing element enclosing and protecting the electronic components from access by a user of the device, the housing being adapted to receive a detachable external wall element, wherein the base element comprises a base portion which projects beyond the side walls of the housing and on to which the external wall element can be fitted with its free edge opposing the base portion which projects beyond the side walls, wherein the housing element including first, second and third housing walls, and wherein the housing further comprises an attachment means having formations for detachably connecting to the exterior of the housing the external wall element;

a detachable external wall element adapted to overlie a portion of the housing, wherein the external wall element at least partially covers the first, second and third housing walls, the external wall element being sized and shaped to at least partially cover the housing upon attachment thereto, the external wall element having a face portion with openings for the control elements, which the face portion will overlie upon attachment of the external wall element to the housing, each of the external wall element openings for the control elements being uncovered and exposed for use after attachment of the external wall element to the housing, the profile of the external wall element corresponding to the profile of the first, second and third housing walls;

the attachment means being formed cooperatively on each of the at least one wall of the housing and the at least one wall of the external wall element for detachably connecting to the housing the external wall element, comprising a snap-in-place releasable connection, wherein the attachment means comprises a portion which is externally accessible by a user when the external wall element is attached to the housing; and

at least one key unit for user-actuation of at least one key sensor held by said housing, said key unit being held in place over said key sensor by said external wall element so that when said external wall element is released from attachment with the housing, said key unit is free to move with respect to the housing.

6. A handheld radio communication device as in claim 5 wherein the attachment means comprises a catch projection biased outward in a spring fashion, wherein the portion of the attachment means comprises an externally accessible activation element, and wherein the catch projection is adapted to be pressed inward by the externally accessible activation element.

7. A handheld radio communication device as in claim 5 wherein, when the detachable external wall element is attached to the housing, the detachable external wall element is located directly over a majority of a top side of the housing element.

8. A handheld radio communication device as in claim 7 further comprising a key unit located directly between the detachable external wall element and a top side of the housing element, wherein except at the key unit the detachable external wall element is located directly over a rest of a majority of a top side of the housing element.

9. A handheld radio communication device having electronic components connected to a carrier plate comprising:

a housing comprising a base element and a housing element connected to each other for substantially enclosing the electronic components connected to the carrier plate therebetween, the housing including openings for control elements for the electronic components, the housing protecting the electronic components from access by a user of the device, the housing being adapted to receive a detachable external wall element and said housing having a base portion which projects beyond the side walls of the housing and on to which the external wall element can be fitted with its free edge opposing the base portion which projects beyond the side walls, the housing further including a plurality of housing walls, including first, second and third housing walls, the external wall element at least partially covering the first, second and third housing walls and an attachment means having formations for detachably connecting to the exterior of the housing the external wall element;

a detachable external wall element adapted to overlie a portion of the housing, the external wall element being sized and shaped to at least partially cover the housing upon attachment thereto, the external wall element having a face portion with openings for the control elements, which the face portion will overlie upon attachment of the external wall element to the housing, each of the external wall element openings for the control elements being uncovered and exposed for use after attachment of the external wall element to the housing, the profile of the external wall element corresponding to the profile of the first, second and third housing walls;

the attachment means being formed cooperatively on each of the at least one wall of the housing and the at least one wall of the external wall element for detachably connecting to the housing the external wall element, said attachment means comprising a press-on/catch closure; and

at least one key unit for user-actuation of at least one key sensor held by said housing, said key unit being held in place over said key sensor by said external wall element so that when said external wall element is released from attachment with the housing, said key unit is free to move with respect to the housing, and wherein when the detachable external wall element is attached to the housing except at the at least one key unit the detachable external wall element is located directly over a majority of a top side of the housing element.

10. A handheld radio communication device comprising a cordless telephone as a mobile telephone having electronic components connected to a carrier place comprising:

a housing substantially enclosing the electronic components connected to the carrier plate, the housing protecting the electronic components from access by a user of the device, the housing being adapted to receive a detachable external wall element and said housing having a base portion which projects beyond the side walls of the housing and on to which the external wall element can be fitted with its free edge opposing the base portion which projects beyond the side walls, the housing further including a plurality of housing walls, including first, second and third housing walls, the external wall element at least partially covering the first, second and third housing walls and an attachment means having formations for detachably connecting to the exterior of the housing the external wall element;

a detachable external wall element adapted to overlie a portion of the housing, the external wall element being sized and shaped to at least partially cover the housing upon attachment thereto, the external wall element having a face portion with openings for the control elements, which the face portion will overlie upon attachment of the external wall element to the housing, each of the external wall element openings for the control elements being uncovered and exposed for use after attachment of the external wall element to the housing, the profile of the external wall element corresponding to the profile of the first, second and third housing walls; and the attachment means being formed cooperatively on each of the at least one wall of the housing and the at least one wall of the external wall element for detachably connecting to the housing the external wall element, comprising a snap-in-place releasable connection, wherein the attachment means is externally accessible by a user when the external wall element is attached to the housing; and at least one key unit for user-actuation of at least one key sensor held by said housing, said key unit being held in place over said key sensor by said external wall element so that when said external wall element is released from attachment with the housing, said key unit is free to move with respect to the housing.

11. A hand held communication device comprising:

at least one element for input by a user and at least one element for output to the user, each one of said elements being sufficiently exposed to allow use by a user;

a housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough, comprising openings for the at least one element for input by the user and the at least one element for output to the user;

a user attachable/detachable external non-planar cover attached to and at least partially covering the housing wherein the detachability provides for user interchange with another non-planar cover thereby facilitating user modification of the external appearance of the hand held communications device, the external non-planar cover being adapted to fit over the housing, the cover comprising a main face having an upper surface which is exposed when the cover is attached to the housing and a side wall extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face, the main face of the cover and at least portions of the side wall of the main face, the main face of the cover and at least portions of the side wall of the cover defining a cavity sized to receive a portion of the housing when attached thereto, the cover having a plurality of apertures therethrough to the cavity positioned over the housing including the opening for the at least one element for input by the user and the opening and the opening for the at least one element for output to the user, whereby each one of said input and output elements is sufficiently exposed to allow use by a user;

at least one user releasable retainer, holding the cover to the housing, formed by contact between the housing and the downwardly extending sidewall of the cover, said retainer being fixedly attachable by the user without employing a tool, wherein the handheld device is fully functional when the cover is attached;

wherein the at least portions of the side wall of the external, non-planar cover terminate at a free, downwardly pointing edge and the housing has, where the housing upwardly facing, ledge-like portions which project beyond the side wall of the housing, whereby the free downwardly pointing edge portions of the external non-planar cover oppose the projecting, upwardly facing ledge-like portions of the housing and substantially follow the contours of the projecting ledge-like portions, wherein the releasable retainer comprises an activation element for releasing the cover from the housing which is externally accessible by the user after the cover is attached to the housing; and at least one key unit for user-actuation of at least one key sensor held by said housing, said key unit being held in place over said key sensor by said cover so that when said cover is released from attachment with the housing, said key unit is free to move with respect to the housing.

12. A hand held communication device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the width of the side wall of the external element at the free edge substantially equals the width of the ledge-like portion is opposes, whereby substantially no ledge remains in the connection area between the cover and the housing.

13. A hand held communication device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the profile of the external non-planar cover follows the profile of the housing wall of the housing.

14. A hand held communication device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the height of the side walls of the external non-planar cover are such that the main face of the external non-planar cover comes to rest at a distance from the housing wall and does not exert any pressure thereon.

Assignments (10)