Housings for electronic devices
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsDouglas Weber, Stephen P. Zadesky, Stephen Brian Lynch
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for applying internal features or complex mechanical structures to a surface of a metal part are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for creating an assembly that includes a substrate and a molded piece involves obtaining the substrate, and forming at least one binding feature on a surface of the substrate. The method also includes molding on a surface of the binding feature and the surface of the substrate. Molding on the surface of the binding feature and the surface of the substrate mechanically binds the molded piece to the substrate.
Claims20
A housing for a mobile phone, comprising:
- a metal part comprising a sidewall, the sidewall defining:
- an interior surface of the housing;
- an exterior surface of the housing;
- and
- a recess formed along the interior surface of the sidewall and defining:
- an undercut;
- and
- a reduced thickness portion of the sidewall relative to an adjacent portion of the sidewall;
- and
- a molded piece having a portion extending into the recess and engaged with the undercut, thereby affixing the molded piece to the metal part.
A mobile phone, comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- a first piece made of metal and defining:
- an exterior surface of the housing;
- an interior surface of the housing;
- and
- a void defined in the interior surface and defining an undercut;
- and
- a second piece molded to the first piece and filling the void;
- and
- a plurality of electronic components contained within the housing;
- wherein
- the void defines a portion of the first piece having a smaller thickness than a portion of the first piece adjacent the void;
- the second piece comprises:
- a first section within the void and having a first cross-sectional dimension;
- a second section within the void and having a second cross-sectional dimension;
- and
- a third section outside the void;
- the first section, the second section, and the third section are unitary;
- and
- the first section and the second section cooperate to interlock the second piece with the first piece.
A handheld electronic device, comprising:
- a housing structure, comprising:
- a metal sheet forming a back wall of the handheld electronic device and defining:
- at least a portion of an internal volume of the handheld electronic device;
- an exterior surface of the handheld electronic device;
- an interior surface opposite the exterior surface;
- a recess along the interior surface and having a depth less than a thickness of the metal sheet, the recess defining an undercut;
- and
- a unitary plastic part having:
- a first portion formed within the recess and attached to the metal sheet via the undercut;
- and
- a second portion protruding beyond the interior surface of the back wall and into the internal volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.