Abstract:
A door assembly for enclosing a compartment of a portable electronic device. The door assembly includes a door cover, operable to selectively provide access to the compartment, anchors, affixed to the door cover, configured to retain the door in a cover portion of the portable electronic device, and a permanent magnet, disengageably mounted in the door cover, the permanent magnet operable to maintain the door in a closed state with respect to the compartment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 61/406,795, filed on Oct. 26, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to door mechanisms, and more particularly to a door mechanism for a compartment in a portable electronic device, such as a compartment for a Secure Digital (SD) memory card tray. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door assembly for enclosing a compartment of a portable electronic device. The door assembly includes: a door cover, operable to selectively provide access to the compartment; anchors, affixed to the door cover, configured to retain the door in a cover portion of the portable electronic device; and a permanent magnet, disengageably mounted in the door cover, that tends to maintain the door in a closed state with respect to the compartment. 
         [0004]    In another aspect, the anchors comprise lengthwise protrusions associated with the door cover that prevent the door cover from completely disengaging from the cover portion of the portable electronic device. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, the anchors are formed from an elastic material. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, the disengageably mounted permanent magnet in the door cover tends to maintain the door in a closed state by magnetic attraction to another permanent magnet located in the cover portion of the portable electronic device. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the anchors comprise bumps formed on a portion proximal to the door cover, the bumps forming detents that contact and impart a frictional force to a recessed portion of the cover portion when the door cover is in a closed state with respect to the compartment. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the anchors comprise barbed ends formed on a portion distal to the door cover, the barbed ends maintaining the door assembly in the cover portion when the door cover is in an open state. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the recessed portion comprises apertures in the back cover. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, the anchors have a substantially flat profile and mate with apertures formed in the housing. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, the device further comprises a frame around a periphery of the cover portion, an inner portion of the frame comprising dimples tending to hold the door cover in the closed state. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, the device further comprises a frame around a periphery of the cover portion, the door assembly being located within a gap formed between the frame and a corner of the cover portion. 
         [0013]    In another aspect, the compartment houses one from among the group consisting of an memory SD card, a SIM card and a battery. 
         [0014]    In another aspect, the anchors are formed of a single piece of elastic material affixed to the door cover. 
         [0015]    In another aspect, the anchors are substantially completely within the cover portion when the door is in the closed state and partially withdrawn from the cover portion when the door is in the open state. 
         [0016]    In another aspect, the anchors are positioned on the door cover so as to be placed on either side of the compartment. 
         [0017]    In another aspect, the disengageably mounted permanent magnet in the door cover and the permanent magnet located in the cover portion of the portable electronic device are aligned with one another when the door is in a closed state and the magnetic attraction between them maintains the door in the closed state by magnetic attraction. 
         [0018]    In another aspect, an opening in each of the anchors between the bumps facilitates the anchors to compress when the door is being opened or closed. 
         [0019]    In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing for a portable electronic device, the housing including: a cover portion of the portable electronic device forming at least a substantial part of a surface of the portable electronic device; a rim formed around a periphery of the cover portion, a gap being formed between the cover portion and the rim at least one point along the periphery; a compartment formed in the cover portion; and a door assembly for selectively enclosing the compartment. The door assembly includes: a door cover, operable to selectively provide access to the compartment; anchors, affixed to the door cover, configured to retain the door in a cover portion of the portable electronic device; and a permanent magnet, disengageably mounted in the door cover, that tends to maintain the door in a closed state with respect to the compartment. 
         [0020]    In another aspect, the anchors comprise lengthwise protrusions associated with the door cover that prevent the door cover from completely disengaging from the cover portion of the portable electronic device. 
         [0021]    In another aspect, the anchors are formed from an elastic material. 
         [0022]    In another aspect, the disengageably mounted permanent magnet in the door cover tends to maintain the door in a closed state by magnetic attraction to another permanent magnet located in the cover portion of the portable electronic device. 
         [0023]    In another aspect, the anchors comprise bumps formed on a portion proximal to the door cover, the bumps forming detents that contact and impart a frictional force to a recessed portion of the cover portion when the door cover is in a closed state with respect to the compartment. 
         [0024]    In another aspect, the anchors comprise barbed ends formed on a portion distal to the door cover, the barbed ends maintaining the door assembly in the cover portion when the door cover is in an open state. 
         [0025]    In another aspect, the recessed portion comprises apertures in the back cover. 
         [0026]    In another aspect, the anchors have a substantially flat profile and mate with apertures formed in the housing. 
         [0027]    In another aspect, an inner portion of the frame comprises dimples tending to hold the door cover in the closed state. 
         [0028]    In another aspect, the door assembly is located within a gap formed between the frame and a corner of the cover portion. 
