Mounting structures for portable electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025193298-A1
Application number	US-202519061943-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2025
Priority date	Apr 1, 2008
Publication date	Jun 12, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A portable electronic device such as a handheld electronic device is provided. The device may have upper and lower portions. The upper portion may have clips that attach to springs on the lower portion. The device may have a housing with a bezel. A prong on the springs may ground the bezel. A vibrator mounting bracket may hold a vibrator in place within the housing. The vibrator mounting bracket may have an end that engages the housing. A threaded insert may be welded to the spring. A screw that passes through a hole in the vibrator mounting bracket may be screwed into the threaded insert to attach the vibrator to the housing. An elastomeric member may bias the vibrator towards the bracket. An acoustic module may serve as a subassembly for the device. Components such as an antenna, dock connector, microphone, and speaker may be attached to the acoustic module.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A portable electronic device comprising:
a housing assembly comprising:
one or more retention features; and
an electronic circuit assembly operably coupled to the one or more retention features; and
a display assembly coupled to the housing assembly and comprising:
a transparent cover;
a touch sensitive display coupled to the transparent cover and having a display unit and a capacitive touch sensor; and
a mid-plate coupled to the display assembly and defining one or more metal tabs positioned along an edge of the display assembly, the one or more metal tabs configured to electrically couple to the one or more retention features.

22 . The portable electronic device of claim 21 , wherein:
the portable electronic device further comprises an antenna positioned at least partially within the housing assembly; and the touch sensitive display defines a substantial entirety of a front surface of the portable electronic device.

23 . The portable electronic device of claim 21 , wherein:
the housing assembly comprises a sidewall extending around substantially an entire periphery of the portable electronic device; and the one or more retention features are positioned along the sidewall.

24 . The portable electronic device of claim 23 , wherein:
the sidewall defines a connector opening; and the portable electronic device comprises an electrical connector that is positioned at least partially within the housing assembly and accessible through the connector opening.

25 . The portable electronic device of claim 21 , wherein the mid-plate comprises a plastic component coupling the display assembly to the one or more metal tabs.

26 . The portable electronic device of claim 25 , wherein the one or more metal tabs extend into the housing assembly when the display assembly is coupled to the housing assembly.

27 . The portable electronic device of claim 21 , wherein:
the one or more retention features each define a spring member; the one or more metal tabs each define an opening; and each spring member deforms into the opening on a respective one of the one or more metal tabs.

28 . A mobile phone comprising:
a housing assembly comprising:
a sidewall extending around a periphery of the mobile phone;
an electronic circuit assembly; and
an electrical contact operably coupled to the electronic circuit assembly; and
a display assembly defining a front surface of the mobile phone and comprising:
a transparent cover;
a touch sensitive display coupled to the transparent cover; and
a mid-plate coupled to the display assembly and defining a tab positioned along an edge of the display assembly, the tab configured to electrically couple to the electrical contact of the housing assembly, when the display assembly is coupled to the housing assembly.

29 . The mobile phone of claim 28 , wherein the mid-plate comprises:
a metal portion defining the tab; and a plastic portion coupling the metal portion to the touch sensitive display.

30 . The mobile phone of claim 28 , wherein:
the sidewall defines a first fastener opening, a second fastener opening, and a connector opening positioned between the first fastener opening and the second fastener opening; and the mobile phone comprises an electrical connector that is positioned within the housing assembly and accessible through the connector opening.

31 . The mobile phone of claim 29 , wherein:
the sidewall defines a bottom portion, a side portion, and a top portion; the connector opening is positioned within the bottom portion; and the electrical contact is positioned along the side portion.

32 . The mobile phone of claim 31 , wherein:
the housing assembly comprises a spring member that engages with the tab; and the electrical contact is positioned on the spring member.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Mittleman Adam D
• Jenks Kenneth A
• Cheng Karen Y

Classifications

• 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

• H04M1/026 Primary

  Details of the structure or mounting of specific components · CPC title