Abstract:
A shock and water resistant wireless pager enclosure comprises a bottom having thickened walls, a top lip and interior foam strips. The top edges of the strips are coplanar with the top. A transparent film is supported thereon and on the lip and secured by a cover removably hinged to the bottom by a protrusion at one end, through which a hinge pin passes. The protrusion and pin are accepted in a trough in the bottom. The bottom is rounded about the trough to facilitate the hinged motion. The pin prevents the cover from sliding laterally from the bottom. The bottom secures the pager, the cover is fixed thereto by screws, pinching the film between them. A cover loop proximate the protrusion facilitates opening of the cover and provides a mechanism for attaching a clip. The cover may be multi-coloured for easy identification. The bottom contains a ribbon strip to facilitate pager removal and/or an RFID device to locate the enclosure and thus the pager and/or the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to enclosures for wireless devices such as pagers and in particular to hinged waterproof enclosures for such wireless devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In hospitals and long-term care facilities (“facility”), there has always been a need for a means of communication between a patient&#39;s bedside and the nursing care personnel (“nurse”) charged with the care and supervision of the patient. In the past, such communication was necessarily effected by means of hard-wired connection between the patient&#39;s bedside and the nursing care station. Because the intervening space is typically in a high traffic area, this hard-wired connection frequently had to be routed behind walls and through overhead ducts, which generally entailed considerable installation expense and effort, and was not conducive to upgrade and/or repair.  
         [0003]     The advent of wireless telecommunications devices such as pagers has significantly reduced the need for such hard-wired connections, at a reduced cost and resulting in simpler installation and repair, while permitting greater flexibility to the nurses. At the patient bed-side, the call button may be connected (through the telephone system or otherwise) to a transmitter that is programmed to generate a page to a specific and unique telephone number.  
         [0004]     Such telephone number is associated with a wireless pager, so that a call from the patient&#39;s bedside (patient call) may be communicated to the pager automatically. As with most pager systems, the receipt of a patient call may be communicated audibly, by a visual cue such as a flashing indicator and/or in tactile fashion such as by a vibrating signal. The nurse may manipulate the display of messages and otherwise control the management of the pager by applying pressure to one or more buttons on the face of the pager, or optionally, by applying pressure on designated points of a touch screen display on the pager.  
         [0005]     Additionally, the transmitter may optionally be configured to provide certain information, such as the date and time of day, the identification of the patient and/or room and/or bed number and may even be configured to permit a brief text or voice message to communicate the reason for the patient call. More sophisticated systems may permit multiple patient calls, for example from a common ward or floor, to be routed to a single pager, or alternatively, for more than one pager to receive a given patient call.  
         [0006]     One of the great advantages afforded by such a wireless system is the portability of the pager. With hard-wired connection systems, the patient call may only be received at the nursing care station, where the receiver is located. In a long-term care and/or hospital facility, the nurses are generally required to travel throughout the facility, in order to deal with patients and their needs. Thus, it is likely that there may be a significant percentage of time that the appropriate nurse is not present at the nursing care station when a patient call is made. Thus, delays in processing the patient call are inherent in such systems.  
         [0007]     With a pager-based system, the pager may be held or worn by a designated nurse having responsibility for the patient wherever he or she may be, so that the delay in receiving the patient call is obviated. The range of such pagers is such that the designated nurse may be anywhere within the facility and still receive the patient call.  
         [0008]     However, the portability of the pager poses new problems. Typically, the work of nurses requires extension and a large degree of movement. They usually carry one or more objects in their hands and may travel in a hurry and through cramped spaces. Thus, it is not uncommon for pagers to be clipped to uniforms. Despite this precaution, there is a significant possibility that the pager will be dropped.  
         [0009]     The problem is compounded by the fact that nurses frequently operate in proximity to water, whether in the form of a therapeutic swimming pool, a bathtub, toilet, sink or bedpan or a spill. Additionally, the nurses are frequently covered in other fluids, such as beverages or even blood and other bodily fluids. If such fluids come into contact with the pager, the delicate electronic circuitry could be irreparably affected.  
         [0010]     As well, most facilities eschew the use of carpeting on their floor surfaces for a number of reasons, including issues of hygiene. As a result, in such facilities, the floor surfaces are often hard and bare, such as concrete or hardwood. Thus, the facility tends to be a harsh environment from the point of view of the pagers worn by the nurses.  
