DISPLAY WINDOW SECURING SYSTEM

• US 20090237874A1
• Filed: 06/01/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Yu, Michelle, Yeates, Kyle, Prest, Christopher D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.10
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers

Abstract

A display window assembly is mounted in the opening of a bezel of a housing, and a force is exerted against the assembly by a suitable resilient element urging it outward through the opening. The assembly may be mounted on a support or frame, from which depends one or more tabs extending inwardly of the housing. At least one of the tabs is fastened with a fastener that extends from the exterior of the housing, through a portion other than the bezel and through a surface not generally facing the user when the user is viewing the display. The advancement/withdrawal direction of the fastener is not substantially normal to the display window. However, advancement/withdrawal of the fastener causes movement of the tab, and therefore of the assembly, in an adjustment direction substantially normal to the display window to adjust the position of the display window relative to the bezel.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A device comprising:

a housing; and

a component mounted in said housing;

wherein;

said component has a first depending tab at a first end thereof and a second depending tab at a second end thereof;

said first depending tab has a hook thereon;

said housing has an aperture therein;

said hook engages said aperture; and

said device further comprises a fastener extending into said housing through a fastener opening in said housing and through said second depending tab.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein:

said fastener is a screw.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein:

said housing comprises a boss adjacent said first depending tab; and

said aperture is located in said boss.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein:

said housing has a display opening therein;

said component comprises a display window assembly mounted in said housing and having a display surface facing said display opening; and

each of said first and second depending tabs extends from a side of said component facing away from said display surface.

19. The device of claim 18 further comprising a resilient element located in said housing urging said display window assembly in an outward direction toward said display opening.

20. The device of claim 19 further comprising an adjustment element that interacts with said fastener;

wherein;

adjustment of said fastener in a first adjustment direction moves said display window assembly in said outward direction; and

adjustment of said fastener in a second adjustment direction moves said display window assembly in an inward direction opposite to said outward direction.

21. The device of claim 18 further comprising an adjustment element that interacts with said fastener;

wherein;

adjustment of said fastener in a first adjustment direction moves said display window assembly in an outward direction toward said display opening; and

adjustment of said fastener in a second adjustment direction moves said display window assembly in an inward direction opposite to said outward direction.

22. A portable electronic device having an outer surface and comprising:

a housing forming a first portion of said outer surface;

an electronic module forming a second portion of said outer surface;

wherein;

said electronic module has formed thereon (a) an integral first fastener, and (b) a first fastener mating element;

said housing has an integral second fastener mating element formed therein that mates with the integral first fastener;

said portable electronic device further comprising;

a removable fastener inserted through said outer surface of housing and mating with said first fastener mating element to adjustably retain said electronic module in said housing.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 22 wherein:

said housing has an opening therein;

said electronic module comprises a display; and

said display is located in said opening and forms said second portion of said outer surface.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 22 wherein:

said an integral first fastener comprises a hook; and

said integral second fastener mating element comprises a boss having an aperture therein.

25. The portable electronic device of claim 22 wherein:

said housing has an opening therein;

said portable electronic device further comprising;

a resilient element located in said housing urging said electronic module in an outward direction toward said opening.

26. The portable electronic device of claim 25 further comprising an adjustment element that interacts with said removable fastener;

wherein;

adjustment of said removable fastener in a first adjustment direction moves said electronic module in said outward direction; and

adjustment of said removable fastener in a second adjustment direction moves said electronic module in an inward direction opposite to said outward direction.

27. The portable electronic device of claim 22 wherein:

said housing has an opening therein;

said housing further comprises an adjustment element that interacts with said removable fastener;

adjustment of said removable fastener in a first adjustment direction causes said adjustment element to move said electronic module in an outward direction toward said opening; and

adjustment of said removable fastener in a second adjustment direction causes said adjustment element to move said electronic module in an inward direction opposite to said outward direction.

28. A device comprising:

a functional module; and

a housing at most partially surrounding said functional module;

wherein;

said functional module has an integral first fastener portion;

said housing has an integral second fastener portion; and

said integral first fastener portion and said integral second fastener portion engage one another to partially retain said functional module in said housing;

said device further comprising;

a removable fastener inserted from outside said housing into said functional module to adjustably retain said electronic module in said housing.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein:

said an integral first fastener portion comprises a hook; and

said integral second fastener portion comprises a boss having an aperture therein.

30. The device of claim 28 wherein:

said functional module comprises a display having a display surface; and

said housing surrounds said functional module other than at said display surface, said housing having an opening therein to reveal said display surface.

31. The device of claim 30 further comprising a resilient element located in said housing urging said electronic module in an outward direction toward said opening.

32. The device of claim 28 further comprising an adjustment element that interacts with said removable fastener;

wherein;

adjustment of said removable fastener in a first adjustment direction causes said adjustment element to move said functional module in said outward direction; and

adjustment of said removable fastener in a second adjustment direction causes said adjustment element to move said functional module in an inward direction opposite to said outward direction.

33. The device of claim 28 wherein:

said housing has an opening therein, said housing surrounding said functional module other than at said opening;

said housing further comprises an adjustment element that interacts with said removable fastener;

adjustment of said removable fastener in a first adjustment direction causes said adjustment element to move said electronic module in an outward direction toward said opening; and

adjustment of said removable fastener in a second adjustment direction causes said adjustment element to move said electronic module in an inward direction opposite to said outward direction.

34. The device of claim 33 further comprising a resilient element located in said housing urging said functional module in an outward direction toward said opening.