Formable inserts and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9539749-B2
Application number	US-201213471620-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2012
Priority date	May 15, 2012
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

Formable inserts and related methods are disclosed herein. An example of forming a cover with a formable insert includes forming a first frame portion of the cover, attaching a formable insert to the first frame portion of the cover, and forming a second frame portion of the cover subsequent to the formation of the first frame portion to capture a perimeter edge of the formable insert in the second frame portion of the cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a cover with a formable insert, the method comprising:
attaching a formable insert to a first frame portion of the cover, wherein the first frame portion is formed before attaching the formable insert to the first frame portion;
applying heat to the formable insert to form the formable insert to a shape of the first frame portion; and
forming a second frame portion of the cover via injection molding subsequent to the formation of the first frame portion to capture a perimeter edge of the formable insert in the second frame portion of the cover, wherein the second frame portion of the cover is smaller than the first frame portion of the cover.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the second frame portion to capture the perimeter edge of the formable insert comprises encasing the perimeter edge in the second frame portion such that the perimeter edge of the formable insert is not visible from an exterior surface of the cover.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a foldable portion or lip of the formable insert that protrudes from respective perimeter edges of the first frame portion when the formable insert is attached to the first frame portion.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the first frame portion via injection molding.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the first frame portion and the attached formable insert in a cavity of a mold tool prior to the injection molding.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising folding the foldable portion of the formable insert toward an inner surface of the first frame portion via a slide prior to the injection molding.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the first frame portion comprises forming the first frame portion to have a first surface area of approximately between 90% and 99% of a surface area of the cover.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the second frame portion comprises forming the second frame portion to have a surface area of approximately between 1% and 10% of a surface area of the cover.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the first frame portion comprises forming the first frame portion to have a first dimensional value that is less than a respective dimensional value of the cover.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the second frame portion comprises forming the second frame portion to have a second dimensional value that is substantially equal to the difference between the respective dimensional value of the cover and the first dimensional value of the first frame portion.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the respective dimensional value of the cover comprises a dimensional height of a side of the cover.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formable insert comprises leather.

13. A method of forming a cover with a formable insert, the method comprising:
forming a first frame composed of a first material, the first frame having a first dimensional height that is less than a respective dimensional height of the cover, wherein the first frame defines an opening to receive a feature of a mobile device;
applying heat to the formable insert to form the formable insert to a shape of the first frame;
applying the formable insert to the first frame such that a foldable portion of the formable insert protrudes from respective perimeter edges of the first frame;
positioning the formable insert and the first frame in a mold tool;
folding the foldable portion of the formable insert relative to respective perimeter edges of the first frame such that the perimeter edges of the formable insert are oriented toward an inner surface of the first frame; and
injecting a second material adjacent the folded portion of the formable insert to capture the perimeter edges of the formable insert in the second material, wherein a volume of the injected second material is smaller than a volume of the first material that forms the first frame.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein injecting the second material comprises injecting the second material in the mold tool between the foldable portion and the first frame to define a second frame of the cover.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising placing the first frame and the formable insert in the mold tool prior to forming the second frame.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising folding the formable insert toward the inner surface of the first frame when the formable insert and the first frame are positioned in the mold tool.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising folding the foldable portion toward the inner surface of the first frame via a slide of the mold tool.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising forming the second frame to have a second dimensional height that is substantially equal to a difference between the dimensional height of the cover and the first dimensional height of the first frame.

Assignees

• Steinhoff William Stephen
• Ma Ming-Lun Dave
• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Steinhoff William Stephen
• Ma Ming-Lun Dave

Classifications

• B32B1/08

  Tubular products · CPC title

• B29L2031/3481

  Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements · CPC title

• B32B9/04

  comprising such {particular} substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a glass layer B32B17/06; layered products with at least two ceramic layers composed mainly of ceramic B32B18/00)} · CPC title

• B29C45/33

  having transversely, e.g. radially, movable mould parts · CPC title

• H04M1/0283

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