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TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an enclosure for a computer, and more
particularly, to a hand-held computer enclosure with a resilient molding
connected thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computers have been developed and utilized extensively in industry to
enable a person to work in a productive, time-efficient, and
cost-efficient manner. Hand-held computers, such as symbology readers and
scanners, have enabled workers to quickly scan bar codes or other
symbologies to identify or monitor virtually any item that can be labeled
with a given code or symbol. For example, maintaining accurate inventory
records or product location records can be easily accomplished by scanning
coded items on a regular basis.
Although the hand-held computers are very mobile, the units are fairly
fragile and susceptible to extensive repairs or replacement when the
computer is inadvertently impacted or dropped. In addition, hand-held
computers are often exposed to a variety of environmental elements during
the ordinary course of use, such as rain water, dust, other debris, and
electrostatic discharge that can damage the computer's internal
components.
Attempts have been made to create enclosures that protect hand-held
computers from impact damage and the environmental elements. U.S. Pat. No.
5,002,184 (Lloyd) discloses a removable soft case that engulfs an entire
computer and covers the computer's display screen only when the case is
closed. Such a case protects the computer but substantially increases the
size of the unit. While the closed case acts to cushion and distribute
impact loads across the computer's glass screen, this desired protection
does not exist when the case is open. Similarly, the case does not protect
the computer while in use from water, dust or other debris contacting the
display screen or penetrating into the computer through seams around the
screen.
Bumper strips of impact-resistant material glued to the computer housing
have also been used to protect hand-held computers. While a bumper strip
can provide some impact protection, the bumper strips do not provide
adequate protection at the corners or edges of the computer, which are
most often the areas subject to impact. In addition to inadequate impact
protection, the computer housing is still susceptible to damage from
water, dust, or other debris entering the computer's interior through
seams in the housing. Furthermore, no electrostatic discharge protection
is provided by the bumper strips.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The computer enclosure of the present invention includes a first enclosure
portion having a top panel with an integral display window and side panels
around the top panel. A resilient molding is securely attached to the
first enclosure so as to surround the first enclosure while leaving the
display window uncovered and thus unobscured. The molding is adapted to
receive a second enclosure portion having a bottom panel and side panels
around the bottom panel. The resilient molding that surrounds the side
panels of the first enclosure portion engages the side panels of the
second enclosure portion so as to form a seal between the first and second
enclosure portions.
In an illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the computer
enclosure has a first enclosure portion made from a translucent, rigid,
one-piece molded core. The molded core has the top panel, a seamless
display window integral to the top panel, and side panels having a flanged
portion at the bottom of the side panels. An elastomeric, impact-resistant
molding encapsulates the flanged portion, and a fitting of the same or
similar molding material attaches to the top panel adjacent to the display
window in a manner that protects the edges of the transparent window while
leaving the window substantially unobstructed. The top panel and the side
panels form a computer component receiving area into which a computer
display unit nests and can float or move relative to the first enclosure
portion. A resilient gasket connects to the first enclosure portion within
the computer enclosure along the display window's inside perimeter so as
to form an impact-resistant interface between the display window and the
computer display unit. The resulting computer enclosure creates an
impact-resistant enclosure with a seamless protective display area that
prevents water or debris from penetrating into the interior of the
computer enclosure.
Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment taken in
conjunction with the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded rear isometric view of a hand-held computer with a
resilient computer enclosure assembly in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, rear perspective view of the inside of a top
enclosure portion of the computer enclosure assembly of FIG. 1 with its
resilient molding and gasket removed.
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the inside of the top enclosure
portion of FIG. 2 with the resilient molding and gasket in place.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As seen in FIG. 1, a computer enclosure assembly 10 in accordance with the
present invention is shown in combination with several components
discussed below that make up a hand-held computer 12. The assembly 10 has
a bottom enclosure portion 14 and a top enclosure portion 16 which mate
together to form a computer housing. In the preferred embodiment, the
hand-held computer 12 is a symbology reader manufactured by Intermec
Corporation, of Everett, Wash.; however, the invention may be used with
any hand-held computer.
