Abstract:
An improved protector allows the operation of camera buttons to operate at greater depths through use of a “see-saw” mechanism proximate the camera buttons.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/814,432 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,368,748) and the entire disclosure thereof is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the protection of handheld electronic devices against traumas. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention addresses some of the problems with protecting handheld electronic devices (such as digital cameras, cell phones, video games consoles, handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs)) against environmental traumas (such as water and dust) and mechanical traumas (such as shock). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There is provided a protection for an electronic device having a function member and a display for user viewing, comprising: a synthetic skin that encases the device by snugly fitting thereabout to provide a water-tight enclosure thereof and permits a user to operate the function member by pressing the corresponding portion of said skin; wherein said skin has a hole that is dimensioned to permit the device to be inserted therethrough and manipulated to be encased by said skin, and said skin hole is profiled for visual alignment with the device display when the device is encased. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       All Figures herein are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment are explained or are within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific pressure, force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following Figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a digital camera and a skin therefor according to this invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of the skin of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a back perspective view of the skin with the back plate removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a back perspective view with a camera to be inserted into the skin. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the camera partially inserted into the skin. 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the camera partially inserted into the skin. 
         FIG. 7  is a back perspective view of the skin-encased camera about to be inserted into its housing. 
         FIG. 8  is a back perspective view of the skin-encased camera inserted into the front portion of its housing. 
         FIG. 9  is three views of a spacer and dial actuator fitted within the skin. 
         FIG. 10  is three views of a spacer and slide actuator fitted within the skin. 
         FIG. 11  is a dis-assembled perspective view of the lens protector. 
         FIG. 12  is the assembled view of the lens protector of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is the front perspective view of the skin for the camera of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 14  is the back perspective view of the skin for the camera of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the camera associated with the skin and lens protector of  FIGS. 11-14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a front and back perspective view of another embodiment of the skin for another camera. 
         FIG. 17  is a front perspective view of the opened lens protector for the skinencased camera of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18   a  is a front perspective view of a skin for a cell phone. 
         FIG. 18   b  is a back perspective view of a lock in open position, associated with the skin of  FIG. 18   a.    
         FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of a cell phone being inserted into the skin of  FIG. 18   a.    
         FIG. 20  is a front perspective view of a cell phone encased in the skin and locked. 
         FIG. 21   a  is a top view of a skin for a game console. 
         FIG. 21   b  is a back perspective view of a lock in open position, associated with the skin of  FIG. 21   a.    
         FIG. 22  is a top perspective view of a game console being inserted into the skin of  FIG. 21   a.    
         FIG. 23  is a front perspective view of a game console encased in the skin and locked. 
         FIG. 24  ( a ) is a front elevational view of the “see-saw” beam. 
         FIG. 24  ( b ) is a perspective view of the “see-saw” beam. 
         FIG. 24  ( c ) is a side elevational view of the “see-saw” beam. 
         FIG. 24  ( d ) is a top elevational view of the “see-saw” beam. 
         FIG. 25  ( a ) is a cross-sectional view of the “see-saw” beam within its support taken along plane A-A of  FIG. 25(   b ). 
         FIG. 25  ( b ) is a bottom plan view of the “see-saw” beam within its support. 
         FIG. 25  ( c ) is a side elevational view of the “see-saw” beam within its support. 
         FIG. 26  ( a ) a back view of the camera within its skin. 
         FIG. 26  ( b ) is a side cross-sectional view (taken along plane A-A of  FIG. 26(   a )) of the “see-saw” beam within its support in conjunction with the camera within its skin. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Notice Regarding Copyrighted Material 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     As seen in FIGS.  1  and  4 - 6 , camera  50  is of a conventional digital type with a viewing window  51  (e.g. a LCD screen) for the user, front lens  52 , and a plurality of camera function members generally identified as  53  and flash unit  54  (e.g. flash and red-eye reduction LED). Camera function members  53  include buttons to depress (e.g. shutter button, power button, four-way toggle) and members to rotate or slide (e.g. dial switch, jog dial, slider). 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1-8 , skin  100  is molded to provide a snug, form-fitting, “second skin” for encasing digital camera  50 . Skin  100  is made of a synthetic, water-proof material (e.g. silicon rubber) and provides to camera  50  waterproofing and protection against sand, dirt, scratches. Skin  100  also provides to camera  50  (by itself or within housing  200 , explained below) absorptive cushioning against minor impacts. Camera  50  fitted with skin  100  (as shown in  FIGS. 7-8 ) is considered to be “skin-encased” and will be termed herein as an “encased camera”. 
