Abstract:
A housing for a portable electronic device including a first housing member adapted for complementary engagement with a second housing member, a sleeve for encapsulation of the portable electronic device, and whereby a moisture resistant seal is provided on engagement of the first and second housing members about the sleeve and said portable electronic device.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a housing for a portable electronic device. In particular although not exclusively the present invention relates to a water resistant casing for portable electronic devices. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Covers for most portable electronic devices can be divided into two broad categories hard casings and soft casings. Of the two forms of casing soft casings have been a popular choice normally these are constructed from leather, neoprene, silicone etc. Early forms of soft casings were typically designed to envelope the portable device in such cases the casing was provided with windows vinyl inserts to enable access to the device keys etc. 
         [0003]    With the recent rise in popularity of touch screen devices has seen the design of soft covers change somewhat. Typically most soft covers for touch screen phones etc. are in form of a silicon glove which encases the body of the phone with a number of cut outs provided in the case to enable the user direct access to the screen and other function buttons. Additional cut outs may be provide to accommodate the operation of auxiliary devices such as front and rear cameras etc. An alternate form of soft casings which has proved popular are flip casings where the cover includes a sleeve or the like covering the rear face of the device and an upper member which is hinged to the sleeve and can be selectively engaged and disengaged against the front face of the device as needed. 
         [0004]    While soft covers have proved popular they often do not provide adequate protection against impact or shock etc. With the current generation of smart phones the tendency for severe damage to the phone occurring due to the phone being dropped is relatively high. For example the current version of the iPhone (i.e. iPhone 4 and 4s) is that there is a high risk of the screen being cracked or shattered due to phone being dropped. Indeed the tendency for screen damage occurring with light impacts is relatively high. This risk of damage to the phone and its primary means of input has seen an increase in the popularity of hard cases which provided a greater degree of ruggedisation to that of soft covers. 
         [0005]    In most instances hard covers are constructed form a suitable polymer and are designed to slide over or snap onto the rear face of device such that the portion of the cover extends around the sides of the device. While the use of these hard cases provides a greater degree of protection to the device against impact or shock they like the majority of soft covers leave the front face/screen of the device relatively unprotected. 
         [0006]    Each of the above types of cover provide varying degrees of impact protection for the device without essentially altering the operation of the device they, however, do not protect the device against other environmental factors such as moister ingress or dust or other particulates which can cause screen damage. Presently there are a number of water proof/water resistant cases available for various portable electronic devices. Typically these cases place the device in a sealed-chamber with the device either mechanically or electrically coupled to controls mounted externally to the chamber. While these cases provide adequate protection for the device against moisture ingress and particulates they limit the operability of the device as the user interaction with the device is constrained to a select set of function keys (less than ideal for a device with a primary mode of input requiring contact in some form with the screen). In addition to limiting the inputs available to the device the cases themselves are often bulky/cumbersome construction to ensure a proper sealing of the chamber and provide the secondary controls for the device. 
         [0007]    Clearly it would be advantageous to provide a protective cover for a portable electronic device which is relatively compact. It would also be advantageous to provide a protective case which enables a user to interact with the device normally while providing a suitable level of environmental protection for the device. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly in one aspect of the present invention there is provided a housing for a portable electronic device the housing 
         [0009]    a first housing member; 
         [0010]    a second housing member; and 
         [0011]    wherein the first housing member is adapted for complementary engagement with the second and whereby a moisture resistant seal is provided on engagement of the first and second housing members about the portable electronic device. 
         [0012]    Suitably the first housing members may be provided with a membrane layer disposed on interior face to permit interaction with the portable electronic device. Preferably the sealing relation between the first and second housing members is via the use of an O-ring or grommet. In such cases the O-ring or grommet may be positioned within a channel disposed bailout the periphery of one of the shells with the opposing shell being provided with a flange for complementary with the channel such that when the shells are engaged the flange is forces against the O-ring or grommet to create a water tight seal. 