The top enclosure portion 16 is shaped to receive and protect a glass
computer display screen 18 that is flexibly connected to a printed circuit
board 20. The bottom enclosure portion 14 is shaped to receive an
accessory interface board 22 that is connected to the printed circuit
board 20 by a flexible connector cable 24. When the bottom and top
enclosures 14 and 16 are connected, the display screen 18, printed circuit
board 20, interface board 22, flexible cable 24, and other internal
computer components are enclosed and protected. The top enclosure portion
16 is adapted to receive on its exterior a removable keypad 26 that is
operatively connected to the printed circuit board 20 within the
enclosure, such that a user can input data or commands into the hand-held
computer 12.
The top enclosure portion 16 has a top panel 28 integrally molded with a
left side panel 30, a right side panel 32, a rear side panel 34, and a
front side panel 36. The top panel 28 and side panels 30, 32, 34, and 36
together form an internal receiving area 38 that receives the display
screen 18 and printed circuit board 20 fully therewithin. The entire top
panel 28 is molded from a plastic material with a transparent integral
display window 40 formed therein that extends to the front side panel 36
and the forward portions of the left and right side panels 30 and 32,
respectively. The display window 40, having a left edge 42, a right edge
44, a front edge 48, and a rear edge 46 is adapted to receive the display
screen 18 such that the user can read the display screen through the
display window while using the assembled computer 12. The top enclosure
portion 16 further has a generally flat face 50 adjacent to the rear edge
46 of the display window 40, the rear side panel 34, and the rear portions
of the left and right side panels 30 and 32, respectively. The rear edge
46 is raised from the flat face 50, thereby forming a vertical abutment 52
between the rear edge of the display window 40 and the flat face 50. The
flat face 50 is adapted to removably receive the keypad 26 such that the
edges of the keypad are flushed with the left, right, and rear side panels
30, 32, and 34, and the keypad's forward edge engages the vertical
abutment 52. The flat face 50 has an aperture 54 therein adjacent to the
rear side panel 34 that is shaped to receive an elastomeric electrical
connector 56 that interconnects the keypad 26 to the printed circuit board
20.
In the preferred embodiment, the top enclosure portion 16 is a one-piece
molded plastic core effectively forming half of the computer housing
having no seams around the display window 40 so as to receive and better
protect the computer components positioned therewithin. The integrally
molded, seamless display window 40 construction maintains the structural
rigidity of the top enclosure portion 16 to provide greater strength and
better durability for the assembly 10.
As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, an overmold or molding 58 made of a
resilient, impact-resistant, elastomeric material, such as Alcryn,
manufactured by the DuPont Corporation, or the like, engages the side
panels 30, 32, 34, and 36 of the top enclosure portion 16 so as to
surround the top enclosure portion while leaving the display window 40
unobscured. The molding 58 has a top face 60, a bottom face 62, an inside
face 64, and an outside face 66. The molding 58 effectively protects the
computer 12 from internal and external damage as a result of being dropped
or inadvertently impacted. In addition, the molding 58 also provides a
tactile surface that the user can better grasp while using the computer.
In the preferred embodiment, the molding 58 covers the lower portions of
the side panels 30, 32, 34, and 36 such that the uncovered upper portions
of the side panels can receive the keypad 26 and a resilient window
fitting 68, discussed in greater detail below, that surrounds but does not
block the display window 40. Accordingly, when the keypad 26 is installed
on the top enclosure portion 16, the keypad is affixed to the flat face 50
of the enclosure portion, and the uncovered sections of the left, right,
and side panels 30, 32, and 34, respectively, except for the display
window 40, of the top enclosure portion are covered. The keypad 26 has a
lower strip 70 made of resilient elastomeric material or the like that
protects the rear corners 72 of the keypad from impact damage. Thus, the
lower strip 70 of the installed keypad 26 works in conjunction with the
molding 58 around the rear portion of the top enclosure 16 to protect the
computer 12 from impact damage.
