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US 10,864,686 B2Granted
Continuous carbon fiber winding for thin structural ribs
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsSimon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Ari P. Miller, Christopher I. Owen-Elia, Paul X. Wang, Robert Y. Cao
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Abstract
Embodiments are directed to a keyboard or other input structure having a continuous fiber material. In one aspect, the continuous fiber material is disposed in a layered fiber pattern under tension. The continuous fiber material is continuous in that it is not broken or severed within the webbing. Heat and pressure are then applied to form a structural web. The resulting structural web may be stronger than a webbing of conventional materials yet with reduced relative weight.
Claims20
An electronic device, comprising:
- a display portion comprising a display;
- and
- a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and comprising:
- a housing;
- a key web defining an aperture having four sides and comprising:
- a matrix material;
- and
- a continuous carbon fiber strand extending along at least two sides of the aperture and encapsulated in the matrix material;
- and
- a keyboard coupled to the housing and comprising a keycap positioned at least partially in the aperture.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.