Portable computer unified top case

• US 10,474,189 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2018
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• 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:
  US16/172,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20190064877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 381 Days
• 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 notebook computer, comprising:

a base portion comprising;

a unified glass housing member defining;

a top wall defining a key web; and

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

a bottom housing member coupled to the unified glass housing member, the unified glass housing member and the bottom housing member at least partially defining an interior volume of the base portion; and

a keyboard at least partially within the interior volume and comprising a plurality of keys, a key of the plurality of keys extending at least partially through a key opening defined by the key web;

a lid portion pivotally coupled to the base portion; and

a display coupled to the lid portion.

2. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein the base portion further comprises a touch-sensitive input region configured to detect touch inputs applied to the notebook computer.

3. The notebook computer of claim 2, wherein:

the touch-sensitive input region comprises a track pad;

the top wall further defines a track pad opening; and

at least a portion of the track pad is positioned in the track pad opening.

4. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one side wall is a first side wall;

the unified glass housing member further defines;

a second side wall integrally formed with the top wall; and

a third side wall integrally formed with the top wall;

the top wall defines a top exterior surface of the base portion; and

the bottom housing member defines a bottom exterior surface of the base portion.

5. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein the at least one side wall defines a connector opening.

6. The notebook computer of claim 5, wherein:

the notebook computer further comprises a power connector within the notebook computer and accessible through the connector opening; and

the connector opening is configured to receive a plug therein.

7. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein:

the unified glass housing member defines a notch along a back side of the unified glass housing member; and

the notebook computer comprises a hinge positioned at least partially in the notch and attached to the base portion and the lid portion and configured to allow the lid portion to move between an open position and a closed position relative to the base portion.

8. A notebook computer, comprising:

a base portion comprising;

a unified housing member formed from glass and comprising;

a top wall defining a plurality of key openings, each respective key opening of the plurality of key openings configured to receive at least a portion of a respective key of a keyboard;

a first side wall integrally formed with the top wall and defining a first side of the unified housing member;

a second side wall integrally formed with the top wall and defining a second side of the unified housing member; and

a third side wall integrally formed with the top wall and defining a third side of the unified housing member; and

a bottom housing member coupled to the unified housing member and cooperating with the unified housing member to define an interior volume of the base portion; and

a lid portion pivotally coupled to the base portion and comprising;

a lid housing; and

a display coupled to the lid housing.

9. The notebook computer of claim 8, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the third side wall define a seamless wall around at least a portion of a periphery of the unified housing member.

10. The notebook computer of claim 8, wherein:

the top wall defines;

a top exterior surface of the unified housing member; and

an interior surface opposite the top exterior surface; and

the unified housing member further comprises a rib integrally formed with the top wall along the interior surface.

11. The notebook computer of claim 10, wherein the rib is positioned along a side of a track pad region of the top wall.

12. The notebook computer of claim 10, wherein:

the rib is a first rib;

the unified housing member further defines one or more second ribs; and

the first rib and the one or more second ribs at least partially surround a track pad region of the top wall.

13. The notebook computer of claim 8, wherein the first side wall defines an undercut along an interior surface of the first side wall.

14. The notebook computer of claim 8, wherein the first side wall defines an opening.

15. A portable computer, comprising:

a lid portion;

a display coupled to the lid portion; and

a base portion pivotally coupled to the lid portion and comprising;

a keyboard;

a touch-sensitive input device; and

a glass housing member at least partially housing the keyboard and the touch-sensitive input device, the glass housing member defining;

a glass top wall defining a key web;

a glass side wall integrally formed with the glass top wall and defining an exterior side surface of the portable computer.

16. The portable computer of claim 15, wherein the key web defines a plurality of key openings, each key opening receiving at least a portion of at least one key of the keyboard.

17. The portable computer of claim 15, further comprising a rib integrally formed with the glass top wall.

18. The portable computer of claim 15, wherein:

the glass side wall is a first glass side wall;

the exterior side surface is a first exterior side surface; and

the glass housing member further defines;

a second glass side wall defining a second exterior side surface of the portable computer; and

a third glass side wall defining a third exterior side surface of the portable computer.

19. The portable computer of claim 15, wherein:

the glass side wall defines an opening; and

the portable computer further comprises a connector within the base portion and mounted proximate the opening and configured to receive a plug that extends through the opening.

20. The portable computer of claim 19, wherein the connector is a power connector.