Portable computing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10061361-B2
Application number	US-201615156178-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2010
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener configured to secure multiple parts, the fastener comprising:
a shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis; and
a head portion coupled with the shaft portion and aligned therewith along the longitudinal axis, the head portion having an upper surface and a recess extending therein from the upper surface along the longitudinal axis, wherein:
the recess forms a pattern having a central region, five lobes distributed around the central region, and five joining regions, each joining region formed between adjacent lobes;
each respective lobe of the five lobes extends outwardly from the central region and defines a respective outer perimeter that is concave with respect to the central region and has a partially-circular shape;
each lobe is immediately adjacent two other lobes of the five lobes; and
each of the joining regions has a pointed shape.

2. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the recess is configured for engagement with a driver portion of a driver tool with a shape and size that coincides with the recess.

3. The fastener of claim 2 , wherein the fastener is tamper resistant with respect to removal without using the driver tool having a driver portion with a shape and size that coincides with the recess.

4. The fastener of claim 2 , wherein the fastener is configured to become damaged when its removal is attempted without using the driver tool having a shape and size that coincides with the recess.

5. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein each of the lobes is substantially equal in size and shape.

6. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein each of the lobes is generally semi-circular in shape.

7. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the central region is distributed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis and the five lobes are spaced equally around the central region.

8. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein a point of each of the joining regions is directed toward the central region.

9. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the pattern includes exactly five lobes.

10. A pentalobe fastener, comprising:
a shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis; and
a head portion coupled with the shaft portion and aligned therewith along the longitudinal axis, the head portion having an upper surface and a recess extending therein from the upper surface along the longitudinal axis, wherein:
the recess forms a pattern having a central region distributed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis and exactly five lobes equally spaced around the central region;
each of the five lobes abuts adjacent lobes at an apex, thereby forming exactly five apices; and
each respective lobe of the five lobes has a semi-circular shape extending outwardly from the central region and extending from a respective first apex to a respective second apex.

11. The pentalobe fastener of claim 10 , wherein the recess is configured for engagement with a driver portion of a driver tool with a shape and size that coincides with the recess.

12. The pentalobe fastener of claim 10 , wherein the apices are directed toward the central region.

13. A computing device, comprising:
a first part;
a second part; and
a fastener securing the first part to the second part, the fastener having:
a shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis, and
a head portion coupled with the shaft portion and aligned therewith along the longitudinal axis, the head portion having an upper surface and a recess extending therein from the upper surface along the longitudinal axis, wherein:

the recess forms a pattern having a central region and five lobes distributed around the central region
each lobe of the five lobes is immediately adjacent two other lobes of the five lobes, thereby forming an apex between each adjacent lobe; and
each of the five lobes has a semicircular shape extending outwardly from the central region.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the pattern includes exactly five lobes.

15. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is a laptop computer.

16. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is a tablet computer.

17. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein each of the lobes are substantially equal in size and shape.

18. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the central region is distributed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis and the lobes are spaced equally around the central region.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Degner Brett W
• Abraham Euan
• Brock John M
• Casebolt Matthew P
• Coish Robert L
• Deforest Laura M
• Goldberg Michelle
• Hamel Bradley Joseph
• Hopkinson Ron
• Hwang Jim
• Kalinowski Caitlin E
• Keiper Steven
• Kessler Patrick
• Kim Eugene
• Ligtenberg Chris
• Osborn Jay K
• Raff John
• Rundle Nicholas A
• Yeh David J

Classifications

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• G06F1/1684

  Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title

• G06F1/1613 Primary

  for portable computers (cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202) · CPC title