         [0013]    In yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided housing for a portable electronic device the housing including:
       a first housing member adapted for complementary engagement with a second housing member;       
 
         [0015]    a sleeve for encapsulation of the portable electronic device; and 
         [0016]    whereby a moisture resistant seal is provided on engagement of the first and second housing members about the sleeve and said portable electronic device. 
         [0017]    Suitably the moisture resistant seal does not impact upon normal operation of the portable electronic device. 
         [0018]    Preferably the first and second housing members are constructed form a suitably durable material such as any suitable polymer, metals, fibre composites or the like. Suitably the first and second housing members are formed from a polyvinyl material 
         [0019]    The housing may include one or more cut out sections to accommodate various function buttons and auxiliary components of the device. Preferably the first and second housing members include one or more scalloped sections which on engagement of the housing members form one or more of the cut out sections. Suitably one or the housing members includes a cut out section for receipt of an insert. 
         [0020]    Portions of more rigid material may be provided in the sleeve to correspond to components of the portable device. For example, I/O ports, a camera, microphone or speaker locations may be provided with a more rigid insert in the sleeve. Components which are less likely to be damaged such as function buttons may not require a more rigid insert. The more rigid inserts may be provided with additional resilient sealing portions. 
         [0021]    The sleeve may partially or fully encapsulate the portable electronic device. The sleeve is preferably formed form any suitable clear flexible water resistant material. The sleeve may be formed from any suitable polymer such as a polyvinyl or polyurethane based polymers. Alternately the sleeve could be formed from a translucent or opaque material such as silicone or the like. 
         [0022]    In such cases the sleeve may include a cut out to accommodate the screen of the portable electronic device which would have a suitable protective film applied prior to insertion of the device within the sleeve. In some instances where the screen protective material and the remainder of the membrane are compatible the screen protector could be welded or adhered to the sleeve prior to insertion of the device. Suitably where the portable electronic device utilises a capacitive screen the portion of the sleeve covering the screen is of sufficient transmissibility to enable registration of a screen tap or other such gesture. 
         [0023]    In a most preferred form, the sleeve in combination with the housing may provide a sufficient seal against the electronic device or a portion thereof about a screen of the device, that the protective film is not required and the screen of the device is completely unobstructed. In this case, a seal is formed by the sleeve and housing in combination, about the screen of the device or a portion thereof. 
         [0024]    In the case where the sleeve partially encapsulates the portable electronic device the insert may be utilised in conjunction with the sleeve to provide the moisture resistant. Suitably the insert may be constructed from a moisture resistant material. Preferably the insert is provided within the housing member which encapsulates the rear of the portable electronic device. Suitably the insert finishes substantially flush with the interior and exterior faces of the housing member in which it is installed. Preferably the portion of the insert which finishes substantially flush with the exterior face of the housing member includes one or more surface effects. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the insert may stand proud of the exterior face of the housing member in which it is installed. In this embodiment, the insert may be of a material of a relatively high co-efficient of friction to limit or prevent slippage when the housing is placed on the insert on a surface. The insert may be integrally formed with the sleeve or separate therefrom. 
         [0026]    Preferably the housing may be provided with one or more plug and/or doors for capping the various ports of the portable electronic device. The plugs or doors may be provided with additional sealing mechanism as these portions are likely to be points of weakness for the ingress of liquid or dust or similar and therefore warrant additional protection. 
         [0027]    The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein: 
           [0029]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective view of a case for a portable electronic device with the portable electronic device in situ according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 2A to 2D  are schematic diagrams depicting the case of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in various stages of assembly; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the case of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view of case of taken from section A of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a further enlarged sectional case of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view from the top and front of a case according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is an exploded isometric view from the bottom and rear of the case illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 8A  is a schematic illustration of detail surrounding an access door provided in a case according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 8B  is an isometric view of a rigid insert provided in a sleeve of a case according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8A . 
           [0038]      FIG. 8C  is an end elevation view of the insert illustrated in  FIG. 8B . 
           [0039]      FIG. 8D  is an isometric view of a pad included in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8A . 
