Multi-part device enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11550369-B2
Application number	US-202117158480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2021
Priority date	Sep 29, 2017
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume, comprising:
a first layer formed of a first glass material and defining:
a user input surface of the enclosure; and
a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure;

a second layer formed of a first material, the second layer positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure;
a third layer formed of a second material different from the first material, the third layer positioned below the second layer and defining a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure; and
a fourth layer formed of a second glass material and positioned below the third layer, the fourth layer defining:
a bottom surface of the enclosure; and
a fourth portion of the side surface of the enclosure.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a display positioned below the first layer and configured to produce graphical outputs visible through a transparent region of the first layer.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising a touch-sensing system configured to detect touch inputs applied to the user input surface of the enclosure.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the fourth layer is formed of a second glass material different from the first glass material.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further comprises:
a fifth layer defining a fifth portion of the side surface of the enclosure; and
a sixth layer defining a sixth portion of the side surface of the enclosure.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the side surface defines a curved surface extending from the first layer to the fourth layer.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer each define a respective curved portion of the curved surface.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first layer is adhered to the second layer; and
the second layer is adhered to the third layer.

9. An electronic device comprising:
a top layer defining:
a top exterior surface of the electronic device; and
a first portion of a side exterior surface of the electronic device;

a first intermediate layer positioned below the top layer and secured to the top layer, the first intermediate layer defining a second portion of the side exterior surface of the electronic device;
a second intermediate layer positioned below the first intermediate layer and secured to the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer defining a third portion of the side exterior surface of the electronic device; and
a bottom layer positioned below the second intermediate layer and defining:
a bottom exterior surface of the electronic device; and
a fourth portion of the side exterior surface of the electronic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the top layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the bottom layer cooperate to define an interior volume of the electronic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein:
the electronic device further comprises an electronic assembly within the interior volume and having a non-planar side profile; and
the first intermediate layer and the second intermediate layer cooperate to define a non-planar interior wall of the interior volume that conforms to the non-planar side profile of the electronic assembly.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the top layer is formed of a first transparent material; and
the bottom layer is formed of a second transparent material.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , further comprising:
a display positioned below the top layer and configured to produce graphical outputs visible through a transparent region of the top layer; and
a touch-sensing system configured to detect touch inputs applied to the top exterior surface of the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first, second, and third portions of the side exterior surface extend around an entire periphery of the electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the second intermediate layer is secured to the bottom layer.

16. An electronic device comprising:
a top case formed of a first transparent material and defining:
a top exterior surface of the electronic device; and
a first portion of a side exterior surface of the electronic device;

a first intermediate layer, having a first width, positioned below the top case and defining:
a second portion of the side exterior surface of the electronic device; and
a first portion of an interior wall of the electronic device;

a second intermediate layer, having a second width different than the first width, positioned below the first intermediate layer and defining:
a third portion of the side exterior surface of the electronic device; and
a second portion of the interior wall of the electronic device; and

a bottom case formed of a second transparent material and defining:
a bottom exterior surface of the electronic device; and
a fourth portion of the side exterior surface of the electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the top case, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the bottom case cooperate to define an interior volume of the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein:
the second width is greater than the first width; and
the second intermediate layer defines a ledge extending into the interior volume of the electronic device.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising a component of the electronic device coupled to the ledge within the interior volume of the electronic device.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein:
the top exterior surface of the electronic device defines an input surface of the electronic device; and
at least one of the first intermediate layer or the second intermediate layer is metal.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Silvanto Mikael M
• Trivett Simon J
• Theobald Matthew S
• Mathew Dinesh C
• Lancaster-Larocque Simon R
• Cao Robert Y
• Miller Ari P
• Robinson Kevin M
• Farahani Houtan R
• Ferretti Francesco
• Raff John
• Lockwood Robert J
• Kim Genie
• Bir Karan
• Hendren Keith J
• Deol Gurshan
• Clarke Antonio
• Sathyamurthy Prabhu
• Counts William A

Classifications

• G06F1/1616

  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

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G06F1/1637 Primary

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · 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

• 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