Patent ID: 6978123
Filing Date: 2005-12-20
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
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; and at 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.