The resilient window fitting 68 is shaped to fit around the exterior edges
of the display window 40 and provides protection to its four corners 74.
The window fitting 68 is made of a resilient, impact-resistant,
elastomeric material, preferably the same material as the molding 58. The
window fitting 68 has a left section 76, a right section 78, a forward
section 80, and a rear section 82 that are interconnected to define an
aperture 84 through which the display window 40 is visible. The window
fitting 68 extends around an outer perimeter 86 of the display window 40
without blocking the display window, thereby allowing the user an
unobstructed view of the display screen 18 within the top enclosure
portion 16. The left, right, and forward sections 76, 78, and 80,
respectively, of the window fitting 68 each have a top surface 88 that
lies in the same plane as the display window 40 and a side surface 90 that
is substantially perpendicular to the top surface 88. The side surfaces 90
engage and cover the uncovered forward portions of the left, right, and
forward side panels 30, 32, and 34 of the top enclosure portion 16, and
the top face 60 of the molding 58 toward the forward end portion of the
top enclosure portion. The rear section 82 of the window fitting 68
extends along the vertical abutment 52 in a recess formed between the
abutment and the forward end of the flat face 50 of the top enclosure
portion 16. The rear section 82 is shaped so as to fit under and not
interfere with the forward end of the keypad 26 when it is affixed to the
flat face 50. In the preferred embodiment, the window fitting 68 is
adhered to the top enclosure portion 16 with a conventional adhesive,
although it could be attached using any other suitable process.
As best seen in FIG. 1, the top enclosure portion 16 with the molding 58
connected thereto engages the bottom enclosure portion 14 and is secured
in place with screws 92 or other conventional connecting devices. The
bottom enclosure portion 14 also has left, right, forward, and rear side
panels, 94, 96, 98, and 100, respectively, that are integrally molded with
a bottom panel 102, which together form the bottom half of the computer's
housing. The side panels 94, 96, 98, and 100 of the bottom enclosure
portion 14 are shaped to snugly engage the corresponding side panels 30,
32, 34, and 36 of the top enclosure portion 16 with the molding 58
attached thereto.
When the bottom and top enclosure portions 14 and 16 are assembled
together, the molding's inside face 64 presses against the side panels 94,
96, 98, and 100 of the bottom enclosure portion around the perimeter of
the assembly 10 and the top enclosure's side panels 30, 32, 34, and 36
snugly overlap the bottom enclosure's side panels. As a result, a seal is
formed between the top enclosure portion 16 and the bottom enclosure
portion 14. The resulting seal effectively prevents water, dust, or other
debris from getting within the assembly 10 and damaging the computer
components therewithin. The seal also greatly alleviates the risk of
damage from electrostatic discharge.
As best seen in FIG. 2, the top enclosure portion 14 is a molded core
having no seams between the integral display window 40, the top panel 28,
and the side panels 30, 32, 34, and 36. This prevents the possibility of
electrostatic discharge through seams or gaps around the window as can
occur with prior art hand-held computers. In the preferred embodiment, the
top enclosure portion 16 is made of a polycarbonate or the like that is
shaped to form a hard rigid core to which the molding 58 is permanently
attached. The top enclosure 16 is primarily translucent with the display
window 40 being transparent such that computer's display screen 18, as
seen in FIG. 1, is visible and not distorted through the display window.