     All the contours of camera  50  (e.g. finger grips, front lens  52 , plurality of function members  53 ) are accommodated by skin  100  in a snug fit. Skin  100  is slightly thicker in some places (e.g. contour  104 , explained below) and is sufficiently thin elsewhere to permit easy manipulation by the user of all key camera function members  53  by pressing the corresponding portion of skin  100  (and also by manipulation of, for example, spring-loaded buttons in another embodiment of this invention, as described below). Most clearly shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , portions of skin  100  may be raised slightly to accommodate camera function members which protrude slightly from camera  50 . 
     Skin  100  has semi-rigid or rigid lens port  101  with tempered glass, to accommodate front lens  52  of camera  50  when encased. 
     Skin  100  has a clear (e.g. acrylic) plate  102  that is positioned so as to provide the user a clear view of camera viewing window  51  when camera  50  is encased. 
     Skin  100  has a hole  103  defined by a double-lipped, grooved contour  104  (best seen in  FIG. 3 ) that insertably (and also removably) accepts and holds plate  102  into a water-tight friction fit, as seen in  FIG. 2 . Plate  102  and associated contoured hole  103  are dimensioned at least to permit the user a complete view of camera viewing window  51 . Furthermore, plate  102  (and associated hole  103 ) should be of a size sufficient to permit camera  50  to be inserted therethrough completely so that camera  50  can be snugly fitted completely by skin  100  as a “second skin”, much like a diver dons a wetsuit, as seen in  FIGS. 4-6 ). The “second skin”  100  can be removed (i.e. camera  50  is “un-encased”) by the reverse process, i.e. removing plate  102  from contoured hole  103 , and then removing camera  50  through hole  103 . 
     Skin  100  is made conventionally (by injection or compression molding) from conventional materials such as silicon rubber or other synthetic material of like properties. The average thickness of skin  100  is about 1.5 millimeters but as mentioned above, is thicker in some places and thinner in other places. Skin  100  must be flexible enough to permit (through pulling and stretching, as shown in  FIGS. 5-6 ), the insertion of camera  50  into skin  100  through hole  103  and subsequent manual manipulation of camera  50  relative to skin  100  to conclude with the snugly fitting “second skin”, as described above. 
     Skin  100  may be transparent, translucent or coloured as desired (conventionally through the application of pigments in the skin molding process), with two advantageous exceptions. First, as seen in  FIG. 1 , skin  100  has a clear portion  105  for a flash from camera flash unit  54 . Secondly, skin  100  is darkened around lens port  101  (as seen in  FIG. 1 , and not in other drawings for simplicity of presentation therein) to block the light that would otherwise travel from flash unit  54  through skin  100  and adversely affect the intake of light through camera lens  52 . 
     Encased camera  50  is usable with aforementioned protections (against sand, dirt, scratching, moisture and like traumas) in a wide range of environments (e.g. in rough terrain or shallow water). For diving to greater depths with encased camera  50 , there is provided rugged housing  200 , as seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Housing is made of two shells or portions  201  (front) and  202  (back), hinged on one side and clampable tightly by conventional buckle-type clamping fasteners at the other side. Each shell  201  and  202  can be formed as a molded product of synthetic resin (e.g. polycarbonate) or other synthetic material that is impermeable to water and resistant to pressure. Conventional O-ring or other sealing mechanisms are provided with shells  201  and  202  so as to define a water-free space for encased camera  50  when shells  201  and  202  are clamped closed. 
     Shell  201  has lens port  204  to accommodate lens port  101  of encased camera  50 . Lens port  204  has an interior (of housing  200 ), inwardly and slightly opening cylindrical, semi-rigid plastic cowl or hood  203 , as seen in  FIG. 7 . Hood  203  gently guides and accepts lens port  101  of encased camera  50  when front and back shells  201  and  202  are clamped closed. Hood  203  is dark to block light from camera flash unit  54  traveling through/along shell  201  of housing  200  if housing  200  is translucent or transparent, again to prevent adverse effects of such light on the proper intake of light into camera front lens  52 . Hood  203  also assists in the moisture-sealing about lens port  101  when encased camera  50  is within clamped housing  200 , by providing a plastic, sealing cushion for lens port  101  to abut against. 
