Components of an electronic device and methods for their assembly
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBryan P. Kiple, Charles B. Woodhull, David A. Pakula, Tang Y. Tan, Michael P. Coleman, Thomas Johannessen, Richard W. Heley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various components of an electronic device housing and methods for their assembly are disclosed. The housing can be formed by assembling and connecting two or more different sections together. The sections of the housing may be coupled together using one or more coupling members. The coupling members may be formed using a two-shot molding process in which the first shot forms a structural portion of the coupling members, and the second shot forms cosmetic portions of the coupling members.
Claims20
A method for forming a housing for a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
- forming a first side wall by machining a first extruded member characterized as having a first extrusion axis;
- forming a second side wall by machining a second extruded member characterized as having a second extrusion axis;
- machining a third extruded member characterized as having a third extrusion axis to form at least one of a third side wall, a fourth side wall, or a bottom wall of a bottom housing section, wherein the third side wall opposes the fourth side wall and the bottom wall extends between the third side wall and the fourth side wall such that the third side wall, the fourth side wall, and the bottom wall define a cavity;
- and
- forming the housing by joining the first side wall and the second side wall to opposite ends of the bottom housing section such that the first extrusion axis and the second extrusion axis are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the third extrusion axis, wherein the housing is suitable for carrying a component within the cavity.
A method for forming a five-wall housing for a portable electronic device suitable for carrying a component within a cavity, the method comprising:
- extruding (i) a first member along a first extrusion axis, (ii) a second member along a second extrusion axis, and (iii) a third member along a third extrusion axis to form a first extruded member, a second extruded member, and a third extruded member that are each characterized as having a prism shape;
- machining (i) the first extruded member to form a first wall, and (ii) the second extruded member to form a second wall;
- machining the third extruded member to form a three-wall housing section, the three-wall housing section including a third wall and an opposing fourth wall that extend from a bottom wall to define the cavity;
- and
- joining the first wall and the second wall to opposite ends of the three-wall housing section such that the first extrusion axis and the second extrusion axis are perpendicular to the third extrusion axis.
A method for forming a portable electronic device housing the method comprising:
- forming a top housing section by machining a first extruded member characterized as having a first extrusion axis,
- forming a bottom housing section by machining a second extruded member characterized as having a second extrusion axis;
- machining a third extruded member characterized as having a third extrusion axis to form a U-shaped cross-section of a center housing section, wherein the U-shaped cross section includes a planar region bounded by walls that extend from opposing sides thereof to define a cavity capable of carrying a component;
- and
- coupling the top housing section, the bottom housing section, and the center housing section together such that the first extrusion axis and the second extrusion axis are perpendicular to the third extrusion axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.