         [0011]     Because the pagers have a significant per-unit cost, and because the nature of their application requires specific programming and mandates that they remain in operating condition, the cost of a broken pager due to dropping and/or water damage is considerable.  
         [0012]     Moreover, as nurses go on and off-shift, it is not uncommon to forget to transfer over equipment used during the shift. In most cases, the equipment is personal to the nurse, or else can be easily substituted when such an omission occurs. However, in the case of the patient call pagers, such an occurrence could have significant deleterious effects. For example, a patient could initiate an urgent patient call, which would only be received by an off-duty nurse, and conceivably a considerable distance away from the facility.  
         [0013]     Furthermore, as nurses regularly change wards and areas of responsibility, the portability of pagers may result in improper distribution of the pagers at any given time, again with potentially disastrous consequences.  
         [0014]     A number of attempts have been made to provide enclosures for pocket pagers that are water- and/or shock-resistant.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,524 issued Feb. 29, 2002 to Kunert discloses a complicated user-replaceable component assembly, which permits replacement of components and devices such as portable electronic devices. An environmental seal is provided around the components to protect the inner circuitry of the electronic device. Shock-resistant mounting of the display panel beneath the keypad and accommodation for the electric connection between the keypad and the portable electronic device&#39;s inner circuitry is provided. However, Kunert requires the provision of a keypad on the enclosure, which is electrically connected to and substitutes for the keypad of the portable electronic device.  
         [0016]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,864 issued Nov. 11, 2003 to Richardson discloses a protective case for an electronic device that has a touch screen. The touch screen is protected with a membrane adapted to the specific contour and profile of the electronic device and allows the user to use a touch screen interface with no shortcomings. The protective case is further adapted to allow infra-red and other communication signals while the device is secured inside the case. Further, electrical connections can be made through the case without affecting the protection afforded the electronic device inside. The enclosure is in the form of a hinged clamshell device with external ribs that prevent torsional stresses thereon and internal foam inserts for shock-relief. Keypad and touch screen input may be through a sheet of thin plastic disposed within an opening in the enclosure and sealed in water-resistant fashion by the interposition of an O-ring between it and the enclosure opening. Thus, in assembling the enclosure, a number of components must be maintained in position simultaneously, which may be problematic, especially in a high-traffic environment such as at a facility.  
         [0017]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,274 issued Dec. 9, 2003 to Enners discloses a container for a PDA comprising a three dimensional enclosure open at one end and through which the PDA can be inserted. A clear rubber screen is positioned over the touch screen of the PDA, to provide touch point access thereto. The opening in the enclosure can be capped by a cover having an O-ring across an internal projection, which matingly engages with the open end of the cover to provide a water-resistant seal. The rubber screen is integral with or permanently affixed to the enclosure, which provides significant difficulties in construction and precludes the replacement of the screen in the event of a tear or rupture. As well, the use of clear rubber would appear to significantly increase the cost of construction. Furthermore, the material may not be highly conducive to accurate data entry therethrough, or to visibility of the visual outputs of the pager.  
         [0018]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,119 issued May 30, 2000 to Derr et al discloses a waterproof protective device for holding an apparatus having an interaction field formed from a dimensionally stable protective housing having lower and upper housing parts. The two parts are releasably hingedly connected together and an inside contour of the protective housing is adapted and constructed to closely receive the apparatus with approximately no play. The protective housing is provided with a transparent elastically flexible operating area of reduced wall thickness to enable an interaction field to be viewed and manipulated while encased within the enclosure. A seal is provided between the two parts in the form of a mating circumferential groove and rim, one or both of which may be provided with lips. Derr et al&#39;s apparatus renders it awkward to insert the pager into and remove the pager from the enclosure. A separate pusher must be used to urge the pager out of the enclosure.  
         [0019]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,256 issued Jun. 6, 1989 to Meliconi discloses a shock-proof protective sheath for television remote controls, which comprises a hollow container and holder element, embodied in shock proof material that substantially matches and hugs the external profile of the appliance it encompasses. It is provided with at least two openings, one of which affords access to the remote control&#39;s push buttons and the other of which allows passage of the controlled pulses. The window on the front of the sheath, corresponding to the push buttons of the remote control is covered by a thin plastic material, welded or affixed by adhesive strip to the edges of the opening in the sheath, which allows buttons to be pressed while maintaining water tightness. Again, the permanent attachment of the window within the sheath increases the difficulty and cost of construction and precludes easy replacement of the screen in the event of a tear or a rupture.  
