# US 10,245,770 B2 · Housings for electronic devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,770 B2 - Document ID: US10245770B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/178,499 - Filed: 2016-06-09 - Published: 2016-12-15 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-13 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Douglas Weber; Stephen P. Zadesky; Stephen Brian Lynch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245770B2 ## CPC - B29C 45/1657: {using means for adhering or bonding the layers or parts to each other (mechanical anchoring B29C37/0082)} - B23K 26/382: by boring - B29C 37/0082: {Mechanical anchoring (B29C66/303 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/14311: {using means for bonding the coating to the articles (B29C45/14795 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/1671: {with an insert} - C23F 1/00: Etching metallic material by chemical means (manufacture of printing surfaces B41C; manufacture of printed circuits H05K) - C23F 1/16: Acidic compositions (C23F1/42 takes precedence) - B29C 45/14344: {Moulding in or through a hole in the article, e.g. outsert moulding} - B29C 2045/14327: {anchoring by forcing the material to pass through a hole in the article} - B29K 2055/02: ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers - B29K 2069/00: Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29K 2705/00: Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts - B29L 2031/3481: {Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements} - B32B 2355/02: ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers - B32B 2369/00: Polycarbonates - B32B 2457/00: Electrical equipment - Y10T 428/13: Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.] - Y10T 428/1352: Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic] - Y10T 428/1355: Elemental metal containing [e.g., substrate, foil, film, coating, etc.] - Y10T 428/24008: including fastener for attaching to external surface - Y10T 428/24273: including aperture - Y10T 428/24521: with component conforming to contour of nonplanar surface - Y10T 428/31678: Of metal - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - C23F: NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACE (working metal by laser beams B23K26/00; desurfacing by applying flames B23K7/00; working of metal by electro-erosion B23H; producing decorative effects by removing surface material, e.g. by engraving, by etching, B44C1/22; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F); INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS C23 AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS C21D OR C22F OR CLASS C25 - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein: the metal part and the molded piece meet at a joint; and the metal part and the molded piece form a contiguous surface at the joint. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The housing of claim 2, wherein: the metal part is a first metal part; and the molded piece is affixed to a second metal part. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the recess is defined in cross-section by at least one curved surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the molded piece is formed from a ceramic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein: the recess is defined by: an opening along the interior surface; and a chamber in communication with the opening; and the opening is narrower than the chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The housing of claim 6, wherein the molded piece fills the chamber and the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein one of the molded piece or metal is an amorphous alloy. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The mobile phone of claim 9, wherein the second piece is machined. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The mobile phone of claim 9, wherein the first piece and the second piece cooperate to form a smooth surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The mobile phone of claim 9, wherein: the void comprises: a first void region; and a second void region contiguous with the first void region; and the second void region is undercut with respect to the first void region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The mobile phone of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and the second pieces is formed from an injectable metal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The mobile phone of claim 9, wherein the second piece is formed from a nonconductive plastic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the molded piece comprises a boss coupled to the recess and protruding into an internal volume of the housing, the boss having an opening configured to receive a screw within the recess. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The handheld electronic device of claim 16, wherein the unitary plastic part comprises a screw boss coupled to the recess and defining an opening configured to receive a screw. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The handheld electronic device of claim 16, wherein the undercut defines an angled bottom portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The handheld electronic device of claim 16, wherein the metal sheet comprises a plurality of additional recesses. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The handheld electronic device of claim 19, wherein the unitary plastic part extends into the recess and the plurality of additional recesses.