GB2535056A

GB2535056A - Mobile-telecommunications device enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2535056A
Application number: GB1606525.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lacy Graham; Upton Rob; Reed Tom; Ward Julian
Original assignee: SCANSTRUT Ltd
Current assignee: SCANSTRUT Ltd
Priority date: 2012-09-12
Filing date: 2012-09-12
Publication date: 2016-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-12
Also published as: GB2505889A; GB2505889B; GB201216276D0; GB2535056B

Abstract

A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure 10 comprises a housing 12 having snap-fit interengagable upper and lower housing parts 18, 16, an access port 66 in the housing 12 for accessing at least one port of a mobile-telecommunications device 14 received within the housing 12, and an access-port cover element 62. The access-port cover element 62 having a closed position wherein the access port 66 is closed with the upper and lower housing parts 18, 16 interengaged, an open position wherein the access port 66 is open with the upper and lower housing parts 18, 16 remaining interengaged, and a housing-release position wherein the upper and lower housing parts 18, 16 are urgable apart for disengagement, the access-port cover element 62 having a cam element 76 by which a snap-fit joint 84 of the upper and lower housing parts 18, 16 is at least in part separable.

Description

Mobile-Telecommunications Device Enclosure The present invention relates to a mobile-telecommunications device enclosure, and more particularly but not necessarily exclusively to such an enclosure which is waterproof and/or shock-resistant and which is adapted for snugly housing a mobile telephone and/or mobile computing device, typically having a touch, preferably capacitative, sensitive or pressure sensitive display screen.

Waterproof and shock-resistant enclosures for mobile-telecommunications devices are known, and have been developed further due to the recent widespread use of touch screen smartphones and tablet computers. It is often a requirement to provide a sealable enclosure which is liquid tight, ruggedized and which prevents or limits the ingress of dust and other particulate matter without restricting the functionality of the device housed therewithin.

It is known from US20120118773 to provide a waterproof enclosure for an electronic device. However, it has been found that, due to flexing of the housing, the gasket may not always provide a liquid tight seal. Furthermore, when the housing is closed, it can be particularly difficult, especially for user's with longer finger nails, to prise the housing open to gain access to the device held therewithin.

Additionally, device enclosures often have a hinged locking arm on each side. It has been found that a user may not secure or may not fully secure each locking arm, thereby leaving 20 a leak path when in use.

It has also been found that tactile feedback from physical or mechanical buttons on mobile-telecommunications devices can be lost or impaired when received in an enclosure having only elastomeric covers which closely correspond in dimension to the mechanical button it covers.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile-telecommunications device enclosure comprising a housing having snap-fit interengagable upper and lower housing parts, an access port in the housing for accessing at least one port of a mobile-telecommunications device received within the housing, and an access-port cover element for preventing or limiting access to the access port, the access-port cover element having a closed position wherein the access port is closed with the upper and lower housing parts interengaged, an open position wherein the access port is open with the upper and lower housing parts remaining interengaged, and a housing-release position wherein the upper and lower housing parts are urgable apart for disengagement, the access-port cover element having a cam element by which a snap-fit joint of the upper and lower housing parts is at least in part separable.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in 10 claims 2 to 8, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile-telecommunications device enclosure comprising a liquid-tight housing having interengagable low-profile upper and lower housing parts, and a gasket for forming a liquid tight seal between the engaged upper and lower housing parts, the upper and lower housing pails including upper and lower major walls, respectively, the upper major wall of the upper housing part being at least. in part transparent for overlying a screen of the mobile-telecommunications device, a first minor gasket wall of the lower housing part extending at an angle to the lower major wall, and a second minor gasket wall of the upper housing part extending at an angle to the upper major wall, the gasket being seatable on one of the fu-st and second minor gasket walls, and compressible in a radial direction parallel or substantially parallel to the upper major wall by the other of the first and second minor gasket walls, when the upper and lower housing parts are engaged.

Preferable and/or optional features of the second aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 10 to 21, inclusive.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first and second aspects of the invention are also set forth in claims 22 to 24, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a mobile-telecommunications device enclosure, shown assembled and in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the left longitudinal side of 5 the device enclosure shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through an end wall nearest a menu button of the device enclosure.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a mobile-telecommunications device enclosure 10 which comprises a liquid-tight, preferably waterproof, housing 12 dimensioned to 10 receive an electronic mobile-telecommunications device 14, such as a mobile telephone, smartphone or tablet computer, therein as a close fit.

The housing 12 includes a lower housing part 16 forming a tray in which the mobile-telecommunications device 14 can sit, and an upper housing part 18 which closes the housing 12 when interengaged with the lower housing part 16.

The tray of the lower housing part 16 is preferably formed from plastics material, but may be other materials, such as metal. The tray may include an overmoulding of an elastomeric or rubber material to assist with shock dissipation. The edges and corners may also be oversized in order to ruggedize the housing 12.

