Mobile electronic device with enhanced impact mitigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9124676-B2
Application number	US-201213431189-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2012
Priority date	Jul 13, 2011
Publication date	Sep 1, 2015
Grant date	Sep 1, 2015

Abstract

A mobile electronic device with enhanced impact absorber is disclosed. The device can include: a housing including a front and a rear housing; and a user interface, the rear housing including an impact absorber located on an outer most portion of the rear housing. Beneficially, the impact absorber can provide enhanced impact mitigation. The impact absorber can allow a mobile electronic device to sustain an impact and mitigate damage to the housing and components therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile electronic device with enhanced impact mitigation, comprising;
a housing including a front housing and a rear housing; and
a user interface,
the rear housing including an impact absorber located on an outer most portion of the rear housing including a bottom wall, and wherein a gap exists between the impact absorber and the front housing, wherein the impact absorber is generally U-shaped including a bumper on one vertical leg and a stopper on a second vertical leg and is configured to allow a threshold lateral travel parallel to a horizontal leg.

2. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the impact absorber is located on at least three walls.

3. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the impact absorber is located on at least each side wall in addition to the bottom wall.

4. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bumper portion is located on an outer most portion of the impact absorber.

5. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the impact absorber comprises a resilient and flexible material.

6. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the impact absorber comprises at least one of a polycarbonate material and a glass filled polycarbonate material.

7. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the threshold is defined by the stopper contacting a frame in the housing.

8. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a surface opposite the bumper is free from contacting a flange of the front housing.

9. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the housing includes a frame comprising a metallic material.

10. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the frame is connected to a printed circuit board, defining a reservoir area configured to receive reservoir components.

11. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the frame is connected to a printed circuit board, defining a reservoir area configured to receive reservoir components, the frame includes an upper portion and a lower portion defining a narrow profile height having an open top and an open bottom, the frame includes an interior portion configured to surround components in a predetermined arrangement and the open top being configured to receive components on the printed circuit board and the open bottom being configured to receive a battery.

12. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the rear housing includes a trim module located adjacent to an outer periphery of the rear housing.

13. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the rear housing includes a trim module comprising a generally rectangular dimension.

14. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the user interface includes a touch screen display connected to the front housing.

15. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mobile electronic device includes at least one of a tablet, cellular phone and mobile computing device.

16. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the impact absorber includes a first stage action configured to allow a threshold lateral movement from its original at rest position upon a bumper impact and thereafter the impact absorber returns back to its original at rest position, whereby the impact absorber absorbs a substantial portion of the impact force.

17. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the impact absorber includes a second stage action configured to allow a lateral movement upon impact of the impact absorber from its original position, the lateral movement defined by a stopper, and thereafter the impact absorber returns back to its original at rest position, whereby the impact absorber transfers a substantial portion of the impact force via the stopper.

18. A mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the impact absorber substantially isolates the front housing upon impact.

Assignees

• Allore Joseph L
• Weiss Gary R
• Wojack Jason P
• Google Technology Holdings LLC

Inventors

• Allore Joseph L
• Weiss Gary R
• Wojack Jason P

Classifications

• H04M1/0202 Primary

  Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03) · CPC title

• H04M1/185 Primary

  Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity · CPC title

• H04M1/026

  Details of the structure or mounting of specific components · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• H04B1/3888

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title