Abstract:
A case having exterior walls and, optionally, a closeable flap defining an interior chamber sized to releasibly receive a portable electronic apparatus. Indicating members are carried on an exterior wall of the case for indicating the position of a pushbutton on the electronic device disposed within the interior of the case and permitting actuation of the pushbutton through the exterior wall of the case. The indicating member may be indicia formed on the case simulating the shape of the underlying pushbutton and/or a symbol defining the function of the pushbutton and/or depressions or projections on the exterior wall at the location of each pushbutton on the electronic device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/092,984, filed Jul 16, 1998, in the name of Nickole C. Kuzdak, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates, in general, to cases or enclosures and, more particularly, to cases for receiving portable electronic apparatus having manipulatable exterior pushbuttons or switches.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Art  
           [0005]    The average person typically uses one or more portable electronic devices on a daily basis. Such devices include pagers, cellular telephones, remote vehicle keyless entry transmitters, hand-held tape recorders, etc. All such portable electronic devices are characterized by a hard plastic case containing internal circuits and mechanisms for operating the particular device. Pushbuttons or other activating means are typically mounted on one or more exterior surfaces of the housing for providing user selection of input functions to operate the device. Certain of these devices, such as cellular telephones and pagers have a visual LCD or LED display for displaying messages and other alphanumeric information. A handheld, portable tape recorder has a pivotal tape receiver for receiving and expelling tape.  
           [0006]    All such devices also include a snap-in or pivotal cover allowing access to storage batteries for replacement of the batteries as needed.  
           [0007]    Cases formed of leather, vinyl, fabric, etc., have been constructed to cover such portable electric devices and provide a measure of protection to the rather delicate circuits contained in such devices. Such cases are usually provided in only a few colors which may not always provide an attractive appearance or match the surroundings in which such devices are used, such as a vehicle interior, a home or office, etc. The following detailed description of one such electronic device and the problems associated with the construction of a case for the device will be understood to apply equally to all types of small, portable electronic devices, such as those described above.  
           [0008]    Remote keyless entry transmitters are a popular option for current vehicles as they enable the vehicle driver to unlock and/or lock the vehicle doors while the driver is outside of the vehicle. Typically, a small housing having dimensions of approximately 1″ square×¼ thick contains transmitter circuitry and a small battery power source. Several pushbuttons are mounted on one side of the housing for separate door lock and door unlock operations. Additional vehicle functions may also be controlled by separate pushbuttons provided on the housing, such as a trunk release pushbutton and a vehicle horn or alarm pushbutton.  
           [0009]    Depression of any pushbutton when the driver is located a short distance from the vehicle causes the transmitter to transmit a radio frequency coded signal to a receiver mounted within the vehicle. The receiver decodes the signal and activates the appropriate vehicle operating circuit to lock or unlock the doors, release the trunk lock and/or activate the vehicle horn.  
           [0010]    The housing has an aperture at one end which receives a key ring or enables the housing and the entire remote keyless transmitter device to be mounted on the driver&#39;s key ring.  
           [0011]    However, in interests of economy, the transmitter housing is typically provided in only one or two non-descript colors, such as black or other neutral colors, such as gray, etc. These colors do not always match the color of the interior vehicle trim in which the transmitter is used. This can cause an unsightly appearance when the transmitter housing hangs from the key ring and the ignition key is in the vehicle ignition. This unsightly appearance is also inappropriate with the lush, expensive interiors frequently found on more expensive luxury vehicles.  
           [0012]    Further, during handling of the transmitter, such as the driver&#39;s act of putting his or her key ring carrying the remote keyless transmitter into and out of his or her pocket or purse, it is common for one of the transmitter pushbuttons to be inadvertently depressed. This could cause an unwanted operation of one of the vehicle circuits to inadvertently lock or unlock the vehicle doors, open the vehicle trunk and/or activate the vehicle horn.  
           [0013]    Thus, it would be desirable to provide an enclosure or case for a portable electronic apparatus which provides both decorative and protective functions and which can be made from a variety of materials and colors to provide an aesthetic appearance consistent with the expense or luxury level of the surroundings in which the apparatus is used or the luxurious appearance the user wishes to portray. It would also be desirable to provide an enclosure for a portable electronic apparatus which enables the pushbuttons on the apparatus to be manipulated when the apparatus is in the case.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention is an enclosure or case, which receives and protects a portable electronic apparatus, such as a remote vehicle keyless transmitter, electronic pager, etc., while still allowing manipulation of the electronic device external pushbuttons through the case.  
