PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HOUSING STRUCTURES

• US 20090257189A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Erik L., Mittleman, Adam D., Hobson, Phillip M., Jenks, Kenneth A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,537,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.560
• 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: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing

Abstract

Portable electronic devices are provided. Each device may be formed from two parts. A first part may be provided with components such as a display, a touch screen, a cover glass, and a frame. A second part may be provided with a plastic housing, circuit boards containing electrical components, and a bezel. Engagement members may be connected to the first and second parts. The engagement members may be formed from metal clips with holes and springs with flexible spring prongs that mate with the holes in the clips. The metal clips may be welded to frame struts on the frame and the springs may be welded to the bezel. Hard stop structures may be used to vertically align the first and second parts. A frame in the device may have an integral gasket.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an upper housing assembly having a frame with a lower surface; and

a lower housing assembly having a hard stop structure with an upper surface against which the lower surface bears when the upper housing assembly and lower housing assembly are assembled.

2. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a frame strut that defines the lower surface.

3. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the lower housing assembly comprises a device housing and wherein the hard stop structure comprises a protrusion of the device housing.

4. The portable electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the device housing and protrusion are formed of plastic.

5. The portable electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the protrusion is formed as an integral portion of the device housing.

6. The portable electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the upper housing assembly comprises a spring prong and wherein the frame strut comprises a hole through which the spring prong protrudes.

7. The portable electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the frame strut comprises engagement features and wherein the frame further comprises a plastic overmolded frame member that engages the engagement features of the frame strut.

8. The portable electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the engagement features comprise holes in the frame strut.

9. The portable electronic device defined in claim 7 further comprising a gasket that is attached to the plastic overmolded frame member.

10. The portable electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the gasket is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer that is an integral portion of the frame.

11. The portable electronic device defined in claim 10 wherein the frame member comprises portions defining a shelf.

12. The portable electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the upper housing assembly further comprises a glass structure that is mounted to the shelf.

13. The portable electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the upper housing assembly further comprises a display structure that is mounted to the shelf.

14. A portable electronic device frame comprising:

a frame member; and

a gasket that is attached to the frame member.

15. The portable electronic device frame defined in claim 14 further comprising frame struts attached to the frame member.

16. The portable electronic device frame defined in claim 15 wherein the frame struts comprise metal and wherein the frame member comprises plastic.

17. The portable electronic device frame defined in claim 16 wherein the frame struts comprise portions defining engagement features that engage the frame member and wherein the gasket is integrally formed as part of the frame from an elastomeric substance.

18. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a first portion having clips with holes; and

a second portion having springs with prongs that protrude into the holes and that hold the first portion to the second portion, wherein the first portion has first surfaces and wherein the second portion has second surfaces, and wherein the first surfaces bear directly against the second surfaces as the springs protrude into the holes.

19. The portable electronic device defined in claim 18 wherein the first portion comprises a frame and wherein the first surfaces are formed on the frame.

20. The portable electronic device defined in claim 19 wherein the frame comprises an integral gasket and wherein the second portion comprises a plastic device housing having protrusions that form the second surfaces.