# US 11,112,825 B2 · Portable computer unified top case

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- Number: US 11,112,825 B2
- Document ID: US11112825B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/593,630
- Filed: 2019-10-04
- Published: 2020-01-30
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2008-10-13
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Matthew Theobald; Jonathan P. Ive; Bartley K. Andre; Christopher Stringer; Daniel J. Coster; John Raff; Ron Hopkinson; John Brock; Chris Ligtenberg; Michelle Rae Goldberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112825B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/1613: {for portable computers (cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202)}
- G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position}
- G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)}
- G06F 1/1658: {related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module}
- G06F 1/1679: {for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence)}
- G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675}
- H05K 5/04: Metal casings
- Y10T 29/49002: Electrical device making
- Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- Y10T 29/4913: Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 29/4998: Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
- Y10T 29/49996: Successive distinct removal operations
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A top case assembly for a portable computer is disclosed. The assembly may include an integral unified (e.g., homogenous) top case formed from a single part. The integral top case provides an enclosure, frame and cosmetic exterior of the portable computer. The integral top case also serves as the primary structure of the portable computer. The assembly may include a variety of subassemblies such as keyboards, touchpads, circuit boards, and drives that are carried by the underside of the integral top case. The integral top case may be formed from aluminum slab that has been machined to form walls, openings, attachment areas and cosmetic areas of the top case.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A notebook computer comprising:
a base portion comprising:
a glass housing member defining, as a unitary structure:
a top wall defining an opening; and
at least one side wall integrally formed with the top wall;
a bottom housing member coupled to the glass housing member, the glass housing member and the bottom housing member at least partially defining an interior cavity of the base portion; and
an input device extending at least partially through the opening in the top wall;
a lid portion pivotally coupled to the base portion; and
a display coupled to the lid portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein the glass housing member further comprises a rib member integrally formed with the top wall and positioned within the interior cavity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The notebook computer of claim 2, wherein:
the rib member is a first rib member;
the at least one side wall is a front side wall of the glass housing member;
the lid portion is pivotally coupled to the base portion along a back side of the glass housing member; and
the glass housing member further defines a second rib member extending from the front side wall to the back side of the glass housing member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The notebook computer of claim 2, wherein:
the opening is a first opening;
the top wall defines a second opening; and
the base portion further comprises a trackpad extending at least partially through the second opening.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The notebook computer of claim 4, wherein:
the rib member is a first rib member;
the first rib member is positioned along a first side of the second opening; and
the glass housing member further comprises a second rib member integrally formed with the top wall and positioned along a second side of the second opening.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The notebook computer of claim 4, wherein:
the top wall defines a key web that defines the first opening and a plurality of additional openings;
the base portion further comprises a keyboard at least partially within the interior cavity;
the keyboard comprises a plurality of keys; and
a key of the plurality of keys extends at least partially through the first opening.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The notebook computer of claim 6, wherein the rib member is positioned between the key web and the second opening.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The notebook computer of claim 6, wherein:
the rib member is a first rib member;
the key of the plurality of keys is a first key;
a second key of the plurality of keys extends at least partially through one additional opening of the plurality of additional openings; and
the unitary top case further defines a second rib member positioned between the first opening and the one additional opening.

### Claim 9

A housing for a notebook computer, the housing comprising:
a base portion comprising:
a glass top member defining:
a top wall defining:
a top exterior surface of the base portion; and
an interior surface opposite the top exterior surface;
a side wall defining a side exterior surface of the base portion; and
a reinforcing member extending from the interior surface and integrally formed with the glass top member; and
a bottom member coupled with the glass top member, the bottom member and the glass top member at least partially defining an interior cavity; and
a lid member pivotally coupled with the base portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The housing of claim 9, wherein:
the top wall further defines a key web;
the base portion further comprises a keyboard at least partially within the interior cavity;
the keyboard comprises a plurality of keys; and
a key of the plurality of keys extends at least partially through a key opening defined by the key web.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The housing of claim 9, wherein the side wall defines an undercut.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The housing of claim 9, wherein:
the side wall defines a connector opening; and
the connector opening is configured to receive a plug.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The housing of claim 9, wherein:
the side wall is a first side wall;
the glass top member further defines:
a second side wall; and
a third side wall; and
the first side wall, the second side wall, and the third side wall form a continuous surface around at least a portion of a periphery of the housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The housing of claim 13, wherein:
the first side wall defines a first undercut positioned along a first edge of the housing;
the second side wall defines a second undercut positioned along a second edge of the housing; and
the third side wall defines a third undercut positioned along a third edge of the housing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The housing of claim 13, wherein:
the first side wall defines a first connector opening configured to receive a first electronic connector; and
the second side wall defines a second connector opening configured to receive a second electronic connector.

### Claim 16

A portable computer comprising:
a base portion comprising:
a unified glass housing member defining:
a top wall; and
an outer wall defining:
a continuous side surface that extends along three sides of the unified glass housing member; and
a connector opening extending through the outer wall;
a bottom housing member coupled with the unified glass housing member; and
an electrical connector within the portable computer and accessible through the connector opening;
a lid portion pivotally coupled with the base portion; and
a display coupled with the lid portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The portable computer of claim 16, wherein:
the top wall further defines a key web defining a key opening;
the base portion further comprises a keyboard at least partially within the portable computer;
the keyboard comprises a plurality of keys; and
a key of the plurality of keys extends at least partially through the key opening.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The portable computer of claim 16, wherein one or more electrical connections pass through the connector opening.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The portable computer of claim 16, wherein:
the top wall defines a notch along a back side of the top wall;
the lid portion is pivotally coupled with the base portion via a hinge mechanism; and
the hinge mechanism is positioned at least partially in the notch.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The portable computer of claim 16, wherein the connector opening defines an undercut in the continuous side surface.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein:
the top wall further defines:
a keyboard region having the opening; and
a trackpad region; and
the input device extends through the opening in the keyboard region.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The notebook computer of claim 21, wherein the glass housing member further comprises a rib member integrally formed with the top wall and positioned within the interior cavity between the keyboard region and the trackpad region.