Casing
The invention relates to the casings for portable communications devices. In particular the invention provides a casing formed from precious materials.
1. A casing for a portable personal communication device defining an internal space for accommodating an engine, the casing including an outer front face carrying a user interface having a plurality of user input elements and an outer rear face, the outer front face of the casing comprising at least one casing element formed from a material from a first group consisting of precious metal, precious stones and ceramics, and the outer rear face of the casing comprising at least one casing element formed from a material from a second group consisting of precious metals and ceramics.
2. The casing according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one casing element of the outer front face is a display window formed from a precious stone.
3. The casing according to claim 2 , wherein the display window comprises sapphire or diamond.
4. The casing according to claim 1 , further comprising a bezel surrounding the outer front face.
5. The casing according to claim 4 , wherein the bezel is made from a precious metal.
6. The casing according to claim 1 , wherein the user input elements are keys.
7. The casing according to claim 6 , wherein the keys comprise key tips made from a precious metal.
8. The casing according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one front face protector.
9. The casing according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one front face protector is made from a precious metal.
10. The casing according to claim 1 , wherein the precious metal is a metal including gold or silver or platinum.
11. The casing according to claim 1 , wherein the precious metal is an alloy.
12. The casing according to claim 1 , wherein the outer front face of the casing comprises a further casing element formed from a precious metal.
13. The casing according to claim 1 , wherein the casing is configured to enable the engine to be upgradeable by replacement.
14. A method, comprising
providing a precious casing of a portable electronic device and a first generation electronic device engine for housing within the precious casing; and
subsequently providing a second generation electronic device engine for replacement of the first generation electronic device engine housed within the precious casing.
15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising, before providing the precious casing, enabling a computer implemented selection of a design of the precious casing to be made.
16. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising, before providing the precious casing, enabling a computer implemented commissioning of a design of the precious casing to be made.
17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the second generation electronic device engine has greater processing power than the first generation engine.
18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the portable electronic device is a portable communication device.
19. The method as according to claim 14 , wherein the portable electronic device is a portable radio telephone.