초록 ▼

The invention relates to an electronic device having a housing (1) which has a housing wall (5) with openings (7) for control elements (8) and/or display elements (9, 10). Attachment means (11) for detachably connecting to the housing (1) an external wall element (14) which at least partially covers

The invention relates to an electronic device having a housing (1) which has a housing wall (5) with openings (7) for control elements (8) and/or display elements (9, 10). Attachment means (11) for detachably connecting to the housing (1) an external wall element (14) which at least partially covers the housing wall (5) being present on the housing (1), the external wall element (14) having openings (7′) which are aligned with the openings (7) in the housing wall (5). As a result, by using different external wall elements (14) the external appearance of the electronic device can be easily modified.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hand-held communications device comprising:at least one element for input by a user and at least one element for output to the user, each one of said elements being sufficiently exposed to allow use by a user;a housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough, comprising openings accomm

1. A hand-held communications device comprising:at least one element for input by a user and at least one element for output to the user, each one of said elements being sufficiently exposed to allow use by a user;a housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough, comprising openings accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the at least one element for output to the user;a user attachable/detachable external non-planar cover attached to and adapted to fit over the housing with the housing nesting within the external non-planar cover wherein the detachability provides for user interchange with another non-planar cover thereby facilitating user modification of the external appearance of the hand-held communications device, the non-planar?cover comprising a main face having an upper surface which is exposed when the non-planar cover is attached to the housing cover, and the main face having a periphery, and a side wall extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face and completely around the periphery of the main face, the main face and the side wall defining a cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the housing when attached thereto, the cover having a plurality of apertures positioned over openings in the housing including the opening accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the opening accommodating the at least one element for output to the user; andat least one user releasable retainer, holding the non-planar cover to the housing, formed by contact between the housing and the downwardly extending sidewall of the non-planar cover, wherein the hand-held device is fully functional when the non-planar cover is attached.2. A hand held communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user releasable retainer, holding cover to the housing, is formed automatically as a result of the user pressing the cover onto the housing.3. A hand held communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein retainer is a user releasable press-on catch closure formed by co-operative engagement of the housing and the cover for holding the cover to the housing.4. A hand held communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises at least one projection engaging a receptable.5. A hand held communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the projection is resiliently biased to engage the receptacle, thereby providing for automatic engagement of a press-on catch closure on attaching the cover and for user releasability of the press-on catch closure on attaching the cover and for user releasability of the press-on catch closure.6. A hand held communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising electronic components, susceptible to damage if physically accessible to a user, wherein the housing which defines the openings in the housing that allow the user to use said input and output elements, otherwise prevents the user physically accessing said electronic components when the external non-planar cover is detached.7. A hand held communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic components are connected to a carrier plate which is substantially enclosed by the housing.8. A hand-held communications device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing substantially encloses all the elements of the device and its electronic components except where the elements are exposed by said openings and wherein said cover is adapted to fit over the housing with the housing being at least partially nested within the side walls of the cover.9. A hand held communications device as in claim 1 further including an activation element associated with said housing which when pressed releases said retainer.10. A hand-held communications device comprising:at least one element for input by a user and at least one element for output to the user, each one of said elements being sufficiently exposed to allow use by a user;electronic components;a housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough, comprising openings accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the at least one element for output to the user;a user attachable/detachable external non-planar cover attached to and at least partially covering the housing wherein the detachability provides for user interchange with another non-planar cover thereby facilitating user modification of the external appearance of the hand-held communications device, the non-planar cover comprising a main face having an upper surface which is exposed when the non-planar cover is attached to the housing and a side wall extending downwards, the non-planar cover having a plurality of apertures positioned over openings in the housing including the opening accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the opening accommodating the at least one element for output to the user; andat least one user releasable retainer, holding the cover to the housing, formed by contact between the housing and the downwardly extending side wall of the non-planer cover, wherein the hand held device is fully functional when the non-planer cover is attached and wherein the housing prevents the user physically accessing said electronic components when the external non-planer cover is detached, said attachment and detachement can be accomplished without use of a tool.11. A hand held communications device as in claim 10 wherein said cover