           [0015]    In one aspect of the present invention, the case includes exterior walls defining an interior cavity for receiving an electronic device and pushbutton indicating means carried on at least one exterior wall and substantially alignable with a pushbutton on the electronic device when the electronic device is mounted within the interior cavity of the case for indicating the position of the pushbutton and allowing actuation of the pushbutton through the exterior wall of the case.  
           [0016]    In a specific aspect, the present invention defines a case in the form of an enclosure having a front wall, a rear wall, bottom wall, opposed side walls, an open top end and a closeable flap to define an interior chamber sized to releasibly receive a portable electronic apparatus. Preferably, the flap is formed as an extension of one of the front and rear wall of the case and is foldable over the opposed case wall and releasibly joined thereto by means of suitable fasteners, such as snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, etc.  
           [0017]    The indicating means is provided on one or more walls of the case to align with and to indicate both the position and, preferably, the function of the pushbuttons on the electronic apparatus when the apparatus is mounted within the case. The indication means may be provided by a variety of processes, including embossing, various printing methods and combinations thereof.  
           [0018]    According to another aspect of the present invention, an aperture is formed in the flap permitting attachment of the electronic device to a key or key ring through the aperture.  
           [0019]    The case is formed of any of a variety of flexible materials to provide an aesthetic appearance for the electronic apparatus. Exotic animal hides or skins may be employed as well as other luxurious materials to provide a luxurious appearance for the case.  
           [0020]    Aside from the aforementioned aesthetic appearance feature, the case of the present invention also has a protective function in that the case covers the depressible pushbuttons of the electronic apparatus to prevent inadvertent depression of any of the pushbuttons during handling of the electronic apparatus.  
           [0021]    The unique case of the present invention provides both a protective and decorative appearance for a portable electronic device, such as a remote vehicle keyless transmitter, electronic pager, etc. The case may be formed of any suitable material to provide a luxurious appearance as well as possible color match to a vehicle interior. At the same time, the case provides an indication of the location of the pushbuttons on the interior mounted electronic device and allows manipulation of the pushbuttons due to the flexible nature of the exterior walls of the case. This not only permits the interior mounted electronic device to be utilized in a normal fashion; but, at the same time, minimizes inadvertent actuation of one of the pushbuttons as would typically occur when the case and the electronic device are handled during insertion of or removal from a user&#39;s pocket, purse, etc., or thrown onto a table, desk, etc.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0022]    The various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a first embodiment of a case according to the present invention used with a remote vehicle keyless entry transmitter;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an opposite surface of the case shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a central, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the case of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a remote transmitter mounted therein;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the case according to the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a case according to the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a case according to the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a top, planar view of the embodiment of the case shown FIG. 6; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of another embodiment of a case according to the present invention adapted for use with an electronic pager.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    Referring now to the FIGS.  1 - 7  in particular, there are depicted various embodiments of a case for a portable, electronic apparatus, such as by example, a remote keyless entry transmitter  10 . The case is designed to provide both an aesthetic appearance and protective features for the remote keyless transmitter  10 , hereafter referred to as the transmitter  10 .  
         [0032]    Referring now to a first embodiment of a case  24  shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , the case  24  is formed with opposed major front and rear surfaces or walls  26  and  28 , respectively, opposed side walls or side wall portions  30  and  32 , a closed bottom  34 , an open top end  36  formed at one end of the front end rear surfaces  26  and  28  and the opposed side walls  30  and  32 , and an elongated closure member or flap  38 .  
         [0033]    It will be understood that regardless of the specific construction described hereafter, each of the front and rear surfaces  26  and  28 , the side walls  30  and  32 , the bottom wall or end  34  and the flap  38  may be constructed of individual members or pieces which can be joined together by any suitable means or process, such as by stitching, to form the case  24  shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 . However, in a preferred embodiment, the case  24  is constructed with the front and rear surfaces  26  and  28  and the flap  38  formed as an elongated, single piece, unitary member of a suitable material described hereafter. The side walls  30  and  32  are formed as integral, unitary extensions of the rear surface  28 .  
         [0034]    One edge of the side walls  30  and  32  are folded inward to form each side wall  30  and  32  into a generally concave shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and then joined to the front surface  26  by suitable means, such as heat or dielectric bonding, stitching, adhesives, etc., with stitching being shown only by example. In this manner, the side walls  30  and  32  space the front surface  26  a short distance from the rear surface  28  and at the same time form the bottom wall or portion  34  between the front surface  26  and the rear surface  28 .  