           [0040]      FIG. 9A  is a schematic illustration of detail surrounding an access door provided in a case according to an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 9B  is an isometric view of a rigid insert provided in a sleeve of a case according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9A . 
           [0042]      FIG. 9C  is an isometric view of the bung and tether illustrated in  FIG. 9A . 
           [0043]      FIG. 9D  is an isometric view of a bung without tether which can be used in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9A  instead of the bung and tether. 
           [0044]      FIG. 10  is a detailed rendering of a further alternative access door configuration provided in a case according to an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0045]    With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  there is illustrated a one possible configuration of a protective case for a portable electronic device  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this particular example the case is configured to fit a smart phone such as an iphone® or the like. It will of course be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the case  100  could be designed to fit any portable electronic device such as smartphone, tablet, gaming device etc. As shown the case includes a front shell  101  which is engaged with rear shell  102  to encapsulate the device  103  therebetween. Suitably the shells  101 ,  102  are constructed from a suitably durable material such as any suitable polymer, metals, fibre composites or the like 
         [0046]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1A  the front shell  101  includes a number of cut outs  104   1 ,  104   2 ,  104   3 ,  104   4 ,  104   5 ,  104   6 ,  104   7  (see  FIG. 1B ) to accommodate various function buttons and auxiliary components of the device. Similarly the rear shell  102  includes cut outs  104   5 ,  104   6 ,  104   7  and  104   8 . As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art the front and rear shells include scalloped sections which when the shells are brought into complementary engagement form the cut outs  104   5 ,  104   5 ,  104   7 . Cut out  108  in the rear shell in this example is provided to accept an insert  105 . The insert  105  may be provided with various decorative finishes, patterns other such surface treatments along with one or more sections for the provision of badges or other such devices. 
         [0047]    As noted above the case in this particular example is designed to encapsulate a mobile phone as such the various cut outs such as  104   4  which align with the phone&#39;s data, charge and other ports for the attachment of peripheral devices such as head phones and the like, may be provided with removable covers. The covers are engaged with the ports when not in use to provide a water resistant seal between the cover and the case  100 . 
         [0048]      FIGS. 2A to 2D  depict the case  100  during various stages of assembly.  FIG. 2A  depicts the case  100  completely disassembled. As can be seen, cut out  104   8  in rear shell  102  includes a recess  107  extending about its periphery for receipt of insert  105  such that when the assembly of the case is complete the insert finishes substantially flush with the rear face of the case  100 . Recessing cut out  104   8  in this manner also assists with the creation of the moisture resistant seal between the case  100  and portable electronic device  103 . As can be seen in this instance the case includes a sleeve  106  for receipt of the portable device  103 . The sleeve  106  is may be formed from any suitable clear flexible water resistant material i.e. any suitable polymer such as a polyvinyl or polyurethane based polymer. Alternately the sleeve  106  could be formed from a translucent or opaque material such as silicone or the like in such cases the sleeve  106  would include a cut out to accommodate the screen which would have a suitable protective film (i.e. thin urethane based film which most commercially available protectors are construed from) applied before insertion into the sleeve  106 . In some instances where the screen protective material and the remainder of the sleeve  106  are compatible the protector could be welded or adhered to the sleeve  106  prior to insertion of the device. 
         [0049]      FIG. 2B  depicts the initial stage of assembly of the cover  100  as can be seen in this instance the device  103  has been inserted into sleeve  106  and insert  105  has been positioned within recess  107 . As can be seen the rear face of the insert  105  once positioned in the recess  107  finishes substantially flush with the interior surface of the rear shell  102 . To complete the assembly of the case the device  103  encapsulated in the sleeve  106  is positioned within the shell  102  of the case  100  as shown in  FIG. 2C  and the front shell  101  is then engaged with the rear shell  102  thereby retaining the device  103  an sleeve  106  therein and completing the case  100 . 
         [0050]    As briefly noted above the insert may serve to assist with the creation of moisture resistant seal between the device and the casing  100 . As can be seen in the example depicted in  FIGS. 2A to 2D  the rear of the sleeve  106  is relatively open with a portion of the sleeve  106  extending over the upper  103   1  and lower  103   2  edges of the device  103  onto the rear face of the device  103 . In these circumstances the insert  105  is constructed from a suitable flexible water resistant material such that when the rear of the device is positioned within the rear shell  102  the insert  105  acts to complete encapsulation of the device  103  within a water resistant cocoon. An example of the interaction of the insert  105 , sleeve  106  and the rear  102  and front  101  shells of the case  100  can be seen in  FIG. 3 . As can be seen the complementary engagement of the front shell  101  and rear shell  102  sandwich the sleeve  106  and insert  105  against the device  103  to create a water resistant seal therebetween. 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  depicts section A of  FIG. 3  in further detail and more clearly illustrates the engagement about of the front  101  and rear  102  shells with the sleeve  106  and the insert  105 . As shown engagement of the front shell  101  with rear shell  102  acts to sandwich the sleeve  106  and insert  105  against the device  103 . More specifically engagement of the front shell  101  with the rear shell  102  forces the interior face of the front shell  101  into engagement with the sleeve  106  pressing the sleeve  106  against the front face of the device  103 . Simultaneously the rear shell  102  is forced against the portion of the sleeve  106  which surrounds the upper edge  103   1  of the device  103 . The pressure exerted between the two shells  101 ,  102  also places the rear face of the device into abutting relation with the insert  105  completing the encapsulation of the device  103  in water resistant envelope. 
         [0052]    In the case of the above discussed example the water resistant seal is created via the pressure exerted on the sleeve  106 , insert  105  by the shells  101 ,  102  to press them firmly against the device. While this arrangement provide for an adequate seal to prevent low level ingress events i.e. provides adequate protection against particulates and exposure to light moister e.g. perspiration etc. It will of course be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the seal can be enhanced by increasing the pressure exerted between the case and the sleeve  106 . One example of how the pressure between the case and the sleeve can be increased to further enhance the moisture resistance of the seal is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0053]    As in the case of the above example the front  101  and rear  102  shells are brought into engagement about the device  103  and the sleeve  106 . As noted above engagement of the front shell  101  with rear shell  102  again acts to sandwich the sleeve  106  and insert  105  against the device  103 . More specifically engagement of the front shell  101  with the rear shell  102  forces the interior face of the front shell  101  into engagement with the sleeve  106  pressing the sleeve  106  against the front face of the device  103 . Simultaneously the rear shell  102  is forced against the portion of the sleeve  106  which surrounds the upper edge  103   1  of the device  103 . In the present example the engagement between the shells  101 ,  102  and the sleeve  106  is increase via the use of a series of projections  109  disposed at discrete points on the interior surfaces of the front  101  and rear  102  shells. As the front  101  and rear shells  102  are brought into engagement the projections are forced against the sleeve  106  this effectively pinches the sleeve  106  between the projections  109  and the device  103  creating a seal therebetween. 
         [0054]    While in the above examples the case  100  provides a water resistant seal via the use of a sleeve  106  to encapsulate or partially encapsulate the device prior to insertion into the case, it will of course be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the water resistant seal could be achieved without the use of a sleeve  106  as discussed. For example the front and rear shells could each have layer of membrane disposed on their interior faces to enable access to the devices controls when the case  100  is assembled. In such instances sealing relation between the front and rear shells could be brought about more conventional arrangements such as the use of a sealing O-ring or grommet. In such cases the O-ring or grommet could be positioned within a channel disposed bailout the periphery of one of the shells with the opposing shell being provided with a flange for complementary with the channel such that when the shells are engaged the flange is forces against the O-ring or grommet to create a water tight seal. As in the above example the various ports etch which enable the device to be coupled to ancillary devices etc. could then be sealed utilising suitable inserts. 
