BACKGROUND 0001 The present invention is directed to a housing and method for housing an electronic device, such as a telephone. 0002 Electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, typically employ housings to encase the communication electronics to protect the electronics from wear and tear. Since such devices are typically irregularly shaped, it is difficult to enclose the device with a one-piece housing. Typically, the housing is formed of separate front and rear portions that are attached, e.g., snapped, together around the electronics. A battery is typically attached via an electrical connection onto the rear portion of the housing. 0003 FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate various views of a conventional housing. FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of a housing 100. The front portion 110 typically includes a keypad, a display, etc. FIG. 1B illustrates a side view, with the front portion 110 and rear portion 120 disconnected. FIG. 1C illustrates a side view, with the front portion 110 and rear portion 120 connected. Although not shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C for ease of illustration, a battery is typically attached onto the rear portion 120 via an electrical connector 125. FIG. 1D illustrates a bottom view with the front portion 110 and rear portion 120 disconnected. 0004 As can be seen from FIG. 1C, when the portions of the housing are connected, a seam 130 exists between the front portion 110 and the rear portion 120. This results in a housing that is not very rugged. Due to the seam, the housing tends to squeak and move when squeezed. Also, problems arise in fitting the different portions together, causing cosmetic and manufacturing problems, such as mismatch between the parts. This problem is further complicated by the emergence of interchangeable covers which have become popular as they allow the user to change the cosmetics of the telephone. 0005 Attempts have been made to improve the design, e.g., by making the tolerance requirements of the size of each part very high, so that the parts fit closely together. While this improves the ruggedness of the housing, it adds to the cost. 0006 To improve the fit of the different portions, ribs, lips, styling grooves and other features have been added to the housing. Examples of these are shown in FIG. 1B. While these improve the fit of the different portions, they add to the complexity and costs and result in a less rugged device. 0007 To improve the durability of the housing, metal has been used instead of plastic to increase stiffness. This adds to the cost and sometimes the weight of the device. 0008 There is thus a need for a simple, low-cost, rugged housing for an electronic device.

SUMMARY 0009 It is an object of the present invention to provide a rugged housing for an electronic device with a minimal number of parts. 0010 This and other objects are met by a housing for an electronic device and a method for assembling the housing. According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device has sides extending across a length and width of the device, a top extending across the width and a thickness of the device, and a bottom extending across the width and thickness of the device. At least the sides of the device are shaped irregularly and unsymmetrically. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion surrounds the sides and the top of the electronic device in a continuous and seamless manner. The second portion is connected to the first portion and extends across the bottom of the electronic device. The second portion may be disconnected from the first portion for inserting component parts of the device into or removing component parts of the device from the housing. 0011 According to one embodiment, the electronic device may be a communication device, such as a cellular telephone. Component parts of the device that may be inserted into the housing by disconnecting the second portion include a power source, a keypad, and/or a display. The second portion may be integral to at least one component part inserted into the housing, such that the second portion is connected to the first portion by inserting the component part into the housing, and the second portion is disconnected from the first portion by removing the component part from the housing. 0012 The first portion may include one or more windows allowing interaction with the electronic device by a user, e.g., allowing the user access to a display and/or a keypad. The window or windows may be open or formed of clear or translucent material. 0013 According to an exemplary embodiment, the housing may be interchangeable with other housings for the electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0014 FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate exemplary views of a conventional electronic device housing; 0015 FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate exemplary views of an electronic device housing according to an exemplary embodiment; and 0016 FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method for assembling an electronic device housing according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 0017 According to exemplary embodiments, a rugged housing design for an electronic device and a method for assembling such a housing are provided. The housing may be used to surround an irregularly and unsymmetrically shaped device, such as a cellular telephone. 0018 FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate an exemplary housing design according to one embodiment. FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of the housing 200, including a first portion 205 and a second portion 210. According to an exemplary embodiment, the first portion 205 surrounds the top and sides of the electronic device in a continuous and seamless manner, and the second portion 210 surrounds extends across a bottom portion of the device. 0019 The first portion 205 may include one or more windows covering components such as a keypad and/or a liquid crystal display (LCD), allowing interaction with a user. For example, in FIG. 2A, there is a window covering the display and multiple keypad windows, one covering each of the keys. As another example, there may be one window covering the entire keypad and/or one window covering the keypad and the display. The window(s) may be open or include a clear or transparent cover for protecting the keypad, display, etc. 0020 FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the housing 200, with the bottom portion 210 disconnected. When the bottom portion 210 is disconnected, component parts such as a battery may be inserted through the bottom. The bottom portion 210 may be made integral to a component part of the device, e.g., the battery. Thus, when the component part is inserted, the bottom portion of the housing is connected to the rest of the housing. 0021 FIG. 2C illustrates a side view of the housing 200 with the bottom portion 210 connected. FIG. 2D illustrates a bottom view of the housing, including the portions 205 and 210. 0022 As can be seen from FIG. 2C, there is a continuous seamless connection between the front, rear and top of the housing, forming a one-piece housing 200. This results in a rugged device. This housing has a much more solid feel than a housing such as that depicted in FIGS. 1A-1D and is free of the squeaks and rattles suffered by conventional housings. The appearance of the housing is also improved, since there is no styling groove between the case and cover. 0023 According to exemplary embodiments, a method for assembling a telephone includes the steps shown in FIG. 3. The method begins at step 300 at which a first portion of the housing is formed for surrounding the sides and the top of the electronic device in a continuous and seamless manner. The first portion may be formed to surround a device with sides that are shaped irregularly and unsymmetrically. 0024 At step 310, a second portion of the housing is formed for extending across the bottom of the electronic device and connecting to the first portion of the housing. The second portion may be disconnected for inserting component parts of the device into or removing component parts of the device from the housing. 0025 The portions of the housing may be formed by, e.g., injection molding. The molding may employ a floating core to form the inside between a normal cavity and core or a normal core for the inside with lifters for the front and rear. 0026 Once the housing is formed, the electronic device may be surrounded with the housing in one of various different ways. For example, the component parts of the electronic device, which may be fastened to a printed circuit board (PCB), may be inserted into the cavity formed by the sides of the first portion of the housing, and the second portion may then be connected to the first portion to surround the bottom of the device. 0027 Alternatively, only certain components of the device may be initially surrounded by the first portion, and the other components may be inserted into the housing at one or more additional steps. For example, a keypad and a display may be inserted through the window(s) in the first portion. Spring contacts may be used to hold these parts in place. Then, the material(s) covering the opening may be snapped into place. To repair the PCB, the window(s) and the display and/or keypad may be removed. As another alternative, the keypad and/or display may be inserted in place through the opening in the bottom of the phone. Next, the PCB may be inserted from the bottom and held in place either with snaps in the housing or screws. Also, a battery may be inserted through the bottom of the housing, before the second portion is connected to the first portion. 0028 Alternatively, the second portion of the housing may be integral to the components of the device. For example, the PCB or battery may have a plastic part that closes off the end of the housing. 0029 According to exemplary embodiments, a rugged housing is provided for an electronic device. In addition to being more rugged than conventional designs, the housing has further advantages. Also, the housing may be designed as a user changeable cosmetic cover. 0030 Although described above as a housing for a cellular telephone, it will be appreciated that the housing may be applicable to any electronic device, e.g., any wireless communication device. 0031 It should be understood that the foregoing description and accompanying drawings are by example only. A variety of modifications are envisioned that do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention. The above description is intended by way of example only and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way.