FI116018B - Shells for a communication device as well as a method for making a shell - Google Patents

Description

116C18

Communication device shell and method for manufacturing the envelope

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a housing for a communication device. In particular, the invention relates to such a shell structure which enables easy and rapid alteration of the visual appearance, i.e. appearance, of the communication device.

Description of the Related Art

The ability of communication devices, especially mobile devices, to change the appearance of a communication device according to the wishes of the user has gained great popularity. Thus, the features of a plurality of mobile stations include the ability to detach the covers, allowing the user to select and attach the covers of the desired appearance in place of the original covers.

The disadvantage of the known solutions, however, is that when replacing the shells, the original shells are left to the user as unnecessary parts with little to no use. Another drawback associated with known solutions is that modifying the appearance of the mobile station may require the use of a separate tool that complicates the appearance of the mobile station.

From WO-A1-: 03061250, DE-U1-20104924 and EP-A2-1182850, for example, solutions are known in the art for altering the appearance of devices by placing a sheet of the desired pattern under a transparent outer casing. The disadvantage of these known solutions is that the sheet placed under the outer shell ·: ··· has to be cut precisely to the correct length and shaped. second, before it is installed. Due to the shapes of the devices, this is ···. can be a tricky operation and requires the use of a separate tool 25.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problem and to provide a solution that facilitates the envelope of a communication device and thus also. changing the appearance of the communication device itself, and which reduces such a change. · '30 costs of the operation. The object of the invention is achieved

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; a communication device enclosure according to the attached independent claim 1, a method for manufacturing a communication device enclosure according to the invention.

The present invention utilizes a transparent outer casing as well as a sheet beneath it to customize the appearance of the communication device to the user's wishes. By sheet is meant, for example, paper, plastic film, or the like, which can be arranged in a designated space within the envelope structure. Thus, the color or pattern on the surface of the sheet remains visible through the exterior of the communication device such that the appearance of the communication device is determined by the appearance of the sheet used therein. According to the invention, the outer casing 10 is pressed against the sheet so that the sheet locks in place with respect to the outer casing. The unnecessary part or parts can then be removed from the sheet, for example by tearing. Alternatively, the outer casing may have sharp clamping edges that, when pressed against the sheet, break the sheet at the correct points so that the parts to be removed are removed from the sheet without having to be torn.

The major advantages of the solution according to the invention are thus that the appearance of the communication device shell and hence the communication device itself can be changed in a very simple and inexpensive way. When changing the appearance, the user is left with no unnecessary parts other than the old sheet, such as old cover pieces. In addition, the appearance can be changed. . 20 without using separate tools. The user can create the appearance he or she desires for his or her communications device, as he or she can easily produce such a sheet of his or her design and use such a sheet in the envelope of his or her communication device.

Preferred embodiments of the shell and method according to the invention are disclosed in the appended dependent claims 2 to 6 and 8 to 10.

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Brief description of the figures

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1-4 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of a casing according to the invention and a manufacturing method for making such casing, and another preferred embodiment of the shell.

116018 3

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figures 1-4 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of a shell according to the invention as well as a manufacturing method for producing a shell according to that embodiment. The communication device to which the cover is intended may be, for example, a mobile station or a PDA.

Figure 1 shows the outer casing 1, the sheet 2 and the window casing 3 separately.

The outer casing 1 is made of a transparent material, in which, in this embodiment, the grooves extending through the outer casing 1 are cut to form resilient nip 10 areas. Inside the outer casing, which is turned downwards in Figure 1, there are projections 5 which project through the sheet 2 into the notches 6 formed in the window casing when the casing is assembled. Thus, the sheet 2 and the window cover 3 are correctly aligned with respect to each other.

The sheet 2 may be made of paper, plastic film or any other suitable material, the surface of which may be provided with a color, pattern or image desired by the user. One option is to produce the desired image, for example, on a paper surface connected to a printer connected to a computer. However, the material of the sheet should be selected so that it is easy to tear or tear under the force of sharp edges.

