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US 12,603,414 B2Granted
Coupling structures for electronic device housings
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMatthew D. Hill, Michael B. Wittenberg, Shane Bustle, Duy P. Le
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A housing for an electronic device is disclosed. The housing comprises a first component and a second component separated from the first component by a gap. The housing also includes a first molded element disposed at least partially within the gap and defining at least a portion of an interlock feature, and a second molded element disposed at least partially within the gap and mechanically engaging the interlock feature. The first component, the second component, and the second molded element form a portion of an exterior surface of the housing. A method of forming the housing is also disclosed.
Claims20
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- a first metal housing component defining:
- a first segment defining at least a first portion of a first side exterior surface of the housing;
- a second segment defining at least a portion of a second side exterior surface of the housing;
- a second metal housing component defining:
- a body segment defining a first portion of a back exterior surface of the housing;
- a bridge segment;
- and
- a panel segment structurally and conductively coupled to the body segment by the bridge segment and defining a second portion of the back exterior surface of the housing and at least a second portion of the first side exterior surface of the housing;
- a polymer joint structure comprising:
- a first joint segment positioned between the first metal housing component and the second metal housing component and defining a second portion of the back exterior surface of the housing and at least a third portion of the first side exterior surface of the housing;
- and
- a second joint segment positioned between the body segment and the panel segment and over the bridge segment and defining a third portion of the back exterior surface of the housing;
- and
- a front cover coupled to the housing and defining a front exterior surface of the electronic device.
12 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a transparent cover defining a front exterior surface of the electronic device;
- and
- a housing coupled to the transparent cover and comprising:
- a first metal housing component defining:
- a first segment defining at least a portion of a back surface of the electronic device;
- and
- a second segment defining at least a portion of a first side surface of the electronic device;
- a second metal housing component defining:
- a third segment defining at least a portion of a second side surface of the electronic device;
- and
- a corner segment defining a corner surface of the electronic device, the corner surface extending from the first side surface to the second side surface;
- and
- a polymer joint structure positioned between the first metal housing component and the second metal housing component and comprising:
- a fourth segment extending along the first segment of the second metal housing component;
- and
- a curved segment extending along the corner segment of the second metal housing component.
13 more elements
A portable electronic device comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- a first metal housing component defining:
- a first portion of a back exterior surface of the housing;
- a first portion of a first side exterior surface of the housing;
- a first portion of a second side exterior surface of the housing;
- and
- a second metal housing component defining:
- a second portion of the first side exterior surface of the housing;
- and
- at least a portion of a third side exterior surface of the housing;
- and
- a polymer joint structure defining:
- a first segment positioned in a first portion of a gap between the first metal housing component and the second metal housing component and defining a second portion of the back exterior surface of the housing;
- and
- a second segment positioned in a second portion of the gap between the first metal housing component and the second metal housing component and defining a third portion of the first side exterior surface of the housing, wherein the polymer joint structure comprises:
- a first polymer material defining the second portion of the back exterior surface of the housing and the third portion of the first side exterior surface of the housing;
- and
- a second polymer material exposed along an interior of the housing;
- and
- a front cover coupled to the housing and defining a front surface of the portable electronic device.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.