         [0035]    The width of the side walls  30  and  32  and the bottom surface  24  is selected to form an interior chamber or cavity  36  within the case  24  extending from an open top end  36  and having appropriate dimensions for snugly and releasibly receiving the remote keyless transmitter  10 .  
         [0036]    An aperture  40 , preferably in the form of an elongated slot, is formed in the flap  38  generally adjacent the open top end  36  of the case  24 . The aperture  40  has a size and shape to enable the key ring  22  or the end portion of the transmitter housing  12  carrying the key ring aperture  21  to extend outward through the flap  38  to enable the case  24  and the transmitter  10  to be attached to a key ring  22  in a normal fashion.  
         [0037]    Means are provided for releasibly attaching a free end  44  of the flap  38  to the rear surface  28  of the case  24 . Any suitable joining means may be employed, for example, a two-part releasible snap fastener, shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  which has a first snap receiver  46  mounted on the flap  38  and a second snap projection  46  mounted on rear surface  28  of the case  24 . As described later and shown in FIG. 5, mating hook and loop members, commonly known as VELCRO, may be employed. Further, a slit is the rear surface  28  or an exterior loop may be used to releasibly receive the free end  44  of the flap  38 .  
         [0038]    A second embodiment of a case  64  according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. The case  64  serves the same function as the case  24  shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  but is constructed of a plurality of separate pieces including a front wall or surface  66 , a rear surface  68  and separate side walls  70  and  72  which are joined together by any of the joining means described above, with stitching being shown by way of example only. The side walls  70  and  72  are flexible so as to be bendable into the concave shape shown in FIG. 4. A bottom wall  76  is attached to the side walls between a bottom edge of the front surface and rear surface  66  and  68 , respectively.  
         [0039]    In this embodiment, the flaps  74  is formed as an integral extension of the front wall or surface  66 . Suitable flap joining means, such as snap fasteners  46 ,  48  may be employed or releasibly closing the free end of the flap  74  to the rear wall or surface  68 . An aperture  40  is still formed in the flap  74  for receiving the key ring or the end of the transmitter as described above.  
         [0040]    Yet another embodiment of a case  80  according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the case  80  includes a rear wall or surface  82 , a front wall or surface  84  and a flap  38  formed as an integral, unitary extension of the front wall  84 . The aperture  40  is formed in the flap  38  in the same manner as in the preceding embodiments.  
         [0041]    In this embodiment of the case  80 , each of the front wall  84  and rear wall  82  are formed with elongated side portions  86  and  88  for the rear wall  82  for the front wall  84 . These portions are overlapped as shown for side wall portions  86  and  90  and  88  and  92  in FIG. 5. The overlapped side walls  86  and  90  and  88  and  92  may be joined together by suitable means, such as stitching, dielectric bonding, adhesive, etc.  
         [0042]    In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the interior chamber  36  of each of the cases  24 ,  64  and  80  may be lined with a suitable, soft fabric or material, such as cotton, silk, etc. The inner lining  56  is joined to the interior surfaces of at least the front and rear walls of each case  24 ,  64  and  68  by suitable means, such as adhesive, stitching  58  dielectric bonding as appropriate for the particular material used to form the inner liner  56 . It will be understood that a similar liner  56  may be attached to the interior chamber of each case  64 ,  80  and  100 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 6 depicts yet another embodiment of a case  100  which functions similarly to the cases  24 ,  64  and  80  described above but has a slightly different construction formed of a front surface  102 , a rear surface  104 . Side edges of the front wall and the rear wall  102  and  104  are bend from the plane of the front wall and rear wall  102  and  104  and covered by a single, elongated strip which forms side walls  106  and  108  and the bottom walls  110 . The strip is joined to the front and rear walls  102  and  104  by stitching, adhesive, dielectric or heat bonding, etc.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 6 and 7 also depict the use of an inner reinforcement  112 . The reinforcement  112  is in the form of a flexible, somewhat rigid or stiff strip, such as a cardboard or stiff paper which is inserted into the interior of the case  110  along the side walls  106  and  108  and the bottom wall  110 . The reinforcement  112  contains the interior chamber within the case  110  in the desired preformed shape and faces the front wall  102  from the rear wall  104 .  
         [0045]    Each of the cases  24 ,  64 ,  80  and  100  are provided with means for indicating the location of the depressible pushbuttons or switch means  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  formed on the transmitter  12  when the transmitter  12  is disposed completely within the interior chamber of each case. The indicator means comprises at least one of and potentially a combination of two distinct indicator means including formed members on one or more surfaces of the case  24  and/or printed indicia, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, specifying the particular function of each depressible pushbutton on the transmitter  10 .  
