Patent Publication Number: US-2006009175-A1

Title: Remote controller and ornamental device arrangement

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to a remote controller and more particularly, to a remote controller and ornamental device arrangement, which has the remote controller decorated with a floating ornament.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Conventionally, when using an electric/electronic home appliance (TV, Stereo system, or the like), the user must approach to the electric/electronic home appliance and then operate the buttons at the control panel of the electric/electronic home appliance. This operation mode is inconvenient to a person who is difficult to walk. In order to eliminate this problem, remote-control design electric/electronic home appliances are developed. By means of a remote controller, the user can control the operation of the controlled electric/electronic home appliance at a distance. A remote controller has operation keys or buttons on the top side for operation by the user. The monotonous outer appearance designs of conventional remote controllers do not attract consumer&#39;s eyes.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a remote controller and ornamental device arrangement, which has the remote controller decorated with a floating ornament so that the remote controller can be used as a display toy when not in operation. To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the remote controller and ornamental device arrangement comprises a casing, the casing comprising a bottom cover shell, a top cover shell covering the bottom cover shell, and a window in one of the bottom cover shell and the top cover shell at a front side thereof, the bottom cover shell and the top cover shell defining an ornamental device receptacle means; an ornamental device mounted in the ornamental device receptacle means and partially exposed to the outside of the casing; a circuit board mounted inside the casing between the bottom cover shell and the top cover shell; and a keypad mounted within the top cover shell and supported on the circuit board for operation by the user to drive the circuit board to output a wireless control signal through the window to control the operation of an external electronic apparatus. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a remote controller according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an elevational assembly view of the remote controller according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the remote controller according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view in section of the remote controller according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a remote controller in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of a casing  1 , an ornamental device  2 , a keypad  3 , and a circuit board  4 .  
      The casing  1  is formed of a top cover shell  11  and a bottom cover shell  12 . The bottom cover shell  121  comprises an accommodating chamber  121 , which accommodates the ornament  2 , a window  122  in front of the accommodating chamber  121  for output of signal from the circuit board  4 , a receiving space  123  adjacent to the accommodating chamber  121 , a plurality of hollow supporting members  124  suspended in the receiving space  123 , a battery chamber  126  holding a set of battery cells  127 , and a battery lid  128  covering the battery chamber  126  to hold the battery cells  127  in the battery chamber  126 . A plurality of fastening members  125  are installed in the hollow supporting members  124  to affix the circuit board  4  and the top cover shell  11  to the bottom cover shell  121 . The top cover shell  11  has an opening  111  corresponding to the accommodating chamber  121  of the bottom cover shell  121 , and a plurality of through holes  112 .  
      The ornamental device  2  is mounted in the accommodating chamber  121  of the bottom cover shell  12  and extended out of the opening  111  of the top cover shell  11 , comprising a transparent watertight shell  21 , a liquid (or a plurality of liquids of different specific gravity)  22  contained in the transparent watertight shell  21 , and a floating ornament  23  floating on the liquid  22  inside the transparent watertight shell  21 .  
      The keypad  3  is made of conducting rubber and supported on the circuit board  4  below the top cover shell  11 , having a thin-sheet base  31  and a plurality of press keys  32  protruded from the top side of the thin-sheet base  31  and respectively inserted through the through holes  112  of the top cover shell  11 .  
      The circuit board  4  is mounted inside the casing  1  and supported between the keypad  3  and the hollow supporting members  124  of the bottom cover shell  12 . When the user pressed on press key  32  of the keypad  3 , the circuit board  4  is driven to output a corresponding control signal through the window  122  to control the operation of the controlled electric (electronic) apparatus (not shown).  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , during assembly process, the ornamental device  2  is put in the accommodating chamber  122  of the bottom cover shell  12 , then the circuit board.  4  is placed on the hollow supporting members  124  in the receiving space  123  of the bottom cover shell  12 , and then the keypad  3  is placed on the circuit board  4 , and then the top cover shell  11  is covered on the bottom cover shell  12  over the keypad  3  and the circuit board  4  to let the press keys  32  pass through the through holes  112  of the top cover shell  11 , and then the fastening members  125  are respectively mounted in the hollow supporting members  124  and fastened to the top cover shell  11  to fixedly secure the top cover shell  11  to the bottom cover shell  12 . Thereafter, the battery cells  127  are set in the battery chamber  126 , and then the battery lip  128  is fastened to the battery chamber  126  to hold the battery cells  127  firmly in position. When assembled, the user can press the press keys  32  to drive the circuit board  4  to control the operation of the controlled electric (electronic) apparatus.  
      When holding the remote controller on the hand, the user can see the floating status of the floating ornament  23  on the liquid  22  inside the transparent watertight shell  21 . When not in operation, the remote controller is used as a display toy.  
      Further, the floating ornament  23  can be made to have the shape of an animal, plant, or cartoon character. Alternatively, the floating ornament  23  can be marked with a company&#39;s logo for advertising purpose.  
      Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.