The lower housing part 16 includes a continuous and unbroken lower major wall 20 20 forming a base of the enclosure 10, and upstanding lower side walls 22 which extend contiguously from a perimeter edge of the lower major wall 20.

The upstanding lower side walls 22 extend continuously around the perimeter of the lower major wall 20, with breaks to accommodate various access openings. The access openings, aside from a charging port cover, are liquid tightly closed by preferably flexible 25 elastic button covers 24, which may for example be elastomeric.

A first minor gasket wall 26 which provides a device support and which again is preferably continuous is formed inboard of the lower side wall 22. The first minor gasket wall 26 is preferably undercut whereby an endless elastomeric gasket 28 is receivable below an overhang 30.

The overhang 30 may be formed by an elastomeric overmoulded endless element, or simply be a further gasket, for seating the mobile-telecommunications device 14. This is 5 advantageous in further isolating the mobile-telecommunications device 14 against shock imparted to the housing 12.

A U-shaped or substantially U-shaped gasket channel 32 is therefore formed by the spaced apart lower side wall 22 and first minor gasket wall 26. A lateral extent of the gasket channel 32 is preferably greater than a lateral extent of the gasket 28, the reasons 10 for which will be understood hereinafter.

The upper housing part 18 includes a continuous and preferably unbroken upper major wall 34 forming a front of the enclosure 10, and a depending skirt-like upper side wall 36 which extends contiguously from a perimeter edge of the upper major wall 34.

The upper major wall 34 includes a transparent portion 38 which is positioned to overlie 15 a touch or pressure sensitive display screen of the mobile-telecommunications device 14 within the housing 12. An over-sized or ruggedized shock-absorbing edging 40 may he incorporated around the perimeter edge of the upper major wall 34.

The depending upper side walls 36 extend continuously around the perimeter of the upper major wall 34, again with breaks which are aligned with those in the lower side walls 22 20 to accommodate the various access openings.

A second minor gasket wall 42 depends from a distal free edge of the upper side wall 36, and forms a lip 44 having a free distal end which is receivable in a gasket channel recess 46 at a foot of an interior surface of the lower side wall 22.

With the lower and upper housing pails 16, 18 interengaged, the gasket 28 which is seated on the first minor gasket wall 26 is compressed radially in a direction which is parallel or substantially parallel to the upper major wall 34 by the second minor gasket wall 42 sliding along the interior surface of the lower side wall 22 until received in the gasket channel recess 46.

The upper side wall 36 and therefore the second minor gasket wall 42 are supported against flexing by the abutment of the lower side wall 22 and by being received in the gasket channel recess 46. The lower side wall 22 reinforces the second minor gasket wall 42 against radially outward flexing, when the second minor gasket wall 42 and the first minor gasket wall compress the gasket 28 in a radial direction or diametrical plane being perpendicular to the axial direction.

The gasket 28 is also prevented or limited from lateral axial movement out of the gasket channel 32 by the overhang 30 on the first minor gasket wall 26.

Radial compression as opposed to axial compression of the gasket 28 is advantageous as it provides a reliable liquid tight seal against two compressive side-facing surfaces, without having to rely on a tight or tolerance fit between the lower and upper housing parts 16, 18 to ensure a suitable compressive force perpendicular to the lower and upper major walls 20, 34. It is also highly beneficial to reinforce the second minor gasket wall 42 of the upper housing part by use of the lower side wall 22 of the lower housing part.

Flex of the housing at the gasket interface is thus prevented or limited, leading to a more robust and resilient liquid-tight seal.

To provide a simple yet reliable snap-fit engagement mechanism 48 which enables the lower and upper housing parts 16, 18 to be positively and securely releasably interengaged, the lower and upper side walls 36 include opposing ramped locking ridges 50, 52. Two faces 54, 56 of each ridge 50, 52 arc ramped. A pitch of the ramping of the release-direction faces 54 is less than that of the engagement-direction faces 56. enabling more positive feedback to the user during engagement, whilst easing separation during release of the lower and upper housing parts 16, 18.

Such a snap-fit engagement mechanism 48 is preferably provided along at least opposing 25 longitudinal sides 58 of the housing 12, and preferably also along a top end 60 of the housing 12 closest to an earpiece of the mobile-telecommunications device 14.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, it is beneficial to provide means for separating the interengaged lower and upper housing parts 16, 18. In this case, an access-port cover element 62 is provided at a bottom end 64 of the housing 12 in order to close an access port 66 in an end wall of the housing 12. The access port 66 may, for example, provide access to a charging and/or data transfer port of the mobile-telecommunications device 14 within the housing 12.

