Interlock features of a portable electronic device
First Claim
1. A housing for a consumer electronic product, comprising:
- a first metal housing part having side walls that (i) include micro-features formed thereon, and (ii) define an internal volume, wherein the first metal housing part is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to emit a RF signal;
a second metal housing part having a bottom wall, the bottom wall including an edge having an indention that together with at least one of the side walls defines a channel, wherein the first and second metal housing parts are separated by the channel; and
a dielectric element that fills the channel and the micro-features to interlock and electrically isolate the first and second metal housing parts, the dielectric element including a first dielectric element and a second dielectric element, wherein the first dielectric element mechanically interlocks with the first and second metal housing parts, and the second dielectric element partially fills the channel and defines an exterior surface of the housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device having multiple housing components interlocked together by a molded material is disclosed. In order to provide interlocking surfaces for the molded material, the housing components can include various geometries designed to receive and retain the molded material such that the housing components are secured with one another. For example, a first housing part can undergo several material removal operations to form multiple ribs, each with through holes. When the molded material extends along the ribs and into the through holes, the molded material cures and interlocks with the first housing part. A second housing part can include several stepped indentions that receive the molded material. Also, a third housing part can include a dovetail indention to receive the molded material such that the first and second housing parts interlock with the third housing part. The indentions can provide retention in three dimensions to protect against decoupling.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A housing for a consumer electronic product, comprising:
- a first metal housing part having side walls that (i) include micro-features formed thereon, and (ii) define an internal volume, wherein the first metal housing part is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to emit a RF signal;
a second metal housing part having a bottom wall, the bottom wall including an edge having an indention that together with at least one of the side walls defines a channel, wherein the first and second metal housing parts are separated by the channel; and a dielectric element that fills the channel and the micro-features to interlock and electrically isolate the first and second metal housing parts, the dielectric element including a first dielectric element and a second dielectric element, wherein the first dielectric element mechanically interlocks with the first and second metal housing parts, and the second dielectric element partially fills the channel and defines an exterior surface of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
- a first metal housing part having side walls that (i) include micro-features formed thereon, and (ii) define an internal volume, wherein the first metal housing part is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to emit a RF signal;
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7. The housing for the consumer electronic product as recited in 1, wherein the dielectric element includes an amount of a dual state material in a solid state.
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10. A method for making an enclosure for an electronic device, the method comprising:
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forming micro-features in side walls of a first metal housing part, wherein the side walls define an internal volume, and the first metal housing part is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to emit a RF signal;
forming a bottom wall in a second metal housing part, wherein the bottom wall includes an edge having an indention;coupling the first metal housing part to the second metal housing part, wherein the indention and at least one of the side walls define a channel, and the first and second metal housing parts are separated by the channel; and filling the channel and the micro-features with a dielectric element such as to interlock and electrically isolate the first and second metal housing parts, the dielectric element including a first dielectric element and a second dielectric element, wherein the first dielectric element mechanically interlocks with the first and second metal housing parts, and the second dielectric element partially fills the channel and defines an exterior surface of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A housing for a portable electronic device, the housing comprising:
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a corner housing part having side walls that (i) include micro-features, and (ii) define an internal volume, wherein the corner housing part is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to radiate a RF signal; a bottom housing part having a bottom wall, the bottom wall including an edge having an indention that together with at least one of the side walls defines a channel, wherein the corner and bottom housing parts are separated by the channel; and a dielectric element that fills the channel and the micro-features to interlock and electrically isolate the corner and bottom housing parts, the dielectric element including a first dielectric element and a second dielectric element, wherein the first dielectric element mechanically interlocks with the corner and bottom housing parts, and the second dielectric element partially fills the channel and defines an exterior surface of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification