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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
A back cover for a mobile phone is described. The cover comprises
an elongate body having an outer surface exposed on attachment to
the phone and inner surfaces comprising first and second guiding
surfaces; and lockable restraining means arranged to co-operate
with corresponding restraining means of the phone on the movement
of the cover with respect to the phone along said guiding surfaces,
thereby preventing substantial movement of the body with respect
to the phone in said lengthwise direction. The lockable restraining
means of the cover or the corresponding restraining means of the
phone comprises a resilient, outwardly flexible part. This part
resiliently flexes on said movement of the cover with respect to
the phone along said guiding surfaces and forms a user releasable
locking engagement between the cover and the phone. The locking
engagement is released by the user pulling outwards on the member.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cover, for attachment to a mobile phone, comprising: an elongate
body having an outer surface exposed on attachment to said phone
and inner surfaces comprising guiding surfaces; and a lockable restraint
arranged to co-operate with a corresponding restraint of the phone
on said movement of the cover with respect to the phone along said
guiding surfaces, said lockable restraint preventing substantial
movement of the body with respect to the phone, during said cooperation,
in a lengthwise direction along a lengthwise axis, wherein said
lockable restraint comprises a resilient, outwardly flexible member
defining a part of said body's outer surface, the member being arranged
to resiliently flex and form a user releasable locking engagement
with the corresponding restraint of the phone on said movement of
the cover with respect to the phone along said guiding surfaces
and arranged to be pulled outwards by the user to release said locking
engagement, wherein the resilient flexibility of the member arises,
at least in part, from flexibility of said cover, the cover deforming
to form the releasable locking engagement with the corresponding
restraint of the phone, said cover bowing about said lengthwise
axis when said resilient, outwardly flexible member is pulled outwards
by the user.
2. A cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover is one-piece
without holes, cut-outs or other apertures.
3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient flexibility
of the member arises in part or in whole from deformation of the
cover.
4. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible member has
a face for abutment, substantially perpendicular to said lengthwise
direction, forming a part of said inner surfaces.
5. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member extends from
one edge of body.
6. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lockable restraint
comprises a third restraint and a fourth restraint positioned with
lengthwise separation, said fourth restraint comprising said flexible
member.
7. A cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein said third and fourth
restraints are positioned at opposing lengthwise extremities of
the body.
8. A cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein said third restraint is
a clasp defining a face for abutment, substantially perpendicular
to said outwards direction, forming a part of said inner surfaces.
9. A cover as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second face slants
forming an acute angle to the lengthwise direction.
10. A cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein said third restraint
is a tongue extending from the inner surfaces of the body substantially
in said lengthwise direction.
11. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover further comprises
clasps arranged to releasably co-operate with correspondingly positioned
clasps of the phone on movement of the cover with respect to the
phone along said guiding surfaces, said clasps allowing substantial
movement of the body with respect to the phone, during said co-operation,
in said lengthwise direction only.
12. A cover as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of said clasps
define a first face for abutment, substantially perpendicular to
said outward direction but forming an acute angle to the lengthwise
direction.
13. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover further comprises
surfaces arranged to releasably co-operate with correspondingly
positioned surfaces of the phone on movement of the cover with respect
to the phone along said guiding surfaces and thereby urge the phone
and cover into closer contact.
14. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding surfaces
are substantially flat, and each surface has one or more low relief
bumps thereon.
15. A mobile phone, having a cover attached thereto, said cover
comprising: an elongate body having an outer surface exposed on
attachment to said phone and inner surfaces comprising first and
second guiding surfaces; and a lockable restraint arranged to co-operate
with a corresponding restraint of the phone on said movement of
the cover with respect to the phone along said guiding surfaces,
and thereby preventing substantial movement of the body with respect
to the phone in a lengthwise direction along a lengthwise axis,
wherein said lockable restraint of the cover or the corresponding
restraint of the phone comprises a resilient, outwardly flexible
member arranged to resiliently flex and form a user releasable locking
engagement between the lockable restraint and the corresponding
restraint of the phone on said movement of the cover with respect
to the phone along said guiding surfaces and arranged to be pulled
outwards by the user, wherein the resilient flexibility of the member
arises, at least in part, from flexibility of said cover, the cover
deforming to form the releasable locking engagement, said cover
bowing about said lengthwise axis when said resilient, outwardly
flexible member is pulled outwards by the user.