         [0055]    An alternative embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . This embodiment also includes a front shell  601  and a rear shell  602 . The rear shell has a door  603  associated therewith mounted on a hinge pin  604  for rotation about the hinge pin relative to the rear shell  602 . A sleeve  605  is also provided to be sandwiched and at least partially compressed between the front shell  601  and a rear shell  602  during assembly and in use. 
         [0056]    The front shell  601  of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  is approximately half the height of the device  606  illustrated in  FIG. 6 . A central opening  607  is provided to surround the screen of the device  606  such that the screen is unobstructed in this embodiment. There is also a secondary opening  608  in the front surface of the front shell to be located relative to a camera and speaker of the device  606 . 
         [0057]    There are also openings  610  illustrated in the side walls of the front shell  601  which correspond to openings in the rear shell  602 . This will allow for other components of the device  606  to be accessible when the case is properly assembled surrounding device  606 . The openings  610  are typically openings surrounded by a depression or located within a depression. 
         [0058]    A button  611  is provided in the front shell  601 . The button  611  is movable or depressible in order to actuate the button on the front surface of the device  606 . The button  611  is provided with a rear portion that overlies and depresses the button on the device  606 . The button is located above a portion of the sleeve  605  which surrounds the device  606  (that is a portion of the sleeve  605  is located between the rear portion of button  611  and the button of the device  606 ) and depression of the button  611  therefore depresses the sleeve which depresses the button of the device  606 . 
         [0059]    A depression is provided on the front surface  609  of the front shell  601  illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The depression  612  is located below the button  611  on the front shell  601  and is provided in order to receive a tongue provided on the door  603 . Although not shown in  FIG. 6 , an opening is provided in the sidewall located at the bottom of the front shell  601  to allow the door  603  to close into the sidewall of the front shell  601 , in effect so that the door  603  forms the sidewall or at least a portion thereof. A corner protector  613  is provided at each corner of the front shell  601  and it is preferred that the corner protectors are at least slightly resilient to provide cushioning for the device  606 . 
         [0060]    Although not clearly visible in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an inner surface of at least one of the sidewalls of the front shell  601  is provided with a plurality of abutment configurations, each including an abutment shoulder located adjacent a sloped portion. The abutment configurations will typically be triangular shaped and the provision of the sloped portion will result in the abutment configurations converging towards the front face of the front shell  601 . The abutment shoulder of each abutment configuration is therefore closer to the front surface  609  of the front shell  601  than to the open rear of the front shell. 
         [0061]    Located adjacent to the abutment configurations are a series of guide legs which are provided between the abutment configurations in an alternating pattern. The guide legs are spaced from the internal surface of the sidewall relative to which they are located to define a receiving gap therebetween. A series of abutment configurations and guide legs are located on and adjacent at least the lateral side walls and a top sidewall (remembering that in this preferred configuration the majority of the bottom sidewall is absent to allow for the door  603 . 
         [0062]    The internal corners of the front shell are also provided with abutment configurations similar to those provided on the side walls but arcuate rather than being straight, in order to be located in the arcuate corners of the front shell  601 . There is preferably one abutment configuration located in each corner of the front shell  601 . 
         [0063]    The rear shell  602  illustrated in  FIG. 6  is similar to the front shell  601  in that the rear shell  602  also includes sidewalls which are approximately half the height of the device  606 . However, in the rear shell  602 , the sidewalls are provided with an inner extension portion  614  which extends further toward the front shell  601  than the sidewall does, normally integrally formed with the sidewall. The inner extension  614  functions as both a location extension and also assists with attachment of the front shell  601  to the rear shell  602 . The inner extension is preferably provided with a series of openings  615  spaced from a free edge thereof, the location of the series of openings corresponding to the locations of the abutment configurations on the front shell  601 . The receiving gap provided on the front shell  601  between the guide legs and the sidewall preferably receives the inner extension between the guide leg and an inner surface of the sidewall of the front shell  601 , between the openings  615 . 
