Protective devices for a mobile terminal

Abstract

This invention describes a protective device and associated method for protecting (including the protection from water and dust) a mobile terminal whether or not the terminal is in use, and for providing a hands-free operation of the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal can be a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a pager, a MP3 player, or any similar portable communication device or a mobile electronic device.

1 . A protective device for encapsulating a mobile terminal, comprising:
 a housing adapted to define an opened position for receiving a mobile terminal and further adapted to define a closed position for securing the mobile terminal therein, said housing is comprised at least partially of a waterproof material and being sealed in the closed position so as to protect the mobile terminal from an incursion of water and dust;   at least one of: an input component carried by said housing for receiving an input from a user of said mobile terminal, and an output component carried by said housing for providing an output to said user; and   a signal processor carried by said housing for converting at least one of: said input received by said input component to at least one signal for providing said at least one signal to the mobile terminal for processing, and at least one further signal received from the mobile terminal to at least one additional signal that said output component is configured to process for providing said output to said user.   
   
   
       2 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein said signal processor is configured to transmit to and receive from the mobile terminal radio frequency signals. 
   
   
       3 . The protective device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connection between said signal processor and the mobile terminal, wherein said electrical connection is for transmitting signals from said signal processor to the mobile terminal and from the mobile terminal to said signal processor. 
   
   
       4 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein said input component is comprised of at least one of: a microphone, and a keypad having at least one key. 
   
   
       5 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein said output component is comprised of at least one of: a speaker, and a visual display. 
   
   
       6 . The protective device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener for securing the mobile terminal within the protective device. 
   
   
       7 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is comprised of at least two portions mechanically coupled to each other and, when in said closed position, said two portions are firmly secured relative to each other. 
   
   
       8 . The protective device of  claim 7 , wherein said housing comprises all waterproof materials and further comprises at least one gasket between said at least two portions of said housing to create a hermetic seal and secure a waterproof operation in said closed position. 
   
   
       9 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is at least partially comprised of a transparent material. 
   
   
       10 . The protective device of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply carried by said housing for providing power to said input component, said output component and said signal processor. 
   
   
       11 . The protective device of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap attached to the housing for carrying the protective device. 
   
   
       12 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein said input and output components and said signal processor are removable from said housing while still being capable of communicating with the mobile terminal secured within the protective device. 
   
   
       13 . The protective device of  claim 12 , wherein said input component, said output component and said processor form a headset, and wherein transmitting signals between the headset and the mobile terminal comprises transmitting radio frequency signals or electrical signals between the headset and the mobile terminal. 
   
   
       14 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein said input component is a microphone and said output component is a speaker for providing a hands-free operation of the terminal device. 
   
   
       15 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is buoyant with the mobile terminal secured therein while in the closed position. 
   
   
       16 . The protective device of the  claim 1 , wherein at least one operational function of said mobile terminal inserted into said protective device is actuated using at least one corresponding button or at least one corresponding key of said protective device. 
   
   
       17 . A mobile terminal assembly comprising:
 a mobile terminal; and   a protective device in which said mobile terminal is removably disposed; said protective device comprises:   a housing adapted to define an opened position for receiving a mobile terminal and further adapted to define a closed position for securing the mobile terminal therein, said housing is comprised at least partially of a waterproof material and being sealed in the closed position so as to protect the mobile terminal from an incursion of water and dust;   at least one of: an input component carried by said housing for receiving an input from a user of said mobile terminal, and an output component carried by said housing for providing an output to said user; and   a signal processor carried by said housing for converting at least one of: said input received by said input component to at least one signal for providing said at least one signal to the mobile terminal for processing, and at least one further signal received from the mobile terminal to at least one additional signal that said output component is configured to process for providing said output to said user.   
   
   
       18 . A method, comprising:
 securing a mobile terminal in a housing of a protective device, wherein said housing is adapted to define an opened position for receiving the mobile terminal and further adapted to define a closed position for said securing the mobile terminal therein, said housing is comprised at least partially of a waterproof material and being sealed in the closed position for protecting the mobile terminal from an incursion of water and dust;   receiving an input from a user of said mobile terminal by an input component carried by said housing or providing an output to said user by an output component carried by said housing; and   converting by a signal processor carried by said housing at least one of: said input received by said input component to at least one signal for providing said at least one signal to the mobile terminal for processing, and at least one further signal received from the mobile terminal to at least one additional signal that said output component is configured to process for providing said output to said user.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said signal processor is configured to transmit to and receive from the mobile terminal radio frequency signals. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein transmitting signals from said signal processor to the mobile terminal and from the mobile terminal to said signal processor is provided using an electrical connection between said signal processor and the mobile terminal. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said securing of the mobile terminal within the protective device is provided using a fastener. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said housing comprises at least two portions mechanically coupled to each other and, when in said closed position, said two portions are firmly secured relative to each other for providing said protecting. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said housing comprises all waterproof materials and further comprises at least one gasket between said at least two portions of said housing to create a hermetic seal and secure a waterproof operation in said closed position for providing said protecting. 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said input component, said output component and said processor form a headset, and wherein transmitting signals between the headset and the mobile terminal comprises transmitting radio frequency signals or electrical signals between the headset and the mobile terminal. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 removing the mobile terminal and the headset from the housing such that the mobile terminal and the headset are configured to be utilized apart from the housing.   
   
   
       29 - 35 . (canceled)