16. A phone as claimed in claim 15, wherein said cover is one-piece
without holes, cut-outs or other apertures.
17. A phone as claimed in claim 15 wherein the resilient flexibility
of the member arises in part or in whole from deformation of the
cover.
18. A phone as claimed in claim 15 wherein said flexible member
has a face for abutment, substantially perpendicular to said lengthwise
direction, forming a part of said inner surfaces.
19. A phone as claimed in claim 15 wherein said member extends
from one edge of body.
20. A phone as claimed in claim 15 wherein said lockable restraint
comprises a third restraint and a fourth restraint positioned with
lengthwise separation, said fourth restraint comprising said flexible
member.
21. A phone as claimed in claim 20 wherein said third and fourth
restraints are positioned at opposing lengthwise extremities of
the body.
22. A phone as claimed in claim 20 wherein said third restraint
is a clasp defining a face for abutment, substantially perpendicular
to said outwards direction, forming a part of said inner surfaces.
23. A phone as claimed in claim 22, wherein said second face slants
forming an acute angle to the lengthwise direction.
24. A phone as claimed in claim 20, wherein said third restraint
is a tongue extending from the inner surfaces of the body substantially
in said lengthwise direction.
25. A phone as claimed in claim 15 wherein said cover further comprises
releasable clasps arranged to releasably co-operate with correspondingly
positioned clasps of the phone on movement of the cover with respect
to the phone along said guiding surfaces, said releasable clasps
allowing substantial movement of the body with respect to the phone,
during said co-operation, in said lengthwise direction only.
26. A phone as claimed in claim 25 wherein each of said releasable
clasps define a first face for abutment, substantially perpendicular
to said outward direction but forming an acute angle to the lengthwise
direction.
27. A phone as claimed in claim 15 wherein said cover further comprises
surfaces arranged to releasably co-operate with correspondingly
positioned surfaces of the phone on movement of the cover with respect
to the phone along said guiding surfaces and thereby urge the phone
and cover into closer contact.
28. A phone as claimed in claim 15 wherein said guiding surfaces
are substantially flat, and each surface has one or more low relief
bumps thereon.
29. A cover, for user-attachment to and detachment from a mobile
phone, comprising: an elongate body having an outer surface exposed
on attachment to said phone and inner surfaces comprising first
and second guiding surfaces extending substantially parallel to
the length of the body; and a resilient outwardly flexible member
having an upper surface defining a part of said body's outer surface
and a lower surface having a recess defined therein or a protrusion
extending therefrom wherein the member is positioned at an edge
of the body and arranged to be pulled outwards by a user, the member
thereby flexing for detaching the cover, wherein the resilient flexibility
of the member arises, at least in part, from flexibility of said
cover, the cover deforming to form a releasable locking engagement,
said cover bowing about a lengthwise axis when said resilient outwardly
flexible member is pulled outwards by the user.
30. A mobile phone, having a user attachable/detachable cover attached
thereto, said cover comprising: an elongate body having an outer
surface exposed on attachment to said phone and inner surfaces comprising
first and second guiding surfaces extending substantially parallel
to the length of the body; and a resilient outwardly flexible member
having an upper surface defining a part of said body's outer surface
and a lower surface having a recess defined therein or a protrusion
extending therefrom wherein the member is positioned at an edge
of the body and arranged to be pulled outwards by a user, the member
thereby flexing to detach the cover, wherein the resilient flexibility
of the member arises, at least in part, from flexibility of said
cover, the cover deforming to form a releasable locking engagement,
said cover bowing about a lengthwise axis when said resilient outwardly
flexible member is pulled outwards by the user.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cover for a mobile phone and
in particular a back cover for a mobile phone.
Back covers are typically used in mobile phones to keep the battery
cell in position. The cover may house the battery or the battery
may be housed in the phone itself.
It is desirable for the cover to easily attach to a phone and to
be securely fastened thereto. It is preferable for a user to be
able to detach and attach the cover so that the battery can be replaced.