     Shell  202  has an internal rectangular plastic ring or presser  205  positioned so that when encased camera  50  is placed within housing  200  and back shell  202  is clamped to front shell  201 , presser  205  presses the perimeter of grooved contour  104  for urging a water-tight fit of plate  102  relative to hole  103 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , webbing  206  and other infrastructures within housing  200  snugly receive, align and hold properly encased camera  50  relative to hood  203  and lens port  204 , and relative to camera function actuators  207  (explained below). 
     The exterior of housing  200  has heavy-duty corner bumpers, finger/hand gripping surfaces for the ease of the diver, and other conventional members (not shown for simplicity of presentation in the drawings). 
     Camera function members  53  which are a depressible button have a corresponding actuator button  207  fitted on housing  200 , conventionally springloaded and sealed against water intrusion, and perhaps ergonomically advantageous (e.g. oversized) for use by a diver underwater. 
     Camera function members  53  which are rotatable (e.g. dial) are rotated by the diver with following actuator. As seen in  FIG. 9  (but not shown in the other drawings of skin  100  for simplicity of presentation), spacer  500  is lodged within skin  100 , and rotatably houses a combination of external turning wheel  501  attached to internal cap  502  that friction fits against a dial button (not shown) of encased camera  50 . Wheel and cap combination  501  and  502  are made of metal, stiff rubber or similar sufficiently rigid material. 
     Camera function members  53  which are slidable, are slided by the diver with following actuator. As seen in  FIG. 10  (but not shown in the other drawings of skin  100  for simplicity of presentation), spacer  550  is lodged at the corner of the top and side portions of skin  100  proximate a slide dial  531  of camera  50 . Spacer  550  rotatably supports an external turning wheel  551  which turns a friction wheel  552  that abuts slide dial of  531  and laterally moves slide dial  531  in a pinion style interaction when wheel  551  is turned by the user. 
     Spacers  500  and  550  are “insert molded” into skin  100  as it itself is being molded. Spacers  500  and  550  can be made of metal or non-metallic material (such as thermoset plastic) as long as that material retains its shape (e.g. does not melt) in the temperature range that the silicon rubber is being molded. To make skin  100 . The support provided by spacers  500  and  550  includes O-rings and other conventional mechanisms to resist water leakage. 
     Herein above, reference has been made to a “digital camera”, and a typical camera in terms of “form factor” representation has been illustrated in the Figures. This invention (and in particular, the skin and the housing thereof), are customizable to a wide range of cameras. Nothing herein is meant to limit this invention to a digital camera for still shots. For example, video cameras (or those having both still picture and video functionality) are within the teachings and spirit of this invention. Furthermore, skin  100  can be adapted for a wide range of cameras where the camera function members are operated by a depression, rotation or sliding movement. There might be some limitations for a camera where a very substantial projection must be accommodated (e.g. flash unit that pops up substantially or a lever switch that swings out substantially from the camera). But in these cases, skin  100  can be adapted to have a rigid or semirigid structure to accommodate the projection (e.g. along the lines of skin lens port  204  for lens port  101  of camera front lens  52 ). 
     One example of aforementioned adaptation is for cameras equipped with a zoom version of front lens  51 . Skin  100  lens port  204  can be adapted by equipping it with a silicon skin bellows to surround the projected front lens  51  (not shown for simplicity of illustration) and which expands from an initial rest position and contracts, in response to the projection or retraction of the zoom lens. Plate  102  made be of glass or transparent plastic but also may be made conventionally to provide a small magnification for the ease of the diver relative to camera viewing window  51 . 
     Without skin  100 , a camera within a housing like housing  200 , would suffer from condensation and consequent damage to the electronics of the camera. Skin  100  provides protection against moisture condensation within housing  200 . 
     As explained above, a skin can be adapted for a wide range of cameras of differing contours but there might be some limitations for a camera having a substantial projection to be accommodated. One particular, substantial projection—the zoom lens of the camera—invites special attention. 
