AU760823B2 - An attachable/detachable wall element of a communications device - Google Patents

Description

P:\OPERDH 717951-97 div 2906.do-29i0600 -2- AN ATTACHABLE/DETACHABLE WALL ELEMENT OF A COMMUNICATIONS

DEVICE

The invention relates to a user attachable/detachable replacement wall element for replacing a user detachable wall element of a hand portable communications device and thereby modifying the external appearance of the hand portable communications device.

It has become desirable to be easily able to replace housing parts of radiotelephones. For example, customers may want to replace a broken or scratched housing for repair purposes, or to change the appearance of a oooo* 10 radiotelephone by replacing its housing with another of a different appearance.

Also, there may be a need for radiotelephones to be supplied to dealers without being fully housed, so that the dealers can fit distinctive housing of their own .:00 before the radiotelephones are sold. Normally it is the user interface housing of the phone that is replaced in this way.

Normally, when housing parts of a phone, especially user interface housing parts, are removed the internal components of the phone become loose and/or exposed and there is significant risk of them being damaged. This makes it risky for unskilled people to replace the phone's housing parts, or for phones to be shipped in a partially housed state.

According to the present invention from one aspect there is provided a user attachable/detachable replacement wall element for replacing a user detachable wall element of a hand portable communications device and thereby modifying the external appearance of the hand portable communications device comprising: a main face, having an upper surface which is exposed when the wall element is attached to the hand portable device; side walls joining the main face at its edges and extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face whereby the main face and at least portions of the side walls define a cavity, the main face having a plurality of apertures therethrough to the cavity; and P:\OPERD)HU17951.97 div 2906.doc-2906/OO -3at least one press-on catch closure element for forming a user releasable press-on catch closure with a hand portable communications device having had its user detachable wall element previously removed, the press-on catch closure element providing for the attachment and detachment of the wall element by a user.

In another aspect, there is provided a user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the downwardly pointing side walls have edges which are arranged to support the wall element on step-like portions of the hand portable communications device and the side walls at the 10 edges have a thickness corresponding to the step size of the step-like portions, such that when the wall element is attached to the hand portable communications device, substantially no step remains in the connection area between the wall element and the device.

In another aspect, there is provided a user attachable/detachable replacement wall element, for replacing a user detachable wall element of a mobile phone and thereby modifying the external appearance of the mobile phone, comprising: a body having a main face and side walls, the main face having an upper surface for exposure when the wall element is attached to a mobile phone and first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the side walls joining the main face at its edges and extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face whereby the main face and at least portions of the side walls define a cavity, the main face having between the first and second side edges of the main face, a plurality of apertures therethrough to the cavity, including: twelve apertures arranged in a three by four array, the array being positioned towards the first end edge of the main face and each aperture being dimensioned to receive a key; a display aperture positioned between the array of apertures and the second end edge of the main face and dimensioned to expose a display; P:\OPER\JDH17951-97 div 2906.do-29/06i0 -3Aat least one microphone aperture positioned towards the second edge between the display aperture and the second edge; and at least one key aperture positioned between the array of apertures and the display aperture dimensioned to receive a key and having a different shape of aperture to the apertures of the array, a transparent element covering the display aperture; and a press-on catch closure element for forming a user releasable catch closure with the hand mobile phone having had its user detachable wall element previously removed, the press-on catch closure element providing for the attachment and detachment of the cover by a user In another aspect, there is provided a user attachable/detachable replacement wall element, for replacing a user detachable wall element of a mobile phone and thereby modifying the external appearance of the mobile phone, comprising: a body having a main face and side walls, the main face having an upper surface for exposure when the wall element is attached to a mobile phone and first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the side walls joining the main face at its edges and extending downwards, away S from the upper surface of the main face whereby the main face and at least portions of the side walls define a volume, the main face having between the first and second side edges of the main face, a plurality of apertures therethrough to the volume, including: twelve apertures arranged in a three by four array, the array being positioned towards the first end edge of the main face and each aperture being dimensioned to receive a key; a display aperture positioned between the array of apertures and the second end edge of the main face and dimensioned to expose a display; P:\OPE\DHU17951-9 7 div 2906.do-29/6O -3Bat least one microphone aperture positioned towards the second edge between the display aperture and the second edge; and at least one key aperture positioned between the array of apertures and the display aperture dimensioned to receive a key and having a different shape of aperture to the apertures of the array, and a transparent element covering the display aperture; wherein at least one of the side walls provides at least one element recessed to form a press-on catch closure with a hand portable communications device having had its user detachable wall element previously removed, and thereby provides for 10 the attachment and detachment of the cover by a user.

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-4- The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a radiotelephone of a first embodiment with its external wall element removed; Figure 2 shows the radiotelephone of Figure 1 with the external wall element fitted; Figure 3 shows a view of the interior of housing 14 of the radiotelephone of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a cross-section through part of the housing of Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows an exploded view of a second embodiment of the invention.

