# US 2020/0401195 A1 · Flexible cable durability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0401195 A1 - Document ID: US20200401195A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/444,764 - Filed: 2019-06-18 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-18 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Karan Bir; Adam T. Garelli; Bryan W. Posner; Denis H. Endisch; Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200401195A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1683: {for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling} - E05D 11/00: Additional features or accessories of hinges {(edge protecting devices E06B3/88)} - E05D 11/0081: {for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing} - G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position} - G06F 1/1637: {Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing} - E05Y 2800/43: against wear - E05Y 2999/00: Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract Apparatuses and systems can mitigate the ingress of debris such as small foreign particles or fluids passing into a joint of an electronic device. Some aspects of the systems prevent particles from passing between a flexible cable and a mandrel surface used to limit bending of the cable. Other aspects provide particle relief features including gaps, grooves, or reduced-size sections of the mandrel so that particles can pass into them and thereby cause no damage or pass out of the electronic device. Another aspect provides a protective layer configured to limit pressure applied to the cable by particles or other contaminants. These apparatuses and systems can improve the life and durability of the mandrel and cable, thereby improving the reliability of operating the electronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable computing device, comprising: an upper housing portion containing a first electronic component, the upper housing portion having a curved surface; a lower housing portion pivotally connected to the upper housing portion, the lower housing portion containing a second electronic component, the upper and lower housing portions configured to pivot relative to each other between an open position and a closed position; a cable connecting the first and second electronic components, the cable configured to bend over and contact the curved surface when the upper and lower housing portions are in the open position; and a particle relief feature positioned between the curved surface and the cable to reduce pressure applied to the cable by a particle positioned between the cable and the curved surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the particle relief feature comprises a set of channels recessed into the curved surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the particle relief feature comprises a gap between the curved surface and the cable when the upper and lower housing portions are in the closed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the particle relief feature comprises a barrier contacting the curved surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The portable computing device of claim 4, wherein the barrier is rotatable with the curved surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The portable computing device of claim 4, wherein the barrier is configured to slide against the curved surface as the upper and lower housing portions are pivoted between the open and closed positions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The portable computing device of claim 4, wherein the particle relief feature comprises a material that is relatively rigid in bending along a width dimension of the cable and that is relatively flexible in bending along a length dimension of the cable. ### Claim 8 A laptop computer, comprising: a housing having a display portion and a base portion, at least one of the display and base portions having a mandrel surface; an electronic display in the display portion of the housing; a set of computing components in the base portion of the housing; and a cable connecting the set of computing components and extending between the electronic display and the set of computing components, the cable bending over the mandrel surface when the display portion and the base portion are in an open position, the mandrel surface being at least partially spaced away from the cable when the display portion and the base portion are in a closed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The laptop computer of claim 8, wherein the mandrel surface comprises a set of channels, wherein the mandrel surface is at least partially spaced away from the cable within one of the channels of the set of channels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The laptop computer of claim 9, wherein the set of channels are oriented parallel to a length dimension of the cable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The laptop computer of claim 8, wherein the mandrel surface comprises multiple different radii, the multiple different radii being measured from a mandrel surface pivot axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The laptop computer of claim 11, wherein each of the multiple different radii are positioned on different circumferential length portions of the mandrel surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The laptop computer of claim 11, wherein the multiple different radii comprise a first radius and a second radius, the first radius being smaller than the second radius, the first radius being positioned at a top end of the mandrel surface when the display portion and the base portion are in a closed position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The laptop computer of claim 8, wherein the mandrel surface at least partially touches the cable when the display portion and the base portion are in the open position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The laptop computer of claim 8, wherein the mandrel surface is at least partially spaced away from the cable when the display portion and the base portion are in a closed position. ### Claim 16 A computing device, comprising: a first housing assembly having a mandrel, the mandrel having a curved surface; a second housing assembly movably connected to the first housing assembly; a cable extending between the first and second housing assemblies, the cable configured to at least partially wrap around the curved surface as the first housing and the second housing move relative to each other; wherein the mandrel comprises a debris relief portion to block or capture debris between the curved surface and the cable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computing device of claim 16, wherein the debris relief portion comprises a recess in the mandrel to collect debris between the mandrel and the cable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The computing device of claim 16, wherein the debris relief portion comprises a reduced radius portion of the curved surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The computing device of claim 16, wherein the debris relief portion comprises a compressible barrier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The computing device of claim 16, wherein the debris relief portion is configured to primarily distribute force concentrations caused by debris positioned between the curved surface and the cable along a distribution axis, the distribution axis being parallel to an axis of rotation of the first housing assembly relative to the second housing assembly.