         [0064]    There are also typically openings are provided in the corners of the rear shell  602  to correspond to the abutment configurations provided in the corners of the front shell  601 . A central opening is provided in the rear surface of the rear shell  602  in order to allow the insert portion of the sleeve  605  to extend into or through. An upper opening is provided in a rear surface of the rear shell  602  to allow for location of a camera of the device  606 . Sidewall openings  618  are provided in the sidewalls of the rear shell  602  corresponding in position to the openings  610  provided on front shell  601 . 
         [0065]    As mentioned previously, the door  603  is provided at a lower end of the rear shell  602  attached by the hinge pin  604 . The door of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  is substantially. L-shaped. The L-shaped door  603  includes a first portion  619  to cover the lower end edge of the device  606  and a second portion  622  extends partially over the front surface  609  of the front shell  601  to maintain the door  603  in the closed condition. A tongue is preferably provided on the second portion  620  in order to be located within the depression  612  to close the door  603 . A raised portion  621  is provided on an outer surface of the second portion of the door  603  in order to allow manual unlatching of the door. 
         [0066]    The second portion  620  of the door is shaped to be received in a shaped depression on the face of the front shell  601 . 
         [0067]    The first portion  619  of the door  603  is provided with one or more openings therethrough in order to correspond with the location of the speaker or microphone on the device  606 . The first portion  619  of the door  603  as illustrated in  FIG. 6  also includes a number of tubular extensions  622  in order to be at least partially received in a portion of the sleeve  605  overlying the power charger cable port and headphone port of the device  606  illustrated in  FIG. 6  but clearly the location and type of these extensions will be device-specific and different cases provided for different devices will have different configurations of extension  622 . The extensions  622  illustrated in  FIG. 6  may surround openings through the first portion  619  of the door  603  and typically, are at least partially received in openings in the sleeve corresponding to at least the ports in the device  606 . The rear shell  602  also includes corner protectors  613  which are preferably resilient. 
         [0068]    The sleeve  605  illustrated in  FIG. 6  is a resilient sleeve with one or more rigid portions or inserts provided therein to overlie specific portions of the device  606  when located in the sleeve  605 . A number of shaped buttons  623  are provided on the sidewalls of this sleeve  605  corresponding in shape and position to the shape and position of the buttons provided on the device  606 . The buttons  623  on the sleeve  605  may also be provided with identification indicia to identify the function of the buttons of the device  606 . Each of the buttons  623  provided is also solid in order to convey force to the buttons of the device  606  when buttons  623  are manipulated. 
         [0069]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the sleeve  605  extends across the rear of the device  606 , over the side edges of the device and up over at least a portion of the front surface of the device  606 . The sleeve  605  may extend further over the device at the upper and lower portions than at the sides. 
         [0070]    The portions of the front face of the sleeve illustrated in  FIG. 6  are coplanar with one another such that the force applied by the front shell  601  is evenly spread across the face of the device  606  to create a seal. Another way to look at the configuration of the sleeve  605  is that the sleeve  605  is a closed sleeve designed to encapsulate the device  606  buty with a substantially rectangular cutout  624  in the front wall of the sleeve. An enlarged portion  625  is provided on the rear wall of the sleeve  605  (which is better illustrated in  FIG. 7 ) in order to act as an insert through the central opening  616  in the rear shell  602 . The size, shape and location of the enlarged portion  625  corresponds with the size, shape and location of the central opening  616  in the rear shell  602 . 
         [0071]    A window insert  626  is provided in the enlarged portion  625  of the sleeve  605  illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the window insert  626  is transparent to allow brand placement for the device  606 . 
         [0072]    An insert  627  is provided in a rear surface of the sleeve  605  to allow for the lens of the camera in the rear of the device  606 . This insert  627  will typically be provided with an enlarged periphery on the rear side thereof in order to be received within the opening  617  in the rear of the rear shell  602 . 
         [0073]    An insert  628  is provided in a front surface of the sleeve  605  to allow for a lens of the camera in the front of the device  606 . This insert  628  will typically be provided with an enlarged periphery on the front side thereof in order to be received within the opening  608  in the front of the front shell  601 . 