Current back covers for mobile phones are carefully designed to
fulfill these functions. For example in the NOKIA 6110 handset,
the back cover contains a sprung latch mechanism. A spring loaded
`bolt` extends from each side of the cover. When the cover is attached
to the phone the bolts are forced to retract opening a latch. The
bolts extend when the cover is slid into its final position closing
the latch. The bolts prevent the cover being removed from the phone.
A button on the back of the cover is coupled to the bolts. When
the button is depressed the bolts retract opening the latch and
allowing the cover to be removed.
GB 2,224,5595 and GB 2,285,657 describe battery housings for removable
attachment to a mobile phone body. Each housing has a latch including
a catch on its interior and a pushable portion on its exterior.
The catch engages a pocket in the body of the phone and holds the
housing in place. Pushing the exterior portion causes a cantilevered
torsion beam to rotate and the catch to be retracted from the pocket.
This allows the removal of the housing. The latch mechanism is integrally
connected to the housing via both ends of the torsion bar but is
otherwise detached from the housing. The torsion bar has the pushable
portion and the catch extending therefrom in opposite directions.
The catch towards the centre of the housing and the pushable portion
towards the edge of the housing. GB 2,285,657 additionally describes
the use of an angled surface at the leading portion of the catch
and a correspondingly angled surface adjacent the pocket in the
phone body. When the cover is attached to the body by sliding movement
the surfaces cooperate to force the catch "up and over"
into the pocket.
It would be desirable to produce a simple cover which functions
well. However, moving the sprung components from the cover into
the phone is undesirable as it uses up room in the phone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided
a cover, for attachment to a mobile phone, comprising: an elongate
body having an outer surface exposed on attachment to said phone
and inner surfaces comprising guiding surfaces; and lockable restraining
means arranged to co-operate with corresponding restraining means
of the phone on said movement of the cover with respect to the phone
along said guiding surfaces, said lockable restraining means preventing
substantial movement of the body with respect to the phone, during
said co-operation, in said lengthwise direction, wherein said lockable
restraining means comprises a resilient, outwardly flexible member
defining a part of said body's outer surface, the member being arranged
to resiliently flex and form a user releasable locking engagement
with the corresponding restraining means of the phone on said movement
of the cover with respect to the phone along said guiding surfaces
and arranged to be pulled outwards by the user to release said locking
engagement.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided
a mobile phone, having a cover attached thereto, said cover comprising:
an elongate body having an outer surface exposed on attachment to
said phone and inner surfaces comprising first and second guiding
surfaces; and lockable restraining means arranged to co-operate
with corresponding restraining means of the phone on said movement
of the cover with respect to the phone along said guiding surfaces,
and thereby preventing substantial movement of the body with respect
to the phone in said lengthwise direction, wherein said lockable
restraining means of the cover or the corresponding restraining
means of the phone comprises a resilient, outwardly flexible member
arranged to resiliently flex and form a user releasable locking
engagement between the lockable restraining means and the corresponding
restraining means on the phone on said movement of the cover with
respect to the phone along said guiding surfaces and arranged to
be pulled outwards by the user.
The cover is lightweight and the locking mechanism is simple and
small. The use of the cover therefore has weight and space advantages.
The member is preferably positioned at the edge of the body. The
member may extend from the edge of the cover and form a cantilever.
The member is preferably located in a symmetric position at the
edge of the cover. The member is preferably integral with the cover.
The cover may be one-piece. Preferably the cover is formed from
injection moulded plastics. Consequently the cover has no internal
components such as springs or levers and is very easy to manufacture.
The resilient flexibility of the member preferably arises in part
or in whole from the deformation of the cover. The cover is preferably
held at its lateral edges to the phone while the member is pulled
by the user. This outward force applied to the cover through the
member causes the cover to bow about its lengthwise axis as its
lateral edges are held.
The resilient flexibility of the member preferably arises in part
or in whole from the flexibility of the cantilevered member about
is point of attachment to the body.
Holes, cut-outs or apertures are not required in the back of the
cover to provide for the flexibility of the member, which may improve
the phone's water resistance.
The flexible member may have a face for abutment, substantially
perpendicular to said lengthwise direction, forming a part of said
inner surfaces. This face abuts with a corresponding face defined
by the phone, which is also substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise
direction. This face and the corresponding face prevent substantial
movement of the body with respect to the phone and form part of
the user releasable locking engagement.
