Abstract:
A radio frequency identification fob is disclosed which includes a body and a cover engaged with each other as a fob to enclose a radio frequency identification device. The body and the cover are typically molded plastic. The engagement of the cover to the body may be via an elongated alignment ridge coupled in slideable manner in an elongated mating groove substantially along the major axis of the body. The cover may be secured engaged with the cover by a fastener that could include a releasable latch engaged with a catch. The fob could further include an attachment device such as a key ring to couple the fob to other personal items.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention resides generally in the field of enclosures for electronic circuits, and more particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a fob for RF responsive circuits.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An increasingly common personal accessory are smart cards which are utilized for diverse applications such as access control, biometrics, cashless payment and customer loyalty programs. These smart cards utilize transponders such as radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit electronics to exchange information with a host system via radio signaling. These smart cards are intended to be readily portable by an individual so as to be routinely carried by people. Thus, the RFID integrated circuits have been incorporated into small housings such as: a fob attachable to a key ring or other personal items; or a thin card such as a credit card or an identification card. The housing also serves to protect and preserve the electrical circuitry of these devices from the environment entailed in being frequently carried in a purse or pocket: inadvertent dropping, knocking, banging and hitting against hard objects. The housing can also protect against the introduction of foreign material to the electronics either from moisture by rain, mist or inadvertent dropping in water puddles or foreign particles such as dust, dirt and sand which can inadvertently occur in common use of the smart card.  
         [0003]     Most housings are either sealed around the integrated circuit electronics or the integrated circuit electronics are molded or formed directly inside the card or fob. However, this type of housing prevents access to the integrated circuit for repair, replacement or modification.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A portable radio frequency identification device fob is disclosed which includes a body having an interior volume adapted to partially enclose a radio frequency identification device while permitting the insertion or removal of the radio frequency identification device. A cover slides along the longest axis of the body to engage the body. This engagement results in complete enclosure of the radio frequency identification device inside the body and the cover so that the radio frequency identification device can no longer be removed from the body while the cover is engaged.  
         [0005]     In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a portable radio frequency identification device fob with a body having an interior volume adapted to partially enclose a radio frequency identification device. A cover slides substantially along the longest axis of the body to engage the body. This engagement results in complete enclosure of the radio frequency identification device inside the body and cover. A fastener affixes the cover to the body when the cover is engaged with the body.  
         [0006]     In one form of the invention, a portable radio frequency identification device fob is disclosed with a body having an interior volume adapted to partially enclose a radio frequency identification device. A cover is engagable with the body resulting in complete enclosure of the radio frequency identification device inside the body and cover. A fastener which can be easily disengaged affixes the cover to the body when the cover is engaged with the body. An attaching device is coupled to either the body or the cover.  
         [0007]     In another form of the invention, a housing for a portable radio frequency identification device fob is disclosed with a body having a first side wall, a second side wall and a front end wall with either an elongated groove or ridge that substantially circumscribes the first side wall, second side wall, and the end wall. A cover with either an elongated ridge if the body has an elongated groove or an elongated groove if the body has an elongated ridge is engagable with the body by a sliding movement substantially along the longest axis of the body using the elongated groove and ridge. The body and cover define an inner volume that is adapted to enclose a radio frequency identification device. A fixing mechanism made up of a latch, catch and a release aperture secures the cover to the body, the release aperture allows the latch to be easily disengaged from the catch, allowing the cover to be removed from the body. An attaching device is coupled to either the cover or the body.  
         [0008]     There are many advantages that flow from some of the embodiments of this invention. Some embodiments of this fob are molded out of plastic which provides inexpensive manufacturing and potentially provides the ability to manufacture surfaces that are somewhat resistant to moisture penetration without the use of gasket material, potentially making the fob water resistant, but not waterproof. In addition the plastic fob provides some insulation for the enclosed radio frequency identification device electronics from external voltage and protects the electric circuitry from physical damage and foreign materials. Other embodiments allow for repeated access to the radio frequency identification device electronics permitting actions such as changing batteries or switch settings, repairing or replacing the electric circuitry. In yet another embodiment the fob provides a decorative device that is convenient to carry. In still another embodiment the fob is coupled with a key on a key ring making locating the key easier.  
         [0009]     Other objects, embodiments, forms, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present invention shall become apparent from the detailed description and drawings included herein.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembled fob illustrating the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the disassembled cover and base of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the assembled fob taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3 ( a ) is an exploded cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3  illustrating the disengagement mechanism also taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG.1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the fob of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the body of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the cover of  FIG. 1  taken from below.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments and any further applications of the principles of the present invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
         [0018]     A preferred embodiment of a portable radio frequency identification device fob is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . Fob  10  is assembled from cover  60  engaged with body  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  which is a perspective view of assembled fob  10 .  
         [0019]     The engagement of cover  60  onto body  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 2  which is an assembly view of the preferred embodiment of fob  10 . Body  20  is illustrated partially enclosing radio frequency identification device  42 . Radio frequency identification device  42  is shown for illustrative purposes only. The novel fob housing structure described herein may be used with many other electronic devices. Cover  60  includes elongated alignment ridge  62  which preferably has a rounded cross section designed to fit in elongated mating groove  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Cover  60  is slideably engagable with body  20  though a sliding motion guided by elongated alignment ridge  62  riding in elongated mating groove  22 . This slideably motion is preferably substantially along the longest axis (not illustrated) of body  20 . Elongated alignment ridge  62  and elongated mating groove  22  secures cover  60  from disengaging from base  20  except through sliding disengagement. When cover  60  is engaged with body  20 , base mating surface  26  mates with cover mating surface  66  creating interior volume  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . An electronic device such as radio frequency identification device  42  is located inside fob  10  in interior volume  40 . When cover  60  is engaged with body  20  the electronic device is preferably secured within the housing created by cover  60  and body  20  such that the electronic device cannot be accessed or removed. However, when cover  60  is disengaged from body  20  it is preferable that the electronic device can be removed from body  20  allowing its inspection, repair, replacement or other activity requiring direct access to the electronic device.  
