Portable computer unified top case

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10152081-B2
Application number	US-201414185696-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2014
Priority date	Oct 13, 2008
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A top case assembly for a portable computer is disclosed. The assembly may include an integral unified (e.g., homogenous) top case formed from a single part. The integral top case provides an enclosure, frame and cosmetic exterior of the portable computer. The integral top case also serves as the primary structure of the portable computer. The assembly may include a variety of subassemblies such as keyboards, touchpads, circuit boards, and drives that are carried by the underside of the integral top case. The integral top case may be formed from aluminum slab that has been machined to form walls, openings, attachment areas and cosmetic areas of the top case.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable computer, comprising:
a keyboard;
a trackpad; and
a unified housing formed from a single core of metal material and housing the keyboard and the trackpad, the unified housing comprising:
a top wall defining:
a plurality of first openings, each respective first opening receiving at least a portion of a respective key of the keyboard; and
a second opening receiving at least a portion of the trackpad;

at least one side wall integrally formed with the top wall and having a generally uniform thickness, the at least one side wall defining:
an interior surface that defines at least part of an interior cavity; and
an exterior surface that defines an exterior side surface of the portable computer and is opposite the interior surface, wherein:

the at least one side wall includes, along the interior surface and opposite the exterior surface, a machined feature defining opposing surfaces of an undercut area and having a reduced wall thickness that is less than the generally uniform thickness; and
the undercut area is configured to receive an electrical component between the opposing surfaces.

2. The portable computer of claim 1 , further comprising an aperture that extends from the undercut area to an exterior surface of the portion of the at least one side wall.

3. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the component is a light emitting assembly.

4. The portable computer of claim 3 , wherein the light emitting assembly is configured to pass light from the undercut area to the exterior surface for use as a light indicator.

5. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the undercut area is characterized as having a depth such that the component is locatable within the depth.

6. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the single core of metal material is characterized as having a shape that substantially corresponds to a shape of the unified housing.

7. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the metal material of the unified housing is aluminum metal or an alloy of aluminum.

8. An enclosure for a portable computer, comprising:
an integral housing formed from a single slab of metal material, comprising:
a top wall defining:
a plurality of key openings, each respective key opening configured to receive at least a portion of a respective key of a keyboard; and
a trackpad opening configured to receive at least a portion of an input member of a trackpad; and

at least one side wall integrally formed with the top wall and defining:
an interior surface that defines at least part of a first cavity; and
an exterior surface that defines an exposed side surface of the enclosure and is opposite the interior surface; and

a machined feature formed into the at least one side wall, along the interior surface and opposite the exposed side surface, wherein:
the machined feature defines a second cavity having opposing surfaces; and
the second cavity is configured to receive an electrical component of the portable computer between the opposing surfaces.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the at least one side wall includes an opening that extends from the interior surface of the at least one side wall to the exposed surface of the enclosure and facilitates communication of an output of the component.

10. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the component is a light indicator.

11. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the second cavity has a depth that is greater than a depth of the component.

12. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the at least one side wall comprises a notched portion.

13. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the side walls that define the first cavity are associated with a first thickness and the at least one side wall abutting the second cavity is associated with a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.

14. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein a shape of the integral housing substantially corresponds to a shape of the single slab of metal material.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Theobald Matthew
• Ive Jonathan P
• Andre Bartley K
• Stringer Christopher
• Coster Daniel J
• Raff John
• Hopkinson Ron
• Brock John
• Ligtenberg Chris
• Goldberg Michelle Rae

Classifications

• G06F1/1679

  for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T29/4998

  Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material · CPC title

• G06F1/1628

  Enclosures for carrying portable computers with peripheral devices, e.g. cases for a laptop and a printer · CPC title

• G06F1/1658

  related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title