         [0020]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,852 issued Feb. 20, 1990 to King discloses a protective cover for pagers comprising a film of transparent stretchable material (e.g. 595HC silicon plastic) formed to cover the top, four sides and at least a portion of the bottom of a pager. The cover includes accordion-type pleats, which are positioned to reside adjacent switches, a belt clip and the like, to allow operation thereof. While some modicum of watertightness may be provided, subject to the size and positioning of openings in the enclosure, King&#39;s enclosure provides no means of shock-resistance.  
         [0021]     U.S. Design Pat. No. D455,730 issued Apr. 16, 2002 to Hakim-Nelson discloses a case of a certain dimension adapted to fit the pager, constructed of an entirely transparent material Protrusions are provided to accommodate push buttons. Access to the enclosure is through a removable door. Again, there appears to be only minimal shock-resistance to Hakim-Nelson&#39;s enclosure.  
         [0022]     Finally, PCT International Application No. PCT/FI03/00434 published Dec. 11, 2003 in the name of Bordi discloses a case where an electronic device includes a watertight and at least partly transparent case body substantially corresponding to the shape of the electronic device, the case being open at one end, as well as the lid watertightly closing the open end of the case body. It also includes an annular intermediate part on which both the case body and the lid are supported and to which they can be latched. The case body includes an annular supporting surface and the lid includes an annular pressure contact area, so that when closing the lid, the sealing flange is pressed in between the supporting surface and the pressure contact area thereby closing the space defined by the lid and the case body.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an enclosure for a pocket pager that is water-resistant. It is further desirable to provide an enclosure for a pocket pager that is shock-resistant.  
         [0024]     Still further, it is desirable to provide an enclosure that nevertheless permits the user to conveniently receive the visual, audible and/or tactile outputs of the pager and to provide inputs to the pager while in the enclosure.  
         [0025]     Moreover, it is desirable to provide an enclosure that permits easy removal of the pager for maintenance and other purposes.  
         [0026]     It is also desirable to provide a means for automatically ensuring that the pager does not inadvertently leave the designated facility. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a means whereby the region with which a particular pager is to be associated can be easily and quickly identified.  
         [0027]     Finally, it is desirable to provide such a mechanism at a low cost and with ease of manufacture and simplicity of construction and of assembly and capable of easy and inexpensive repair of broken or ruptured components.  
         [0028]     The present invention accomplishes these aims by providing a pager enclosure that comprises an open-topped bottom container that is padded with foam adhesive inserts, a removable transparent film that spans the top of the container and is supported by the foam inserts and an annular cover that is removably hinged to the container and can be quickly affixed thereto to seal the film to the container. Optionally, the container can be fitted with an RFID or other passive identification device to identify if the enclosed pager is being transported outside the facility and to trigger an indication to this effect.  
         [0029]     The cover is fitted with an integral and removable hinge assembly that fits into a slot in the container and that permits the enclosure to be easily opened to insert and remove a pager therefrom. The cover may be constructed of anodized aluminum and coloured to provide visual feedback as to the ward or wing with which it is associated. The cover also provides a means for attachment to the body of the user, such as by an extendible clip.  
         [0030]     A plurality of screws extend through the cover to fix it through the film and to the bottom container.  
         [0031]     According to a broad aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed an enclosure for a wireless device having visual outputs and capable of accepting and processing pressure inputs comprising: 
    a) a bottom portion with an open top;     b) reinforcements along the bottom portion, the reinforced bottom portion being adapted to accept and enclose the wireless device in a snug fit and to cushion the wireless device from shock;     c) a flexible, tear-resistant transparent film capable of accepting and transmitting pressure inputs to the wireless device, the film being supportable by the reinforcements of the bottom portion and adapted to completely cover the wireless device and the bottom portion at the top thereof;     d) a removable cover adapted to press the film against the reinforcements to produce a water-resistant seal about the wireless device;     e) a removable hinge assembly adapted to releasably attach the cover to the bottom portion in hinged engagement; and     f) fixing elements to secure the cover portion about the film and bottom portion.   