The access-port cover element 62 includes an arm 68 which is hingably mounted at a 5 proximal end to the lower housing part 16, and an access-port cover 70 which is provided at a distal end of the arm 68 opposite the proximal end. The arm 68 and the access-port cover 70 are preferably formed of rigid moulded plastics.

A secondary gasket 72 is provided around a boss 74 which projects from a housing-facing surface of the arm 68. The boss 74 is complementarily-shaped to match or substantially 10 match the access port 66, so that, once received therein, the secondary gasket 72 forms a liquid tight seal with a bore of the access port 66.

It may be advantageous to form the boss 74 hollow, thus being resiliently deformable. This allows some flex as the boss 74 is received in the access port 66 and thus accommodation of any slight manufacturing discrepancies.

To facilitate separation of the lower and upper housing parts 16, 18, the access-port cover element 62 includes a cam dement 76 which is provided at or adjacent to a mounting hinge 78 of the pivotable arm 68. The cam dement 76 includes a projecting lip 80 which is receivable in a notch 82 at a snap-fit joint 84 between the lower and upper housing parts 16, 18.

With the lower and upper housing parts 16, 18 interengaged, the access-port cover element 62 has a closed position X whereby the access port 66 is closed. A snap-fit detent 86 is provided at a distal end of the access-port cover 70 to hold the cover in its closed position.

When the snap-fit detent 86 is released by a user pulling back on the access-port cover 25 70, the access-port cover 70 can be pivoted via the arm 68 to an open position Y, for example to between 90 degrees and 120 degrees. This enables access to the access port 66, whilst the lower and upper housing parts 16, 18 remain engaged.

By then pivoting the access-port cover 70 towards 180 degrees and a release position Z, a release lip 80 of the cam element 76 engages with the notch 82 at the snap-fit joint 84 between the lower and upper housing parts 16, 18. This engagement prises the joint 84 apart locally, thereby allowing a user to continue the separation of the lower and upper housing part 18 by insertion of their fingernails and/or manual grasping with their fingers.

It is preferable that an indexing detent is utilised as part of the access-port cover element 62. This is preferably to identify at least the open position X of the access-port cover 70. However, a further indexing detent may be utilised to identify the closed position Y of the access-port cover 70, and a yet further indexing detent may be utilised to identify the release position Z. This said further indexing detent is beneficial to prevent or limit the arm 68 of the access-port cover element 62 being rotated too far hack on itself, thereby potentially resulting in damage or breakage.

To aid with sound output from the housing 12 when the mobile-telecommunications device 14 is received therein, and in order to maintain suitable liquid tight sealing, the transparent portion 38 of the upper major wall 34 is preferably a laminate having an apertured layer 88 for sound passage and a non-apertured layer 90 which is liquid impermeable.

To maintain robustness, the apertured layer 88, which is preferably on the interior side of the housing 12, is thicker than the non-apertured layer 90, which is preferably at least in 20 part defining an exterior surface of the enclosure 10.

The openings 92 of the apertured layer 88 may be sufficiently numerous to he considered perforations. Alternatively, a lower number of larger openings which are further spaced apart may be utilised.

To also provide improved tactile feedback whilst at the same time a resilient user 25 interface, an elastically deformable button cover element 94 may he included and located at a position of a main menu button of the mobile-telecommunications device 14, when received in the enclosure 10.

The button cover element 94 preferably comprises a button cover portion 96 and a supportive surround 98 which supports the button cover portion 96. The button cover portion 96 is thus effectively suspended by the supportive surround 98 and has a thickness which is less than that of the supportive surround 98.

The supportive surround 98 having an increased thickness again provides a robust and tactile interface for a user, who may potentially be using gloves.

The button cover portion 96 includes a depending stern or pip 100 on its lower interior-facing surface, and this provides improved feedback to the user finger during use.

Although the primary gasket is received in a gasket channel formed on the lower housing part, it could be provided on the upper housing part. In this case, the first gasket wall would cause compression of the gasket in a radial direction, instead of the second gasket 10 wall.

Additionally or alternatively, the access-port cover element may be hingably mounted on the upper housing part instead of the lower housing part. Furthermore, the access-cover port element which facilitates separation of the lower and upper housing parts may be utilised with a gasketless enclosure. In other words, the enclosure need not necessarily be liquid-tight in order to make use of the separating means provided by the access-cover port element.

