Housing for encasing an object
View Patent ↗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.
1. A housing within which an electronic device may be fitted, the housing comprising:
a top member and a bottom member configured for being removably coupled together to form the housing, each top and bottom member of the housing comprising a front surface and a back surface each surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the bottom member having a perimeter portion corresponding to a shape of the perimeter portion of the top member;
the top member comprising a rigid frame that defines an interior perimeter portion of the top member including the proximal and distal end portions and the opposing side portions of the top member;
a membrane defining the front and back surface of the top member and being mated on a top ridge of the rigid frame, the membrane spanning from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and across the opposing side portions of the interior perimeter portion, the rigid frame and the membrane defining a cavity into which the electronic device may be fitted;
an exterior perimeter portion of the top member comprising a flexible portion overlaid on at least part of an exterior portion of the rigid frame and at least part of a perimeter portion of the membrane;
a channel in a top surface of the perimeter portion of the bottom member to receive a bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the channel including a gasket positioned therein to compress against the bottom ridge of the rigid frame when the top member and the bottom member are coupled together to seal the housing; and
the top and bottom members of the housing comprising clasping mechanisms that extend along respective perimeter portions of the top and bottom members, each clasping mechanism interfacing with at least one other clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.
2. The housing in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the rigid frame includes at least one aperture in a side wall of the rigid frame.
3. The housing in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising a door pivotally connected to the housing, the door for closing and sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.
4. The housing in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the door includes a rigid surface defining a gasket seat, and a gasket positioned in the gasket seat for sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.
5. The housing in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the clasping mechanism of the bottom member includes a groove in a side of the channel, and wherein the clasping mechanism of the top member includes a lip extending from the bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the lip engaging the groove when the top member and bottom member are coupled together.
6. The housing in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the membrane is transparent.
7. An apparatus comprising:
a top member comprising:
a rigid frame that defines a perimeter portion of the top member, the perimeter portion defining a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions of the top member, the rigid frame having a top ridge and a bottom ridge, the bottom ridge including a first clasping mechanism;
a membrane defining a front surface and a back surface of the top member and being mated on the top ridge of the rigid frame, the membrane spanning from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and across the opposing side portions of the perimeter portion of the top member; and
a flexible portion overlaid on at least part of an exterior portion of the rigid frame and at least part of a perimeter portion of the membrane; and
a bottom member, which when coupled to the top member, form a housing to enclose an electronic device to allow touch-sensitive user inputs to the electronic device via the membrane, the bottom member comprising:
a channel in a top surface of the perimeter portion of the bottom member to receive the bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the channel including a gasket positioned therein to compress against the bottom ridge of the rigid frame to seal the housing when the top member and the bottom member are coupled together, the channel further including a second clasping mechanism to interface with the first clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.
8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the rigid frame includes at least one aperture in a side wall of the rigid frame.
9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising a door pivotally connected to the housing, the door for closing and sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.
10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the door includes a rigid surface defining a gasket seat, and a gasket positioned in the gasket seat for sealing the at least one aperture in the side wall of the rigid frame.
11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the clasping mechanism of the bottom member includes a groove in a side of the channel, and wherein the clasping mechanism of the top member includes a lip extending from the bottom ridge of the rigid frame, the lip engaging the groove when the top member and bottom member are coupled together.
12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 , wherein at least a part of the membrane is transparent.
13. An apparatus within which a portion of an electronic device may be fitted, the apparatus comprising:
a top member configured for being removably coupled with a bottom member to form a housing therewith, the top member comprising a front surface and a back surface each surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions;
the top member further comprising a rigid frame that defines an interior perimeter portion of the top member including the proximal and distal end portions and the opposing side portions of the top member, the rigid frame comprising a clasping mechanism that extends along the perimeter portion of the top member, the clasping mechanism being configured for interfacing with a corresponding clasping mechanism of a bottom member thereby allowing the top member and the bottom member to be coupled together;
the top member further comprising a membrane defining the front surface and back surface of the top member and being mated on a top ridge of the rigid frame, the membrane spanning from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and across the opposing side portions of the interior perimeter portion, the rigid frame and the membrane defining a cavity into which the electronic device may be fitted, the membrane further comprising a camera lens feature, a proximity sensor feature, and a waterproof sound transmission feature, wherein the sound transmission feature includes an aperture and a water impermeable gasket, the gasket overlaying the aperture; and
the top member further comprising an exterior perimeter portion comprising a flexible portion overlaid on at least part of an exterior portion of the rigid frame and at least part of a perimeter portion of the membrane.
14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the perimeter portion further comprises an earphone jack port that is configured for being mated with a removable earphone jack port bung to form a waterproof seal.
15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the perimeter portion further comprises a silence switch feature configured for interfacing with a silence switch of an inserted electronic device so as to manipulate the silence switch thereof from a first position to a second position.
16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the perimeter portion further comprises one or more volume control toggles.
17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the top member further comprises a button feature wherein the button feature is configured for manipulating a navigation button positioned on a top front surface of an inserted electronic device.