The flexible member may have a camming surface, forming a part
of said inner surfaces. The camming surface is arranged to co-operate
with a corresponding camming surface of the phone such that on movement
of the cover in a lengthwise direction to attach the cover to the
phone, the guiding surfaces co-operate to force said member to flex.
The camming and abutting surfaces on the flexible member are preferably
adjacent and preferably form surfaces on a protrusion from the underside
of the flexible member. The phone then has a corresponding recess
with the corresponding abutting surface forming part of the recess
and the corresponding guiding surface positioned adjacent said recess.
On movement of the cover in a lengthwise (upwards) direction, the
projection and flexible member ride up and over the corresponding
camming surface. The resilient member springs back to its non-flexed
position placing the protrusion in the recess. Movement of the cover
in a downward direction urges the abutting surface and corresponding
abutting surface together. A locking arrangement is thus formed
in which the projection forms a tenon and the recess forms a mortice.
The phone may be provided with a depression on its back surface
adjacent the recess. A user may then unlock the lockable restraining
means by placing a fingernail under the flexible member, flexing
the member in an outwards direction and simultaneously urging the
cover in the downwards direction. The member may extend from one
edge of the body. Preferably the member extends from the top edge
of the body; `top` being defined by the direction of the upwards
sliding movement of the cover with respect to the phone to form
said user releasable locking engagement.
The lockable restraining means may comprise third and fourth restraining
means positioned with lengthwise separation, said fourth restraining
means comprising said flexible member.
The flexible member is preferably positioned at the top of the
body and is used to prevent, when in locking engagement, at least
the movement of the cover in the downwards direction. The third
restraining means is used to restrain the movement of the cover
in at least the upwards direction.
The third and fourth restraining means may be positioned at opposing
lengthwise extremities of the body. The positioning of the third
and fourth restraining means towards the extreme top and bottom
ends of the cover provides a better fit between the cover and phone.
The third restraining means may define a face for abutment, substantially
perpendicular to said outwards direction, forming a part of said
inner surfaces. This face is arranged to abut with a corresponding
face of the phone, if the cover is moved with respect to the phone
in an upwards direction when the cover is being fitted to the phone.
The third restraining means and its corresponding restraining means
of the phone thus form on the upward sliding movement of the cover
with respect to the phone, a clasp that prevents removal of the
cover. The face may slant forming an acute angle to the lengthwise
direction. The corresponding face of the phone is correspondingly
slanted. When the cover is moved upwards with respect to the phone
the slanting or beveled face of the third restraining means and
the corresponding face abut. This causes the cover to be urged into
close contact with the phone. Additionally this abutment prevents
the movement of the cover in the outward direction and limits the
extent of movement in the upward direction.
The third restraining means may be a tongue extending from the
inner surfaces of the body substantially in said lengthwise direction.
The tongue may be inserted in and abut with a slot in said phone
The cover may further comprise releasable restraining means arranged
to releasably co-operate with correspondingly positioned restraining
means of the phone on movement of the cover with respect to the
phone along said guiding surfaces, said releasable restraining means
allowing substantial movement of the body with respect to the phone,
during said co-operation, in said lengthwise direction only.
The releasable restraining means may be positioned on the inner
surfaces of the body and comprise first and second restraining means;
each of said first and second restraining means defining a first
face for abutment, substantially perpendicular to said outward direction
but forming an acute angle to the lengthwise direction.
The first faces are arranged to abut with corresponding faces of
the phone, also substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction,
to prevent substantial movement of the body with respect to the
phone, during said co-operation, in said outward direction. Each
of the first and second restraining means with their corresponding
restraining means of the phone thus form on the upward sliding movement
of the cover with respect to the phone, a clasp which prevents removal
of the cover in the outward direction.
The corresponding faces of the phone are correspondingly slanted.
When the cover is moved upwards with respect to the phone to form
the releasable locking engagement the slanting or beveled first
face and the corresponding faces abut. This causes the lateral edges
of the cover to be urged into close contact with the phone. Additionally
this abutment prevents the movement of the cover in the outward
direction and limits the extent of movement in the upward direction
with respect to the phone.
The first and second restraining means may each define a second
face, substantially perpendicular to said lengthwise direction.
