Portable computer unified top case

• US 10,152,081 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2014
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Theobald, Matthew, Ive, Jonathan P., Andre, Bartley K., Stringer, Christopher, Coster, Daniel J., Raff, John, Hopkinson, Ron, Brock, John, Ligtenberg, Chris, Goldberg, Michelle Rae
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US14/185,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20140168877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 295921
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/04 Metal casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49996 Successive distinct removal operations

Abstract

A top case assembly for a portable computer is disclosed. The assembly may include an integral unified (e.g., homogenous) top case formed from a single part. The integral top case provides an enclosure, frame and cosmetic exterior of the portable computer. The integral top case also serves as the primary structure of the portable computer. The assembly may include a variety of subassemblies such as keyboards, touchpads, circuit boards, and drives that are carried by the underside of the integral top case. The integral top case may be formed from aluminum slab that has been machined to form walls, openings, attachment areas and cosmetic areas of the top case.

Claims

1. A portable computer, comprising:

a keyboard;

a trackpad; and

a unified housing formed from a single core of metal material and housing the keyboard and the trackpad, the unified housing comprising;

a top wall defining;

a plurality of first openings, each respective first opening receiving at least a portion of a respective key of the keyboard; and

a second opening receiving at least a portion of the trackpad;

at least one side wall integrally formed with the top wall and having a generally uniform thickness, the at least one side wall defining;

an interior surface that defines at least part of an interior cavity; and

an exterior surface that defines an exterior side surface of the portable computer and is opposite the interior surface, wherein;

the at least one side wall includes, along the interior surface and opposite the exterior surface, a machined feature defining opposing surfaces of an undercut area and having a reduced wall thickness that is less than the generally uniform thickness; and

the undercut area is configured to receive an electrical component between the opposing surfaces.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising an aperture that extends from the undercut area to an exterior surface of the portion of the at least one side wall.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the component is a light emitting assembly.

4. The portable computer of claim 3, wherein the light emitting assembly is configured to pass light from the undercut area to the exterior surface for use as a light indicator.

5. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the undercut area is characterized as having a depth such that the component is locatable within the depth.

6. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the single core of metal material is characterized as having a shape that substantially corresponds to a shape of the unified housing.

7. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the metal material of the unified housing is aluminum metal or an alloy of aluminum.

8. An enclosure for a portable computer, comprising:

an integral housing formed from a single slab of metal material, comprising;

a top wall defining;

a plurality of key openings, each respective key opening configured to receive at least a portion of a respective key of a keyboard; and

a trackpad opening configured to receive at least a portion of an input member of a trackpad; and

at least one side wall integrally formed with the top wall and defining;

an interior surface that defines at least part of a first cavity; and

an exterior surface that defines an exposed side surface of the enclosure and is opposite the interior surface; and

a machined feature formed into the at least one side wall, along the interior surface and opposite the exposed side surface, wherein;

the machined feature defines a second cavity having opposing surfaces; and

the second cavity is configured to receive an electrical component of the portable computer between the opposing surfaces.

9. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the at least one side wall includes an opening that extends from the interior surface of the at least one side wall to the exposed surface of the enclosure and facilitates communication of an output of the component.

10. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the component is a light indicator.

11. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the second cavity has a depth that is greater than a depth of the component.

12. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the at least one side wall comprises a notched portion.

13. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the side walls that define the first cavity are associated with a first thickness and the at least one side wall abutting the second cavity is associated with a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.

14. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein a shape of the integral housing substantially corresponds to a shape of the single slab of metal material.