Systems and methods for cover assembly retention of a portable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9867301-B2
Application number	US-201213561567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2012
Priority date	Apr 19, 2010
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

This is directed to systems and methods for cover assembly retention of a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, a cover assembly and/or housing of an electronic device can include one or more retention features such as detents, hooks, tabs, extensions, screw plates, screw holes, shuttles, latches, or any combination of the above, for retaining the cover assembly to the housing. In some embodiments, one or more retention features can be included on an internal platform of the electronic device to retain the cover assembly. In some embodiments, a hidden screw feature can be included in a SIM tray slot of the electronic device. Once a SIM tray has been inserted into the SIM tray slot, the screw feature can be hidden from sight and may become unapparent to an end user of the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A back cover assembly of an electronic device comprising:
an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a glass plate;
an inner surface, wherein the outer and inner surface are substantially parallel to one another;
two length-wise edges;
two width-wise edges, wherein each width-wise edge is shorter in length than each length-wise edge;
at least one fastener plate, wherein:
the at least one fastener plate is coupled to the inner surface in a location adjacent a single one of the two width-wise edges; and
the at least one fastener plate defines a through hole operable to receive a fastener to couple the back cover assembly to a housing of the electronic device; and

at least one hook coupled to the inner surface and adjacent at least one of the length-wise edges, wherein the at least one hook comprises:
a support extending substantially perpendicular from and coupled to the inner surface;
a back abutment, wherein the back abutment extends substantially perpendicular from and is coupled to the inner surface; and
an overhang coupled to the support and the back abutment, wherein the overhang is substantially parallel to and displaced from the inner surface.

2. The back cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener plate comprises two fastener plates.

3. The back cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hook comprises:
a first set of four hooks coupled to the inner surface in a location adjacent a first length-wise edge of the two length-wise edges; and
a second set of four hooks coupled to the inner surface in a location adjacent a second length wise edge of the two length-wise edges.

4. The back cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one hole extending through the back cover assembly operable to receive at least a portion of a camera assembly.

5. The back cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one hole extending through the back cover assembly; and
plastic positioned within the at least one hole, wherein the plastic is operable to allow antenna signals to pass outside the electronic device.

6. The back cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer coupling the glass plate to the inner surface.

7. The back cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface further comprises:
a metal layer; and
a plastic layer overmolded onto the metal layer.

8. The back cover assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plastic layer comprises a raised wall encircling a periphery of the plastic layer, wherein the raised wall is operable to receive and retain the glass plate in a fixed position.

9. The back cover assembly of claim 7 , wherein the metal layer comprises insert-molded metal.

10. The back cover assembly of claim 7 , wherein the metal layer, the at least one hook, and the at least one fastener plate comprise a single piece of insert-molded metal.

11. A cover assembly for an electronic device comprising:
a main plate comprising:
an inner surface;
an outer surface;
a first side edge; and
a second side edge;

at least one fastener plate, wherein the at least one fastener plate is coupled to the inner surface and adjacent the first side edge of the main plate; and
at least one retention feature coupled to the inner surface and adjacent the second side edge of the main plate, wherein the at least one retention feature comprises:
a first side wall that protrudes away from the main plate;
a second side wall that protrudes away from the main plate, the second side wall adjacent to the first side wall; and
a flange portion coupled to the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the flange portion is substantially parallel to and offset from the main plate.

12. The cover assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a peripheral rim coupled to the main plate, the peripheral rim surrounding the side edges of the main plate.

13. The cover assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a glass layer coupled to the outer surface of the main plate, wherein the peripheral rim surrounds at least a portion of the glass layer.

14. The cover assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one retention feature further comprises:
an internal frame, wherein the internal frame extends into the first side wall.

15. A cover assembly for an electronic device, the cover assembly comprising:
a housing comprising at least one detent; and
a back cover assembly comprising at least one detent feature, wherein the at least one detent feature is operable to pass the at least one detent during a coupling of the back cover assembly to the housing, such that after the coupling, the at least one detent feature does not travel backwards to pass the at least one detent a second time, thereby providing a coupling action between the back cover assembly and the housing, wherein:
the at least one detent comprises a detent spring; and
the at least one detent feature comprises a pin.

16. The cover assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
an outer periphery member defining a loop, wherein the outer periphery member comprises:
a top surface;
a bottom surface;
an inner surface that defines the inner circumference of the loop; and
an internal platform coupled to the inner surface of the outer periphery member.

17. A cover assembly for an electronic device, the cover assembly comprising:
a housing comprising at least one detent; and
a back cover assembly comprising at least one detent feature, wherein the at least one detent feature is operable to pass the at least one detent during a coupling of the back cover assembly to the housing, such that after the coupling, the at least one detent feature does not travel backwards to pass the at least one detent a second time, thereby providing a coupling action between the back cover assembly and the housing, wherein the at least one detent comprises a pawl, wherein the at least one detent feature comprises a latch, and wherein the housing further comprises:
a hinge coupling the pawl to the housing, wherein:
the hinge rotates the pawl to allow the latch to pass the pawl during the coupling of the back cover assembly to the housing; and
the hinge does not rotate the pawl after the latch has initially passed the pawl, thereby providing a coupling action between the back cover assembly and the housing.

Assignees

• Pakula David
• Myers Scott
• Tan Tang
• Dinh Richard
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Pakula David
• Myers Scott
• Tan Tang
• Dinh Richard

Classifications

• H04M1/0249

  Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly · CPC title

• B65D45/16

  Clips, hooks, or clamps {which are removable, or which remain connected either with the closure or with the container when the container is open}, e.g. C-shaped (U-shaped or bifurcated members B65D45/04) · CPC title

• B65D51/00

  Closures not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H04M1/026

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

• G06F1/1626 Primary

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title