The second faces can act as stops preventing excessive movement
of the cover on release of said lockable restraining means, by abutting
with corresponding faces of the phone also perpendicular to the
lengthwise direction of the phone.
The first and second restraining means may each define a third
face, substantially parallel to said second face and positioned
opposite said second face with a lengthwise displacement thereto.
The third faces and second faces can act as stops preventing the
misalignment of the cover with the phone on fitting the cover to
the phone, by abutting with corresponding faces of the phone.
The first restraining means may be a lengthwise extending recess
or a protrusion with the corresponding restraining means on the
phone being a protrusion or a lengthwise extending recess respectively.
The protrusion may also extend lengthwise. Corresponding recesses
and protrusions co-operate to prevent substantial movement of the
cover other than in said lengthwise direction. The first, second
and third faces form the external faces of a protrusion or the internal
faces of a recess. Access to the recess by said protrusion is restricted
so that the cover cannot be incorrectly attached to the phone.
The first and second restraining means may be positioned adjacent
said guiding surfaces. There may be first and second guiding surfaces
running substantially parallel to the length of the body. The guiding
surfaces may be positioned at opposing lateral extremities of the
body. The guiding surfaces may extend the length of the body.
The guiding surfaces may be substantially flat, with each surface
having one or more low relief bumps thereon.
The cover may have at least one point along its length a cross-section
having the shape substantially of a shallow U with the third and
fourth restraining means positioned on the opposing inner surfaces.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided
a cover, for attachment to and detachment from a mobile phone, comprising:
an elongate body having an outer surface exposed on attachment to
said phone and inner surfaces comprising first and second guiding
surfaces extending substantially parallel to the length of the body;
and a resilient outwardly flexible member having an upper surface
defining a part of said body's outer surface and a lower surface
having a recess defined therein or a protrusion extending therefrom
wherein the member is positioned at an edge of the body and arranged
to be pulled outwards by a user, the member outwardly flexing for
detaching the cover.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention there
is provided a mobile phone, having a user attachable/detachable
cover attached thereto, said cover comprising an elongate body having
an outer surface exposed on attachment to said phone and inner surfaces
comprising first and second guiding surfaces extending substantially
parallel to the length of the body; and a resilient outwardly flexible
member having an upper surface defining a part of said body's outer
surface and a lower surface having a recess defined therein or a
protrusion extending therefrom wherein the member is positioned
at an edge of the body and arranged to be pulled outwards by a user,
member thereby outwardly flexing to detach the cover.
The recess or protrusion of the flexible member may be arranged
to form respectively a mortice or tenon of a locking arrangement
with a phone on said movement of the cover with respect to the phone
along said guiding surfaces.
The cover may also comprise releasable restraining means having
a pair of recesses or protrusions extending substantially parallel
to said guiding surfaces and positioned at opposing lateral extremities
of the body.
The resilient flexibility of the member may arise from the flexibility
of the cover to which it is attached, the cover deforming to form
the releasable locking engagement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention and to understand
how the same may be brought into effect, reference will now be made
by way of example only to the accompanying figures in which:
FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a mobile phone and a cover before
attachment of the cover to the phone;
FIG. 2 is an oblique elevated view of the backside of a cover;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mobile phone taken along
the line XX in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 illustrates how a cover is attached to a phone;
FIG. 5 shows one type of latching arrangement, which attaches the
cover to the phone;
FIG. 6 shows another type of fastening which attaches the cover
to the phone; and
FIG. 7 shows a further type of clasp, which attaches the cover
to the phone
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile telephone having a casing 100 and a
cover 2 for attachment to the phone. The phone has a front face
104 and, in its back, a recess 102 for receiving a battery cell.
The cover 2 prevents the battery from falling out and keeps the
battery dry.
The cover has an outer surface 4 and inside surfaces 6 illustrated
in more detail in FIG. 2. It has guiding surfaces 70 running along
each lateral edge of the inside of the cover, a resilient flexible
member 10, having a protrusion 12 on its underside, positioned at
the top 7 of the cover, a first clasp 20 positioned on the inside
of the cover towards the bottom 8 of the cover, second and third
clasps 30 and 40 positioned on the inside of the cover at one of
the lateral edges of the cover adjacent one guiding surface 70 and
fourth and fifth clasps 50 and 60 positioned on the inside of the
cover at the other lateral edge of the cover adjacent the other
guiding surface.
