Replaceable cover for handheld computer

Abstract

A handheld computer comprises a housing and a cover removably connected thereto by a universal hinge assembly. The universal hinge assembly includes a tubular member or arm having a proximal end fixedly (non-rotatably) secured to an edge of the cover and a distal end pivotally coupled to an edge of the cover. The pivotal coupling may comprise a ball and socket arrangement, a pin and slot arrangement, or any other type of coupling arrangement that enables universal pivoting movement and releasable attachment between the cover and the housing. The cover may include a cushion designed to abut a display screen mounted in the housing when the cover is in a closed position. A method of reconfiguring an encasement of a handheld computer having a cover releasably coupled thereto includes removing the first cover and replacing it with a second cover of a different type.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A handheld computer, comprising: 
 a housing; and    a cover releasably connected to the housing by a universal hinge assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The handheld computer of  claim 1 , wherein the universal hinge assembly allows universal pivotal motion between the cover and the housing.  
     
     
         3 . The handheld computer of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has an inner surface that faces a display screen when the cover is in a closed position, and wherein the inner surface of the cover faces a rear face of the housing when the cover is in an open position.  
     
     
         4 . The handheld computer of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has an inner surface that faces a display screen when the cover is in a closed position, and wherein the inner surface of the cover engages a horizontal work surface when the cover is in a stand position that maintains the housing at an inclined angle relative to the work surface.  
     
     
         5 . The handheld computer of  claim 1 , wherein the universal hinge assembly comprises a ball and socket arrangement.  
     
     
         6 . The handheld computer of  claim 5 , wherein the ball and socket arrangement includes a ball connected to the cover and a corresponding socket formed in an edge of the housing.  
     
     
         7 . The handheld computer of  claim 6 , further including a pair of movable pads located within the socket on opposite sides of the ball for releasably receiving the ball therebetween.  
     
     
         8 . The handheld computer of  claim 7 , wherein the pads are resiliently biased inwardly against the ball.  
     
     
         9 . The handheld computer of  claim 6 , wherein the ball has a non-spherical outer surface.  
     
     
         10 . The handheld computer of  claim 6 , wherein the ball has an outer surface including one or more depressions.  
     
     
         11 . The handheld computer of  claim 1 , wherein the universal hinge assembly comprises a pin and slot arrangement.  
     
     
         12 . The handheld computer of  claim 11 , wherein the pin and slot arrangement includes a pin connected to the cover and a corresponding slot formed in an edge of the housing.  
     
     
         13 . The handheld computer of  claim 1 , wherein the universal hinge assembly includes a tubular member fixedly coupled to a first edge of the cover and pivotally coupled to a second edge of the housing.  
     
     
         14 . The handheld computer of  claim 13 , wherein the pivotal coupling is provided by a ball and socket arrangement.  
     
     
         15 . The handheld computer of  claim 14 , wherein the ball and socket arrangement includes a ball provided on a distal end of the tubular member and a corresponding socket provided in the second edge of the housing.  
     
     
         16 . The handheld computer of  claim 13 , wherein the pivotal coupling is formed by a pin and slot arrangement.  
     
     
         17 . The handheld computer of  claim 16 , wherein the pin and slot arrangement includes a pin provided on a distal end of the tubular member and a corresponding slot provided in the second edge of the housing.  
     
     
         18 . A handheld computer, comprising: 
 a housing;    a first cover configured for releasable coupling to the housing; and    a second cover configured for releasable coupling to the housing,    wherein the first and second covers are of different types and one of the first and second covers is releasably coupled to the housing.    
     
     
         19 . The handheld computer of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second covers differ from each other by having different indicia on outer surfaces thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The handheld computer of  claim 19 , wherein the indicia on the outer surfaces of the first and second covers are selected from colors, patterns, textures, designs, pictorial images, graphic image, relief image, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The handheld computer of  claim 19 , wherein the indicia on the outer surfaces of the first and second covers are selected from business identifiers, sports team identifiers, educational school identifiers, names or initials, logos, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A handheld computer, comprising: 
 a housing; and    a cover releasably connected to the housing by a hinge assembly that allows universal pivoting movement between the cover and the housing.    
     
