User interchangeable ornamental portions of electronic devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for the customization of electronic equipment of which portable audio players, portable disc players, portable digital games and laptop computers are representative. The electronic equipment may be fitted with a substantially transparent faceplate that may cover removable inserts. These inserts may be customizable to provide unique decorative appearances to the electronic equipment upon which they may be fitted. Decorative designs may either be preprinted on the inserts or a user may produce a customized design.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A kit, comprising:
 an insert to be part of a faceplate of an electronic device; and   a medium to provide a user with machine code to enable the user to generate an ornamental design to print on the insert, the insert to be disposed in the faceplate with the printed ornamental design viewable by the user.   
     
     
         38 . The kit of  claim 37 , wherein the insert is part of a sheet that is cut to enable the user to punch out a shape suitable for use with a faceplate of the electronic device. 
     
     
         39 . The kit of  claim 38 , in which the sheet is a paper-based material. 
     
     
         40 . The kit of  claim 38 , in which the sheet is formed from a mylar material. 
     
     
         41 . The kit of  claim 37 , in which the medium comprises printed instructions directing the user to the machine code on a network server. 
     
     
         42 . The kit of  claim 37 , in which the medium comprises a machine readable medium storing the machine code. 
     
     
         43 . The kit of  claim 37 , in which the faceplate, insert, and a base are provided together in the kit to the user, the base and faceplate to be connected together with the insert inserted there between. 
     
     
         44 . The kit of  claim 43 , in which the faceplate is at least partially transparent to facilitate viewable access to the ornamental design. 
     
     
         45 . The kit of  claim 37 , in which the electronic device is a gaming device. 
     
     
         46 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a base; and   an outer portion including a blank insert to facilitate an ornamental design to be printed by a user, the design to be viewable through the outer portion wherein the outer portion is removably coupled to the base in a user interchangeable manner.   
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the outer portion includes a transparent faceplate and an ornamental insert. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the ornamental insert covers a portion of a surface of the base and the transparent faceplate is coupled to the base in the user interchangeable manner. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the ornamental design is a design that provides a unique appearance of the electronic device. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the ornamental design is a design that provides a unique appearance of the electronic device that is changeable by a user. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the ornamental design is a design that provides a unique appearance of the electronic device, relative to an ornamental design of a user interchangeable replacement outer portion. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the outer portion covers a substantial portion of a surface of the electronic device. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the outer portion is a front of the electronic device. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein an appearance of the electronic device is customizable by a user being able to interchange the outer portion of the electronic device. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , in which the base includes an insert retention mechanism to which the outer portion is removably coupled.