     For many cameras, the skin can be adapted to have a rigid or semi-rigid structure to accommodate the zoom lens. Following the principles embodied in the example lens port  101  for camera  50  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), skin  900  will be explained in conjunction with  FIGS. 16-17 . But for some cameras whose zoom lens is very large or shaped unusually, the requisite adaptation of the skin may be difficult or costly to manufacture. This situation is addressed by a further embodiment of the skin explained in conjunction with  FIGS. 11-15 . For both of those size of cameras, a lens protector can be advantageously employed, as explained below. All cameras mentioned below differ between themselves and from camera  50  only in form factor (size, contours, actuator buttons and the like). For simplicity of illustration, not all features of such cameras will be illustrated and identified but essentially, all cameras have a lens, a viewing window or similar mechanism for the user, actuator functionality (e.g. slide knobs, push buttons and the like) and optionally a flash unit. 
     Lens protector  600 , skin  700  and associated camera  800  with large zoom lens  801 , are described in conjunction with  FIGS. 11-15 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , rigid lens protector  600  resembles a partial version of housing  200 . Lens protector  600  is formed by front shell  601  (with lens port  610 ) and back shell  602 , respectively corresponding roughly to the front and back of camera  800 . Front and back shells  601  and  602  are hinged at the bottom by a conventional pin mechanism and are secured at the top by conventional releasably lock  630  (e.g. rotatable lock mechanism) for creating, when closed like a shell, a water-resistant seal about camera  800  encased by skin  700  (explained below). 
     Although lens protector  600  resembles housing  200  in form and function (e.g. rigid lens port  610  provides protection to the zoom lens  801  against mechanical traumas like knocks and scrapes), one major difference is that front and back shells  601  and  602  are contoured to snugly accept (part of) front and back portions of camera  800  encased in skin  700 . In other words, there is no internal space intended between (part of) skin-encased camera  800  and the inside surface of lens protector  600 . The portion of the skin-encased camera  800  that is not protected by lens protector  600 , is available for gripping by the user and still enjoys protection against environmental traumas explained above. Front shell  601  is contoured with a lens port  610  to receive the zoom lens  801  of camera  800  (and resembles lens port  204  of housing  200  for camera  50  as shown in  FIG. 7 ). Lens port  610  has tempered glass  611  to align with the camera zoom lens  801 . Lens port  610  may be darkened to act as a light shield. For example, there may be internal hood  612  made of a soft, inner lining of black thermal plastic resin, that prevents the light of a flash of camera  800 , from contacting and spreading along skin  700  proximate the camera zoom lens  801  and spoiling the picture taken (whose principles were explained above in conjunction with darkened hood  203  and lens port  101  for camera  50 ). 
     Back shell  602  is contoured with a transparent plate  620  to align with viewing window (not shown) of camera  800 . Actuator functions (e.g. dial knobs) and other projections of camera  800  are accommodated by lens protector  600  and symbolized in  FIGS. 11-12  at  640 . 
     Details of the pin mechanism, locks, fasteners and sealing mechanisms interconnecting front and back shells  601  and  602 , are not shown in detail for simplicity of illustration. As with housing  200 , any conventional mechanisms known to those in the art, are acceptable (for examples, hinges, buckle fasteners, rotatable locks, O-rings) as long as front and back shells  601  and  602  close in a water-resistant seal about skin-encased camera  800 . The internal contours of front and back shells  601  and  602  generally follow the external contours of skin  700  when it encases camera  800 . In particular, the portion of lens protector back shell  602  about transparent plate  620 , the portion of lens protector front shell  601  proximate the base of lens port  610 , and the portions of skin  700  correspondingly aligned thereto when lens protector  600  is tightly closed about camera  800 , are each contoured so as to create a tight water-resistant seal when lens protector  600  is tightly closed about skin-encased camera  800 , in order to prevent moisture from entering aforementioned holes. In particular, back shell  602  has an internal rectangular plastic ring or presser  621  positioned so that when lens protector  600  is closed tightly about the skin-encased camera  800 , presser  621  presses the perimeter of grooved contour  713  of skin hole  711  (corresponding to the viewing window of the camera) for urging a water-tight seal therebetween to prevent moisture from entering therethrough. In particular, skin  700  has a circular contour  712  surrounding hole  710  that creates a tight, water-resistant seal with a corresponding internal portion of lens protector front shell  601  (not shown) to prevent any moisture from entering hole  710 . 
