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. An apparatus for housing an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
a top member having an extended member forming a wall defined by a rigid frame that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the electronic device, the wall extending to a ridge, the rigid frame including a first plurality of openings, the first plurality of openings being overlaid with a flexible member to form sealed buttons and further including a second plurality of openings, the second plurality of openings being overlaid with a sound-passing, water-impermeable material to form sealed sound port apertures, and a membrane coupled to the rigid frame opposite the ridge, the membrane having a transparent area; and
a bottom member comprising a front surface and a back surface with at least one lens formed therein, the front surface and the back surface each being surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the perimeter portion having an extended wall to mate with the wall defined by the rigid frame and to seal the bottom member with the top member.
2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the top member further includes a flexible portion overlaid on at least part of an exterior portion of the rigid frame and over at least part of a perimeter portion of the membrane.
3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the top member includes a sealable aperture, and the bottom member includes a door to latch over and seal the sealable aperture of the top member.
4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the top member includes a sealable aperture and further includes a removable sealing member for sealing the aperture of the top member.
5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the top member further comprises one or more button features for operating a corresponding button on the electronic device, each of the one or more button features having a molded overlay that seals the button feature.
6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the membrane includes a first optically transmissive region for being positioned over a camera of the electronic device.
7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the membrane further includes:
a second optically transmissive region for being positioned over a proximity sensor of the electronic device; and
a non-optically transmissive region provided between the first optically transmissive region and the second optically transmissive region, the non-optically transmissive region inhibiting light to transfer between the first optically transmissive region and the second optically transmissive region.
8. An apparatus for housing an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
a top member comprising:
a rigid frame that defines a perimeter portion to bound an outer perimeter of the electronic device, the perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the rigid frame extending from a top ridge to a bottom ridge;
a membrane coupled with the top ridge of the rigid frame;
one or more sealed buttons formed in the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and opposing side portions of the rigid frame; and
one or more sealable apertures formed in the rigid frame; and
a bottom member comprising:
an inner surface and a back surface with at least one lens formed therein;
a perimeter portion surrounding the inner surface and the back surface, the perimeter portion having a wall to mate with the perimeter portion defined by the rigid frame to couple the bottom member with the top member; and
a compressible gasket seated in a first channel provided in either the top member or the bottom member, the compressible gasket to seal between the top member and the bottom member when the bottom member is coupled with the top member.
9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the top member further includes a first clasping mechanism, and wherein the bottom member further includes a second clasping mechanism to interface with the first clasping mechanism to maintain the top member and the bottom member coupled together.
10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the first clasping mechanism includes one or more protrusions along the perimeter portion of the rigid frame of the top member.
11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the second clasping mechanism includes one or more indents along the inner wall of the perimeter portion of the bottom member, the one or more indents corresponding to the one or more protrusions.
12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the top member includes the first channel, and wherein the bottom member includes a second channel formed by the perimeter portion and a second inner wall, the second channel for receiving the compressible gasket and at least a portion of the bottom ridge of the rigid frame of the top member.
13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the bottom member includes the first channel.
14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the top member includes a second channel into which the compressible gasket is at least partially seated when the bottom member is coupled with the top member.
15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the membrane comprises one or more of a substantially waterproof sound transmission feature, a camera lens feature, and a proximity sensor feature.
16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the bottom member further comprises a second channel having the side wall that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the bottom member.
17. An apparatus for housing an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
a top member having an extended member forming a wall defined by a rigid frame that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the electronic device, the wall extending to a ridge, the rigid frame including a first opening, the first opening being overlaid with a flexible member to form a sealed button, and further including a second opening, the second opening being covered with a sound-passing, water-impermeable material to form a sealed sound port aperture, and a membrane coupled to the rigid frame opposite the ridge, the membrane having a transparent area; and
a bottom member comprising a front surface and a back surface with at least one opening formed therein, the opening being covered with an optically transmissive material, the front surface and the back surface each being surrounded by a perimeter portion defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and opposing side portions, the perimeter portion having an extended wall to mate with the wall defined by the rigid frame and to seal the bottom member with the top member.
18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising a compressible gasket seated in a channel provided in either the top member or the bottom member, the compressible gasket to seal between the top member and the bottom member when the bottom member is coupled with the top member.
19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the top member and the bottom member comprise corresponding clasping mechanisms that function to further couple the top and bottom members together.
20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the ridge of the top member comprises a first clasping mechanism, and the extended wall of the bottom member comprises a second clasping mechanism.