         [0046]    The formed members  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126 , in the first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, are formed on the front surface or wall  26  as all of the pushbuttons  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  on the transmitter tab are arranged on one surface of the transmitter  10 . It will be understood that additional formed members may be provided on other surfaces of the case  24 , such as any of the side walls  30  and  32  or the rear wall  28 , bottom wall  34  or even over the curved or bent portion of the flap  38  disposed over the open top end  36  of the case  24 .  
         [0047]    The formed members  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  may be formed by any suitable means, such as embossing, hot stamping, etc. Each formed member  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  may also have any desired shape, such as an outward projection, an inward projection or a combination of both inward and outward projections, such as a raised center projection surrounded by a depressed outward area. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the formed members,  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  are formed with a shape substantially identical to the shape of the underlying pushbutton,  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 .  
         [0048]    The formed members may be provided without any external indicia to indicate the function of the transmitter pushbutton  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  located behind each formed member  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126 , respectively. However, in a first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, various indicia may be applied to or formed in the members  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  or even adjacent to each of the four members  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  to indicate the function of the transmitter pushbutton  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  disposed behind the front wall  30  within the interior of the case  24 . As shown in FIG. 1, printed indicia  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134  which may be provided by various printing, silk screening, embossing, hot stamping, pad printing, laser printing or label printing, to name a few examples, provide the same letter indicia that is normally found on the pushbuttons of the transmitter tent to indicate the function of each pushbutton,  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 . The printed indicia may be provided in any color for easy visibility, aesthetic appeal, etc.  
         [0049]    As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the means for permitting operation of the transmitter pushbuttons through the case  24  is achieved merely by printing the indicia  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134  on the front surface  66  of the case  64  corresponding to the function of the pushbuttons  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  of the transmitter tent contained within the interior of the case  20 . Any of the aforementioned printing or indicia applying methods may be used to apply the indicia  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134 .  
         [0050]    Thus, it will be understood that the position and/or function of the transmitter tent pushbutton  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  may be provided on an exterior surface of the various embodiments of the case of the present invention either by embossing, printing indicia, a combination of embossing and printing, or by any other means suitable for indicating the location of the transmitter pushbuttons  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  when the transmitter  10  is mounted within the various cases  24 ,  68 ,  80  or  100 .  
         [0051]    Referring now to FIG. 8, there is depicted another embodiment of a case  140  which is constructed according to any of the embodiments described above for the cases  24 ,  68 ,  80  and  100 . In the embodiment of the case  24  shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , case  140  is formed with a front wall or surface  26  having an elongated, flap extension  38  extending from one end. Opposed side walls  30  and  32  space the front wall  26  from a rear wall  28 .  
         [0052]    In this embodiment, the bottom wall  34  is formed with an aperture  142  which has a shape and configuration to enable viewing of a display  144  mounted on one end of a telephone pager  146 .  
         [0053]    As it is conventional, the pager  146  includes at least one and preferably a plurality of depressible pushbuttons  148  and  150  with pushbutton  148  enabling the selection of various functions to operate the pager  146  and pushbutton  150  enabling the telephone number of the party paging the holder of the pager  146  to be displayed on the display  144 .  
         [0054]    According to the present invention, the case  140  is formed with two means  150  and  152  for indicating the location of the pushbutton  148  and  150  on the pager  146  when the pager  146  is mounted within the interior of the case  140 . The indicating means  150  and  152  may be constructed as described above as formed members similar to formed members  120  and  122  in FIG. 1 or printed indicia such as indicia  128  and  130  in FIG. 4 or a combination of formed members  120  and  122  and indicia  128  and  130  as also shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0055]    All of the cases described above may be formed of a number of different flexible materials, such as leather, cloth or fabric, vinyl, as well as any exotic animal hide or skin, such as alligator, ostrich, etc., which are tanned and processed into leather. This enables a user to select the desired appearance and feel for case used to receive a particular electronic apparatus.  
         [0056]    Thus, there has been disclosed a unique enclosure or case for a portable electronic apparatus which removably receives the apparatus, provides both a protective and decorative appearance for the apparatus, as well as enabling the various pushbuttons on the apparatus used to control discrete functions of the apparatus to be operated directly through a wall of the case while providing a continuous closed surface over the apparatus pushbuttons.