The phone 100 has guiding surfaces 170 which co-operate with the
guiding surfaces 70 of the cover to allow the cover to slide on
the phone casing, a receptacle 110 for forming a fastening with
the protrusion 12 of the flexible member 10, a first corresponding
clasp 120 positioned towards the bottom of the phone which forms
a fastening with the first clasp 20 of the cover, and second, third,
fourth and fifth corresponding clasps 130, 140, 150, 160 which each
form a fastening with respective ones of the second, third, fourth
and fifth clasps 30, 40, 50 and 60 of the cover 2.
A co-ordinate system is illustrated in each Figure. The co-ordinate
system illustrates directions referred to in the following including
lengthwise directions comprising an upwards direction U and a downwards
direction D, lateral or widthwise directions D, an outwards direction
O and an inwards direction I.
The resilient flexible member 10 and the receptacle 110 form a
fastening illustrated in more detail in FIG. 6.The resilient flexible
member 10 has a protrusion 12. The protrusion 12 has a sloping camming
surface 16 which makes an acute angle to the lengthwise direction
but which is parallel to the widthwise direction, and an abutting
surface 14 which forms a plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.
The camming surface 16 is adjacent to and upwards of the abutting
surface 14. The receptacle 110 has a first recess 112, a stop 114
at the downwards end of the first recess 112, having a face perpendicular
to the lengthwise direction, a sloping camming surface 116 at the
upwards end of the first recess 112, a second recess 113 adjacent
and upwards of the camming surface 116 having an abutting surface
118 perpendicular to the lengthwise direction, positioned at the
downwards end of the second recess 113. It will be appreciated from
FIG. 6, that the height of the fastening formed by the receptacle
110 and the member 10 and as illustrated by the arrows AA is small.
The fastening formed functions as a lock with the protrusion 12
acting as a tenon and the second recess 113 acting as a mortice.
The first clasp 20 and the first corresponding clasp 120 form a
fastening as illustrated in more detail in FIG. 5. The first clasp
20 has a protrusion or tongue 26. A recess 24 is formed between
the protrusion which extends from the cover in the upwards direction
and the cover 2, which at this point makes an acute angle with the
lengthwise direction. The outward face of the protrusion 26 has
an inclined abutting surface 22. The sloping abutting surface 22
forms a plane which is parallel to the widthwise direction and which
forms an acute angle cc with the lengthwise direction. The first
corresponding clasp 120 has a protrusion 126, which defines a slot
124 between itself and the casing 100 of the phone. The slot 124
extends in the upward direction. In the interior of the slot 124,
the outward face of the slot 124 has an inclined abutting surface
122. The sloping abutting surface 122 forms a plane which is parallel
to the widthwise direction and which forms an acute angle a with
the lengthwise direction. The slot 124 is sized to receive the protrusion
26 and the abutting surfaces 122 and 22 are arranged so that they
are urged against each other in the lengthwise direction when the
cover is attached to the phone.
The second clasp 30 and the second corresponding clasp 130 form
a fastening as illustrated in more detail in FIG. 7. The second
clasp 30 has a first protrusion 32 and a second protrusion 33 defining
between them an aperture 37. The first protrusion 32 extends in
the lengthwise direction and a recess 34 is formed between the protrusion
32 and the cover 2. In the recess, on the inward direction side,
the protrusion has an inclined abutting surface 36. The sloping
abutting surface forms a plane which is parallel to the widthwise
direction and which forms an acute angle a with the lengthwise direction.
The first protrusion 32 also has a stopping surface 38 defining
the downward side of the aperture 37 to the recess 34. The second
protrusion 33 has a stopping surface 35, which defines the upward
side of the aperture 37. The stopping surface 35 extends from the
cover 2 and has a face, which is perpendicular to the lengthwise
direction. The first corresponding clasp 130 is formed from a protrusion,
which has a sloping abutting surface 132 and a stopping surface
134. The protrusion is elongate and extends in the lengthwise direction.
The abutting surface 132 is formed on the inward face of the protrusion.
The abutting surface 132 is a plane which is parallel to the widthwise
direction and which forms an acute angle a with the lengthwise direction.