     Like housing  200 , front and back shells  601  and  602  (and in particular, lens port  610 ) can be formed as a molded product of synthetic resin (e.g. polycarbonate) or other synthetic material that is impermeable to water and resistant to pressure. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  show skin  700  for camera  800 . Skin  700  is another example of the “second skin” principles explained above in connection with the embodiment of skin  100  (as described in connection with  FIGS. 1-6 ). Skin  700  is contoured to fit camera  800  of a different form factor than that shown in  FIGS. 1-6  but the principles continue to apply. The major difference is that skin  700  has an opening  710  for the zoom lens  801  of camera  800  to extend through freely. Skin  700  has hole  711  profiled and aligned for the viewing window (not shown) of camera  800 . With reference to  FIGS. 16-17 , for a camera (not shown) whose zoom lens is not so difficult or costly to manufacture a “second skin” for, a variation is shown in lens protector  950  with clear (i.e. not darkened) lens port  951  that is a through hole for lens port  901  to extend through. Skin  900  resembles skin  100  (described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-6 ) but, for accommodating the large zoom lens, has a very extended and darkened lens port  901  (resembling lens port  101  of skin  100 ) that terminates with tempered glass  902  in a water-tight configuration. When the encased camera is assembled with the lens protector  950 , the tempered glass  902  is exposed to the environment. Lens protector  950  has an internal rectangular plastic ring or presser  952  positioned so that when lens protector  950  is closed tightly about the camera, presser  952  presses the perimeter of grooved contour  903  of skin hole  904  (corresponding to the viewing window of the camera) for urging a water-tight seal therebetween to prevent moisture from entering hole  904 . 
     Although one particular, substantial projection—the zoom lens of the camera—has been addressed above, this invention should not be limited thereto. The principles of mechanical protection against traumas, water-resistant seal and others described above, may be applied to other large projections extending from the camera or other underwater device. 
     Furthermore, the above principles of protection against traumas (mechanical and environmental factors like moisture and dust) may be advantageously applied to handheld electronic devices other than digital cameras. Protection will be described below for, as examples, cell phones (in conjunction with  FIGS. 18-20 ) and portable electronic games (in conjunction with  FIGS. 21-23 ). 
       FIG. 19  shows a typical form factor for cell phone  1590  (with keypad and other control buttons), and display  1595  (e.g. a viewing window or screen implemented as a LCD display). 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , skin  1600  is identical to skin  100  (for digital cameras, as described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-17 ) in attributes, material and function, except that it is contoured for snug encasement of cell phone  1590  and its form factor (with keypad and other control buttons, and display  1595 ). As with the digital camera above, cell phone  1590  fitted with skin  1600  (as shown in  FIG. 20 ) is described herein as “skin-encased” or “encased”. 
     Skin  1600  provides a complete water-tight, cushioned wrapper of cell phone  1590 , with the exception of skin hole  1601 . Skin hole  1601  is positioned in skin  1600  to align (for user&#39;s viewing) with cell phone display  1595  when cell phone  1590  is encased by skin  1600  as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . Skin hole  1601  is defined and dimensioned sufficiently for cell phone  1590  to be inserted therethrough (as shown in  FIG. 19 ), and afterwards, skin  1600  is adjusted and manipulated manually, much as a diver dons a wetsuit, to encase cell phone  1590 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 18   b , lock  1610  performs a similar function as housing  200  performs for digital cameras (as described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-17 ) in respect of the following aspect. The portion of skin  1600  around skin hole  1601  that is proximate cell phone display  1595  when cell phone  1590  is encased, needs to be in water-tight relationship with cell phone  1590 . Lock  1610 , when locked, presses that portion of skin  1600  to cell phone  1590 . Lock  1610  can be made of the same rigid material as housing  200  is but because it provides only a mechanism for effecting a water-tight fit around skin hole  1601  and not a rigid enclosure for the entire cell phone  1590 , lock  1610  needs only to be dimensioned and profiled to provide such water-tight fit. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 18   b  and  20 , lock  1610  has a transparent plate  1611  that aligns with cell phone display  1595  when cell phone  1590  is encased. Thus it is seen that there is visual alignment for the user along the axis of lock plate  1611 , skin hole  1601  and cell phone display  1595 . Lock  1610  has front and back halfshells or portions which are hingedly coupled by an integral plastic joint (shown) or by any other conventional hinge mechanism involving pins (not shown). Opposed to the hinge coupling, there is a conventional snap-fit, friction clamp or buckle-type fastener mechanism  1612  to effect a lock of lock  1610 . Front portion of lock  1610  has plate  1611 . Lock  1610  is profiled to snugly fit over skin-encased cell phone  1590  and when locked, provides a water-tight seal of skin  1600  about cell phone display  1595 . Lock  1610  front portion may have an internal rectangular plastic ring or presser  1613  positioned so that when encased cell phone  1590  is placed within lock  1610 , and lock  1610  is locked, presser  1613  presses the portion of skin  1600  around skin hole  1601  against or around cell phone display  1595  for urging and enforcing a water-tight fit therebetween. Plate  1611  may be made of transparent acrylic or similar synthetic material and may have magnification properties. 
