Casing for a portable communication device
View Patent ↗The invention relates to personal communications devices and housings for such devices. The casing includes a front face that needs protection and is supported by a substrate that is gripped between an overlaying any underlaying part to secure it in position.
1. A casing comprising:
an exterior;
a substrate;
a surface layer mounted on a defined area of the substrate leaving exposed areas;
a housing configured so that the housing and the surface layer define the exterior of the casing; and
a housing element for engaging the exposed areas of the substrate with the housing,
wherein the surface layer is brittle relative to the substrate and the casing is for a portable communication device for receiving an engine for operation of the device.
2. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer and the housing are retained spaced one from the other.
3. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises an operating face having a display and/or a user input mechanism, the surface layer providing the operating face.
4. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer adheres to the substrate.
5. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the adherent is a UV curing adhesive.
6. A casing according to claim 1 wherein a flexible gasket is provided around the surface layer at the interface between the surface layer and the casing.
7. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is flexible relative to the surface layer.
8. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer is a precious stone.
9. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer is formed from sapphire or diamond or glass.
10. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer is formed from a ceramic material.
11. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is optically permeable.
12. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the optically permeable substrate is a light guide.
13. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer and the substrate have the same optical qualities.
14. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer and the substrate are the same colour.
15. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the surface layer is arranged on the substrate in segments with lateral discontinuities.
16. A casing according to claim 15 wherein the lateral discontinuities extend across the full lateral extent of the surface layer.
17. A casing according to claim 15 wherein the lateral discontinuities act as hinges.
18. A casing according to claim 15 wherein the lateral extending discontinuities are shaped to receive user input elements of an array for user input.
19. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is captured between a housing element overlaying the substrate and the rest of the housing elements.
20. A casing according to claim 19 wherein the substrate is gripped between the overlay and the rest of the housing to retain it in position.
21. A casing according to claim 20 wherein a connector is provided to pull the overlay to the housing and capture the substrate.
22. A casing according to claim 21 wherein the connector has a screw thread.
23. A casing according to claim 19 wherein the housing element overlaying the substrate protects the edges of the surface layer.
24. A casing according to claim 19 wherein a rail for concealing raw edges may be caught in position as the overlay and the rest of the housing are squeezed together.
25. A casing according to claim 19 wherein the overlay is a bezel that surrounds the surface layer for protecting the exposed edges of the surface layer.
26. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the communications device is a radio telephone.
27. A casing comprising:
an exterior;
a substrate
a surface layer mounted on a defined area of the substrate leaving exposed areas;
a housing configured so that the housing and the surface layer define the exterior of the casing; and
means for engaging the exposed areas of the substrate with the housing,
wherein the surface layer is brittle relative to the substrate and the casing is for a portable communication device for receiving an engine for operation of the device.
28. A casing according to claim 27 wherein the surface layer and the housing are retained spaced one from the other.
29. A casing according to claim 27 wherein the device comprises an operating face having a display and/or a user input mechanism, the surface layer providing the operating face.
30. A portable communication device comprising:
an exterior;
a casing for receiving an engine for operation of the device, the casing comprising;
a substrate;
a surface layer mounted on a defined area of the substrate leaving exposed areas;
a housing configured so that the housing and the surface layer, define the exterior of the casing; and
a housing element for engaging the exposed areas of the substrate with the housing,
wherein the surface layer is brittle relative to the substrate.
31. A casing according to claim 30 wherein the surface layer and the housing are retained spaced one from the other.
32. A casing according to claim 30 wherein the device comprises an operating face having a display and/or a user input mechanism, the surface layer providing the operating face.