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]     The embodiments of the present invention will now be described by reference to the following figures, in which identical reference numerals in different figures indicate identical elements and in which:  
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the enclosure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in use, with the cover in the open position;  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 2A  is a partial exploded perspective view of the bottom container and foam strips of the enclosure of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view seen from the bottom of the enclosure of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0043]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  4 , there is shown an enclosure generally at  10 , comprising an open-topped bottom container  20 , a removable plastic film  40 , a removably-hinged cover  50 , a hinge pin  70  ( FIG. 3 ) and a plurality of machine screws  80  ( FIG. 3 ).  
         [0044]     The bottom container  20  is preferably injection molded out of a suitable thermoplastic such as an acetal copolymer plastic such as is manufactured under the Trade-mark DELRIN. Alternatively, it could be machined out of a light metal, such as aluminum.  
         [0045]     The interior dimensions of the bottom container  20  are sized to accommodate and completely surround a pager in a loose fit. In a preferred exemplary embodiment for use with a Commtech model No. 6120 pager, the outer dimensions of the bottom container may be 3.573″ long by 2.539″ wide by 0.955″ high.  
         [0046]     The bottom container  20  has a thickened bottom  21  and side  22  and end walls  23 . Preferably, the thickness of all three structures is the same. A thickness of 0.059″ has been found to be suitable in the above-described exemplary embodiment and is provided by way of example only. The thickened structures  21 ,  22 ,  23  provide a measure of shock absorbency in and of themselves.  
         [0047]     Both the interior and exterior surfaces of these structures  21 ,  22 ,  23  intersect in rounded edges and corners  24 , so as to minimize the potential for breakage and stress diffusion upon being dropped. In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the radius of curvature of the rounded edges and corners  24  may be 0.375″.  
         [0048]     The side  22  and end walls  23  terminate in a lip portion  25  at the open end of the container  20 . In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the width and height of the lip  25  may be, by way of example only, 0.157″ and 0.315″ only. A slight ridge extends vertically along the interior perimeter of the lip  25 .  
         [0049]     At one end (the “hinge end”)  26  of the container  20 , the lip  25  is given a curved vertical profile  27 . A longitudinal slot  28  extends part way along the hinge end  26  and a trough  29  extends from the curved profile  27  through the middle of the slot  28  and slightly beyond it. In the above-described exemplary embodiment, by way of example only, the curved profile  27  may have a 0.250″ radius of curvature, the slot  28  may be 0.787″ long and positioned 0.211″ from the outer edge of the lip  25  of the end wall  23  of the hinge end  26  and centred therealong. Moreover, by way of example only, the trough  29  may be centred along the end wall  23  at the hinge end  26  and extend inwardly along the lip  25  at a depth of 0.280″ to a penetration of the lip  25  of 0.276″.  
         [0050]     Spaced along the lip  25  are a plurality of bores  30  extending vertically into the lip  25  and partly therethrough. At least one of the bores  30  is positioned on the lip  25  opposite the hinge end  26 . Preferably at least one of the bores  30  are positioned along each side wall  22  proximate to the curved profile  27 . Preferably, the bores  30  are each filled with an internally threaded insert  31 , which may be manufactured of brass or other suitable material such as is known to those having ordinary skill in this art. The threads of the inserts  31  are adapted to accept a suitable machine screw  80 . In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the threaded inserts  31  are threaded to accommodate a No. 2 size screw.  
         [0051]     The shock absorbency of the bottom container  20  provided by the thickened bottom  21 , side  22  and end walls  23  is enhanced by the interposition of an adhesive foam strip  32  along the end walls  23  and bottom  21  of the bottom container  20  and supplementary foam strips  33  extending along each of the side walls  22 . The foam strips  32 ,  33  are each positioned such that they present a straight edge parallel to and substantially coplanar with the top surface of the lip  25  of the bottom container  20 . Preferably, the foam strips  32 ,  33  may be taken from a section of outdoor weatherstripping cut to an appropriate length. The foam strips  32 ,  33  may be, by way of example only, two segments of 1¼″ width outdoor weatherstripping of 3/16″ thickness, such as is sold by TAGO as model TA78537 self-adhesive foam tape, cut to 4.44″ and 2.3″ lengths respectfully, with the foam strip  33  cut lengthwise in half to supply both side walls  22 . In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the interposition of the foam strips  32 ,  33  will engage the pager in a snug fit within the bottom container so that no surface of the pager protrudes beyond the container lip  25 .  
