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US 11,597,226 B2Granted
Process for creating sub-surface marking on plastic parts
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMichael S. Nashner, John T. Payne, Jody R. Akana
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on sub-surfaces of the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on a sub-surface of the outer housing surface yet still be visible from the outside of the housing. Since the markings are beneath the surface of the housing, the markings are durable.
Claims13
An electronic device comprising:
- a metal base structure;
- an opaque coating layer formed over the metal base structure and comprising a titanium dioxide incorporated into a polymer, the opaque coating layer bonded directly to the metal base structure;
- a transparent acrylic layer formed over the opaque coating layer, having a hardness that is greater than the opaque coating layer, defining an exterior surface of the electronic device, and having a thickness ranging between 15 microns and 50 microns;
- and
- a laser marking formed at a surface between the opaque coating layer and the transparent acrylic layer.
2 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a base structure comprising a metal substrate;
- an opaque coating layer bonded directly to at least one surface of the base structure, the opaque coating layer comprising titanium dioxide dispersed within a polymer;
- a transparent acrylic layer disposed over the opaque coating layer and defining at least a portion of an external surface of the electronic device, the transparent acrylic layer having a thickness ranging from 15 microns and 50 microns and a hardness that is greater than the opaque coating layer;
- and
- a laser marking formed at a surface of the opaque coating layer that is adjacent to the transparent acrylic layer.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.