Trimless glass enclosure interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9886065-B2
Application number	US-201615060490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2016
Priority date	Oct 19, 2012
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

An enclosure for a portable computing device can include a cover glass affixed to an enclosure without trim pieces disposed between the cover glass and the disclosure. In one embodiment, the enclosure can include an edge profile that can define a relatively large contact pad about the enclosure. The contact pad can distribute impact forces over a relatively large area and thereby protect the cover glass integrity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device housing, comprising:
an enclosure of unitary construction defining:
a sidewall;
a support; and
a top corner substantially surrounding the support;

a cover glass affixed to the support such that an edge of the cover glass is set apart from the top corner by a void space;
wherein the sidewall comprises:
a curved region; and
a planar region abutting the curved region at an apex, the apex defining an oblique angle.

2. The electronic device housing of claim 1 , wherein the planar region extends from the apex to a top of the sidewall.

3. The electronic device housing of claim 2 , wherein the apex defines an obtuse angle.

4. The electronic device housing of claim 1 , wherein the cover glass further comprises beveled edges.

5. The electronic device housing of claim 4 , wherein a top of the top corner is substantially even with a top surface of the cover glass, above the beveled edges.

6. The electronic device housing of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the edge of the cover glass and the top corner is less than 0.05 mm.

7. The electronic device housing of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure further defines a bottom surface of the electronic device housing.

8. The electronic device housing of claim 1 , wherein:
the enclosure is formed from aluminum; and
the cover glass is formed from glass.

9. An electronic device housing, comprising:
a body of unitary construction and defining:
an interior cavity;
a support; and
a sidewall comprising:
a top corner; and
an exterior surface including:
a planar surface extending from the top corner to an apex; and
a curved surface extending from the apex and defining an oblique angle with respect to the planar surface at the apex;

a cover glass at least partially received within the cavity and over the support.

10. The electronic device housing of claim 9 , wherein the cover glass is attached to the support.

11. The electronic device housing of claim 10 , further comprising an adhesive between the support and the cover glass.

12. The electronic device housing of claim 9 , wherein the top corner of the sidewall and a top surface of the cover glass are coplanar.

13. The electronic device housing of claim 9 , wherein the body is formed from aluminum.

14. The electronic device housing of claim 13 , wherein the planar surface and the curved surface define an obtuse angle at the apex.

15. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing of unitary construction defining:
a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity in the housing and defining:
a top corner defining an opening of the cavity;
an exterior surface comprising an apex, a planar region extending between the apex and the top corner, and a curved region extending from the apex and defining an oblique angle with respect to the planar region; and

an internal support;

a cover glass received at least partially within the cavity and supported by the internal support; and
an adhesive affixing the cover glass to the housing.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the planar region extends from the top corner to the apex at a 45 degree angle from a plane parallel to an exterior of the cover glass.

17. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the curved region extends from the apex to a bottom surface of the housing.

18. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the apex forms a border around the cover glass.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein: the border slopes away from the cover glass; and the border is visible when the electronic device rests on a surface with the cover glass facing up.

20. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the curved region near the apex is configured to distribute an impact force.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Raff John

Classifications

• G06F1/1626 Primary

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

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• Y10T156/10

  Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• G06F1/16 Primary

  Constructional details or arrangements · CPC title