Housing features of an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12301743-B2
Application number	US-202318368534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2023
Priority date	Sep 8, 2014
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

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. A mobile phone comprising:
a display cover defining a front surface of the mobile phone; and
an enclosure at least partially surrounding the display cover and comprising:
a first housing component defining a portion of a side surface and a first portion of a back surface of the mobile phone; and
a second housing component defining a first corner portion and a second corner portion of the mobile phone;
a molded component contacting the first housing component and the second housing component, the molded component defining a second portion of the back surface bordering the first portion of the back surface.

2. The mobile phone of claim 1 , wherein the first and second housing components are formed from aluminum.

3. The mobile phone of claim 1 , wherein:
the second housing component defines an interlock feature; and
the molded component mechanically couples to the interlock feature.

4. The mobile phone of claim 3 , wherein:
the interlock feature comprises a cavity; and
the molded component at least partially fills the cavity.

5. The mobile phone of claim 3 , wherein:
the first housing component defines a recess; and
the molded component fills the recess and defines a third portion of the back surface.

6. The mobile phone of claim 1 , wherein the molded component comprises a polymer.

7. The mobile phone of claim 1 wherein the molded component defines a closed loop around a portion of the second housing component.

8. An electronic device comprising:
an enclosure comprising:
a first metal component defining a first portion of an outer peripheral surface, a first portion of a back surface, and a second portion of the outer peripheral surface opposite the first portion; and
a second metal component defining a third portion of the outer peripheral surface, the third portion of the outer peripheral surface and the first portion of the outer peripheral surface separated by an opening; and
a molded component defining:
a second portion of the back surface bordering the first portion of the back surface; and
a fourth portion of the outer peripheral surface between the first portion and the third portion of the outer peripheral surface, the molded component filling the opening.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the first metal component defines a first corner and a second corner of the electronic device; and
the first portion of the outer peripheral surface, the first portion of the back surface, and the second portion of the outer peripheral surface are contiguous.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the molded component comprises:
a first molded portion internal to the electronic device and formed from a first material; and
a second molded portion defining the second portion of the back surface and the fourth portion of the outer peripheral surface; and

the second molded portion is formed from a second material different from the first material.

11. The electronic device of claim 8 further comprising a cover comprising glass and defining a front surface of the electronic device opposite the back surface.

12. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the first, second, and third portions of the outer peripheral surface are flush.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the molded component is a first molded component;
the opening is a first opening; and
the electronic device further comprises:
a third metal component defining a fourth portion of the outer peripheral surface, the fourth portion of the outer peripheral surface and the first portion of the outer peripheral surface separated by a second opening; and
a second molded component defining:
a third portion of the back surface bordering the first portion of the back surface; and
a fifth portion of the outer peripheral surface between the first portion and the fourth portion of the outer peripheral surface, the molded component filling the second opening.

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

• H04M1/23

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

• H04M1/02

  Constructional features of telephone sets · CPC title

• H04M1/0283

  for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate · CPC title