Configurable Shield for Hand-Held Electronic Device

Abstract

A shield for a portable electronic device includes a pouch with an opening sized to accommodate the portable device and a flap. The pouch includes shielding material inside the pouch and on the flap. When the flap is closed, the shielding material inside the pouch and the shielding material on the flap together substantially surround the device, thereby substantially preventing RF signals emitted by the device from leaving the shield, and further substantially preventing RF signals impinging on the shield from outside from reaching the device. When the flap is open, the shielding material inside the pouch and the shielding material on the flap leave a gap, thereby allowing RF signals emitted by the device to leave the shield, and further allowing RF signals impinging on the shield from outside to reach the device. The shield further includes a compartment for a charger and one or more power cord adapters.

1 . A shield for a portable electronic device comprising:
 a housing having
 an open-ended container element formed with an opening sized to allow passage of the device through the opening, and 
 a closure element having respective engaged and disengaged positions relative to the container element for selective engagement with the container element; 
   first shielding material carried by the container element wherein the first shielding material partially surrounds portions of the device that have been inserted through the opening in the container element; and   second shielding material carried by the closure element;   wherein when the closure element is in its engaged position:
 the container element and the closure element provide a compartment for the device; 
 the first shielding material and the second shielding material together substantially surround the device, thereby substantially preventing RF signals emitted by the device from leaving the shield, and further substantially preventing RF signals impinging on the shield from outside from reaching the device; and 
   wherein when the closure element is in its disengaged position, the first shielding material and the second shielding material leave a gap, thereby allowing RF signals emitted by the device to leave the shield, and further allowing RF signals impinging on the shield from outside to reach the device.   
     
     
         2 . The shield of  claim 1 , and further comprising a ground connection for the first and second shielding material. 
     
     
         3 . The shield of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a metallic element mounted to the outside of the housing; and   an electrical conductor connecting the metallic element to at least one of the first and second shielding material.   
     
     
         4 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein:
 the housing comprises an additional closure element having respective engaged and disengaged positions relative to the container element for selective engagement with the container element; and 
 when the first-mentioned closure element is in its disengaged position, the additional closure element can be moved to its engaged position to prevent the device from falling out of the housing. 
 
     
     
         5 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein:
 the container element and closure element are provided by a pouch with a folding flap; and 
 the housing further comprises a rigid tray that includes a plate and an upstanding frame whose inner dimensions define the opening in the container element. 
 
     
     
         6 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises an additional open-ended container element formed with an opening sized to allow passage of a charger through the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The shield of  claim 6  wherein when the closure element is in its engaged position, the closure element also engages with the additional container portion so that the additional container portion and the closure element provide a compartment for the charger. 
     
     
         8 . The shield of  claim 6  wherein:
 the additional container element is provided by a pouch; and 
 the housing further comprises a charger tray sized for insertion in the pouch's opening; 
 the charger tray includes a plate having a charger region; and 
 the charger tray's plate is formed with one or more upstanding elements configured to keep the charger within the charger region. 
 
     
     
         9 . The shield of  claim 8  wherein:
 the charger tray's plate includes at least one adapter-receiving region distinct from the charger region; and 
 the charger tray's plate is formed with one or more upstanding elements configured to keep a power cord adapter within the adapter-receiving region. 
 
     
     
         10 . The shield of  claim 6  wherein:
 the first-mention container element and the additional container element are provided by a pouch having first and second openings; and 
 the housing further comprises
 a rigid device tray sized for insertion in the pouch's first opening wherein the device tray includes a plate and an upstanding frame whose inner dimensions define the opening for the first-mentioned container element, and 
 a rigid charger tray sized for insertion in the pouch's second opening wherein the charger tray includes a plate formed with one or more upstanding elements configured to constrain the charger. 
 
 
     
     
         11 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first shielding material is formed as a layer inside the first housing portion and includes a portion that surrounds the opening in the first housing portion; 
 the closure element is formed as a flap that extends from the container portion, the flap having a proximal portion formed adjacent the opening and a distal portion; 
 the engagement position is a folded position where the flap's proximal portion extends across the opening; and 
 the second shielding material is formed on the flap's proximal portion. 
 
     
     
         12 . The shield of  claim 11  wherein:
 the non-engagement position is a folded position where the flap's proximal portion extends away from the opening so that the second shielding material is held away from the opening and does not contact the first shielding material. 
 
     
     
         13 . The shield of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 an additional open-ended container portion;   a battery charging device held inside the additional container portion.   
     
     
         14 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the first shielding material has at least a portion formed of a metallic mesh, a metallized film, or a metallized fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the second shielding material has at least a portion formed of a metallic mesh, a metallized film, or a metallized fabric. 
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A charger tray for use with a portable charger and one or more power cord adapters, the tray comprising:
 a plate having a charger region and at least one adapter-receiving region distinct from the charger region;   one or more upstanding elements configured to accommodate a portable charger and to keep the charger within the charger region; and   one or more upstanding elements configured to keep a power cord adapter within the adapter-receiving region.   
     
     
         19 . The charger tray of  claim 18  wherein the at least one adapter-receiving region is a plurality of adapter-receiving regions configured to keep respective power cord adapters within the respective adapter-receiving regions. 
     
     
         20 . The charger tray of  claim 18  wherein a peripheral channel is provided to accommodate a charger cord. 
     
     
         21 . An adapter comprising:
 a housing;   a first connector mounted to the housing; and   a second connector mounted to the housing, and electrically connected to the first connector;   wherein:
 the first connector is characterized by a first axis along which a connector complementary to the first connector can be moved for engagement with the first connector; 
 the second connector is characterized by a second axis along which a connector complementary to the second connector can be moved for engagement with the second connector; and 
 the first and second axes are perpendicular to each other. 
   
     
     
         22 . A charger cord adapter system comprising:
 a cord having a charger connector at one end and an adapter connector at the other end; and   one or more adapters as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first connector of each of the one or more adapters is complementary with the adapter connector on the cord.