Composite enclosure
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsKevin M. Kenney, Peter N. Russell-Clarke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite enclosure for housing electronic devices, and methods related thereto, are provided. In particular, in some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a composite enclosure for housing electronic devices includes winding composite material about a mandrel and curing the composite material to create a composite hoop. A panel is formed in a separate process that includes stacking a plurality of composite layers in a mold and curing the composite layers to create a composite panel. The composite hoop and the composite panel are bonded together to form the composite enclosure.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a composite enclosure for housing electronic devices comprising:
- winding composite material about a shaping structure;
- curing the composite material to create a composite hoop;
- stacking a plurality of composite layers in a mold;
- curing the plurality of composite layers to create a composite panel;
- and
- bonding the composite hoop with the composite panel for form the composite enclosure.
A composite enclosure for housing an electronic device comprising:
- a composite sidewall member comprising multiple sides;
- and
- a composite back wall bonded to the composite sidewall member, wherein an interior surface of the composite enclosure forms a surface with a sharp transition from the composite back wall to the composite side wall member.
A system for manufacturing a composite enclosure comprising:
- a mandrel comprising selectively separable members, wherein at least one of the selectively separable members comprises a recessed platform;
- a rotatable platform to which the mandrel is selectively coupled, wherein a perimeter edge of the rotatable platform comprises gear teeth;
- a drive assembly comprising:
- a motor;
- and
- a worm drive coupled to the motor, the worm drive engaging the gear teeth to rotate the rotatable platform;
- and
- a pressure and guide mechanism comprising:
- a pivoting arm;
- a compaction roller coupled to the pivoting arm and configured to position composite material onto a surface of the recessed platform of the mandrel;
- a pneumatic cylinder coupled to the pivoting arm and configured to cause the compaction roller to apply pressure to composite material wound on the mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.