초록 ▼

An ergonomic and weatherproof hand-held electronic device 10. The device 10 includes a housing 12 which surrounds internal electronics. An input 28 and a display screen 32 are mounted on the housing 12. The housing 12 is has a narrow width such that, when held in a hand, the thumb of that same hand

An ergonomic and weatherproof hand-held electronic device 10. The device 10 includes a housing 12 which surrounds internal electronics. An input 28 and a display screen 32 are mounted on the housing 12. The housing 12 is has a narrow width such that, when held in a hand, the thumb of that same hand may extend fully across the input 28 for full access. The display screen 32 is mounted vertically below the input 28 such that the device may be more stable and more easily grasped. The device includes two cylindrical cavities 48 to receive batteries 42. The cavities 48 are located at the rear vertical edges of the housing such that the rear of the housing 12 is relatively rounded and thus easier to grasp. The battery cavities open to the exterior of the housing. A battery cover 54 is mounted to the housing and seals the cavities 48. A contact for each cavity 48 is located on the cover, and a bus bar extends between the contacts to complete the circuit between the batteries 42.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a hand-held navigation device including a housing elongated along a longitudinal axis of said housing, said housing having sides, a front face, a rear face, a top, and a bottom with respect to the vision of a user when the device is held by the user in a normal upright orientation, said front

1. In a hand-held navigation device including a housing elongated along a longitudinal axis of said housing, said housing having sides, a front face, a rear face, a top, and a bottom with respect to the vision of a user when the device is held by the user in a normal upright orientation, said front face being narrow in width transverse to said longitudinal axis and elongated in height along said longitudinal axis between said top and bottom of said housing, said front face having only one input area and only one display area, the improvement comprising:said one input area and said one display area being oriented and arranged along said longitudinal axis with said one input area located proximate said top and located above said one display area and with said one display area located proximate said bottom with respect to the vision of a user when the device is held by the user in the normal upright orientation, said one display area presenting information in a vertical upright direction with respect to the vision of a user such that a top of said information is adjacent to a bottom of said one input area and a bottom of said information is adjacent to said bottom of said housing when the device is held by the user in the normal upright orientation.2. In the hand-held navigation device of claim 1, wherein said navigation device communicates with a global positioning system.3. In the hand-held navigation device of claim 1, the improvement further comprising said housing having at least one battery cavity aligned along said longitudinal axis, said at least one battery cavity having an end that opens onto said bottom face of said housing.4. In the hand-held navigation device of claim 1, the improvement further comprising:said housing defining an interior space including at least one battery cavity for holding at least one battery, said at least one battery cavity having first and second ends, said first end opening onto a bottom face of said housing, said second end being spaced apart from and below a top face of said housing, said bottom of said display area being positioned proximate said first end.5. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said device is portable and cordless.6. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said housing has a height extending between said top and bottom and a width extending between said sides of said housing, said height being measured along said longitudinal axis, said height being greater than said width.7. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said housing has a height extending along said longitudinal axis and width extending transverse to said longitudinal axis, said height being greater than said width.8. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein a size of said one display area is larger than a size of said one input area.9. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said one display area has a height along said longitudinal axis and a width transverse to said longitudinal axis, said height being greater than said width.10. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein housing is configured to be held in a palm of a user's hand during operation.11. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said rear face is configured to rest in a palm of a user's hand during operation.12. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said one input area is located on said front face to be fully accessible by a thumb of a user's hand when said housing is held in a palm of the user's hand during operation.13. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said one display area is elongated along said longitudinal axis and presents said information vertically upright along said longitudinal axis.14. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a battery cavity configured to receive at least one battery.15. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a global positioning system navigation electronics.16. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said housing includes rounded corners configured to conform to a user's hand.17. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a battery cavity configured to receive at least one battery constituting a power source for said device.18. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a battery cavity configured to receive at least one battery, said batter cavity extending along said longitudinal axis.19. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said one display area has a width extending between sides of said housing.20. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said one input area entirely controls said device.21. A handheld electronic device, comprising:a housing elongated along a longitudinal axis of said housing, said housing having sides, a front face, a rear face, a top, and a bottom with respect to the vision of a user when the device is held by the user in a normal upright orientation, said front face having a height extending along said longitudinal axis of said housing between said top and bottom, said front face having only one input area and only one display area, said front face having a width extending between said sides of said housing, said one input area and said one display area located along said longitudinal axis with said one input area located proximate said top of said housing and above said one display area, said one display area located proximate said bottom of said housing, said one display area presenting information in a vertical upright direction along said longitudinal axis with respect to the vision of a user such that a top of said information is adjacent to a bottom of said input area and a bottom of said information is adjacent to said bottom of said housing when the device is held by the user in the normal upright orientation.22. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said device is portable and cordless.23. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said housing has a height extending between said top and bottom and a width extending between said sides of said housing, said height being measured along said longitudinal axis, said height being greater than said width.24. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said housing has a height extending along said longitudinal axis and width extending transverse to said longitudinal axis, said height being greater than said width.25. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein a size of said one display area is larger than a size of said one input area.26. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said one display area has a height along said longitudinal axis and a width transverse to said longitudinal axis, said height being greater than said width.27. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein housing is configured to be held in a palm of a user's hand during operation.28. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said rear face is configured to rest in a palm of a user's hand during operation.29. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said one input area is located on said front face to be fully accessible by a thumb of a user's hand when said housing is held in a palm of the user's hand during operation.30. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said one display area is elongated along said longitudinal axis and presents said information vertically upright along said longitudinal axis.31. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said housing includes a battery cavity configured to receive at least one battery.32. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said housing includes a global positioning system navigation electronics.33. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said housing includes rounded corners configured to conform to a user's hand.34. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said housing includes a battery cavity configured to receive at least one battery constituting a power source for said device.35. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said housing includes a battery cavity configured to receive at least one battery, said batter cavity extending along said longitudinal axis.36. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said one display area has a width extending between sides of said housing.37. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said one input area entirely controls said device.