Metal structures having hardened surfaces with three-dimensional topologies
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsDouglas J. Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Forming a 3D topology by forming a monolayer of nano-particles on a stainless steel surface, masking the stainless steel surface forming at least one unmasked regions, the unmasked region having an average density of nano-particles less than a critical average density, and introducing a plurality of exogenous atoms into the stainless steel surface only in the unmasked regions, the exogenous atoms causing the associated metal lattice to expand and harden and have an increase corrosion resistance, thereby selectively forming a 3D topology on the stainless steel surface.
Claims19
A housing for a consumer product, the housing comprising:
- a stainless steel substrate having a surface corresponding to an exterior surface of the housing, the surface having a plurality of expanded regions that increase a hardness of the stainless steel substrate, each of the expanded regions including exogenous atoms incorporated within a metal lattice of the stainless steel substrate and that expand the metal lattice,
- wherein each of the expanded regions protrudes above the surface forming a three-dimensional topology on the surface of the stainless steel substrate.
A consumer product, comprising:
- a plurality of operational components;
- and
- a housing arranged to enclose and secure the operational components, the housing comprising:
- a stainless steel substrate having a surface corresponding to an exterior surface of the housing, and
- a plurality of nitride finger regions on the surface of the stainless steel substrate that increases a hardness of the stainless steel substrate, each of the nitride finger regions including nitrogen atoms incorporated within and expanding a metal lattice of the stainless steel substrate such that each of the nitride finger regions protrudes outward with respect to the surface forming a three-dimensional topology on the surface of the stainless steel substrate.
A consumer electronic product, comprising:
- a housing arranged to enclose and secure a plurality of operational components for the consumer electronic product, the housing having an exterior surface with a three-dimensional topology comprising:
- a stainless steel base having a top surface, and
- a plurality of expanded regions arranged in a pattern on the top surface, each of the expanded regions including exogenous atoms incorporated within and expanding a metal lattice of the stainless steel base such that each of the expanded regions protrudes a distance above the top surface forming the three-dimensional topology.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.