# US 9,439,305 B2 · Glass enclosure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,439,305 B2 - Document ID: US9439305B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/447,507 - Filed: 2014-07-30 - Published: 2015-01-15 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-17 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Christopher Prest; Emery A. Sanford - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439305B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)} - G02F 1/13338: {Input devices, e.g. touch panels} - G02F 1/13439: {characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making} - G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]} - G06F 1/1643: {the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615)} - H04B 1/3888: Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers - H04M 1/0249: {Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly} - H05K 5/0017: {with operator interface units} - H05K 5/0086: {portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus (casings for switching devices H01H9/02)} - H05K 5/0091: {Housing specially adapted for small components (for resistors H01C; for capacitors H01G; for integrated circuits H10W99/00)} - H05K 5/02: Details - H05K 5/0217: {Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03)} - H04M 2201/38: Displays - Y10T 29/49002: Electrical device making - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A handheld computing device that includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a glass material that can be radio-transparent. The enclosure can be formed from a hollow glass tube or two glass members bonded together. A laser frit bonding process may be used to hermetically seal the two glass members together to create a water resistant electronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable computing device, the portable computing device comprising: an integral and substantially seamless enclosure that surrounds and protects internal operational components of the portable computing device, the enclosure including a main body of glass material that permits wireless communications therethrough; a liquid crystal display touch screen assembly positioned within the main body but externally accessible; and an internal antenna disposed inside the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises at least an inner structural wall and an outer structural wall that are formed of glass. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the main body has a tube-like configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is a handheld computing device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The portable computing device as recited in claim 3, wherein the handheld computing device is a mobile phone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The portable computing device as recited in claim 3, wherein the handheld computing device is a media player. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an end cap positioned on an open end of the enclosure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The portable computing device as recited in claim 6, wherein the internal operational components are enclosed by the enclosure and end cap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the main body has an inner cross-sectional shape and an external cross-sectional shape, and wherein the inner cross-sectional shape is different from the external cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer structural wall has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) than does the at least one inner structural wall. ### Claim 10 A method for manufacturing a portable electronic device capable of wireless communications, the portable electronic device surrounding and protecting internal operation components, the method comprising: extruding a seamless enclosure having an elongated aperture in the center of the enclosure and an opening positioned at at least one end of the seamless enclosure, the seamless enclosure being formed from a glass material that permits wireless communications therethrough, the seamless enclosure having a front surface; and receiving a user interface subsystem at the front surface of the seamless enclosure, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure comprises at least an inner structural wall and an outer structural wall that are formed of glass. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the receiving comprises sliding the user interface subsystem into the seamless enclosure such that it is proximate to the elongated aperture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the seamless enclosure includes a substantially planar front surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the seamless enclosure has a substantially uniform cross-section along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the seamless enclosure has a wall that is thicker in at least one portion than in another portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the extruding the seamless enclosure comprises extruding a tube like main body in its entirety with glass material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising placing an end cap on an open end of the tube like main body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the seamless enclosure has an inner cross-sectional shape and an external cross-sectional shape, and wherein the inner cross-sectional shape is different from the external cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 18 A portable electronic device, comprising: an integral and substantially seamless enclosure that surrounds and protects internal operational components of the portable electronic device, the enclosure having a user interface opening and including a main body of glass material that permits wireless communications therethrough; a user interface subassembly positioned within the main body and adjacent the user interface opening; and an internal antenna disposed inside the enclosure, wherein at least a portion of the main body comprises at least an inner structural wall and an outer structural wall that are formed of glass. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The portable electronic device as recited in claim 18, wherein the enclosure has a planar front surface, and wherein the user interface subassembly is positioned at the front planar surface and adjacent the user interface opening. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The portable electronic device as recited in claim 18, wherein the user interface subassembly includes at least a display and a touch pad. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The portable electronic device as recited in claim 18, wherein the enclosure is formed from an extruded glass material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The portable electronic device as recited in claim 18, wherein the main body has an inner cross-sectional shape and an external cross-sectional shape, and wherein the inner cross-sectional shape is different from the external cross-sectional shape.