Internal component arrangement within a housing
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsDaniel W. JARVIS, Benjamin J. POPE, Jason SLOEY, Jonathan C. DENBY, Ian A. SPRAGGS, Shayan MALEK
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This application relates to securing and positioning internal components within a housing of a portable computing device. In one embodiment, a number of insert molded retaining members are utilized to inhibit outward deformation of a sidewall of the housing during a drop event. In another embodiment, a cowling is utilized to retain a number of board-to-board connectors within communication slots on a printed circuit board (PCB). In another embodiment, a C-shaped washer having diametrically opposed protrusions is utilized to adjust an alignment of an internal component.
Claims20
A switch assembly carried within a housing of a portable electronic device, the switch assembly comprising:
- a slide switch comprising a button that protrudes from an opening located at a side wall of the housing, the opening having a shape including a major dimension and a minor dimension, wherein the slide switch is movable in a direction in accordance with the minor dimension;
- and
- rails located at an inner surface of the side wall of the housing, wherein the rails limit movement of the slide switch in accordance with the minor dimension.
A housing of a portable electronic device that carries a switch mechanism, the housing comprising:
- walls of the housing that define an interior cavity, wherein a wall includes an opening that extends between the interior cavity and an external surface of the wall, the opening having a shape comprising a major dimension and a minor dimension;
- an internal frame that is coupled to an internal surface of the housing, wherein the internal frame includes an aperture that has a shape and size that corresponds to the shape of the opening;
- a switch including a first surface that is exposed by the opening, wherein the switch is configured to be toggled between a first position and a second position;
- and
- rails coupled to the internal frame and limit movement of the switch to a direction corresponding to the minor dimension when the switch is toggled between the first and second positions.
A method for limiting movement of a slide switch carried within an enclosure of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
- coupling an internal frame member to an internal surface of the enclosure;
- providing a slide switch including a button that protrudes from an opening of the enclosure, the opening having a shape including a major dimension and a minor dimension, wherein the slide switch is movable in a direction in accordance with the minor dimension;
- and
- coupling a pair of rails to separate regions of the internal frame member that are separated by the opening of the enclosure and the pair of rails cooperate to limit movement of the slide switch in accordance with the minor dimension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.