Beam bar snap in an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9723730-B2
Application number	US-57118309-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2009
Priority date	Sep 30, 2009
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

This is directed to a hook and receiving element combination for securing components forming the shell of an electronic device. The receiving element can include a beam connected to the outer shell component and operative to deflect as the hook element approaches the receiving element. To limit deflections of the outer shell component, the beam can be restrained at opposing ends in directions perpendicular to the beam length, but free to slide along the beam axis. In some embodiments, the receiving element can include a lip for guiding the deflection of the beam as the beam contacts the hook element. In particular, the lip can ensure that the beam deflects at an angle relative to the hook element motion such that a smaller hook element motion is required to engage the beam.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for coupling first and second electronic device outer shell elements, comprising:
a first outer shell element comprising:
a post extending from a surface of the outer shell element; and
a protrusion extending from the post, the protrusion defining a recess; and

a second outer shell element comprising:
a base coupled to a surface of the second outer shell element;
at least two coupling elements directly extending from an edge of the base, the at least two coupling elements formed from the edge of the base; and
a beam bar constrained by the at least two coupling elements, wherein the beam bar is operative to deflect as the protrusion passes by the beam bar when the post is inserted adjacent to the base.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second outer shell further comprises: a ramp operative to direct the deflection of the beam bar.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein: the ramp angle and size is selected based on a desired deflection of the beam bar.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein: the ramp constrains the beam bar to deflect at a substantially large angle relative to the movement of the movement of the protrusion within the device outer shell.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein: the ramp and at least two coupling elements extend from a common edge of the base.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein: the beam bar is secured in one of the at least two coupling elements to prevent the beam bar from moving laterally along a beam bar axis.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein: the beam bar is secured in the one of the at least two coupling elements by crimping the one of the at least two coupling elements around the beam bar.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein: the beam bar is free to move laterally along the beam bar axis in the remaining of the at least two coupling elements.

9. A receiving element used for coupling a bezel to a housing, comprising:
a base plate;
at least one coupling element directly extending from an edge of the base plate, the at least one coupling element formed from the edge of the base plate, the at least one coupling element extending out of the plane of the base plate; and
a beam bar operative to deflect, the beam bar secured at within the at least one coupling element, wherein the beam bar is substantially parallel to the edge of the base plate and operative to bend towards the edge of the base plate.

10. The receiving element of claim 9 , further comprising:
a chamfer along the edge of the base plate, the chamfer extending adjacent to the beam bar; and
a ramp extending from the plane of the base plate towards the beam bar, the ramp defining a chamfered edge operative to deflect the beam bar towards the chamfer.

11. The receiving element of claim 10 , wherein: the chamfer and the ramp define a substantially continuous surface for directing the deflection of beam bar.

12. The receiving element of claim 9 , further comprising: two coupling elements positioned along the edge of the base plate; and wherein the beam bar is constrained by the two coupling elements.

13. The receiving element of claim 12 , wherein:
the beam bar is prevented from moving laterally in the direction of a beam bar axis by one of the two coupling elements; and
the beam bar is free to move laterally in the direction of the beam bar axis in the other of the two coupling elements.

14. The receiving element of claim 13 , wherein: as the beam bar bends towards the edge of the plate, a portion of the beam bar moves laterally partially out of the other of the two coupling elements.

15. The receiving element of claim 9 , wherein the at least one coupling element comprises first and second coupling elements positioned along the edge of the base plate and the beam bar comprises a first beam bar and a second beam bar wherein a first end of the first beam bar is secured within the first coupling element and
a first end of the second beam bar is secured within the second coupling element such that the free ends of the first and second beam bars extend towards the second and first coupling elements, respectively.

16. The receiving element of claim 15 , wherein: the free ends of the first and second beam bars do not overlap.

17. A method for assembling an electronic device shell, comprising:
aligning a hook element extending from a bezel with a receiving element of a housing;
inserting the hook element within an opening in the receiving element;
causing a beam bar of the receiving element that is constrained by at least two coupling elements directly extending from an edge of the receiving element, the at least two coupling elements formed from the edge of the receiving element, to deflect due to contact with the hook element, wherein the direction of the beam bar deflection is in a direction substantially opposite the movement of the hook element as it is inserted; and
allowing the beam bar to return to its initial position to engage the hook element once the hook element has been sufficiently inserted within the receiving element.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising: directing the deflection of the beam bar in the direction substantially opposite the movement of the hook element via a ramp built into the receiving element.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising: causing at least one end of the beam bar to travel laterally along a beam bar axis.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising: aligning a plurality of hook elements with a plurality of complimentary receiving elements.

Assignees

• Jenks Kenneth A
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Jenks Kenneth A

Classifications

• H05K5/0013 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04M1/0252

  by means of a snap-on mechanism · CPC title

• Y10T403/18

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y10T29/49876

  by snap fit · CPC title

• H05K5/15 Primary

  assembled by resilient members · CPC title