     Alternatively (not shown), plate  1611  may be provided separately from lock  1610 , and skin hole  1601  may be contoured with a double-lip boundary or equivalent that snugly receives and tightly holds (separate) plate  1611  in a water-tight relationship after cell phone  1590  is skin-encased. 
       FIG. 18   a  shows skin hole  1601  as rectangular to correspond with the geometry of subject cell phone  1595  which is rectangular. Other dimensions and geometries of skin holes may be designed responsively to the dimensions and geometry of the subject cell phone display, as long as the dimensions of the skin hole and its position in skin  1600 , are such that the subject cell phone can be inserted therethrough for encasement, and when encased, skin hole aligns with cell phone display for viewing by user. For example, if the cell phone display has arcuate boundaries (e.g. the display is oval in geometry), the skin hole may be profiled and contoured with curves that still accept insertion of the cell phone therethrough, so that when the cell phone is skin-encased, the curvy skin hole aligns with the curvy display for user viewing; and lock  1610  (and plate  1611  and presser  1613 ) may be adjusted to align with the curvy skin hole. 
       FIG. 22  shows a typical form factor for video game console  1790  (with keypad and other control buttons), and display  1795  (e.g. a viewing window or screen implemented as a LCD display). 
     As shown in  FIG. 21   a , skin  1700  is identical to skin  100  (for digital cameras, as described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-17 , and for cell phones in conjunction with  FIGS. 18-20 ) in attributes, material and function, except that it is contoured for snug encasement of console  1790  and its form factor (with keypad and other control buttons and display  1795 ). As with the digital camera above, console  1790  fitted with skin  1700  (as shown in  FIG. 23 ) is described herein as “skin-encased” or “encased”. 
     Skin  1700  provides a complete water-tight, cushioned wrapper of console  1790 , with the exception of skin hole  1701 . Skin hole  1701  is positioned in skin  1700  to align (for user&#39;s viewing) with console display  1795  when console  1790  is encased by skin  1700  as shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . Skin hole  1701  is defined and dimensioned sufficiently for console  1790  to be inserted therethrough (as shown in  FIG. 22 ), and afterwards, skin  1700  is adjusted and manipulated manually, much as a diver dons a wetsuit, to encase console  1790 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 21   b , lock  1710  performs a similar function as housing  200  performs for digital cameras (as described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-17 ) and for cell phones (in conjunction with  FIGS. 18-20 ) in respect of the following aspect. The portion of skin  1700  around skin hole  1701  that is proximate console display  1795  when console  1790  is encased, needs to be in water-tight relationship with console  1790 . Lock  1710 , when locked, presses that portion of skin  1700  to console  1790 . Lock  1710  can be made of the same rigid material as housing  200  is but because it provides only a mechanism for effecting a watertight fit around skin hole  1701  and not a rigid enclosure for the entire console  1790 , lock  1710  needs only to be dimensioned and profiled to provide such water-tight fit. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 21   b  and  23 , lock  1710  has a transparent plate  1711  that aligns with console display  1795  when console  1790  is encased. Thus it is seen that there is visual alignment for the user along the axis of lock plate  1711 , skin hole  1701  and console display  1795 . Lock  1710  has front and back half-shells or portions which are hingedly coupled by an integral plastic joint (shown) or by any other conventional hinge mechanism involving pins (not shown). Opposed to the hinge coupling, there is a conventional snap-fit, friction clamp or buckle-type fastener mechanism  1712  to effect a lock of lock  1710 . Front portion of lock  1610  has plate  1611 . Lock  1710  is profiled to snugly fit over skin-encased console  1790  and when locked, provides a water-tight seal of skin  1700  about console display  1795 . Lock  1710  front portion may have an internal rectangular plastic ring or presser  1713  positioned so that when encased console  1790  is placed within lock  1710 , and lock  1710  is locked, presser  1713  presses the portion of skin  1700  around skin hole  1701  against or around console display  1795  for urging and enforcing a water-tight fit therebetween. Plate  1711  may be made of transparent acrylic or similar synthetic material and may have magnification properties. 
