Combined audio jack and mobile electronic device enclosure
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsCharles B. Woodhull, Jason S. Sloey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Enclosures for electronic devices are provided. These enclosures can be integrally formed with a full or partial receptacle connector shell for receiving electrical connectors such as audio connectors or plugs. For example, an enclosure made from a polymer can be integrally formed with an audio jack shell in an injection molding process. As another example, an enclosure can be integrally formed with one or more full or partial walls of an audio jack shell to form a single piece of polymer or metal and the remaining walls of the audio jack shell can be overmolded or assembled to the polymer or metal walls of the audio jack and proximate portions of the enclosure to form a full or complete audio jack shell.
Claims14
An electronic device enclosure, comprising:
- a back portion, the back portion having front and back surfaces;
- left and right opposing walls;
- top and bottom opposing walls, the bottom wall including an opening that communicates with a cavity extending longitudinally towards the top wall;
- and inner surfaces of a connector shell defining the cavity, the connector shell integrally formed with the back portion and the bottom wall, the connector shell defined at least in part by:
- a top connector wall extending from the bottom wall towards the top wall;
- first and second opposing sidewalls extending from the bottom wall towards the top wall;
- a front portion opposite the bottom wall extending between the first and second sidewalls;
- and a portion of the back portion of the electronic device enclosure, the portion extending between the first and second opposing sidewalls and extending between the bottom wall and the front portion;
- wherein the first and second sidewalls and the front portion also extend from the top wall to the back portion;
- and wherein the enclosure forms a unified body formed from a single piece of material.
An electronic device enclosure, comprising:
- a back portion having front and back surfaces;
- left and right opposing walls emanating from the front surface;
- and
- a bottom wall emanating from the front surface, the bottom wall including an opening;
- wherein the front surface of the back portion includes first and second ridges integrally formed with the back portion and disposed adjacent to and on opposite sides of the opening and extending away from the bottom wall, the first and second ridges having a first depth and a plurality of pockets formed therein;
- and
- a connector shell having a plurality of pegs corresponding to the plurality of pockets and overmolded on the first and second ridges;
- wherein the enclosure forms a unified body with the connector shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.