can be attached or detached by a user without employing a tool and said retainer is releasable by the user without employing a tool.12. A hand held communications device as in claim 10 further including an activation element associated with said housing which when pressed releases said retainer.13. A hand-held communications device comprising:at least one element for input by a user and at least one element for output to the user, each one of said elements being sufficiently exposed to allow use by a user;electronic components;a housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough, comprising openings accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the at least one element for output to the user;a user attachable/detachable external non-planar cover attached to and adapted to fit over the housing with the housing nesting within the external non-planar cover wherein the detachability provides for user interchange with another non-planar cover thereby facilitating user modification of the external appearance of the hand-held communications device, the non-planar cover comprising a main face having an upper surface which is exposed when the non-planar cover is attached to the housing, the main face having a periphery, and a side wall extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face, and completely around the periphery of the main face, the main face and the side wall defining a cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the housing when attached thereto, the non-planar cover having a plurality of apertures positioned over openings in the housing including the opening accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the opening accommodating the at least one element for output to the user; andat least one releasable press-on catch closure, which is engaged automatically, without employing a tool, as a result of pressing the non-planar cover on the housing by contact between the housing and the downwardly extending side wall of the non-planar cover, wherein said catch closure holds the non-planar cover to the housing and wherein the hand-held device is fully functional when the non-planar cover is attached and wherein the housing prevents the user physically accessing said electronic components when the external non-planar cover is detached.14. A hand held communications device as in claim 13 wherein said cover can be attached or detached by a user without employing a tool and said retainer is releasable by the user without employing a tool.15. A hand-held communications device as in claim 13 further including an activation element associated with said housing which when pressed releases said retainer.16. A hand-held communications device having at least one element for input by a user and at least one element for output to the user comprising:electronic components;a housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough, said openings accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the at least one element for output to the user;a user attachable/detachable external non-planar cover attached to and at least partially covering the housing wherein the detachability provides for user interchange with another non-planar cover thereby facilitating user modification of the external appearance of the hand-held communications device, the non-planar cover comprising a main face having an upper surface which is exposed when the non-planar cover is attached to the housing and a side wall extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face, the non-planar cover having a plurality of apertures aligned with openings in the housing including the opening accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the opening accommodating the at least one element for output to the user; andat least one user releasable retainer, holding the non-planer cover to the housing, wherein the housing prevents the user physically accessing said electronic components when the non-planer cover is attached, said attachment and can be accomplished without use of a tool.17. A hand held communications device as in claim 16 wherein said cover can be attached or detached by a user without employing a tool and said retainer is releasable by the user without employing a tool.18. A hand-held communications device as in claim 16 further including an activation element associated with said housing which when pressed releases said retainer.19. A user attachable/detachable replacement external non-planar cover for replacing a user detachable external non-planar cover of a hand-held communications device having a housing protecting the internal electronics of the hand-held device and the non-planar cover modifying the external appearance of the hand-held communications device comprising:a main face, having an upper surface which is exposed when the cover is attached to the hand-held device; anda side wall joining the main face at its edge and extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face whereby the main face and at least portions of the side wall define a cavity adapted to fit over at least a portion of the housing with the at least a portion of the housing nesting within the non-planar cover, the main face having a plurality of apertures therethrough to the cavity wherein the side wall provides at least one press-on catch closure element for forming a user releasable press-on catch closure with a hand-held communications device having had its user detachable cover previously removed, the press-on catch closure element providing for the attachment and detachment of the cover by a user without employing a tool.20. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at lease one press-on catch closure element is recessed to form said press-on catch closure with a hand held communications device having had its user detachable cover previously removed.21. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at lease one press-on catch closure element comprises a notch located on the interior portion of a side wall.22. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plurality of apertures includes at least one microphone aperture positioned towards a second end of the main face.23. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plurality of apertures includes a display aperture having a transparent cover element.24. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plurality of apertures include at least one key aperture of distinctive shape postioned by a display aperture.25. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the downwardly pointing side wall has an edge which is arranged to support the non-planar cover on step-like portions of the hand held communications device and the side wall, at the edge, has a thickness corresponding to the step size of the step-like portion, such that when the non-planar cover is attached to the hand held communications device, substantially no step remains in the connection area between the cover and the device.26. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the downward extent of the side walls is such that the main face of the non-planar cover does not touch or exert pressure on the hand held communications device.27. A hand held communications device as in claim 19 wherein said cover can be attached or detached by a user without employing a tool.28. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one press-on catch closure element is recessed to form said press-on catch closure with a hand-held communications device having had its user detachable cover previously removed.29. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one press-on catch closure element comprises a notch located on the interior portion of a side wall.30. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plurality of apertures includes at least one microphone aperture positioned towards a second end of the main face.31. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plurality of apertures includes a display aperture having a transparent cover element.32. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plurality of apertures includes at least one key aperture of distinctive shape positioned by a display aperture.33. A user attachable/detachable replacement cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein the downward extent of the side walls is such that the main face of the external cover does not touch or exert pressure on the hand-held communications device.34. A user attachable/detachable replacement non-planar13 cover, for replacing a user detachable non-planar13 cover of a mobile phone having a housing protecting the internal electronics of the mobile phone and the non-planar cover modifying the external appearance of the mobile phone, comprising:a body having a main face and a side wall;the main face having an upper surface for exposure when the cover is attached to a mobile phone and having a periphery with first and second end edges and first and second side edges,the side wall joining the main face and extending completely around the periphery of the face at its edges and extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face, whereby the main face and the side wall define a cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the housing when attached thereto, 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 speaker aperture positioned towards the second edge between the display aperture and the second edge; andat 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, anda transparent element covering the display aperture;wherein the side wall provides at least one element recessed to form a press-on catch closure with a hand-held communications device having had its user detachable cover previously removed, and thereby provides for the attachment and detachment of the cover by a user.35. A hand held communication device, comprising:at least one element for input by a user and at least one element for output to the user, each one of said elements being sufficiently exposed to allow use by a user;a housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough, comprising openings accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the at least one element for output to the user;a user attachable/detachable external non-planar cover attached to and at least partially covering the housing wherein the detachability provides for user interchange with another non-planar cover thereby facilitating user modification of the external appearance of the hand-held communications device, the non-planar cover comprising a main face having an upper surface which is exposed when the non-planar cover is attached to the housing and a side wall extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face, the non-planar cover having a plurality of apertures positioned over openings in the housing including the opening accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the opening accommodating the at least one element for output to the user; andat least one user releasable retainer, holding the non-planer cover to the housing, formed by contact between the housing and the downwardly extending side wall of the non-planar cover, wherein the hand held device is fully functional when the cover is attached and wherein said retainer is releasable by the user without employing a tool.36. A hand-held communications device comprising:at least one element for input by a user and at least one element for output to the user, each one of said elements being sufficiently exposed to allow use by a user;a housing having a housing wall with openings therethrough, comprising openings accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the at least one element for output to the user;a user attachable/detachable external non-planar cover attached to and at least partially covering the housing wherein the detachability provides for user interchange with another non-planar cover thereby facilitating user modification of the external appearance of the hand-held communications device, the non-planar cover comprising a main face having an upper surface which is exposed when the non-planar cover is attached to the housing, the main face having a periphery, and a side wall extending downwards, away from the upper surface of the main face and completely around the periphery of the main face, the main face and the side wall defining a cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the housing when attached thereto the non-planar cover having a plurality of apertures positioned over openings in the housing including the opening accommodating the at least one element for input by the user and the opening accommodating the at least one element for output to the user; andat least one user releasable retainer, holding the non-planar cover to the housing, formed by contact between the housing and the downwardly extending side wall of the non-planar cover, wherein the retainer comprises at least one projection engaging a receptacle, wherein the projection and the receptacle are in a biased engagement, thereby providing for automatic engagement of the press-on catch closure on attaching the non-planar cover and for user releasability of the press-on catch closure by user applied pressure directly upon the user releasable retainer, and wherein the hand-held device is fully functional when the non-planar cover is attached.