Modular external frame for mobile computing devices

1. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a device housing including a base, a perimeter wall extending from the base to a perimeter upper edge and having a forward section and a rear section, and a display seat within the forward section of the perimeter wall;

a display module including a display assembly supported adjacent to the perimeter upper edge by the display seat, and a display module cover overlaid on the display assembly;

an external frame member including:

(i) a U-shaped wall removably affixed to the forward section of the perimeter wall and terminating at the rear section of the perimeter wall; and

(ii) a retaining bezel extending from the U-shaped wall over the perimeter upper edge of the display module cover.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a keypad seat within the rear section of the perimeter wall adjacent to the forward section; and

a keypad module supported adjacent to the perimeter upper edge by the keypad seat.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the external frame member comprises:

a forward segment having opposing ends defining corners of the U-shaped wall; and

a pair of side segments each extending from the corners to respective terminating ends.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 3 , wherein the external frame member further comprises a shock-absorbing bumper at each of the corners.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 3 , wherein the external frame member further comprises an additional shock-absorbing bumper at each of the terminating ends.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 4 , wherein the segments include a first material, and the bumpers include a second material.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 3 , wherein the corners are resiliently deformable to increase a distance between the terminating ends.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the external frame member includes an aperture for receiving a fastener therethrough to engage with the perimeter wall.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the external frame member includes a ridge on an inner surface thereof, configured to engage with a corresponding channel on the forward section of the perimeter wall.

10. An external frame member for a mobile computing device, comprising:

a U-shaped wall configured to removably affix to a forward section of a perimeter wall of a device housing of the mobile computing device, and terminate at a rear section of the perimeter wall; and

a retaining bezel extending from the U-shaped wall, the retaining bezel configured to extend over a perimeter upper edge of the perimeter wall to retain a display module cover of the mobile computing device against the device housing.

11. The external frame member of claim 10 , further comprising:

a forward segment having opposing ends defining corners of the U-shaped wall; and

a pair of side segments each extending from the corners to respective terminating ends.

12. The external frame member of claim 11 , further comprising:

a tab at each terminating end, configured to extend into a corresponding socket on the perimeter wall of the device housing.

13. The external frame member of claim 11 , further comprising a shock-absorbing bumper at each of the corners.

14. The external frame member of claim 11 , further comprising an additional shock-absorbing bumper at each of the terminating ends.

15. The external frame member of claim 13 , wherein the segments include a first material, and the bumpers include a second material.

16. The external frame member of claim 11 , wherein the corners are resiliently deformable to increase a distance between the terminating ends.

17. The external frame member of claim 10 , further comprising an aperture for receiving a fastener therethrough to engage with the perimeter wall.

18. The external frame member of claim 10 , further comprising a ridge on an inner surface thereof, configured to engage with a corresponding channel on the forward section of the perimeter wall.

19. The external frame member of claim 10 , further comprising:

a retaining bezel extension extending from each of the side segments adjacent to the terminating ends.

20. A method of assembling a mobile computing device, comprising:

affixing a display assembly to a display seat defined within a forward section of a perimeter wall of a device housing;

placing a display module cover over the display assembly; and

removably affixing a U-shaped wall of an external frame member to the forward section of the perimeter wall such that a retaining bezel of the external frame member retains the display module cover against the device housing.