Granted Patent B2

US 9,055,142 · App. 13/421,972 · Granted Jun 9, 2015

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an exterior surface of the apparatus,

an interconnector comprising a first interconnector portion and a second interconnector portion rigidly connected to the first interconnector portion,

a frame structure located between the interconnector and a front part of the first housing, wherein

the first interconnector portion is configured to fasten to a side part of the first housing portion, and

the second interconnector portion configured to fasten to the second housing portion.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second interconnector portion is configured to fasten to the second housing portion via an adhesive.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the first housing portion including a door moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a first aperture defined by the first housing portion, wherein when the door is in the closed position the first aperture is concealed by the door, and when the door is in the open position the first aperture is accessible.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the first housing portion including a removable member, and a second aperture defined by the first housing portion, wherein when the removable member is present in the first housing portion the second aperture is concealed by the removable member, and when the removable member is removed from the first housing portion, the second aperture is accessible.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first interconnector portion is configured to receive a fastener for fastening the first housing portion and the first interconnector portion together.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first interconnector portion includes one or more protrusions and the first housing portion includes one or more cavities configured to receive the one or more protrusions of the first interconnector portion.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first interconnector portion includes one or more hoops and the first housing portion includes a third aperture, the one or more hoops and the third aperture being configured to receive a fastener therein for fastening the first housing portion and the first interconnector portion together.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising a first housing portion including one or more hoops, and wherein the third aperture, the one or more hoops of the first interconnector portion and the one or more hoops of the first housing portion are configured to receive a fastener therein for fastening the first housing portion and the first interconnector portion together.

9. A portable apparatus comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 1 .

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interconnector is integral to the frame structure.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front part comprises one or more apertures for any one or more of a display, a microphone, a loudspeaker, a keypad.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame structure does not require any apertures for screws.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame structure supports a keypad.

14. A method comprising:

providing a frame structure between a first interconnector and a front part of a first housing, said interconnector comprising a first and second interconnector portion,

fastening the first interconnector portion to a side part of the first housing portion of a portable apparatus, and

fastening the second interconnector portion, rigidly connected to the first interconnector portion, to a second housing portion of the portable apparatus.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first housing portion includes a door moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a first aperture defined by the first housing portion, wherein when the door is in the closed position the first aperture is concealed by the door, and when the door is in the open position the first aperture is accessible.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a first interconnector portion configured to fasten to a side part of a first housing portion of a portable apparatus, and

a second interconnector portion rigidly connected to the first interconnector portion and configured to fasten to a second housing portion of the portable apparatus,

the first housing portion including a door moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a first aperture defined by the first housing portion, wherein when the door is in the closed position the first aperture is concealed by the door, and when the door is in the open position the first aperture is accessible.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising a removable member, and a second aperture defined by the first housing portion, wherein when the removable member is present in the first housing portion the second aperture is concealed by the removable member, and when the removable member is removed from the first housing portion, the second aperture is accessible.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the first interconnector portion is configured to receive a fastener for fastening the first housing portion and the first interconnector portion together.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the first interconnector portion includes one or more protrusions and the first housing portion includes one or more cavities configured to receive the one or more protrusions of the first interconnector portion.

20. A portable apparatus comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 16 .

21. An apparatus comprising:

a first housing portion and a second housing portion defining an exterior surface of the apparatus, having front, rear, and side parts, said first and second housing portion defining a cavity, where a frame structure and a printed circuit board are located in the cavity, the frame structure is oriented substantially parallel to the printed circuit board,

the frame structure configured to fasten the first and second housing portions,

the frame structure comprising one or more first interconnect portions,

the first interconnector portion is configured to fasten to the side part of the first housing portion, wherein the first interconnect is configured to receive a fastener through an aperture in the exterior of the apparatus.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the frame is substantially rectangular and the one or more first interconnect portions are screw receiving members.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the frame defines a substantially rectangular aperture.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein a side part of the first housing comprises screw receiving apertures.

25. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the frame structure is configured to support a keypad frame.

26. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein any structures positioned between the interconnector and a front part of the first housing structure do not require screws.

27. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein any structures positioned between the frame and a front part of the first housing structure do not require screws.

28. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the interconnector is contained wholly within a cavity defined by the first and second housing portion.

29. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the frame structure comprises a metal.

30. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the apparatus is any of; a portable electronic communication device, a mobile cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant or a palm top computer.

31. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the frame structure is adjacent to two opposing edges of the first and/or second housing.

Assignments (9)