Interlocking flexible segments formed from a rigid material
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic device comprising:
- an electronic component; and
an enclosure that protects the electronic component, the enclosure comprising;
an enclosure top;
an enclosure bottom; and
an enclosure hinge that allows the enclosure top and the enclosure bottom to move relative to each other about a bend axis, wherein;
the enclosure top comprises a first portion of a single piece of material;
the enclosure bottom comprises a second portion of the single piece of material;
the enclosure hinge comprises a third portion of the single piece of material that extends between the first portion of the single piece of material and the second portion of the single piece of material;
the third portion of the single piece of material comprises a plurality of apertures extending from a first surface of the third portion to a second surface of the third portion;
an aperture of the plurality of apertures varies in dimension as the enclosure top and the enclosure bottom move relative to each other about the bend axis;
a sidewall defines at least a portion of the aperture of the plurality of apertures and extends from a first end of the aperture at the first surface to a second end of the aperture at the second surface; and
the sidewall forms a non-perpendicular angle with the first surface of the third portion of the single piece of material.
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Abstract
A method for creating a flexible portion or bending portion within a rigid structure. The method can also be used for creating a flexible structure from a rigid material. The method includes providing a substantially rigid material, such as, but not limited to, metals, alloys, hard plastics, and the like, and selectively removing portions of the rigid material defining a geometric pattern in the rigid material. A bending radius of the flexible portion is defined by the geometric pattern. The rigid structure may be used to create an enclosure, a cover for an electronic device, one or more hinges, or the like.
76 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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an electronic component; and an enclosure that protects the electronic component, the enclosure comprising; an enclosure top; an enclosure bottom; and an enclosure hinge that allows the enclosure top and the enclosure bottom to move relative to each other about a bend axis, wherein; the enclosure top comprises a first portion of a single piece of material; the enclosure bottom comprises a second portion of the single piece of material; the enclosure hinge comprises a third portion of the single piece of material that extends between the first portion of the single piece of material and the second portion of the single piece of material; the third portion of the single piece of material comprises a plurality of apertures extending from a first surface of the third portion to a second surface of the third portion; an aperture of the plurality of apertures varies in dimension as the enclosure top and the enclosure bottom move relative to each other about the bend axis; a sidewall defines at least a portion of the aperture of the plurality of apertures and extends from a first end of the aperture at the first surface to a second end of the aperture at the second surface; and the sidewall forms a non-perpendicular angle with the first surface of the third portion of the single piece of material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An enclosure housing an electronic component of an electronic device comprising:
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a first plurality of flex apertures defined within a rigid material along a first row; and a second plurality of flex apertures defined within the rigid material along a second row, wherein; the second row is positioned below the first row; the first plurality of flex apertures are misaligned with the second plurality of flex apertures such that a first end of each flex aperture of the first plurality of flex apertures is in a different vertical plane from a first end of each flex aperture of the second plurality of flex apertures; when a bending force is applied to one of the first row and the second row, two opposing and aligned apexes of each aperture of each of the first plurality of flex apertures and the second plurality of flex apertures expand away from one another in a direction perpendicular to a bend axis, allowing the rigid material to bend about the bend axis; the enclosure at least partially surrounds the electronic component of the electronic device when the enclosure is bent about the bend axis; at least one flex aperture of at least one of the first plurality of flex apertures or the second plurality of flex apertures extends between an opening in a first surface of the rigid material and an opening in a second surface of the rigid material; the opening in the first surface has a first shape; the opening in the second surface has a second shape; and the first shape is different than the second shape.
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19. An electronic device comprising:
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an electronic component; and an enclosure that protects the electronic component, the enclosure comprising; a first enclosure portion; a second enclosure portion; and a third enclosure portion that allows the first enclosure portion and the second enclosure portion to move relative to each other, wherein; the first enclosure portion comprises a first portion of a single piece of material; the second enclosure portion comprises a second portion of the single piece of material; the third enclosure portion comprises a third portion of the single piece of material that extends between the first portion of the single piece of material and the second portion of the single piece of material; the third portion of the single piece of material comprises an aperture that varies in dimension when the first enclosure portion and the second enclosure portion move relative to each other; the aperture extends between an opening in a first surface of the third portion of the single piece of material and an opening in a second surface of the third portion of the single piece of material; the opening in the first surface has a first shape; the opening in the second surface has a second shape; and the first shape is different than the second shape.
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Specification