It is thus possible to provide a mobile-telecommunications device enclosure which has a reliably liquid-tight and particulate-matter ingress resistant housing utilising a gasket which is compressible in a radial direction rather than the traditional axial direction. The use of the outer side wall of one housing part to support an outer compressive gasket wall of the other housing part is also beneficial in preventing or limiting flex of the housing at the interface of the compressive walls with the gasket, thereby providing a more reliable liquid-tight, waterproof and particulate matter resistant seal. It is also possible to provide a mobile-telecommunications device enclosure having two housing parts which are snap-fittahly inlerengagable and which utilises a separation device forming an access-port cover and which mechanically assists a user separating the engaged housing parts. Furthermore, a mobile-telecommunications device enclosure can be provided which provides positive snap-fit engagement along at least longitudinal sides without requiring a user to manually engage a catch or clip following engagement in order to keep two parts of the housing together. Additionally, a resilient button cover element which utilises a resiliently deformable support portion to suspend a thinner button cover portion is provided, thus allowing improved tactile feedback to the user.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and other 5 modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims

Claims

Claims 1. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure comprising a housing having snap-fit interengagahle upper and lower housing parts, an access port in the housing for accessing at least one port of a mobile-telecommunications device received within the 5 housing, and an access-port cover element for preventing or limiting access to the access port, the access-port cover element having a closed position wherein the access port is closed with the upper and lower housing parts interengaged, an open position wherein the access port is open with the upper and lower housing parts remaining interengaged, and a housing-release position wherein the upper and lower housing parts are urgable apart 10 for disengagement, the access-port cover element having a cam element by which a snap-fit joint of the upper and lower housing parts is at least in part separable.
2. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access-port cover element is pivotably mounted on one of the upper and lower housing parts and, in the closed position, is snap-fit engagable with the other of the upper and 15 lower housing parts to positively secure the upper and lower housing parts together.
3. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a primary gasket for forming a liquid tight seal between the engaged upper and lower housing parts.
4. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 1 20 to 3, further comprising a secondary gasket for forming a liquid tight seal between an access-port cover of the access-port cover element and the access port.
5. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the access-port cover element includes at least one detent for identifying the said open position.
6. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the access-port cover element includes an arm which is hingeably mounted at a proximal end to one of the upper and lower housing parts, and an access-port cover which is provided at a distal end of the arm opposite the proximal end.
7. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cam element is provided at or adjacent to the mounting hinge of the arm, the cam element including a projecting lip which is receivable in a notch at the snap-fit joint.
8. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the access-port cover element includes a hollow boss which is resiliently deformable for receipt in the access port.
9. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure comprising a liquid-tight housing having interengagable low-profile upper and lower housing parts, and a gasket for forming a liquid tight seal between the engaged upper and lower housing parts, the upper and lower housing parts including upper and lower major walls, respectively, the upper major wall of the upper housing part being at least in part transparent for overlying a screen of the mobile-telecommunications device, a first minor gasket wall of the lower housing part extending at an angle to the lower major wall, and a second minor gasket wall of the upper housing part extending at an angle to the upper major wall, the gasket being seatable on one of the first and second minor gasket walls, and compressible in a radial direction parallel or substantially parallel to the upper major wall by the other of the first and second minor gasket walls, when the upper and lower housing parts are engaged.
10. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein one of the upper and lower housing parts includes an outer side wall which is spaced from its respective minor gasket wall, the other said minor gasket wall being reinforced against flexing by the said outer side wall.
11. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said one of the first and second minor gasket walls is one of opposing side walls 25 of a gasket channel, the other of the first and second minor gasket walls being receivable in the gasket channel to compress the gasket radially.
12. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the said other of the first and second minor gasket walls is a lip which depends from a minor side wall of one of the upper and lower housing parts.
13. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the lip is inwardly recessed relative to an exterior surface of the minor side wall.
14. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the lip is endless.
15. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the said one of the first and second minor gasket walls includes an undercut for receiving at least part of the gasket.
16. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the first minor gasket wall is provided on the lower housing part, and the 10 second minor gasket wall is provided on the upper housing part.
17. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first minor gasket wall is inboard of the second minor gasket wall.
18. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17, wherein the transparent portion of the upper major wall is a laminate having an 15 apertured layer for sound passage and a non-apertured layer which is liquid impermeable.
19. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 18 wherein the apertured layer is thicker than the non-apertured layer.
20. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the apertured layer is perforated.
21. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein, when the upper and lower housing parts are interengaged, the nonapertured layer is at the exterior of the enclosure and the apertured layer is at the interior.
22. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the at least one of the upper and lower housing parts includes an elastically 25 deformable button cover element having a button cover portion and a supportive surround which supports the button cover portion, the button cover portion being suspended by the supportive surround and having a thickness which is less than that of the supportive surround.
23. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein longitudinal side walls of the upper and lower housing parts include a snap-fit engagement mechanism partway along a lateral extent thereof, and a free end of one longitudinal side wall of one of the upper and lower housing parts is receivable in a locating recess of the other of the upper and lower housing parts to rigidify the assembled housing.
24. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure as claimed in claim 23, wherein the said locating recess is at a foot of the side wall of the other of the upper and lower 10 housing parts.
25. A mobile-telecommunications device enclosure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.