; An opening 7 is formed in the window envelope 3 through which the display of the communication device · · · *.! '* Appears when the disc is attached to it. In addition, the window envelope has «·» flexible areas through which power is transmitted to the communications device keypad switch when a user presses a key area 4 on the exterior envelope.

:: When the outer casing 1 is pressed against the sheet 2 and further against the window cover i V 25 3, the sheet is pinched between the pressing surfaces 8 of the outer casing 1 and the window casing 3. The entire inner surface of the outer casing may form a flat pressing surface which is pressed against the sheet 2. Alternatively, along the outer edges of the outer casing 1, an edge protruding from the inner surface may be provided and pressed against the sheet 2.

Further, it is advantageous to provide the outer casing with an edge protruding from its inner surface, which forms a clamping surface 9, and which protrudes through the sheet 2 into the opening 7 in the window casing when the outer casing is inserted. Such an edge protruding from the clamp cuts the force of the compression into a sheet 2 of size i corresponding to the opening 7 when the outer shell is pressed against the window cover.

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Figure 2 shows a situation in which the parts of Figure 1 are pressed against each other 35. At the opening 7 in the window envelope, the force of the compression is formed by a truncated opening from the traps of the gripping surfaces 9 of the treads to a loose sheet 2. In the case of Figure 2, it is assumed by way of example that pressing surfaces 8 extending along the outer edges of said clamping surfaces 8 being pressed against the sheet 5 locking the sheet in place together with the top surface of the window cover. Thus, part 12 or parts may be removed from the sheet by tearing. The sheet can thus be easily resized so that its shape will correspond to that of the window cover. No tools are needed, the sheet can be torn by hand.

Figure 3 shows the outer cover 1, sheet 2 and window cover 3 after the unnecessary parts have been removed from the sheet. In this case, a frame 13 can be placed over the aforementioned parts, the frame being dimensioned to cover the outer edges of the outer casing, whereby it also covers the edges of the sheet 2 between the outer casing 1 and the window casing 3. Thus, the edges of the sheet are completely hidden in the finished envelope. At the outer edges of the outer casing, they are covered by a frame 13, 15 and at the edges of the opening 7 in the window casing, the edges of the sheet are covered by clamping surfaces 9 protruding from the inside of the outer casing. The frame 13 can also be used to connect the cover to the body of the communication device.

Figure 4 shows details of the interconnected shell portions,. . 20, i.e. exterior cover 1, sheet 2, window cover 3, and frame 13. The partial sectional view, shown at the bottom right, shows the realization of key regions 4 · · '*. In this embodiment, key regions 4 are connected to the outer shell by an "intact" V * base 14. The lower surface of the key region, i.e., the inside surface of the outer casing, may have a pin or a spike 15 which, when first used, passes through the sheet and then contacts a flexible region within the window envelope which is transmitted to the keypad of the communication device.

Alternatively, said pin or spike 15 may be blunt, whereby. the sheet is flexible without deformation or puncture when the key region is pressurized. In order to provide enough space for the sheet to be flexible, the window envelope 3 is provided with stretching areas 16 (blank space) which can be pushed into the sheet when the key area is pressed.

: Because key regions 4 can be made of transparent material, ·,; the list can be printed on the surface of the sheet to be printed beneath them with the necessary key-> 1 35 pattern. Thus, for example, the numbers and / or 116018 5 letters of the mobile station keypad can be arranged on the surface of the sheet. This allows the user to change the appearance of the keyboard, for example, by making himself a new sheet 2, printed on the surface with key patterns in the font and color desired by the user.

