Metal retaining features for handheld electronic device casing
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorStephen 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.
Claims18
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;
- the second housing having the second retaining feature having an ability to bend without yielding while the first housing is being assembled to the second housing;
- and
- wherein the first retaining feature is configured to engage the second retaining feature by 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.
A method for constructing an electronic device case, the method comprising:
- producing a first housing comprising 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;
- and
- producing the second housing comprising a second retaining feature having an ability to bend without yielding while the first housing is being assembled to the second housing;
- and
- wherein the first retaining feature engages the second retaining feature by fitting the first and second housings together, and wherein the first retaining feature securely couples the first and second housings together when the first retaining feature engages the second retaining feature.
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 and the first retaining feature are formed as one unit;
- the second housing having the second retaining feature having an ability to bend without yielding while the first housing is being assembled to the second housing, wherein the second housing and the second retaining feature are formed as one unit;
- and
- wherein the first retaining feature is configured to engage the second retaining feature by 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.
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 and the first retaining feature are formed as one unit;
- the second housing having the second retaining feature, wherein the second housing and the second retaining feature are formed as one unit;
- and
- wherein the first retaining feature is configured to engage the second retaining feature by fitting the first and second housings together, and wherein the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature extend substantially along the length of the first and second housings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.