The invention is explained below with reference to two embodiments of mobile phone.

Figure 1 shows a mobile phone having a housing 1 with which a plate-shaped base element 2 and a shell-shaped housing element 3 are associated. The plateshaped based element 2 and the shell-shaped housing element 3 are connected to one another using screws (not illustrated) which project upward through openings 4 in the shell-shaped housing element 3 and are screwed into sockets (not illustrated) which are fixedly connected to the inside of the plate-shaped base element 2. Inside the housing 1 there is a carrier plate or circuit board for electronic components etc., attached in a suitable way.

The shell-shaped housing element 3 has a housing wall 5 which is disposed essentially parallel with the plate-shaped base element 2 and located at a distance therefrom and is integral with side walls 6 which are supported with their free or lower edge on the plate-shaped base element 2. In this arrangement, the plate-shaped base element 2 projects outwards beyond the side walls 6 by constant distance in its edge region so that a profile with an identical contour is obtained.

In the housing wall 5 there is a plurality of through-openings 7 through which components inside the housing 1 partially project. The through-openings 7 can be provided for, for example, push-button keys 8, a display device 9 or a loudspeaker device/microphone device 10. A corresponding through-opening may also be present in the rear side wall 6' for an aerial.

On each of the side walls 6 extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1 there are two attachment means 11, at a distance from one another, which are designed as push fit/catch closures. They are located in each case near the front and rear ends of the telephone. The attachment means 11 have a catch projection 12 which is biased outwards in a sprung fashion and can be pressed inwards into the housing 1 against the outwardly acting spring force by means of an externally accessible activation element 13. The attachment means serve to attach to the housing 1 an external wall element 14 which is fitted over the shell-shaped housing element 3 and is also of shell-shaped design.

6 The shell-shaped external wall element 14 which is illustrated in Figure 1 has approximately the same contour as the shell-shaped cover 3 but is designed in such a way that it can receive the shell-shaped housing element 3 in it. If the external wall element 14, which is designed as a thin-walled shell, is fitted on to the shell-shaped housing element 3, the shell-shaped external wall element 14 is supported with the free or downwardly pointing edge of its side walls on that part of the plate-shaped base element 2 which projects outwards beyond the shell-shaped housing element 3. Here, the wall thickness of the side walls of the shell-shaped external wall element 14 corresponds to the distance by which the edge of the plate-shaped base element 2 projects outwards beyond the side walls 6, 6' of the shell-shaped housing element 3. As a result, no step remains in the connection area between the shell-shaped external wall element 14 and S• the plate-shaped base element 2. The height of the side walls of the shellshaped external wall element 14 can be selected such that the main face of the external wall element 14 comes to rest at a short distance from the housing wall 5 and as a result does not exert any pressure on the latter.

Openings which are aligned with the openings 7 in the housing wall 5 of the shell-shaped housing element 3, are provided in the main face of the external r-r wall element 14. Therefore, it is possible to continue to operate the telephone even when the external wall element 14 is fitted on to the shell-shaped housing element 3. At the same time, the push-button keys 8 can be of such a height that they also project outwards beyond the external wall element 14. Openings which are present in the external wall element 14 for the display device 9 and the loudspeaker device/microphone device 10 can be covered, for example by means of a transparent element 15 or a grille 16.

Figure 2 shows the cordless telephone or mobile phone in a state in which the shell-shaped external wall element 14 is fitted on to the shell-shaped housing element 3 and is detachably connected to the housing 1. On the internal faces of the long side walls of the external wall element 14 there are notches for the 7 catch projections 12 of the attachment means 11 so that the catch projections 12 engage in the notches as a result of the outwardly pressing spring force, and thus hold the external wall element on the housing 1. In this state, the activation elements 13 are also pushed outwards but only to such an extent that they do not project beyond the side edge of the plate-shaped base element 2 or of the external wall element 14. The activation elements 13 can extend here in a groove 17 in the upper face of the plate-shaped base element 2. If the activation elements 13 are pressed inwards, that is to say inwards along the groove 17, for example using a pointed object, they move the catch projections 12 correspondingly inwards along with them so that the said catch projections 12 disengage from the notches on the inside of the side walls 6 of the external wall element 14. The external wall element 14 can then be removed from the housing 1.

The external wall element 14 is fitted on to the housing 1 by simply pressing it on. The catch projections 12 then engage automatically in the notches.

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of another embodiment. The mobile phone of figure 5 has two outer housings 18, 19. The housings mate together around the periphery of the phone to enclose almost all of the phone's components.

The lower housing 18 has a rear recess 18a, to accommodate a first circuit board 20, and a front shelf 18b to provide support behind the phone's keypad.

