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US 8,101,859 B2Granted
Metal retaining features for handheld electronic device casing
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorStephen Zadesky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims25
An electronic device case comprising:
- a first housing having a substantially planar portion and including a first retaining feature extending from the first housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar portion of the housing, wherein the first retaining feature forms an integral part of the first housing, and wherein the first retaining feature is formed of an amorphous metal having a relatively high elasticity and an ability to bend without yielding;
- and
- a second housing having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface comprises a second retaining feature formed along an edge of the second housing;
- and
- wherein the first retaining feature engages the second retaining feature when the electronic case is assembled by vertically press fitting the first and second housings together, and wherein the first retaining feature is operative to securely couple the first and second housings together when the first retaining feature engages the second retaining feature, and wherein the secure coupling of the first and second housings form a substantially uniform outer surface for both the first and second housings.
2 more elements
An electronic device case comprising:
- a first housing having a substantially planar portion and including a first retaining feature extending from the first housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar portion of the housing, wherein the first retaining feature forms an integral part of the first housing, and wherein the first retaining feature is formed of an elastic material;
- a second housing having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface comprises a second retaining feature formed along an edge of the second housing;
- wherein the first retaining feature engages the second retaining feature when the electronic case is assembled, and wherein the first retaining feature is operative to securely couple the first and second housings together when the first retaining feature engages the second retaining feature;
- and
- a third retaining feature extending from an inner surface of the first housing and integral to the first housing, wherein the third retaining feature is formed of an elastic material;
- and
- wherein the third retaining feature is operative to engage a component of the electronic device and to securely couple the component to the first housing when the third retaining feature engages the component.
4 more elements
An electronic device case comprising:
- a first housing having an inner surface, the first housing comprising a first retaining feature extending from the inner surface in a direction substantially orthogonal to the inner surface and extends to an interior of the electronic device case, wherein the first retaining feature forms an integral part of the first housing and is formed of an elastic material;
- and
- wherein a member extending from a distal end of the first retaining feature is operative to engage a first component of the electronic device and to elastically couple the component to the first housing when the retaining feature engages the component.
An electronic device case comprising:
- a first housing having an inner surface, the first housing comprising a first retaining feature extending from the inner surface in a direction substantially orthogonal to the inner surface, wherein the first retaining feature forms an integral part of the first housing and is formed of an elastic material;
- wherein the first retaining feature is operative to engage a first component of the electronic device and to elastically couple the component to the first housing when the retaining feature engages the component;
- and
- a second housing comprising an indentation in a surface of the second housing, wherein the indentation is configured to be penetrated by a second component of the electronic device when the electronic device case is assembled.
1 more element
A method for constructing an electronic device case, the method comprising:
- producing a first housing a single production step, wherein the first housing comprises a first retaining feature formed as an integral part of the first housing and extending from the first housing in a transverse direction to the first housing, wherein the first retaining feature is formed of an amorphous metal having a relatively high elasticity and an ability to bend without yielding;
- and
- producing a second housing a single production step, wherein the second housing has an inner surface which comprises a second retaining feature formed along an edge of the housing;
- and
- wherein the first retaining feature engages the second retaining feature when the electronic case is assembled by vertically press fitting the first and second housings together, and wherein the first retaining feature is configured to securely couple the first and second housings together when the first retaining feature engages the second retaining feature, and wherein the secure coupling of the first and second housings form a substantially uniform outer surface for both the first and second housings.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.