         [0074]    A further insert  629  is provided in a bottom edge surface of the sleeve  605  to allow for the microphone, speaker, power charger port and headphone port in the bottom edge of the device  606 . This insert  629  will typically be provided with an enlarged periphery on an outer side thereof in order to be engage with the configurations provided on the first portion  619  of the door  603 . 
         [0075]    The embodiment of the case illustrated in  FIG. 7  is similar in many respects to that illustrated in  FIG. 6  but with some additional components such as the microphone membrane  630  located in the lower insert  629  and retained there by the microphone frame  631 . 
         [0076]    As with previous embodiments, the device  606  is received within the sleeve  605  by deforming the sleeve  605  to encompass the device  606 . The sleeve  605  is then compressed during assembly and closing of the front and rear shells due to the fact that it is slightly larger externally then the internal dimension of the front shell  601  and rear shell  602  when assembled. The assembled case compresses the shell between portions of the case to seal the device therein but leave the screen or display of the device  606  unobstructed and provide access (indirectly) to the operating components of the device. 
         [0077]    One preferred embodiment of door assembly and secondary sealing arrangement is illustrated in  FIGS. 8A to 8D . 
         [0078]    In  FIG. 8A , a lower portion of an assembled case is illustrated with the door  603  illustrated in the open condition. Also illustrated is the lower insert  629  in which there is a charging port opening  800  and a microphone cover  801 . The insert has a perimeter seal  802  standing proud of the insert  629  extending about the perimeter of the lower insert  629 . In addition, the door  603  is provided with a silicon rubber pad  803  which is illustrated in more detail in  FIG. 8D . In this embodiment, the silicon rubber pad  803  pushes through an opening in the door  603  in order to be retained there. The silicon rubber pad  803  is larger than the charging port opening  800  but small enough that it fits within the space defined by the perimeter seal  802 . When the door  603  is closed, the perimeter seal  802  abuts the surface of the door  603 , and the silicon pad  803  abuts the charging port opening  800  within the perimeter seal  802  to provide at least two seals which water or dust would have to pass in order to obtain entry to the charging port of the device  606 . 
         [0079]    The lower insert  629  in this form is illustrated in further detail in  FIGS. 8B and 8C  and the raised periphery of the charging port opening  800  is particularly illustrated in  FIG. 8C . 
         [0080]    Another preferred embodiment of door assembly and secondary sealing arrangement is illustrated in  FIGS. 9A to 9D . 
         [0081]    In  FIG. 8A , a lower portion of an assembled case is illustrated with the door  603  illustrated in the open condition. Also illustrated is the lower insert  629  in which there is a charging port opening  800  and a microphone cover  801 . The insert has a perimeter seal  802  standing proud of the insert  629  extending about the perimeter of the lower insert  629 . In addition to this, and in contrast with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8A , a silicon rubber plug  804  is provided at the end of a tether  805  with a fixing bung  806  provided at the other end of the tether  805 . The fixing bung operates in a manner similar to the silicon pad  803  illustrated in  FIG. 8A , extending through an opening in the door in order to secure the tether  805  and the silicon plug  804  relative to the door  603 . In use, the silicon plug  804  is inserted into the charging port opening  800  prior to closing the door  603 . Again, a preferred form of the lower insert  629  is illustrated in  FIG. 9B , this form not provided with the raised periphery. 
         [0082]    An alternative silicon plug  804  without the tether may be provided and one form of this is illustrated in  FIG. 9D . In this embodiment, the silicon plug will normally be located relative to the door  603  such that closing the door inserts the rubber plug into the charging port opening  800 . 
         [0083]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the door  603  is provided with a perimeter seal  802  and a tubular silicon extension  807 . Again, when the door  603  is closed, the silicon extension  807  is received at least partially in the charging port opening  800  and the perimeter seal abuts the lower insert  629  in order to provide two levels of sealing. 
         [0084]    It is to be understood that the above embodiments have been provided only by way of exemplification of this invention, and that further modifications and improvements thereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the present invention described herein.