Figure 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the cover according to the invention. The embodiment of Fig. 5 is very similar to the embodiment shown in the previous Figures. Corresponding parts of the various embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The embodiment of Fig. 5 differs from the embodiment 10 described above with respect to the attachment of the key regions 4. In the case of Fig. 5, the rigid key regions are secured to the outer shell T along their entire outer edges via an elastic resilient material 14 '. In other respects, the embodiment of Figure 5 corresponds to the embodiment described in connection with the previous figures.

With reference to Figures 1 to 5 above, an embodiment of the invention with respect to the front cover (where the display is located) of a communication device is shown. However, the invention can also be utilized in the back cover, which does not need to take into account the views of the display. In this case, the inside of the outer shell may be perfectly flat so that the entire inner surface of the outer shell forms a press surface pressed against the sheet. Alternatively, along the outer edges of the outer casing, the edges • · · * protruding from its inner surface may be provided to form a press surface.

'With the back cover it is also possible to omit the window cover * * * * · completely. Instead, the sheet is arranged between the outer casing and the body of the communication device, removing any unnecessary portion or portions of the sheet, and finally attaching the ul: V 25 envelope by means of a frame.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying figures are merely intended to illustrate the present invention. Professional •; Various variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

Communication device casing comprising a removable attachment outer casing (1, 1 ') made of transparent material 5, characterized in that the inside of the outer casing (1, 1') is formed at least by extrusion surfaces (8, 9) which clamped against the sheet (2) to be mounted inside the outer casing when the outer casing is mounted, and that the casing further includes a frame (13) configured as an attitude 10 to cover the outer edges of the outer casing (1,1 '). The envelope according to claim 1, characterized in that the envelope further comprises a window envelope (3) arranged between the communication device and the outer envelope, with an opening (7) through which the display of the communication device is visible when the envelope is attached to the communication device. 1 ') the inside-mounted sheet (2) is pressed between the outer casing and the window casing at said clamping surfaces (8, 9) when the outer casing is mounted and that the outer casing (1, 1') is formed by the outer casing opening (7) ) so that said: 20 pressing surfaces (9) protrude into the window casing opening (7) when the outer casing • \. will be installed. The casing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of said press surfaces (8, 9) have sharp edges which, when pressed against the sheet (2), cut the sheet so that the sheet is torn. with sharp edges. An envelope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said sheet (2) consists of paper or plastic film. The shell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outer shell (1, 1 ') is provided with flexible key regions (4), which have a. Through the 30 den you can see the ··· buttons marked on the sheet to be installed inside the outer casing. the patterns. The shell according to claim 5, characterized in that:.:! a window envelope (3) arranged between the communication device and the outer casing (1,1 ') has 116018 arranged at said elastic regions, the elastic regions (16) providing space for the sheet as it flexes when the key region (4) is pressed. 6, 116018 A method of making a housing for a communication device, comprising: placing a sheet (2) of the desired color and / or pattern against the inside of the transparent outer shell (1,1 ') of the communication device, characterized in that the outer shell (1, 1') pressing the inner sheet (2) against the inside, and removing the portion or portions (10, 12) of the sheet which remain visible after insertion. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method utilizes a window cover (3) formed with an aperture (7) through which the display of the communication device is visible when the cover is attached to the communication device and 15 outer shells (1, 1 ') clamping surfaces (9) projecting from the inner surface of the outer casing to the window casing opening (7) such that said pressing surfaces extend into the casing opening when the outer casing is installed and an outer casing (1,1 ') and a sheet facing the inner casing are inserted: 20 (2) ) by squeezing them towards the window casing (3), whereby the pressing surfaces (9) projecting from the outer casing surface project through the sheet into the window opening so that the sheet (2) tears along the pressing surfaces (9). A method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said removal of said part or parts (10, 12) from said sheet is accomplished by tearing · *: 25 sheets against the edges of the outer casing or window casing. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a method (13) covering the edges of the outer casing (1) covers not only the outer edges of the outer casing (1, 1 ') but also the sheet (2) facing the inner part of the outer casing. edges. • | {* * • 1 I • t »> ·» »116018