         [0052]     Preferably, a ribbon strip  34  may be affixed to the non-hinge end  35  of the bottom container between the foam strip  32  and the end wall  23 .  
         [0053]     The plastic film  40  is a thin gauge transparent plastic sheet having dimensions approximately equal the length and width of the lip  25  of the bottom container. In the above-described exemplary embodiment, this could be 2.54″×3.37″. Preferably, the plastic film  40  is die cut to conform and correspond to the outer perimeter of the lip  25  of the container  20 , with holes  41  therein corresponding to the position of the threaded inserts  31  therealong. Suitable plastic film material may be static cling clear vinyl manufactured by Gerber Scientific Products Inc. as model No. AP50823 and having a thickness of 0.007″. However, so long as the plastic film  40  is sufficiently flexible to permit keypad button input through it without tearing or rupturing and to permit the visual displays to be read through it, any plastic film material would be satisfactory.  
         [0054]     The cover  50  is roughly annularly shaped, the outer perimeter  51  of which conforms and corresponds to the perimeter of the lip  25  of the bottom container  20 . Preferably, the top surface  52  of the outer perimeter  51  of the cover  50  is rounded over. A 0.094″ radius of curvature for the round over has been found to be suitable in the case of the exemplary embodiment discussed above.  
         [0055]     The inner perimeter  53  of the opening in the cover  50  is large enough to accommodate the entire viewing and keypad entry area of the pocket pager and preferably corresponds to the thickness of the upper surfaces of the foam strips  32 ,  33  in the container  20 . Preferably, the top surface  52  of the inner perimeter  53  is also rounded over, for example, by a 0.094″ radius of curvature. In the above-described exemplary embodiment, a button in the lower right corner of the pager extends slightly beyond the profile of the inner perimeter  53  and is accommodated by a concave bulge  54  in the inner perimeter  53 . Optionally, a corresponding bulge  55  is provided on the opposite side thereto.  
         [0056]     Preferably, the thickness of the cover  50  may be increased slightly along the area  56  of the bottom surface  57  thereof that does not directly correlate to the thickness of the lip  25 . A thickness of the cover  50  generally of 0.157″ and an increased thickness of 0.039″ over the area  56  has been found to be suitable in connection with the above-described exemplary embodiment.  
         [0057]     At one end (the “hinge end”)  58  of the cover  50 , a protrusion  59  extends normally from the bottom surface  57  of the cover  50 . The width of the protrusion  59  corresponds to the width of the trough  29  of the bottom container  20  and the height of the protrusion  59  corresponds generally to the length of the trough  29 . The protrusion  59  has a bore  60  extending entirely therethrough proximate to its farthest extremity. The diameter of the bore  60  corresponds to the diameter of the hinge pin  70  and may be 0.06″.  
         [0058]     At the hinge end  58  of the cover  50 , there is a stub preferably comprising an annular loop  61  extending outwardly and coplanar with the cover  50 . Preferably, the top surface  52  of the outer  62  and inner perimeters  63  of the loop  61  are rounded over in comparable fashion to the outer  51  and inner perimeter  53  of the cover  50 .  
         [0059]     A plurality of small bores  64  are drilled through the cover  50  at positions and diameters corresponding to the location of the threaded inserts  31  in the bottom container  20 .  
         [0060]     Preferably, the cover  50  is painted one of a plurality of distinctive colours during the manufacturing process.  
         [0061]     The hinge pin  70  is a cylindrical pin adapted to engage the bore  60  of the protrusion  59  of the cover  50  in a snug but sliding fit. The length of the hinge pin  70  corresponds to the length of the slot  28  of the bottom container  20 . The hinge pin  70  may be manufactured out of any suitably rigid material such as stainless steel, hardened steel or aluminum. Suitable hinge pins  70  may be manufactured from 18-8 stainless steel of suitable diameter, for example, having regard to the exemplary embodiment described above, of 1/16″, such as the ¾″ dowel pin manufactured by McMaster-Carr.  
