Cover glass to housing interface system

• US 10,303,205 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gotham, Todd F., Nishibori, Shin, Stringer, Christopher J., McBroom, Michael, McBroom, Daniel, Sudderth, Brian, Ternus, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaker, Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US15/065,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 36167922
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1609 to support filters or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A display cover to housing interface system includes a display screen fronted by a display cover having front and obverse faces and a distal edge between the faces around a circumference thereof (i.e., edge thickness), and also an outer housing that provides support for the display cover. A portion of the display cover distal edge or thickness is fully exposed to outside, such that the display cover is exposed and substantially visible when viewed directly from the front and at least one side while installed. The display cover can be glass, while the housing is metal. A protective layer located between the housing and display cover protects the display cover from the housing. Various support components hold the display cover in place, and can include magnets and/or a stabilizer assembly affixed along a bottom edge of the display cover and adapted to couple to a bottom chin of the housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device having opposing front and rear faces, an interior and an exterior, wherein the front face has a rectangular periphery with four sides, the electronic device comprising:

a glass cover layer that has a front surface facing the exterior, an opposing parallel rear surface facing the interior, and an edge surface that extends from the front surface to the rear surface, wherein at least a portion of the edge surface is exposed to the exterior, and wherein the glass cover layer is a continuous sheet of glass;

a display covered by the glass cover layer; and

a housing with first and second sidewalls that run along first and second sides of the rectangular periphery, wherein the first sidewall has a first planar surface that is parallel to the rear surface of the glass cover layer, wherein the second sidewall has a second planar surface that is parallel to the rear surface of the glass cover layer, wherein the first and second sidewalls have respective first and second lengths, and wherein the rear surface of the glass cover layer is directly coupled to the first and second planar surfaces along the entire first and second lengths of the first and second sidewalls.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a chin portion that contacts the edge surface of the glass cover layer.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein the chin portion is monochromatic.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a top wall and a curved back wall.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the glass cover layer is affixed to the display using a support component.

6. An electronic device having opposing front and rear faces, an interior, and an exterior, wherein the front face has a rectangular periphery with four sides, the electronic device comprising:

a housing with first and second sidewalls that run along first and second sides of the rectangular periphery, wherein the first and second sidewalls have respective first and second lengths;

a display coupled to the housing; and

a glass cover layer that overlaps the display and has a front surface facing the exterior, an opposing parallel rear surface facing the interior, and a glass edge surface that extends from the front surface to the rear surface and runs around the rectangular periphery, wherein the glass edge surface is completely exposed to the exterior around the entirety of at least three of the four sides of the front face, wherein the glass edge surface is aligned with the rectangular periphery along the at least three sides, wherein the first sidewall of the housing has a first planar surface that is parallel to the rear surface of the glass cover layer, wherein the second sidewall of the housing has a second planar surface that is parallel to the rear surface of the glass cover layer, and wherein the rear surface of the glass cover layer is directly coupled to the first and second planar surfaces along the entire first and second lengths of the first and second sidewalls.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the glass edge surface of the glass cover layer is in contact with a bottom ledge portion of the housing.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the glass cover layer is affixed to the display using a support component.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the housing comprises a chin portion that contacts an edge portion of the glass cover layer along one of the four sides of the front face and wherein the glass edge surface is exposed to the exterior around the other three sides of the front face.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the housing further comprises a top wall and a curved back wall.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the rear surface of the glass cover layer is directly coupled to the first and second planar surfaces through a protective layer and a masking layer.

12. An electronic device having opposing front and rear faces, an interior, and an exterior, wherein the front face has a rectangular periphery, the electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a display coupled to the housing; and

a transparent cover glass that overlaps the display and has a front surface facing the exterior, an opposing parallel rear surface facing the interior, and an edge surface that extends from the front surface to the rear surface and runs around the rectangular periphery, wherein the transparent cover glass is a continuous sheet of glass and wherein the edge surface is completely exposed to the exterior around the entire rectangular periphery of the front face.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12, wherein the housing is formed from metal.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 12, wherein the housing is an integrated unit that includes side walls, a top wall, and a back wall.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14, wherein the back wall has a curved portion.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 14, further comprising a support component that secures the transparent cover glass to the housing.

17. An electronic device having opposing front and rear faces, an interior, and an exterior, wherein the front face has a rectangular periphery with four sides, the electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a display coupled to the housing; and

a glass cover layer that overlaps the display and has a front surface facing the exterior, an opposing parallel rear surface facing the interior, and a glass edge surface that extends from the front surface to the rear surface and runs around the rectangular periphery, wherein the glass edge surface is exposed to the exterior around the entirety of all four sides of the front face, and wherein the glass edge surface is aligned with the rectangular periphery along the four sides.