Sony Ericsson patents "COVER FOR PORTABLE DEVICE"

Abstract
The invention relates to a cover for a portable device (10) comprising: a main body (2) with resilient parts, an opening (3) provided in a resilient part (8) for insertion and removal of the portable device (10); and a releasable cap (1) shaped and configured to close the opening (3) and fit over at least a part of the resilient part (8) surrounding the opening (3).


Description
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The invention relates to a water, dust and sand and chock resistant cover. Specifically, the invention relates to a cover for mobile telephones.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002]Today the increasing popularity of mobile phones has led to the requirement that mobile phones must be able to operate in different settings, such as in humid environment and the like. A user that takes part in an outdoor activity wants to be able to bring the portable device with him and that no harm comes to the mobile phone due to dust, sand, moisture or the like.

[0003]To this end, a cover for mobile phones is provided. The cover comprises resilient, softer parts that may be deformed enabling the user to press underlying buttons and the like. It also comprises substantially non-resilient, harder parts to impart stability to the cover. Transparent parts may be provided to make a display and buttons visible. There may also be parts letting sound pass, letting in sounds to a microphone and letting out sounds from speaker elements. The cover is customized to fit snugly a particular model of the portable device.

[0004]Suitably, the resilient parts are made from silicone or thermoplastic elastomer TPE or thermoplastic urethane elastomer TPU or combinations thereof. The substantially non-resilient parts may be made from hard plastic. The transparent parts may be made from high gloss plastic, and some parts may be made from plastic or glass with optical quality for location in front of camera lenses. Instead of transparent parts, the cover may be printed to indicate texts and symbols of underlying buttons. Sound permeable membranes may be made from air/gas permeable materials that are non-permeable to water and liquids, such as materials from Gore-Tex.TM.. All such materials are known as such.

[0005]There is also a requirement that it should be easy to move the device from the cover and insert it again, when desired. Some people use the cover when working in hazardous environments, while other people spend their leisure time where the portable device may be exposed to water, dust and sand etc. Typically, a user wants to remove the device from the cover when the situation permits.

[0006]In document WO, A1, 02088914, an enclosure for a wireless communications device is disclosed that is easy to separate from the mobile device and provides the possibility to use the mobile device when it is sealed therein. The device comprises a front and a back part that are sealed together by clips, snaps or the like. The cover discloses a long seal length, which tends to deteriorate over time and therefore does not function very satisfactorily, and requires a high mechanical strength of the frame.

[0007]In document U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,456, a pouch for a remote control device is shown. The pouch has a sealable end using a Velcro arrangement. The pouch in it self is not very rigid and the seal involves a numerous of steps when manufacturing the pouch, rendering in a rather expensive manufacturing cost.

[0008]In document U.S. Pat. No. 6,980,777, a pouch with a cavity that is configured to slideably receive a mobile device is shown. An access wall is locked in a closed position by biasing the access wall and using a Velcro arrangement to keep the wall sealed. The construction is rather complex to operate and discloses a rather poor seal to moisture. Furthermore, the pouch is not very rigid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009]It has therefore been a desire to provide a pouch/cover that is simple to handle.

[0010]Another objective of the invention is to provide a cover with an improved stability.

[0011]And further, there has been an objective of the present invention to provide a cover that discloses an improved resistance towards water, dust and sand.

[0012]The invention relates to a water, dust, sand and chock resistant cover for a portable device, such as a mobile telephone. The device may be used without removing it from the cover. However, the user of the mobile phone may remove the device from the cover when the situation permits. For this reason, the cover is provided with a cap with a tight seal. The cap may be put on and off with a snapping action.

[0013]The present invention mainly deals with the problem of providing the seal at the removable cap.

[0014]In order to solve the problems stated above a cover for a portable device according to claim 1 is provided.

[0015]The present invention relates to a cover for a portable device comprising: a main body with resilient parts, an opening provided in a resilient part for insertion and removal of the portable device; and a cap shaped and configured to close the opening and to fit over at least a part of the resilient part surrounding the opening.

[0016]In an embodiment of the present invention the resilient part of the cover surrounding the opening is provided with at least one bead to provide a seal between the cap and the main body.

[0017]Furthermore, the cover may comprise at least two beads to provide a seal between the cap and the main body.

[0018]In addition the present invention may provide a cover wherein the main body is adapted to be supported by the portable device at the opening to provide an inner seal between the portable device and the main body.

[0019]In an embodiment of the invention the cover has the inside of the resilient part at the opening curved towards a central axis of the main body of the cover.

[0020]Additionally, the cover according to the present invention may have an interior wherein the inside of the main body is provided with longitudinal ribs.

[0021]The main body of the cover may further comprise substantially non-resilient parts, and the cap may be made of substantially non-resilient material.