         [0029]    In another aspect, the compartment houses one from among the group consisting of an memory SD card, a SIM card and a battery. 
         [0030]    In another aspect, the anchors are formed of a single piece of elastic material affixed to the door cover. 
         [0031]    In another aspect, the anchors are substantially completely within the cover portion when the door is in the closed state and partially withdrawn from the cover portion when the door is in the open state. 
         [0032]    In another aspect, the anchors are positioned on the door cover so as to be placed on either side of the compartment. 
         [0033]    In another aspect, the disengageably mounted permanent magnet in the door cover and the permanent magnet located in the cover portion of the portable electronic device are aligned with one another when the door is in a closed state and the magnetic attraction between them maintains the door in the closed state by magnetic attraction. 
         [0034]    In another aspect, an opening in each of the anchors between the bumps facilitates the anchors to compress when the door is being opened or closed. 
         [0035]    In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door assembly for enclosing a compartment of a portable electronic device, the door assembly including: a door cover, operable to selectively provide access to the compartment by partial detachment of the door cover from the compartment; anchors, affixed to the door cover, configured to retain the door in a cover portion of the portable electronic device, the anchors including bumps along outer edges of each anchor to provide a frictional force to tend to maintain the door in a closed state with respect to the compartment; and a permanent magnet, disengageably mounted in the door cover, that tends to maintain the door in a closed state with respect to the compartment. The door cover is operable to be changed from the closed state to an open state by application of upward pressure, by a user to the door cover, of sufficient force to overcome the maintaining forces provided by the bumps and the permanent magnet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]    For the purposes of illustrating the present invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown by the drawing in which: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the back cover of a portable electronic device incorporating the door in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 2A-2D  depict the door in the closed and open status; 
           [0039]      FIGS. 3A-3B  further illustrate the operation of the opening of the door; 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross section of the door in a closed state; 
           [0041]      FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate the magnet assembly of the present invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  illustrates the configuration of the magnets forming the magnet assembly, when the door is in a closed state; 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the door in a closed state; 
           [0044]      FIG. 8  further illustrates details of the door anchors; 
           [0045]      FIG. 9  is a further view of the structure of the door anchors; 
           [0046]      FIG. 10  is a further view showing the apertures in the back cover; and 
           [0047]      FIG. 11  depicts projections formed on the frame in the lanyard loop area. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0048]      FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of the back cover  5  of a portable electronic device  1  incorporating the door  20  of the present invention. The device  1  has a frame  10 . A loop  15  is formed in the frame surrounding a gap  4  in the back cover  5 . This gap  4  provides easy access for opening and closing the door  20 . The loop  15  also prevents inadvertent operation of the door. This loop  15  can also act as an attachment point for a lanyard or other fastener device for securing and/or carrying the device  1 . 
         [0049]    Although throughout the illustrated embodiments the door  20  is depicted as facing this gap in the back cover, the door  20  disclosed in the present application is not limited to being provided at a corner location, or in relation to a gap in a frame of a device. As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the illustrated components and configuration of the door in accordance with the disclosed aspects of the present invention is also suitable to be located at other positions on the device  1 , such as at one of the sides, or in the middle of the back cover  5 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 2A-2D  depict the operation of the door  20  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. As can be seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the gap  4  formed by the lanyard loop  15  provides a convenient location for a user to insert his or her finger to operate the door  20 . By applying upward pressure, the user is able to release the door  20  from its securing mechanisms, to be described in more detail below. This allows the door  20  to be raised and folded backward as illustrated, e.g., in  FIGS. 2C ,  2 D,  3 A and  3 B, exposing a tray for a memory device  25 , such as a Secure Digital (SD) memory card. 
         [0051]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2C and 2D , opening the door  20  exposes the tray for the memory device  25 . Once the door is in the open position, the memory device  25  can be prepared for removal by, e.g., sliding the memory device forward, i.e., in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 2C , so that it is in the position shown in  FIG. 2D , which makes it easy to remove by lifting it out of the device  1 . The positions shown in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  would be reversed for inserting the memory card  25 , i.e., sliding it into the tray. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the door can act as a door to any interior compartment holding a variety of devices such as a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a battery, or the like. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the operation of opening the door  20  to access the memory card, i.e., by pulling the door  20  out and then back to obtain the open position shown in  FIGS. 2C and 2D . As can be seen in the figures, the door  20  is attached to the device back cover  5  by means of two flexible door anchors  30 . The two door anchors  30  serve to retain the door  20  in back cover  5 , even when the door is in an open position. The door anchors  30  are made of flexible material, such as rubber, plastic or other similar material, that can bend back to allow for the door  20  to be raised when accessing the memory device  25 . 
