# US 10,321,590 B2 · Interlock features of a portable electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,590 B2 - Document ID: US10321590B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/454,826 - Filed: 2017-03-09 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-06 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Tyler B. Cater; Benjamin J. Pope; Scott A. Myers; Benjamin Shane Bustle; Tseng-Mau Yang; Adam J. Brinkman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321590B2 ## CPC - H05K 5/0208: {Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof} - B29C 37/0082: {Mechanical anchoring (B29C66/303 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]} - H01Q 1/24: with receiving set - H01Q 1/243: {with built-in antennas} - H01Q 1/521: {reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas} - H04B 1/3827: Portable transceivers - H04M 1/0202: {Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03)} - H04M 1/0249: {Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly} - H05K 5/0217: {Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03)} - B29C 45/14311: {using means for bonding the coating to the articles (B29C45/14795 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/14467: {Joining articles or parts of a single article (B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence)} - H04M 1/185: {Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - 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) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract An electronic device having multiple housing components interlocked together by a molded material is disclosed. In order to provide interlocking surfaces for the molded material, the housing components can include various geometries designed to receive and retain the molded material such that the housing components are secured with one another. For example, a first housing part can undergo several material removal operations to form multiple ribs, each with through holes. When the molded material extends along the ribs and into the through holes, the molded material cures and interlocks with the first housing part. A second housing part can include several stepped indentions that receive the molded material. Also, a third housing part can include a dovetail indention to receive the molded material such that the first and second housing parts interlock with the third housing part. The indentions can provide retention in three dimensions to protect against decoupling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A housing for a consumer electronic product, comprising: a first metal housing part having side walls that (i) include micro-features formed thereon, and (ii) define an internal volume, wherein the first metal housing part is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to emit a RF signal; a second metal housing part having a bottom wall, the bottom wall including an edge having an indention that together with at least one of the side walls defines a channel, wherein the first and second metal housing parts are separated by the channel; and a dielectric element that fills the channel and the micro-features to interlock and electrically isolate the first and second metal housing parts, the dielectric element including a first dielectric element and a second dielectric element, wherein the first dielectric element mechanically interlocks with the first and second metal housing parts, and the second dielectric element partially fills the channel and defines an exterior surface of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The housing for the consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the micro-features includes a first through hole characterized as having a first longitudinal axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The housing for the consumer electronic product as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of the micro-features include a second through hole characterized as having a second longitudinal axis, and the second through hole is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first through hole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The housing for the consumer electronic product as recited in claim 3, wherein the side walls include upper edges that define a platform capable of receiving a transparent protective cover that defines and overlays the internal volume. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The housing for the consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein the first dielectric element and the second dielectric element combine to fill the channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The housing for the consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein the first dielectric element includes an internal surface that defines the internal volume. ### Claim 7 The housing for the consumer electronic product as recited in 1, wherein the dielectric element includes an amount of a dual state material in a solid state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The housing for the consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein the micro-features have a tiered layer interlock. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The housing for the consumer electronic product as recited in claim 8, wherein the tiered layer interlock comprises a first tier layer and a second tier layer, the first tier layer being smaller than the second tier layer. ### Claim 10 A method for making an enclosure for an electronic device, the method comprising: forming micro-features in side walls of a first metal housing part, wherein the side walls define an internal volume, and the first metal housing part is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to emit a RF signal; forming a bottom wall in a second metal housing part, wherein the bottom wall includes an edge having an indention; coupling the first metal housing part to the second metal housing part, wherein the indention and at least one of the side walls define a channel, and the first and second metal housing parts are separated by the channel; and filling the channel and the micro-features with a dielectric element such as to interlock and electrically isolate the first and second metal housing parts, the dielectric element including a first dielectric element and a second dielectric element, wherein the first dielectric element mechanically interlocks with the first and second metal housing parts, and the second dielectric element partially fills the channel and defines an exterior surface of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the side walls include a first wall having a first through hole and a second wall having a second though hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first through hole is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the second through hole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the side walls include edges that define a platform capable of receiving a protective cover that defines and overlays the internal volume. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the dielectric element includes a dual state material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first dielectric element and the second dielectric element combine to fill the channel. ### Claim 16 A housing for a portable electronic device, the housing comprising: a corner housing part having side walls that (i) include micro-features, and (ii) define an internal volume, wherein the corner housing part is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to radiate a RF signal; a bottom housing part having a bottom wall, the bottom wall including an edge having an indention that together with at least one of the side walls defines a channel, wherein the corner and bottom housing parts are separated by the channel; and a dielectric element that fills the channel and the micro-features to interlock and electrically isolate the corner and bottom housing parts, the dielectric element including a first dielectric element and a second dielectric element, wherein the first dielectric element mechanically interlocks with the corner and bottom housing parts, and the second dielectric element partially fills the channel and defines an exterior surface of the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The housing as recited in claim 16, wherein the corner housing part comprises the RF antenna. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The housing as recited in claim 16, wherein the micro-features are oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the bottom wall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The housing as recited in claim 16, wherein the first dielectric element and the second dielectric element combine to fill the channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The housing as recited in claim 16, wherein the first dielectric element includes an internal surface that partially defines the internal volume.