Multi-part device enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12189439-B2
Application number	US-202318094157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2023
Priority date	Sep 29, 2017
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

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. A notebook computer comprising:
a base portion comprising:
an enclosure comprising:
a first layer formed of glass and defining:
a first portion of a top exterior surface of the base portion; and
a user input region along the top exterior surface of the base portion;

a second layer positioned below the first layer and defining a first portion of a bottom exterior surface of the base portion; and
a first side member at least partially surrounding a periphery of the first layer and a periphery of the second layer, the first side member defining:
a side exterior surface of the base portion;
a second portion of the top exterior surface; and
a second portion of the bottom exterior surface; and

a display portion coupled to the base portion and comprising:
a display enclosure comprising:
a third layer formed of glass and defining a first portion of a front surface of the display enclosure;
a fourth layer formed of glass and defining a first portion of a back exterior surface of the display portion; and
a second side member at least partially surrounding a periphery of the third layer and a periphery of the fourth layer, the first side member defining:
a side exterior surface of the display portion;
a second portion of the front surface; and
a second portion of the back exterior surface; and

a display at least partially within the display enclosure and configured to produce a graphical output.

2. The notebook computer of claim 1 , wherein the first side member and the second side member comprise metal.

3. The notebook computer of claim 1 , wherein the first side member and the second side member comprise a polymer.

4. The notebook computer of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second portions of the top exterior surface are flush; and
the first and second portions of the bottom exterior surface are flush.

5. The notebook computer of claim 1 , wherein the second layer is formed of glass.

6. The notebook computer of claim 1 , wherein the user input region comprises a keyboard.

7. A portable electronic device comprising:
a base portion comprising:
a frame member defining:
a side exterior surface of the base portion;
an upper mounting surface; and
a lower mounting surface;

a bottom member comprising metal and coupled to the lower mounting surface of the frame member and defining at least a portion of a bottom surface of the base portion;
a glass top member coupled to the upper mounting surface of the frame member and defining at least a portion of top surface of the base portion, the glass top member having a first thickness, the bottom having a second thickness different from the first thickness; and
a display portion rotatably coupled to the base portion, the display portion comprising a display frame extending around at least a portion of a periphery of a display.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the upper mounting surface is substantially planar; and
the lower mounting surface is substantially planar.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the side exterior surface of the base portion is substantially planar.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the upper mounting surface is parallel to the lower mounting surface.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein the frame member is formed from metal.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the glass top member comprises a keyboard region.

13. A foldable electronic device comprising:
a first enclosure comprising:
a glass top cover having a first thickness and defining:
a first outward surface defining at least a portion of a top exterior surface of the first enclosure;
a first side surface extending about a periphery of the first outward surface; and

a bottom cover having a second thickness less than the first thickness, the bottom cover defining:
a second outward surface defining at least a portion of a bottom exterior surface of the first enclosure; and
a second side surface extending about a periphery of the second outward surface;

a side member extending at least partially around a periphery of the glass top cover and a periphery of the bottom cover and covering the first side surface and the second side surface; and

a second enclosure pivotally coupled to the first enclosure and comprising a display configured to produce a graphical output.

14. The foldable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the side member is a first side member; and
the second enclosure comprises:
a display cover defining:
a display surface; and
a third side surface extending about a periphery of the display surface; and

a second side member extending at least partially around a periphery of the display cover and covering the third side surface.

15. The foldable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the bottom cover comprises metal.

16. The foldable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the side member defines a portion of the first outward surface and a portion of the second outward surface;
the first outward surface is a continuous surface; and
the second outward surface is a continuous surface.

17. The foldable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the side member is metal.

18. The foldable electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the bottom cover is glass.

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

• H04M1/0249

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

• G06F1/183

  Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards · 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

• G06F1/1652

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

• 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