     Alternatively (not shown), plate  1711  may be provided separately from lock  1710 , and skin hole  1701  may be contoured with a double-lip boundary or equivalent that snugly receives and tightly holds (separate) plate  1711  in a water-tight relationship after console  1790  is skin-encased. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 21   b  and  23 , lock  1710  has hole  1714  to accommodate the keypad and other control buttons of console  1790 . 
       FIG. 21   a  shows skin hole  1701  as rectangular to correspond with the geometry of console display  1795 . Other dimensions and geometries of skin holes may be designed responsively to the dimensions and geometry of the subject console display, as long as the overall dimensions of the skin hole and its position in skin  1700 , are such that the subject console can be inserted therethrough for encasement, and when encased, skin hole aligns with console display for good viewing by user. For example, if the console display has arcuate boundaries (e.g. the display is oval in geometry), the skin hole may be profiled and contoured with curves that still accept insertion of the console therethrough, so that when the console is skin-encased, the curvy skin hole aligns with the curvy display for user viewing; and lock  1710  (and plate  1711  and presser  1713 ) may be adjusted to align with the curvy skin hole. 
     When camera  50  within skin  100  is submerged, the ambient pressure increases with depth. At a certain depth, the ambient pressure will keep some of the buttons in a pressed condition (for example, between 5 m to 8 m for normal spring-loaded push-button on electronic devices), rendering the camera nonoperational and thereby restricting the range of depth and enjoyment of the userdiver. 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 24-26  with the explanation below of how a “see-saw” mechanism addresses this limitation. 
     A “see-saw” beam  1800  is attached within skin  100 , and positioned relative to camera  50 , as follows. When camera  50  or other electronic device is inserted into skin  100 , two opposed seats  1805  of “see-saw”  1800  are positioned on associated camera control buttons  53 . Skin  100  has two bumps  55  on the outer surface corresponding to said opposed seats  1805 , that provides easy finger manipulation by the user-diver. Centrally between said opposed seats  1805  of beam  1800  is beam fulcrum  1806 . 
     “see-saw”  1800  is positioned within support  1850  and is loosely supported within channel  1810  therethough. Support  1850  has a centrally positioned, concave conical fulcrum support shoulder  1807  within which beam fulcrum  1806  pivots. 
     Support  1850  has legs  1851  which rest on a firm part of camera  50 . The ambient pressure will act equally on both sides of “see-saw”  1800  which acts to keep skin  100  separated from camera buttons  53 , thereby allowing user-diver to go deeper with camera  50  still in operational mode. 
     “see-saw”  1800  and support  1850  are made conventionally of polycarbonate plastic or equivalent. Skin  100  is internally profiled to form a pocket to friction-fit accept and hold support  1850  (and thereby “see-saw” beam  1800 ). 
     Alternatively, support  1850  can be part of the molding process of skin  100  so that it becomes part thereof. 
     “see-saw” beam  1800  can be a “2-seater”, as shown and described but can also be a “3-seater”, or a “4-seater” to be responsively protective of more camera control buttons  53  against the effects of the ambient pressure. Thus the “seesaw” can take the shape of a symmetric cross or symmetric Y-shape, with, respectively, four and three seats at the distal ends of each beam portion thereof radiating from a central fulcrum, operating much like the basic “2-seater” “seesaw” beam  1800 . 
     Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top”, “bottom”, “first”, “second”, “inside”, “outside”, “edge”, “side”, “front”, “back”, “length”, “width”, “inner”, “outer”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention. 
     Although the method, skin and apparatus of the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.