Enclosure for electronic apparatus having a cover catch member engageable with two different housing catch members

Claim 2

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor comprising: a housing including top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces, said housing defining an internal volume; an electrical apparatus disposed within said internal volume of said housing such that said housing and said apparatus provide a user interface region proximate to said top surface; a cover having a first portion coupled to said housing by a hinge such that said cover can be moved between a closed position substantially overlaying said user interface region and an open position substantially overlaying a portion of said bottom surface of said housing, whereby said cover protects said user interface region when in said closed position and exposes said user interface region for use when in said open position; a cover catch member coupled to a second portion of said cover; a first housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member when said cover is in said closed position; and a second housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member at said open position.

Claim 3

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical apparatus comprises a digital electronic apparatus.

Claim 4

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 2 further comprising a pressure sensitive screen coupled to said digital electronic apparatus that defines at least a portion of said user interface region.

Claim 5

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 2 wherein said user interface region includes a plurality of buttons attached to said digital electronic apparatus.

Claim 6

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 1 wherein said hinge is coupled to one of said side surfaces of said housing.

Claim 7

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 5 wherein said hinge is a compound hinge comprising a first hinge assembly coupled to a second hinge assembly by a linking portion, said first hinge assembly being coupled to said cover and said second hinge assembly being coupled to said side surface.

Claim 8

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 6 wherein said second hinge assembly is coupled to approximately the middle of said side surface, and wherein said linking portion is approximately one half of a height of said side surface.

Claim 9

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 7 wherein said side surface is provided with a communication port coupled to said digital electronic apparatus, and wherein said cover includes a open portion having no material therein for allowing access to said communication port in said open position, whereby said communication port is not covered by said cover in either said open or closed position.

Claim 10

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 8 wherein said linking portion includes two link hinges, said link hinges being positioned apart such that said open portion is provided between said link hinges.

Claim 11

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 1 further comprising a release button coupled to said first housing catch member which, when activated, is operative to disengage said first housing catch member from said cover catch member.

Claim 12

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 10 further comprising a spring member disposed between said cover and said top surface of said housing to urge said cover away from said top surface when in said closed position, whereby said spring member provides a tension between said cover catch member and said first housing catch member and causes said second portion of said cover to move from said top surface of said housing when said first housing catch member is disengaged from said cover catch member.

Claim 13

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefore as recited in claim 10 wherein said release button and said first housing catch member are formed as a unitary member.

Claim 14

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 11 wherein a pressure on said release button causes a withdrawal of said first housing catch member from engagement with said cover catch member.

Claim 15

An enclosure for an electrical apparatus comprising: a housing including top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces, said housing defining an internal volume; a cover having a first portion coupled to said housing by a hinge such that said cover can be moved between a closed position substantially overlaying a user interface region and an open position substantially overlaying a portion of said bottom surface of said housing, whereby said cover protects said user interface region when in said closed position and exposes said user interface region for use when in said open position; a cover catch member coupled to a second portion of said cover; a first housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member when said cover is in said closed position; and a second housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member at said open position.

Claim 16

An enclosure for an electrical apparatus comprising: a housing including top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces, said housing defining an internal volume; a cover having a first portion coupled to said housing by a hinge such that said cover can be moved between a closed position substantially overlaying a user interface region and an open position substantially overlaying a portion of said bottom surface of said housing, whereby said cover protects said user interface region when in said closed position and exposes said user interface region for use when in said open position; a cover catch member coupled to a second portion of said cover; a first housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member when said cover is in said closed position; and a second housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member at said open position.

Claim 17

An enclosure as recited in claim 14 wherein said hinge is coupled to one of said side surfaces of said housing.

Claim 18

An enclosure as recited in claim 15 wherein said hinge is a compound hinge comprising a first hinge assembly coupled to a second hinge assembly by a linking portion, said first hinge assembly being coupled to said cover and said second hinge assembly being coupled to said side surface.

Claim 19

An enclosure as recited in claim 16 wherein said second hinge assembly is coupled to approximately the middle of said side surface, and wherein said linking portion is approximately one half of a height of said side surface.

Claim 20

An enclosure as recited in claim 14 further comprising a release button coupled to said first housing catch member which, when activated, is operative to disengage said first housing catch member from said cover catch member.

Claim 21

An enclosure as recited in claim 18 further comprising a spring member disposed between said cover and said top surface of said housing to urge said cover away from said top surface when in said closed position, whereby said spring member provides a tension between said cover catch member and said first housing catch member and causes said second portion of said cover to move from said top surface of said housing when said first housing catch member is disengaged from said cover catch member.

Claim 22

An enclosure as recited in claim 18 wherein said release button and said first housing catch member are formed as a unitary member.

Claim 23

An enclosure as recited in claim 20 wherein a pressure on said release button causes a withdrawal of said first housing catch member from engagement with said cover catch member.

Claim 26

A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said step of separating said first catch member from said second catch member is accomplished by pressing a button coupled to said second catch member such that said first catch member is moved away from said second catch member.

Claim 27

A method as recited in claim 23 wherein said button and said second catch member move in opposite directions.

Claim 28

A method as recited in claim 24 further comprising the step of releasing said first catch member with said third catch member such that said cover may be repositioned over said screen.

Claim 29

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor comprising: a housing including top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces, said housing defining an internal volume; an electrical apparatus disposed within said internal volume of said housing such that said housing and said apparatus provide a user interface region proximate to said top surface; a cover having a first portion coupled to said housing by a first hinge such that said cover can be moved between a closed position substantially overlaying said user interface region and an open position substantially overlaying a portion of said bottom surface of said housing, whereby said cover protects said user interface region when in said closed position and exposes said user interface region for use when in said open position, and wherein said first hinge is a compound hinge comprising a first hinge assembly coupled to a second hinge assembly by a linking portion, said first hinge assembly being coupled to said cover and said second hinge assembly being coupled to approximately the middle of a side surface of said housing, wherein said linking portion is approximately one half of a height of said side surface; a communication port coupled to said electrical apparatus and provided in said side surface, wherein said cover includes a open portion having no material therein for allowing access to said communication port in said open position, whereby said communication port is not covered by said cover in either said open or closed position; a cover catch member coupled to a second portion of said cover; a first housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member when said cover is in said closed position; and a second housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member at said open position.

Claim 30

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor comprising: a housing including top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces, said housing defining an internal volume; an electrical apparatus disposed within said internal volume of said housing such that said housing and said apparatus provide a user interface region proximate to said top surface; a cover having a first portion coupled to said housing by a first hinge such that said cover can be moved between a closed position substantially overlaying said user interface region and an open position substantially overlaying a portion of said bottom surface of said housing, whereby said cover protects said user interface region when in said closed position and exposes said user interface region for use when in said open position, and wherein said first hinge is a compound hinge comprising a first hinge assembly coupled to a second hinge assembly by a linking portion, said first hinge assembly being coupled to said cover and said second hinge assembly being coupled to approximately the middle of a side surface of said housing, wherein said linking portion is approximately one half of a height of said side surface; a communication port coupled to said electrical apparatus and provided in said side surface, wherein said cover includes a open portion having no material therein for allowing access to said communication port in said open position, whereby said communication port is not covered by said cover in either said open or closed position; a cover catch member coupled to a second portion of said cover; a first housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member when said cover is in said closed position; and a second housing catch member coupled to said housing and operative to engage said cover catch member at said open position.

Claim 31

An electrical apparatus and enclosure therefor as recited in claim 26 wherein said linking portion includes two link hinges, said link hinges being positioned apart such that said open portion is provided between said link hinges.