         [0053]    In opening the door  20 , the door  20  is pulled up and out, but is retained in the housing by the anchors  30 , as will be discussed in more detail below. The door pulls out, as shown in  FIG. 3A , with the anchors  30  being pulled out of apertures  60  formed in a housing of the back cover  5 . As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3B , the elastic characteristic of the anchors allows them to be bent back to permit the cover  20  to be opened far enough to allow access to the tray for the memory device  25 . The anchors  30  are caused to bend by the upward pressure of the finger on the cover  20 , and by contacting, at a point along the length of the anchor  30 , the top edges of each of the apertures  60 , as can be seen in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross section of the door  20  in a closed state. As illustrated in this figure, the two door anchors  30  serve to retain the door  20  in back cover  5 . This figure further illustrates the tray  35  that hold the SD card. Also, as can be seen in  FIG. 4 , each door anchor includes bumps  33  and barbed ends  32 . As seen in this Figure, the anchors  30  are disposed in an interior portion of cover  5 , when cover  5  is installed on device  1 . Anchors  30  are installed in cover  5  through apertures  60  in the cover  5  and are preferably placed on either side of the tray  35  that holds the SD card. 
         [0055]    Bumps  33  on the body of anchor  30  help secure the door  20  in the closed state. The bumps  65  frictionally contact the inner walls of the apertures  60  to keep the door  20  from extending further out of cover  5 , unless the frictional force of this contact is overcome by the user pulling the door with sufficient force. An opening  34  in the body of anchor  30  allows the material of the anchor  30  to compress, in particular at the points forming the bumps  65 , when the door  20  is open or closed. The barbed ends  32  of anchors  30  prevent the door from becoming completely disengaged from cover  5  when the cover is in the open state. 
         [0056]    One of the mechanisms used in the present invention to secure the door  20  in a closed state is a magnet assembly.  FIGS. 5A-5C  and  6  illustrate the magnet assembly in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. A first portion of the magnet assembly, illustrated in  FIG. 5A , comprises a first permanent magnet  40  that is disposed in a recess  45  in the back cover  5  of device  1 . Installing the magnet  40  in this manner allows the magnet  40  to be hidden from the user. 
         [0057]    A second portion of the magnet assembly comprises a second permanent magnet  50  that is disposed in a recess  55  in door  20 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , the magnet  50  is installed into the recess  55  in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 5B . 
         [0058]    As seen in  FIG. 6 , when the door is in a closed position, the two magnets  40  and  50  align, attract, and serve to close and keep door  20  closed. If the magnets  40 / 50  become accidentally disengaged, the bumps  33  of the anchors  30  urge the cover to stay in the closed position. 
         [0059]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section of the door in a closed state showing the orientation of the magnets  40  and  50 , and the recess  45 , when the cover  20  is in the closed position. 
         [0060]      FIG. 8  further illustrates the door anchors  20  of the present invention. This Figure is a partial cross section, viewed from the bottom of the cover  5  and depicts the anchors  30  when the door  20  is in a closed state. As seen in this Figure, when cover  5  is installed on device  1 , the anchors  30  are disposed in an interior portion of cover  5  through apertures  60 . The bumps  33  on the body of anchor  30  function as detents and help secure the door  20  in the closed state by providing resistance when the door is opened or closed. If the magnets  40  and  50  become accidentally disengaged from one another, the bumps  33  serve to prevent the door  20  from extending further out of cover  5 . As discussed above, the barbed ends  32  of anchors  30  prevent the door from becoming completely disengaged from cover  5 . The opening  34  in each anchor  30  allows the elastic material, e.g., rubber to compress when the door is opened or closed. 
         [0061]      FIG. 9  is a further view of the door anchors. As seen in this view, the anchors  30  can be formed from a single sheet of elastic material, e.g., rubber. The body of the sheet  80  is attached to the underside of door  20 .  FIG. 10  further illustrates the portion of the housing that includes the apertures  60  in the back cover  5 . As has been described above, the apertures  60  permit insertion of the anchors  30  of the door  20  into the back cover  5 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 11  depicts the door  20  in the closed condition and also shows an additional feature in accordance with an aspect of the present invention—projections  90  formed on the frame in the lanyard loop area. These projections  90  formed on the frame tend to force the door  20  toward an open state when the magnets  40 / 50  are disengaged by lifting the door  20 . The projections impart an urging force against the sides of the door  20 , the friction of which also needs to be overcome to open the door  20 . 
         [0063]    By virtue of the disclosed door  20  and associated structure, a secure cover for a compartment, such as a compartment for an SD memory card, can be achieved with light weight, and ease of operation by the user. 
         [0064]    Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and other uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the scope of the following claims.