Enclosure for an electronic device having a shell and internal chassis

• US 10,542,628 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2017
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Prest, Christopher D., Ely, Colin M., Matsuyuki, Naoto, Poole, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US15/821,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20190045642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/08 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• 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: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/006 characterized by features for holding the PCB within the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0095 hermetically-sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1417 having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards H05K7/1461 takes precedence

Abstract

A housing or enclosure for an electronic device is formed from a shell and chassis may positioned along an interior of the shell. The shell may be formed from a hard or cosmetic material and the chassis may be formed from a machinable material. The chassis may define one or more machined surfaces that are configured to receive or mount a component of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a shell forming an exterior surface of the electronic device, the shell comprising a first material;

a chassis formed along an interior of the shell and defining a machined shelf, the chassis comprising a second material;

a display positioned at least partially within the shell; and

a transparent cover positioned over the display and compliantly coupled to the machined shelf to form a seal between the transparent cover and the machined shelf.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the chassis is formed from a chassis material having a machinability that is greater than a machinability of the shell.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the shell includes a back surface opposite the transparent cover;

the back surface defines an opening;

the chassis defines an attachment feature within the opening;

a back cover is coupled to the attachment feature of the chassis; and

an additional seal is formed between the attachment feature and the back cover by a compliant engagement of the attachment feature with the back cover.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the transparent cover is press fit within the machined shelf.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the chassis further comprises a set of threaded mounts; and

the electronic device further comprises a circuit board attached to the set of threaded mounts.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the shell defines a first portion of an opening configured to receive a component; and

the chassis defines a second portion of the opening configured to receive the component.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein:

the component is a compressible button; and

the second portion of the opening defines a surface configured to receive the compressible button.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

an O-ring positioned between the second portion of the opening and the compressible button and configured to form a button seal between the chassis and the compressible button.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the shell comprises a ceramic material; and

the chassis comprises at least one of;

aluminum, machine steel, or plastic.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a ceramic shell forming an external surface of the electronic device and defining a display opening and a first portion of a component opening formed along the external surface;

a display positioned within the display opening;

a machined chassis formed from a material different than the ceramic shell and coupled to an interior surface of the shell, the machined chassis defining a second portion of the component opening; and

a component positioned within the component opening.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the second portion of the component opening defines a contoured surface.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein:

the component opening extends along a length of the shell; and

the second portion of the component opening has a maximum width that is greater than an opening width of the first portion along the external surface.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein:

the machined chassis defines a shelf along a perimeter of the display opening;

the electronic device further comprises a transparent cover positioned over the display; and

the shelf and the transparent cover cooperate to form a seal configured to prevent ingress of contaminants into the electronic device by a compliant engagement of a surface of the shelf with the transparent cover.