Each of the left, right, forward, and rear side panels 30, 32, 34, and 36
of the top enclosure portion 16 has a flange 106 connected thereto along
the perimeter of the top enclosure portion. The flange 106 forms an
outward extending step or shoulder 108 having a top horizontal surface
110, a bottom horizontal surface 112, an outside vertical face 114, and an
inside vertical face 116. A plurality of channels 118 are formed in the
flanges 106 having relatively uniform spacing therebetween around the
perimeter of the top enclosure portion 16. The channels 118 extend through
the shoulder 108 fully between the top horizontal surface 110 and the
bottom horizontal surface 112, and along the inside vertical face 116. As
best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the molding 58 is molded over the top
enclosure portion 16 so that the molding connects to the side panels 30,
32, 34, and 36 with the flange 106 and shoulder 108 encapsulated within
the molding, thereby permanently securing the molding to the top enclosure
portion 16. Although the molding 58 can be connected to the top enclosure
portion 16 by different techniques, the molding in the preferred
embodiment is injection-molded around the flanges 106 and through the
channels 118 such that the molding is permanently and mechanically
connected to the top enclosure portion.
The preferred embodiment has a plurality of apertures 120 in the rear side
panel 34 rather than the flange and shoulder arrangement just described.
If desired, the flange and shoulder arrangement could be utilized around
the entire perimeter of the top enclosure portion 16. The apertures 120
provide openings through which the molding 58 can flow during the
overmolding, thus encapsulating and permanently bonding to a lower portion
of the rear side panel 34.
The preferred embodiment also has tabs 122 connected to the bottom edge of
the front side panel 36 of the top enclosure portion 16. The tabs 122
provide an additional surface to which the molding 58 bonds. As a result
of the channels 118, the apertures 120, and the tabs 122, the resilient
molding 58 is securely and permanently connected to the top enclosure
portion 16 such that the molding will not peal away from the top enclosure
portion over time.
As indicated above and referring back to FIG. 1, the top enclosure portion
16 is shaped to receive, inter alia, the printed circuit board 20 and the
display screen 18. The top enclosure portion 16 is designed such that the
printed circuit board 20 is securely held between the top enclosure
portion and the bottom enclosure portion 14, and the display screen 18 is
sized to fit loosely within a recessed area 124 between the top and bottom
enclosure portions immediately under the display window 40. Thus, the
display screen 18 is moveably held within the recessed area 124 in the top
enclosure portion 16. The top enclosure's relatively loose engagement of
the display screen 18 allows the display screen to float and move behind
the display window 40. This movement helps reduce the level of shock
transmitted to the glass display screen 18, thereby reducing the impact
damage to the internal components. An alternative embodiment of the top
enclosure portion 16, not shown, also allows the printed circuit board 20
to float, thereby dampening any impact force on the circuitboard.
The recessed area 124 is formed by the forward portions of the left, right
and forward side panels 30, 32, and 34 of the top enclosure portion 16,
and the vertical abutment 52. The recessed area 124 is shaped and sized
such that the display screen 18 is loosely received therewithin and is
held behind the display window 40. As best seen in FIG. 2, the recessed
area 124 has a narrow strip 126 extending about the perimeter of the
display window 40.
A plurality of engagement pins 130 extend downward into the recessed area
124 from the strip 126. The engagement pins 130 engage and secure a
resilient gasket fitting 132, as best seen in FIG. 3, around the display
window's inside perimeter. The computer display screen 18 loosely engages
the gasket 132 when assembled into the recessed area 124. The gasket 132,
which is made of an elastomeric material similar to or the same as the
molding 58, forms an impact-absorbing member that protects the computer
display screen 18 from impact forces. Thus, top enclosure portion 16 has
the display screen 18 nested within the recessed area 124 such that the
display screen floats and is effectively cushioned from damaging impacts.
In the preferred embodiment, the gasket 132 is connected to the engagement
pins 130 by injection molding the elastomeric material around the
perimeter of the receiving area 24. However, the gasket 132 can be
attached to the top enclosure portion 16 by bonding the gasket thereto
with a suitable adhesive.
Numerous modifications and variations of the resilient enclosure assembly
for a hand-held computer disclosed herein will occur to those skilled in
the art in view of this disclosure. Therefore, it is expressly to be
understood that these modifications and variations, and equivalents
thereof, may be practiced while remaining within the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined in the following claims.
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