     
         23 . The handheld computer of  claim 22 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises a ball and socket arrangement.  
     
     
         24 . The handheld computer of  claim 23 , wherein the ball and socket arrangement includes a ball provided on a distal end of a tubular member attached to the cover and a corresponding socket provided in an edge of the housing.  
     
     
         25 . The handheld computer of  claim 24 , wherein the socket includes a pair of pads slidably mounted in the socket on opposite sides of the ball and biased into contact therewith.  
     
     
         26 . The handheld computer of  claim 22 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises a pin and slot arrangement.  
     
     
         27 . The handheld computer of  claim 26 , wherein the pin and slot arrangement includes a pin provided on a distal end of a tubular member attached to the cover and a corresponding slot provided in an edge of the housing.  
     
     
         28 . A handheld computer, comprising: 
 a housing;    a cover; and    means for releasably coupling the cover to the housing to provide universal pivoting motion between the cover and the housing.    
     
     
         29 . The handheld computer of  claim 28 , wherein the coupling means comprises a ball and socket arrangement.  
     
     
         30 . The handheld computer of  claim 29 , wherein the ball and socket arrangement includes a ball provided on a distal end of a tubular member attached to the cover and a corresponding socket provided in an edge of the housing.  
     
     
         31 . The handheld computer of  claim 30 , wherein the socket includes a pair of pads slidably mounted in the socket on opposite sides of the ball and biased into contact therewith.  
     
     
         32 . The handheld computer of  claim 28 , wherein the coupling means comprises a rod and groove arrangement.  
     
     
         33 . The handheld computer of  claim 32 , wherein the rod and groove arrangement includes a rod provided on a distal end of a tubular member attached to the cover and a corresponding groove provided in an edge of the housing.  
     
     
         34 . A method of reconfiguring a handheld computer, the computer including a housing and a first cover releasably coupled thereto by a universal hinge assembly, the method comprising: 
 decoupling the first cover from the housing; and    releasably coupling a second cover to the housing, the second cover being of a different type than the first cover.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the decoupling and coupling steps are accomplished by moving the cover in a direction substantially transverse to an edge of the housing.  
     
     
         36 . The method  claim 35 , wherein the universal hinge assembly comprises a ball connected to an edge of the cover and a socket formed on an edge of the housing, the decoupling and coupling steps being accomplished by snapping the ball into the socket.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the decoupling and coupling steps are accomplished by moving the cover in a direction substantially parallel to an edge of the housing.  
     
     
         38 . The method  claim 37 , wherein the universal hinge assembly comprises a pin connected to an edge of the cover and a groove formed along an edge of the housing, the decoupling and coupling steps being accomplished by sliding the pin into the groove.  
     
     
         39 . A handheld computer, comprising: 
 a housing including a display mounted therein;    a cover pivotally connected to the housing by a hinge assembly, the cover configured to pivot between a closed position overlying the display and an open position that permits access to the display; and    an elastomeric material affixed to the cover and configured to abut the screen when the cover is in the closed position.    
     
     
         40 . The method  claim 39 , wherein the elastomeric material is affixed to an inner face of the cover.  
     
     
         41 . The method  claim 40 , wherein the elastomeric material is affixed to the inner face in the shape of an X.  
     
     
         42 . The method  claim 40 , wherein the inner face of the cover has a generally rectangular profile and the X-shaped elastomeric material extends to proximate at least one corner.  
     
     
         43 . The method  claim 40 , further including a plurality of feet on an outer surface of the cover.  
     
     
         44 . The method  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of feet are made from the elastomeric material.  
     
     
         45 . The method  claim 43 , wherein the outer face of the cover has a generally rectangular profile and the feet are provided proximate at least one cover.