         [0062]     The machine screws  80  are adapted to pass through the bores  64  in the cover  50  and the holes  41  in the plastic film  40 , to engage the threaded inserts  31  in the bottom container  20 . Preferably, the heads  81  of the machine screws are countersunk with a polygonal or other standardized screwhead socket  82  to permit the screws to be driven by a hex key (not shown) or an Allen key (not shown) of suitable dimension. In the exemplary embodiment described above, Type 316 stainless steel No. 2-56 5/16″ hex socket fully threaded machine screws manufactured by McMaster-Carr may be suitable.  
         [0063]     The assembly and operation of the present invention may now be described.  
         [0064]     Initially, the ribbon strip  34  may be affixed to the end wall  23  of the bottom container  20  at the non-hinged end  35  by adhering the foam strip  32  to the two end walls  23  and the bottom  21  of the bottom container  20 , taking care to ensure, to the extent possible, that the ends of the foam strip  32  extend roughly parallel and co-planar with the lip  25  or just below it.  
         [0065]     Then, the foam strips  33  may be affixed in like manner to the side walls  22 , again taking care to ensure, to the extent possible, that the upper ends of the foam strips  33  extend roughly parallel and co-planar with the lip  25  or just below it.  
         [0066]     Optionally, for reasons that will be discussed below, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag (not shown may be affixed to the bottom container  20  as well.  
         [0067]     At this point, the pocket pager may be firmly seated within the padded bottom container  20 , with its keypad and display facing up. The ribbon strip  34  may be laid out back over the bottom foam strip  32  towards the hinge end  26  and underneath the pager itself. The ribbon strip  34  thus provides a convenient mechanism to enable the removal of the pocket pager from the bottom container  20 , in the event that the pager needs to be reprogrammed or replaced, or the batteries need to be changed.  
         [0068]     The plastic film  40  may be overlaid on the lip  25  of the bottom container  20 , supported by the upper ends of the foam strips and optionally the pager itself. Care is taken to ensure that the holes  41  are aligned with the threaded inserts  31  in the bottom container  20 .  
         [0069]     The cover  50  may be assembled by inserting the hinge pin  70  into the bore  60  of the protrusion  59 . Then the cover and pin assembly may be connected to the container  20  by pushing the protrusion  59  with the pin  70  into the slot  28 . The protrusion  59  interacts with the trough  29  and the curved profile  27  of the lip  25  at the hinged end  26  to allow the cover  50  to move from a closed horizontal position in which the cover  50  is aligned with the container bottom  20  to an open vertical position so that the plastic film  40  and the pager can be easily accessed. This opening motion is facilitated by the loop  61  of the stub, which responds to downward pressure by forcing the cover  50  from the closed position to the open position. Throughout, the pin  70  interacts with the slot  29  in order to prevent the cover  50  from moving laterally away from the bottom  20  in the direction pointed to by the loop  61 .  
         [0070]     Thus, the stub  59  and the pin  70  cooperate with the slot  28 , trough  29  and the curved profile  27  of the lip  25  to form a removable hinge assembly from a small number of easily manufactured parts.  
         [0071]     With the cover  50  in the closed position, the area  56  of the bottom surface  57  that is of increased thickness comes into contact with the upper ends of the foam strips  32 ,  33  along the side  22  and end walls  23 , pinching the plastic film  40  between them and thus providing a strong water resistant seal of the pager enclosure  10 .  
         [0072]     Finally, machine screws  80  may be inserted through the bores  60  in the cover  50  and the holes  41  in the plastic film  40  and engage the threaded inserts  31  in the container  20 . When tightened, the machine screws  80  prevent any upward motion of the cover  50  relative to the container bottom  20  that might admit water into the enclosed area. Additionally, the interposition of the screws  80  precludes the separation of the cover  50  from the container  20 , so that the hinge pin  70  will not be misplaced. Finally, the added pressure imparted by the machine screws  80  on the cover  50  against the plastic film  40  and onto the container bottom  20  may contribute to the water resistance of the enclosure  10 .  