The circuit board 20 carries and connects together electronic components, including RF (radio frequency) components shielded within RF shields 21. A two-part connector 22 is provided to allow for push-fit electrical connection between circuit board 20 and a second circuit board 23. Circuit board 23 carries other electronic components, including a buzzer 24 (for generating a telephone ringing tone) and an electrical connector 25 (for allowing external connections to be made to the phone for example to program the phone or connect an external antenna).

A microphone 26 fits in a recess 25a in the connector block. The microphone is surrounded by a rubber sleeve or an o-ring 27 to hold it securely, by friction, in the recess 25a. The microphone has concentric electrical connection pads on its lower surface to connect to spring fingers on the circuit board 23 underneath it irrespective of the microphone's orientation relative to the circuit board.

Circuit board 23 has a region 28 of exposed printed conductive zones for cooperating with conductive portions of keypad membrane 29 to provide a touchsensitive keypad. When the membrane is fixed by adhesive to the circuit board flexible domed regions 29a of the membrane can be pressed to the circuit board to act as key switches for sensing pressure from a user. When the phone is fully assembled each domed region falls below one of the keys 24a of keymat 24 so that a user can actuate the key switches.

A translucent plastics frame 32 fits to the rear end of circuit board 23. The frame carries an LCD (liquid crystal display) unit 30 and a reflector 31. The frame defines a recess 32a dimensioned to receive a speaker 33. The speaker has sprung rear connectors which, when the phone is assembled and the speaker is pressed towards the circuit board connect to corresponding o*o.

connection pads on the circuit board 23.

To assemble the phone, circuit board 23 is screwed by means of screws 40 to the rear housing 18, holding the circuit board 20 in place behind it in the recess 18a. Microphone 26 is inserted in recess 25a and held in place by the friction of its o-ring 27 against the walls of the recess; at the same time the connections to the microphone are made by the spring fingers. Membrane 29 is fixed by adhesive to the circuit board 23. The frame 32 is offered up to the rear end of circuit board 23 and display unit 30 is soldered to the circuit board 23 to make the connections to the display. Speaker 33 is then set in the corresponding 9 recess 32a, with its spring contacts against the speaker contact pads on circuit board 23.

Next gasket 34 is placed over the frame/display assembly to seal around the edges of the speaker 33 and display device 30. The gasket is formed of flexible rubber with sealing walls that surround holes 34a, 34b for the speaker and display device. The gasket also includes a projecting key portion 34c whose upper end, when the phone has been fully assembled, projects through hole 19a in the upper housing 19. The key portion is flexible and has a conductive coating of carbon ink on its lower end which can make contact with corresponding tracks on the circuit board 23 when the upper end of the key portion is pressed by a user.

ooooo A retaining frame 35 is then pushed into place over the gasket to hold the gasket, the speaker 33, the LCD unit 30 and the frame 32 to the circuit board 23. The frame 35 has a generally flat top surface 36 and side walls 37. The frame is stamped from aluminium sheet around 80im thick. The top surface 36 of the frame has a hole 35a for the display, a hole 35b for the key portion 34a, a hole 35c for a locating pin 32b on the plastics frame 32 and a grille 35d of o holes for the speaker 33. When the frame 35 is pushed into place it squeezes the speaker and the LCD unit between the circuit board 23 and the gasket 34.

The side walls of the cover are forced out slightly and then spring back as clips 38, bent from the side walls 37, engage the lower surface of the circuit board 23. The frame 35 thus clips into place and by bending the walls outward again the cover can be removed if needed. The clips 38 then hold the frame to the circuit board 23 and by means of the frame the gasket, the display unit and the speaker are held to the circuit board 23. For security a screw 39 is then inserted through holes in the upper projection, the plastics frame 32, and the circuit board 23 and then into the lower housing 18.

The antenna 40 is screwed in place in the lower housing 18.

At this stage in the assembly process only two components of the phone are loose from the assembly mounted to the rear housing 18; the keymat 24 and the front 19 with its display window 41 fixed in place by adhesive. To complete the assembly process the keymat is sat on the membrane 29, the front housing is mated to the rear housing and the two are screwed together with screws 43.

The present invention may include any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to the presently claimed invention or mitigates any or all of the problems addressed. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the "art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, it will be appreciated that the invention may be applied to a wide range of electronic devices such as calculators and personal organisers as well as radiotelephones.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims (14)

1. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element for replacing a user detachable wall element of a hand portable communications device and thereby modifying the external appearance of the hand portable communications device comprising: a main face, having an upper surface which is exposed when the wall element is attached to the hand portable device; side walls joining the main face at its edges and extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face whereby the main face and at ooooe= 10 least portions of the side walls define a cavity, the main face having a plurality of apertures therethrough to the cavity; and at least one press-on catch closure element for forming a user releasable press-on catch closure with a hand portable communications device having had its user detachable wall element previously removed, the press-on catch closure element providing for the attachment and detachment of the wall element by a user.

2. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one press-on catch closure element is provided by one of the side walls.

3. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one press-on catch closure element is recessed to form said press-on catch closure with a hand portable communications device having had its user detachable wall element previously removed.

4. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one press-on catch closure element comprises a notch located on the interior portion of a side wall. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plurality of apertures includes an array of P:\OPER\DH\17951-97 div 2906.doc-29/60O -12- apertures, the array being positioned towards a first end of the main face and each aperture being dimensioned to receive a key.

6. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in claim wherein the plurality of apertures includes at least one microphone aperture positioned towards a second end of the main face.

7. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plurality of apertures includes a display aperture having a transparent covering element.

8. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in claim 7 10 when dependent upon claim 5 wherein the plurality of apertures includes at least one key aperture positioned between the array of apertures and the display aperture dimensioned to receive a key and having a different shape of aperture to the apertures of the array.

9. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in any preceding claim designed as a thin-walled shell. user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the downwardly pointing side walls have edges which are arranged to support the wall element on step-like portions of the hand S* portable communications device and the side walls at the edges have a thickness corresponding to the step size of the step-like portions, such that when the wall element is attached to the hand portable communications device, substantially no step remains in the connection area between the wall element and the device.

11.A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the downward extent of the side walls is such that in use the main face of the external wall element does not touch or exert pressure on the hand portable communications device. P\OPER\DH\17951-97 div 2906.doc-29/06/00

13- 12.A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in any preceding claim having a grill for the loudspeaker device/microphone device. 13. A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element, for replacing a user detachable wall element of a mobile phone and thereby modifying the external appearance of the mobile phone, comprising: a body having a main face and side walls, the main face having an upper surface for exposure when the wall element is attached to a mobile phone and first and second end edges and first and second side edges, *o *o 10 the side walls joining the main face at its edges and extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face whereby the main face and at least portions of the side walls define a cavity, the main face having between the first and second side edges of the main face, a plurality of apertures therethrough to the cavity, including: twelve apertures arranged in a three by four array, the array being positioned towards the first end edge of the main face and each aperture being dimensioned to receive a key; a display aperture positioned between the array of apertures and the second end edge of the main face and dimensioned to expose a display; at least one microphone aperture positioned towards the second edge between the display aperture and the second edge; and at least one key aperture positioned between the array of apertures and the display aperture dimensioned to receive a P:\OPERDH\17951-97 dlv 2906.doc-29/06/AO -14- key and having a different shape of aperture to the apertures of the array, a transparent element covering the display aperture; and a press-on catch closure element for forming a user releasable catch closure with the hand mobile phone having had its user detachable wall element previously removed, the press-on catch closure element providing for the attachment and detachment of the cover by a user.

14.A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in claim 12 wherein the press-on catch closure element is recessed to form said user 10 releasable catch closure with the mobile phone.

15.A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the downwardly pointing side walls have edges which are arranged to support the wall element on step-like portions of the mobile phone e *and the side walls at the edges have a thickness corresponding to the step size of the step-like portions, such that when the wall element is attached to the mobile phone substantially no step remains in the connection area between the wall element and the mobile phone.

16.A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the downward extent of the side walls is such that in use the main face of the external wall element does not touch or exert pressure on the mobile phone.

17.A user attachable/detachable replacement wall element, for replacing a user detachable wall element of a mobile phone and thereby modifying the external appearance of the mobile phone, comprising: a body having a main face and side walls, t P:\OPER\DI2310521 sp I.d-7/03/03 the main face having an upper surface for exposure when the wall element is attached to a mobile phone and first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the side walls joining the main face at its edges and extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face whereby the main face and at least portions of the side walls define a volume, the main face having between the first and second side edges of the main face, a plurality of apertures therethrough to the volume, including: twelve apertures arranged in a three by four array, the array being positioned towards the first end edge of the main face and each aperture being dimensioned to receive a key a display aperture positioned between the array of apertures ooooo and the second end edge of the main face and dimensioned oooo 15 to expose a display; at least one microphone aperture positioned towards the second edge between the display aperture and the second edge; and at least one key aperture positioned between the array of 20 apertures and the display aperture dimensioned to receive a key and having a different shape of aperture to the apertures of the array, and "a transparent element covering the display aperture; o.oooo P:\OPER\DH\17951-97 dlv 2906.doc-30/06/00 -16- wherein at least one of the side walls provides at least one element recessed to form a press-on catch closure with a hand portable communications device having had its user detachable wall element previously removed, and thereby provides for the attachment and detachment of the cover by a user. DATED this 30th day of June, 2000 Nokia Mobile Phones Limited By DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant