Mirror feature in devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844898-B2
Application number	US-201113250448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2011
Priority date	Sep 30, 2011
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

Various processes for creating mirrored features are discussed herein as well as devices that include the mirrored features. One embodiment includes a button having a transparent layer and an opaque layer coupled to the transparent layer. A portion of the transparent layer extends through the opaque layer so that the portion of the transparent layer is flush with a back surface of the opaque layer and generally has a shape of a desired feature. The button also includes a reflective object positioned so that it may be seen through the transparent layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A button comprising:
a transparent layer;
an opaque layer coupled to the transparent layer and defining an opening through which a portion of the transparent layer extends; and
an opaque reflective element positioned at an end of the opening and having a surface coupled to the transparent layer, wherein:
a majority of the surface is visible through the opening and a remaining portion of the surface is coupled to the opaque layer and is not visible through the opening.

2. The button of claim 1 , wherein the opaque reflective element is an insert-molded metallic object.

3. The button of claim 1 , wherein the opaque reflective element is a coating.

4. The button of claim 3 , wherein the transparent layer is glass and wherein the button further comprises an adhesive between the transparent and opaque layers.

5. The button of claim 1 , wherein the opaque reflective element is adhered to the transparent layer.

6. The button of claim 5 , wherein the opaque reflective element is a foil.

7. The button of claim 5 , wherein the opaque reflective element is metallic.

8. The button of claim 1 , further comprising a scratch resistant surface coupled to at least a portion of the transparent layer.

9. The button of claim 1 , wherein the opaque reflective element includes at least one ink layer.

10. The button of claim 1 , wherein the transparent layer comprises a single material.

11. A button comprising:
an opaque layer defining an opening that extends through the opaque layer;
a transparent layer positioned over the opaque layer and extending into the opening; and
one or more opaque mirror coating layers positioned at an end of the opening and having a surface coupled to the transparent layer, wherein:
a majority of the surface is visible through the transparent layer and a remaining portion of the surface is coupled to the opaque layer and is not visible through the transparent layer.

12. The button of claim 11 further comprising a clear coating layer separating the transparent layer and the one or more opaque mirror coating layers.

13. The button of claim 12 , wherein the opaque layer comprises a plurality of distinct regions formed from a single distinct region by a subtractive process.

14. The button of claim 12 , wherein the opaque mirror coating is applied by a vapor deposition process.

15. The button of 11 , wherein a surface of the portion of the transparent layer is formed by a surface of an injection molding tool.

16. The button of claim 11 , further comprising a scratch resistant surface coupled to at least a portion of the transparent layer.

17. The button of claim 11 , wherein the one or more opaque mirror coating layers include at least one ink layer.

18. The button of claim 11 , wherein the transparent layer comprises a single material.

19. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a housing; and
a multilayer plastic button, comprising:
an opaque layer that has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface, the opaque layer defining an aperture that extends from the upper surface to the lower surface;
a flange extending from the side surface of the opaque layer that couples the multilayer plastic button to the housing;
a transparent layer coupled to a portion of the upper surface of the opaque layer and extending through the aperture; and
a fully reflective mirror feature positioned at an end of the aperture and having a surface coupled to the transparent layer wherein a majority of the surface is visible through the aperture and a remaining portion of the surface is coupled to the opaque layer and is not visible through the transparent layer.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the aperture is a tapered aperture and the projection is a tapered projection.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the tapered aperture is wider at the upper surface and narrower at the lower surface.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the fully reflective mirror feature is coupled to a portion of the lower surface.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein an upper surface of the flange is recessed below the upper surface of the opaque layer to define a shelf.

24. A key cap for a keyboard comprising:
an opaque material defining an opening having a shape that corresponds to a symbol,
a transparent material positioned over the opaque material and extending into the opening;

and
an opaque reflective element positioned at a bottom of the opening and having a surface coupled to the transparent material, wherein a majority of the surface is visible through the opening and a portion of the surface is coupled to the opaque material and is not visible through the opening.

25. The key cap of claim 24 , further comprising a support mechanism coupled to the opaque material.

26. The key cap of claim 24 , wherein the majority of the surface forms a symbol.

Assignees

• Hill Matthew D
• Huang Wayne Wei-Cheng
• Tan Lee Hua
• Reid Nicholas Isaac
• Collins Reid
• Dinh Richard Hung Minh
• Spraggs Ian A
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hill Matthew D
• Huang Wayne Wei-Cheng
• Tan Lee Hua
• Reid Nicholas Isaac
• Collins Reid
• Dinh Richard Hung Minh
• Spraggs Ian A

Classifications

• H01H2219/06

  Reflector · CPC title

• H01H2229/008

  Die stamping · CPC title

• B29K2995/0025

  Opaque · CPC title

• B29C45/0053 Primary

  combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping (injection-compression moulding B29C45/561) · CPC title

• B29C45/16

  Making multilayered or multicoloured articles {(B29C45/0062 takes precedence; feeding colouring materials into the injection unit B29C45/1816)} · CPC title