         [0073]     While so installed, the pager may continue to be operated. Visual output may be seen through the transparent plastic film  40  and keypad or other input may be made by pressing on the keys in the normal fashion, except for the interposition of the thin but tear resistant plastic film  40 . The use of non-visual outputs such as vibrating annunciators or audio cues may continue to be used while the pager remains in the enclosure. The thickened bottom  21  and side  22  and end walls  23 , together with the foam strips  32 ,  33  also contribute to slightly attenuate the volume of such audio cues, which may be very welcome to harried nurses on a busy floor.  
         [0074]     To remove the pager from the enclosure  10 , for example, to change its batteries, the machine screws  80  need to be removed using a suitable hex or Allen key. When this has been effected, the cover  50  may be lifted to the open position by applying downward pressure on the loop  61 . The loop  61  provides leverage to facilitate opening of the cover  50 . With the hinge pin  70  tucked inside the slot  28 , there is no danger of the stub  59  escaping the trough  29  or the pin  70  being lost. At this point the plastic film  40  can be removed and the pager can be lifted out of the container bottom  20  by pulling upwardly on the ribbon strip  34 .  
         [0075]     Any needed operations on the pager may then be conducted and the pager replaced in the foam, over the ribbon strip  34 . Incidentally, the enclosure  10  may be configured for left- or right-handed use by orienting the pager within the container bottom  20  such that the hinge end  26  of the container  20  lies to the left or right of the pager when properly oriented. The complementary bulges  54 ,  55  ensure that either orientation may be used without impinging upon the functionality of the pager within the enclosure  10 .  
         [0076]     The plastic film  40  may then be replaced and the cover  50  shut and properly aligned with the container bottom  20  by pushing the uppermost part of the cover  50  downward and to the non-hinged end  35  of the container bottom  20 . Then the machine screws  80  may be re-inserted and tightened to acceptable tolerances.  
         [0077]     The enclosure  10  may be attached to the body of nursing personnel by means of a chain, clip, ring or loop (not shown) that may be secured to the loop  61  in well-known fashion. The chain, clip, ring or loop need not be detached from the loop  61  in order to apply downward pressure on the loop  61  to open the enclosure  10  after the machine screws  80  have been removed. Preferably, where the enclosure  10  is to be worn by a nurse who may periodically have contact with an aggressive patient, the chain, clip, ring or loop may be a lanyard cord with a breakage feature (not shown) so as to minimize the risk of damage to nurses&#39; clothing.  
         [0078]     The optional introduction of an RFID tag within the bottom container  20  may be combined with sensor technology well-known in the retail sector to trace the position of the pager and optionally, to set off an alarm if the pager is inadvertently or otherwise removed from the premises, such as by posting sensors at all exits from the facility. Indeed, many facilities may already have such sensors installed, so that this functionality can be provided merely by minor software upgrade to the sensor software. Optionally, the sensor technology could be configured to pinpoint the location of the enclosure (and thus the pager and/or the nurse) at any given point in time, within the facility.  
         [0079]     The simple design of the enclosure, including the use of relatively universally available parts renders the manufacture of the enclosure straightforward and thus inexpensive. There are only two parts specifically designed for the enclosure application and each of these can be easily manufactured in quantity.  
         [0080]     The relatively few parts and innovative hinging mechanism permit the development of a water-resistant and shock-resistant enclosure for a pager that can be quickly and easily opened and re-closed in the event of any necessary maintenance operation on the pager, obviating any complicated positioning procedures during assembly or re-assembly.  
         [0081]     Despite these operational efficiencies, the inventive enclosure provides substantial water- and shock-resistance, which greatly extends the life of the pagers in the harsh and unforgiving environment of the facility.  
         [0082]     Furthermore, the use of colours on the cover  50  provides an easily visually identifiable mechanism by which pocket pagers can be distinguished, for example, those associated with one ward or wing of the facility can be easily identified from other otherwise identical pagers and/or enclosures.  
         [0083]     It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein, consistent with the present invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0084]     For example, the shape, dimension, composition and colour of the container bottom  20  and the cover  50  may be freely altered to accommodate other shapes and kinds of wireless devices in need of water- and shock-resistant protection, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell phones.  
         [0085]     Other embodiments consistent with the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the specification and the practice of the invention disclosed therein.  
         [0086]     Accordingly, the specification and the embodiments are to be considered exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being disclosed by the following claims.