         [0020]     The preferred embodiment of the fob illustrating the engaged fit of cover  60  onto body  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  which is a cross sectional view of the assembled fob taken along line  3 - 3  from  FIG. 1 . Cover  60  is held affixed with body  20  by either a fixing mechanism or a fastening device or fastener composed of latch  50  preferably formed as part of or conjoining cover  60  and catch  30  preferably formed as part of or conjoining body  20 . When latch  50  is engaged with catch  30 , the holding edge  36  of catch  30  preferably is located against the holding edge  52  of latch  60  preventing the disengagement of cover  60  from body  20 . Engagement of latch  50  with catch  30  preferably automatically occurs when cover  60  is slid onto body  20  causing cover  60  to become affixed to body  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the sloped leading edge  56  of latch  50  interfaces with the sloped edge  32  on catch  30 . This interface preferably results in the defection of latch  50 , allowing bottom edge  54  of latch  50  to pass over top edge  34  of catch  30 . When cover  60  is sufficiently engaged into body  20  latch  50  will preferably return approximately to its original shape, preferably moving the bottom edge  54  of latch  50  inside release aperture  25 , allowing the automatic engagement of latch  50  over catch  30  such that holding edge  52  is engaged with holding edge  36 .  
         [0021]     Interior volume  40  is defined by the space inside body  20  engaged with cover  60 . Interior volume  40  is large enough to contain an electric device such as radio frequency identification device  42 . Radio frequency identification device  42  is illustrated smaller than interior volume  40  but this is for illustrative purposes only. Interior volume  40  only has to be large enough to accommodate the designed electronic device to be housed in fob  10 . Alternatively, interior volume  40  could be much larger than the electronic device housed in the fob.  
         [0022]     The disengagement of latch  50  from catch  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 ( a ) which is an exploded cross section from  FIG. 3  illustrating latch  50  being disengaged from catch  30  preferably using small tool  80  inserted into release aperture  25 , which is an opening for disengagement. Latch  50  is illustrated deflected by small tool  80  into elongated position  50 A. In elongated position  50 A, holding edge  36  of catch  30  no longer interfaces with holding edge  52  of latch  50  and bottom edge  54  of latch  50  is above top edge  34  of catch  30 , allowing cover  60  to be readily disengaged from body  20  by a sliding motion guided by elongated alignment ridge  62  preferably sliding in elongated mating groove  22 . Latch  50  is preferably constructed of a material adapted to permit repeated deflection of latch  50  allowing repeated engagement and disengagement of latch  50  from catch  30 . Once latch  50  is disengaged from catch  30 , cover  60  is preferably no longer affixed and is easily disengagable from body  20  allowing cover  60  to be removed from body  20 .  
         [0023]     According to the preferred embodiment, small tool  80  is used to disengage latch  50  from catch  30  because release aperture  25  is preferably too narrow to allow a finger (not illustrated) to disengage latch  50  by pushing against bottom edge  54 . In addition, bottom edge  54  is preferably recessed in release aperture  25  deep enough that the chance of inadvertent disengagement of latch  50  from catch  30  is diminished. Small tool  80  preferably is narrow enough to pass through release aperture  25  and long enough to reach and deflect latch  50  sufficiently to allow disengagement. On example of a suitable small tool  80  would be a small flat blade screwdriver.  
         [0024]     In the preferred embodiment, fob  10  is coupled to an attachment device such as key ring  72  which is coupled or attached to fob  10  through hole  70  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . However, it is envisioned that fob  10  could be coupled or attached to many other attachment devices, including, but not limited to, a clip, a lanyard, a chain or jewelry.  
         [0025]     Body  20  is preferably constructed of molded plastic. A suitable plastic is polycarbonate.  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of body  20  holding radio frequency identification device  42 . Radio frequency identification device  42  is shown as a rectangular box for illustrative purposes only. The actual shape may differ, such as to fit the length, width and height of the space within the fob. Interior volume  40  only has to be large enough to accommodate the designed electronic device to be housed in fob  10 . Elongated mating groove  22  preferably substantially circumscribes the circumference of the interior volume of body  20  through first side wall  27  end wall  24  and second side wall  28 . Elongated mating groove  22  preferably is substantially parallel with the axis of body  20  along the longest dimension of body  20  (not illustrated) on first side wall  27  and second side wall  28 . Elongated mating groove  22  preferably opens up on end wall  24  leaving room for catch  30  preferably molded or conjoined near the middle of end wall  24 .  
         [0026]     Cover  60  is preferably molded plastic of the same type as the body.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of cover  60  from below. Elongated alignment ridge  62  preferably circumscribes most of the outside circumference of cover  60 , with latch  50  preferably located approximately in the middle of the elongated alignment ridge  62  on the end of cover  60 .  
         [0027]     Radio frequency identification device  42  generally has the capacity to receive a signal and transmit a reply signal in response. Any conventional technique for producing transponder properties as would be known by one in the art could be utilized in radio frequency identification device  42 .  
         [0028]     In an alternate embodiment, body  20  and cover  60  may have an elastomeric coating (not illustrated). A suitable elastomer is Santoprene TPV. Such a coating could be applied by first injection molding body  20  and cover  60  undersized, then reinjecting the partially filled mold with the desired elastomer, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.  
         [0029]     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only selected embodiments have been shown and described and that all equivalents, changes, and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions as defined herein or by the following claims are desired to be protected.