Housing for a handheld computer
AssigneePalm, Inc.
InventorsFrancis James Canova, Jr., Jeffrey C. Hawkins, Traci Angela Neist, Dennis Joseph Boyle, Robert Gregory Twiss, Amy Aimei Han, Elisha Avraham Tal, Madeleine Francavilla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A handheld computer having a housing with a midframe construction is described. The housing includes a front shell and a back shell coupled to a midframe. The handheld computer also includes two accessory slots for a stylus or other devices on the left and right sides of the housing. The handheld computer also includes an infrared port which is an integral portion of the housing.
Claims30
A handheld computer, comprising:
- a housing including a midframe coupled to a front shell and a back shell, a substantial portion of at least one side of the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing, the housing capable of at least partially enclosing a plurality of components;
- wherein a section of the midframe extends partially inwards towards an interior of the housing so as to be enclosed by the front shell and the back shell.
A handheld computer, comprising:
- a housing including a midframe coupled to a front shell and a back shell, a substantial portion of at least one side of the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing, the housing at least partially enclosing a plurality of components;
- wherein the midframe is at least partially transmissive to infrared light.
A housing for a handheld computer, the housing comprising:
- a midframe having a front side and a back side, the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing;
- a front shell coupled to be adjacent the front side of the midframe;
- a back shell coupled to be adjacent the back side of the midframe;
- and
- wherein a section of the midframe extends partially inwards towards an interior of the housing so as to be enclosed by the front shell and the back shell.
A housing for a handheld computer, the housing comprising:
- a midframe having a front side and a back side, the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing;
- a front shell coupled to be adjacent the front side of the midframe;
- a back shell coupled to be adjacent the back side of the midframe;
- wherein the midframe is at least partially transmissive to infrared light;
- and
- wherein a section of the midframe extends partially inwards towards an interior of the housing so as to be enclosed by the front shell and the back shell.
A method of assembling a handheld computer, comprising:
- providing a housing having a midframe, a front shell, and a back shell, the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing, the housing at least partially enclosing a plurality of components;
- coupling at least one of the components to the midframe;
- and
- coupling the front shell and the back shell to the midframe so that the midframe separates the front shell and the back shell.
A method of assembling a handheld computer, the method comprising:
- providing a housing having a midframe, a front shell, and a back shell, the midframe forming part of an exterior of the housing, the housing at least partially enclosing a plurality of components;
- coupling at least one of the components to the midframe;
- and
- coupling the front shell and the back shell to the midframe, so that the midframe separates the front shell and the back shell.
A method for assembling a handheld computer, the method comprising:
- securing a plurality of user interface features to a midframe for a housing of the handheld computer;
- coupling a front shell for the housing to the midframe so that an interior surface of the front shell is adjacent to the midframe, the front shell being positioned on the midframe so that a plurality of openings on the front shell provide access to the plurality of user interface features secured on the midframe;
- and
- coupling a back shell for the housing to the midframe so that an interior surface of the back shell is adjacent to the midframe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.