Housing features of an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10218827-B2
Application number	US-201715449797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2017
Priority date	Sep 8, 2014
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

An enclosure and a method for forming an enclosure are disclosed. The enclosure may be formed from metal, such as aluminum, and further include a non-metal portion allowing for transmission and receipt of electromagnetic waves. The non-metal portion may be interlocked to the enclosure and in particular, to a region within the enclosure including a first material having a relatively high strength and stiffness compared to the non-metal portion. Interlocking means may include forming dovetail cuts into the enclosure to receive the non-metal portion, a hole or cavity drilled into the enclosure which includes internal threads, and a rod inserted into the first material to provide a tension to the non-metal portion. Methods of assembling internal components using anodization are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure, comprising:
a first part defining:
a first portion of an exterior side surface of the enclosure; and
a first portion of an interior surface of the enclosure;

a second part defining:
a second portion of the exterior side surface of the enclosure;
a portion of an exterior back surface of the enclosure; and
a second portion of the interior surface of the enclosure;

a first joining element between the first part and the second part; and
a second joining element, between the first part and the second part, defining a third portion of the exterior side surface of the enclosure and mechanically interlocked with the first part and the second part.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the first part defines a threaded recess; and
the second joining element engages the threaded recess to form the mechanical interlock.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first joining element is mechanically interlocked with the second part.

4. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member encapsulated partially in the first joining element and partially in the second joining element.

5. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member secured to the first part and at least partially encapsulated in the first joining element, thereby retaining the first joining element to the first part.

6. The enclosure of claim 5 , wherein:
the reinforcing member is a first reinforcing member; and
the enclosure further comprises a second reinforcing member secured to the second part and at least partially encapsulated in the first joining element, thereby retaining the first joining element to the second part.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first part is electrically isolated from the second part by the first and second joining elements.

8. A mobile phone, comprising:
an enclosure defining an internal volume and comprising:
a first part defining:
a first sidewall defining a first portion of an exterior side of the enclosure; and
a first interlock feature;

a second part electrically isolated from the first part and defining:
a back side of the enclosure; and
a second sidewall defining a second portion of the exterior side of the enclosure and defining a second interlock feature;

a first joining element occupying a first portion of a region between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and
a second joining element occupying a second portion of the region between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and engaged with the first and second interlock features;
a processor positioned in the internal volume; and
a display positioned in the enclosure and defining an input surface of the mobile phone.

9. The mobile phone of claim 8 , wherein the second joining element defines a third portion of the exterior side of the enclosure between the first and second portions of the exterior side of the enclosure.

10. The mobile phone of claim 9 , wherein the first, second, and third portions of the exterior side of the enclosure define a continuous surface.

11. The mobile phone of claim 8 , wherein:
the first and second parts comprise a metal material;
the first and second joining elements comprise a plastic material; and
the mobile phone further comprises an antenna positioned in the internal volume and configured to transmit electromagnetic signals through the first and second joining elements.

12. The mobile phone of claim 8 , wherein the first interlock feature comprises a blind hole.

13. The mobile phone of claim 12 , wherein the first interlock feature further comprises threads formed in the blind hole.

14. The mobile phone of claim 12 , wherein the first joining element and the second joining element mechanically retain the first part to the second part.

15. An enclosure, comprising:
a first part having a first recess formed therein and defining:
a first portion of an exterior side of the enclosure; and
a first portion of an interior of the enclosure;

a second part having a second recess formed therein and defining:
a second portion of the exterior side of the enclosure;
a portion of a back of the enclosure; and
a second portion of the interior of the enclosure;

a first joining element between the first part and the second part; and
a second joining element defining a third portion of the side of the enclosure and mechanically interlocked with the first part and the second part and comprising:
a first extension engaged with the first recess; and
a second extension engaged with the second recess.

16. The enclosure of claim 15 , wherein:
the first joining element defines a third recess that communicates with the first recess to form a channel; and
the first extension is further engaged with the third recess.

17. The enclosure of claim 16 , wherein:
the channel is a first channel;
the first joining element defines a fourth recess that communicates with the second recess to form a second channel; and
the second extension is further engaged with the fourth recess.

18. The enclosure of claim 15 , wherein:
the exterior side of the enclosure is a first exterior side;
the first part further defines a first portion of a second exterior side of the enclosure opposite the first exterior side; and
the second part further defines a second portion of the second exterior side of the enclosure.

19. The enclosure of claim 18 , wherein the second part further defines a third exterior side of the enclosure.

20. The enclosure of claim 19 , wherein:
the enclosure further comprises a third part defining a fourth exterior side of the enclosure; and
the second and third parts are u-shaped bands having substantially identical external dimensions.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hill Matthew D
• Krass Derek C
• Bustle Benjamin Shane
• Browning Lucy Elizabeth
• Wittenberg Michael Benjamin
• Smith James B
• Shukla Ashutosh Y
• Myers Scott A

Classifications

• H04M1/0249 Primary

  Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly · CPC title

• H04M1/0247

  comprising more than two body parts · CPC title

• H04M1/0202

  Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03) · CPC title

• H04M1/23

  Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof (by improving visibility H04M1/22) · CPC title

• H04M1/02

  Constructional features of telephone sets · CPC title