Handheld computing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9310845-B2
Application number	US-201514705876-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2015
Priority date	Aug 31, 2009
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A handheld computing device is disclosed. The handheld computing device includes a seamless housing formed from an extruded metal tube. The extruded tube includes open ends and internal rails which serve as a guide for slidably assembling an operational assembly through the open ends of the extruded tube, a reference surface for positioning the operational assembly relative to an access opening in the seamless housing, and a support structure for supporting the operational assembly during use.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a housing having walls that define an internal cavity and comprising a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall, the second wall having edges that define a display opening that extends through the second wall, the first wall having a resilient reference structure attached to an interior surface of the first wall opposite the display opening and comprising a rail formed of resilient material different from the housing and that extends out from the interior surface and into the internal cavity; and
an internal frame member that uses the resilient reference structure as a reference surface for insertion and placement within the internal cavity and comprising:
a display cover assembly comprising a display cover frame having flanges and a display cover attached to the display cover frame, wherein the flanges engage the second wall and lock the display cover within the display opening resulting in a compressive force being applied to the internal frame member that is transmitted to the resilient reference structure that responds by providing an opposing force that biases the display cover against the second wall.

2. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein when the display cover is locked in place, an outer surface display cover is flush with an exterior surface of the second wall.

3. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the single piece housing comprises a smoothly varying cross section, a first opening at a first end, and a second opening at a second end opposite the first end.

4. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the flange is disengaged from the housing by an inwardly directed unlocking force applied at the exterior surface of the display that exceeds the opposing force.

5. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 4 , wherein the internal frame assembly comprises a number of operational components at least one of which is a battery.

6. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the resilient reference structure further comprises a groove formed by removing a corresponding amount of the second wall, wherein the resilient material overfills the groove to extend out from the interior surface and into the cavity.

7. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the resilient reference structure is used to guide the internal frame assembly into the single piece housing until the internal frame module is locked into place.

8. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the internal frame module has a size and shape in accordance with at least one of the first opening and the second opening.

9. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the single piece housing comprises a metal.

10. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing including a number of walls that cooperate to define an internal volume;
a frame member separate and distinct from the housing that is disposed within the internal volume and carries a number of electrical components, the electrical components including a display assembly comprising a display for presenting visual content and a protective cover overlaying the display, the display assembly secured to a side of the internal frame member that faces a first wall of the housing that comprises a display opening that accommodates the protective cover; and
a resilient reference structure attached to an interior surface of a second wall opposite the display opening and comprising a rail formed of resilient material different from the housing and that extends out from the interior surface and into the interior volume and that locks the protective cover in place within the display opening by biasing the protective cover against an interior surface of the first wall.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB) secured to the frame member by a snap attachment feature of the frame member.

12. The electronic device as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a user interface assembly support mounted to a surface of the PCB.

13. The electronic device as recited in claim 12 , further comprising a user interface supported above the PCB by the user interface support and disposed within an opening defined by the housing.

14. The electronic device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the user interface is a touch sensitive user interface electrically coupled to the PCB by way of the user interface support.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises an extruded metal tube.

16. A method of assembling a portable electronic device, comprising:
the portable electronic device comprising: a housing having walls that define an internal cavity and a resilient reference structure attached to an interior surface of a wall opposite a display opening and comprising resilient material different from the housing and that extends out from the interior surface and into the internal cavity,
using the resilient reference structure as a guide for inserting and placement of an internal frame member within the internal cavity, the internal frame member comprising: a display cover assembly comprising a display cover frame having flanges and a display cover attached to the display cover frame; and
engaging the flanges at the display opening, wherein the engaging causes a compressive force to be applied to the internal frame member that is transmitted to the resilient reference structure that responds by providing an opposing force that biases the display cover against the display opening.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , further comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB) secured to the internal frame member by a snap attachment feature of the internal frame member.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a user interface assembly support mounted to a surface of the PCB.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 , further comprising a user interface supported above the PCB by the user interface support and disposed within an opening defined by the housing.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the user interface is a touch sensitive user interface electrically coupled to the PCB by way of the user interface support.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Dabov Teodor
• Hobson Phillip M
• Montevirgen Anthony

Classifications

• G06F1/1686 Primary

  the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera · CPC title

• G06F1/1635

  Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter · 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

• G06F1/181

  Enclosures (for portable computers G06F1/1613) · CPC title

• H04R1/021

  incorporating only one transducer · CPC title