The stopping surface 134 is planar and perpendicular to the lengthwise
direction. The aperture 37 and second corresponding clasp 130 are
sized so that the corresponding clasp 130 can be moved in the outwards
direction through the aperture 37 and then slid downwards to co-operate
with the first protrusion 32 of the second clasp 30. The abutting
surfaces 136 and 32 are arranged to be urged together on this sliding
movement thereby preventing the cover being removed in the outwards
direction. The stopping surfaces 35 and 130 are arranged to limit
the movement of the cover 2 with respect to the phone when the cover
is slid downward with respect to the phone to remove it.
The second, third, fourth and fifth corresponding clasps 130, 140,
150 and 260 are identical. The second clasp 30 and the fourth clasp
50 are identical. The third clasp 40 and the fifth clasp 60 are
identical. The third clasp 40 has the first protrusion 32 of the
second clasp 30 but the second protrusion 33 is absent.
The manner in which the cover is attached to the phone is illustrated
in FIG. 4.
The cover 2 is moved towards the phone in the inwards direction
to fit the cover 2 to the phone. The protrusion 12 of the flexible
member 10 fits into the first recess 112 of the receptacle 110.
The protrusion 124 is aligned with and positioned downwards of the
slot 124. The second and fourth corresponding clasps 130 and 150
pass through the apertures 37 defined by the second and fourth clasps
30 and 50 respectively and are positioned downwards of the recesses
34 defined by the first protrusions 32. The third and fourth clasps
40 and 60 are positioned downwards of the recess 34 defined by the
first protrusions 32. The guiding surfaces 70 and the guiding surfaces
170 are aligned. The apertures 37 of the second and fourth clasps
30 and 50 are arranged so that the cover cannot be incorrectly attached
to the phone.
The cover is slid in an upwards direction with respect to the phone
along the guiding surfaces 70. The inclined abutting surfaces 22
and 36 of the clasps 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 of the cover 2 are brought
into contact with the inclined abutting surfaces 122 and 132 of
the corresponding clasps 120, 130, 140, 150 and 160. This contact
prevents the cover being removed from the phone in the outwards
direction. As the cover is slid further in the upwards direction
the clasps and corresponding clasps are urged together and the camming
surface 16 of the flexible member 10 and the camming surface 116
of the receptacle 110 are urged together. The flexible member 10
rides up and over the camming surface 116 flexing outwards as it
does so. This flexing arises from the cantilever member bending
about its point of attachment to the cover and, in addition, from
the bowing of the cover itself caused by the outward force applied
to the cover through the member and the restraining forces applied
by the clasps keeping the cover in place. The protrusion 12 of the
flexible member then resiliently snaps back and is received by the
second recess 113. The co-operation of the second recess 113 and
the protrusion 12 prevent the cover being slid in the downwards
direction with respect to the phone. The co-operation of the clasps
20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 and. their corresponding clasps 120, 130,
140, 150 and 160 urges the cover into close association with the
phone and prevents the cover being slid too far in the upwards direction.
The cover 2 is removed from the phone by inserting a finger nail
into the depression 106 behind the flexible member 10 and flexing
the member in the outwards direction while simultaneously sliding
the phone in the downwards direction. This flexing arises from the
cantilever member bending about its point of attachment to the cover
and, in addition, from the bowing of the cover itself caused by
the outward force applied to the cover through the member 10 and
the restraining forces applied by the clasps keeping the cover in
place. This flexing unlocks the latch formed between the flexible
member 10 and the receptacle 110. Flexing of the member 10 disengages
it from the second recess 113 and sliding the cover disengages the
clasps 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 from the corresponding clasps 120,
130, 140, 150 and 160. The sliding of the phone is stopped by the
abutment of the stopping surface 35 of the second protrusion 33
of the second and fourth clasps 30 and 50 with the stop surface
134 of the corresponding clasps 130 and 150. The cover 2 can then
be easily lifted from the phone.
In the foregoing, a particular example of how one embodiment of
the invention can be carried out has been described. In particular,
specific fastenings have been described. However, where a recess
and protrusion correspond and cooperate to form a fastening the
recess may be part of the cover with the protrusion forming a part
of the phone or the recess may be part of the phone with the protrusion
forming a part of the recess. The invention may be practiced in
many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention
as defined in the claims.
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