Coupling structures for electronic device housings

• US 10,372,166 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gable, Brian M., Di Nallo, Carlo, Ely, Colin M., Horton, Craig A., de Jong, Erik G., Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Wettersten, Henry B., Li, Hoishun, Sauers, Jason C., Nath, Jayesh, Martinis, Mario, Pascolini, Mattia, Coleman, Michael P., Ehman, Rex T., Wang, Zheyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Binh B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burtner, Douglas R
• Application Number:
  US15/212,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/763 the edges being disposed in a substantial flat plane
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3481 Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/04 Metal casings

Abstract

A housing for an electronic device is disclosed. The housing includes a first conductive component defining a first interface surface, a second conductive component defining a second interface surface facing the first interface surface, and a joint structure between the first and second interface surfaces. The joint structure includes a molded element forming a portion of an exterior surface of the housing, and a sealing member forming a watertight seal between the first and second conductive components. Methods of forming the electronic device housing are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A housing for an electronic device, comprising:

a first conductive component defining;

a first portion of a curved exterior surface of the housing;

a first interface surface; and

a first interlock feature;

a second conductive component defining;

a second portion of the curved exterior surface of the housing;

a second interface surface facing the first interface surface; and

a second interlock feature; and

a joint structure between the first and second interface surfaces, comprising;

a molded element defining;

first and second corresponding interlock features engaged with the first and second interlock features, respectively, and fixing the first conductive component to the second conductive component; and

a third portion of the curved exterior surface of the housing, the third portion positioned between and adjacent to the first and second portions of the curved exterior surface; and

a sealing member abutting the molded element and forming a watertight seal between the first and second conductive components.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein:

the sealing member and the molded element are electrical insulators; and

the sealing member and the molded element electrically isolate the first conductive component from the second conductive component.

3. The housing of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second interlock features are dovetail channels.

4. The housing of claim 1, wherein the sealing member comprises an elastomeric material.

5. The housing of claim 1, wherein the sealing member is compressed between the first and second interface surfaces.

6. The housing of claim 1, wherein:

the molded element is a first molded element; and

the sealing member is a second molded element.

7. The housing of claim 1, wherein the curved exterior surface of the housing is located at a perimeter of the housing.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a cover over the display; and

a housing configured to receive the display and the cover, comprising;

a first component receiving the cover thereon and defining;

a first exterior surface region of the housing; and

a first interlock feature;

a second component forming at least part of an interior cavity of the housing and defining;

a second exterior surface region of the housing; and

a second interlock feature; and

a joint structure positioned in a gap between the first and second components, comprising;

a molded element mechanically engaged with the first and second interlock features to inhibit expansion of the gap, the molded element defining a third exterior surface region between the first and second exterior surface regions; and

an elastomeric sealing member abutting the molded element and between the first and second components;

wherein

the third exterior surface region, a portion of the first exterior surface region adjacent the molded element, and a portion of the second exterior surface region adjacent the molded element together define a continuous surface.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the first and second components are formed of a conductive metal;

the elastomeric sealing member and the molded element are electrical insulators; and

the elastomeric sealing member and the molded element electrically isolate the first component from the second component.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the first interlock feature comprises a channel extending around a perimeter of the electronic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the channel is a dovetail channel.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is subject to a residual compressive force by the first and second components.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the first component defines an opening configured to receive the display and the cover therein; and

the elastomeric sealing member extends around a perimeter of the opening.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the molded element is formed of a polymer material.

15. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the molded element conforms to a shape of the elastomeric sealing member.