Metal retaining features for handheld electronic device casing
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorStephen P. Zadesky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention is directed to mechanical and electromagnetic shielding features of an electronic device case. An electronic device case is formed of two housings, each housing having integrated snaps, channels, or other retaining features used to secure the housings together. The housings additionally include integrated retaining features used to secure electronic components within the device case. The housings and retaining features are formed of amorphous metals or other materials with high elasticities. Because the retaining features necessary to assemble the case and secure the electronic components to the case form integral parts of the housings, no external retaining features are required to assemble the electronic device in the case.
Claims21
1-25. (canceled)
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing formed from an amorphous metal and having a retaining feature that is integrally formed within the housing and extends inward from an internal surface of the housing;
- and
- an internal component disposed within the housing and coupled to the housing by the retaining feature, wherein the retaining feature is formed from the amorphous metal and has an ability to bend without yielding while the internal component is being assembled within the housing.
An electronic device case comprising:
- a first housing having a first retaining feature comprising an amorphous metal having an ability to bend without yielding while the first housing is being assembled to a second housing, wherein the first housing further comprises an internal retaining feature that is integrally formed within the first housing and extends from an internal surface of the first housing;
- the second housing having the second retaining feature configured engage the first retaining feature to couple the first and second housings together;
- and
- an internal component disposed within the electronic device case and coupled to the first housing by the internal retaining feature, wherein internal retaining feature is formed from the amorphous metal and has an ability to bend without yielding while the internal component is being assembled within the first housing.
A method for constructing an electronic device, the method comprising:
- forming a housing from an amorphous metal, wherein a retaining feature is integrally formed within the housing and extends from an internal surface of the housing;
- and
- engaging an internal component to the housing by deforming the retaining feature, wherein the retaining feature bends without yielding while the internal component is being assembled within the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.