COLD WORKED METAL HOUSING FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100142134A1
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zadesky, Stephen P., Tan, Tang Yew, Hobson, Philip M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,243,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/18 Expanded metal making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/477 of gear article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A cold worked stainless steel bezel for a portable electronic device is provided. The bezel is secured flush to a housing to form part of the case of the portable electronic device. A brace that includes a slot for receiving a wall extending from the bezel is fixed to the housing. When the bezel engages the housing, the wall of the bezel is inserted in the slot of the brace and releasably held by a spring that engages both the brace and the wall. The bezel can be released by disengaging the spring, (e.g., using a special tool or a magnetic field). Because the bezel is manufactured from cold worked stainless steel, it is hard and resistant to impacts. Cold worked steel also facilitates manufacturing within design constraints and tolerances, and requires very little machining after manufacturing to comply with those constraints. The portable electronic device may include a personal media device, a mobile telephone, or any other suitable device or combination thereof.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A bezel configured to engage a housing to form the case of a portable electronic device, the bezel comprising:

a base structure comprising a substantially smooth outer surface; and

an attachment portion extending from the base structure, the attachment portion comprising;

a plurality of walls configured to extend into the housing, the plurality of walls comprising at least one engaging member configured to engage the housing; and

at least one aperture, wherein the at least one feature is configured to align with at least one corresponding feature in the housing.

18. The bezel of claim 17, wherein the inner surface of base structure comprises at least one feature for supporting one or more components of the portable electronic device.

19. The bezel of claim 17, wherein the outer surface of the bezel is configured to be flush with the housing.

20. The bezel of claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a brace configured to receive the plurality of walls in a slot.

21. The bezel of claim 20, wherein the brace receives a spring configured to engage the at least one engaging member.

22. The bezel of claim 17, wherein the bezel is constructed from stainless steel.

23. The bezel of claim 17, wherein is constructed from cold worked stainless steel.

24. The bezel of claim 17, wherein the bezel is for at least one of a personal media device and a mobile telephone.

25-45. -45. (canceled)

46. A bezel for use as part of an electronic device housing, comprising:

a smooth outer surface comprising a planar portion; and

an interior surface comprising a lip portion that is vertically stepped down from the planar portion, the lip portion operative to engage a corresponding tab of a window; and

a wall extending from the interior surface to engage a housing.

47. The bezel of claim 46, wherein:

the window comprises an outer surface raised relative to the tab; and

the outer surface fills an opening defined by the bezel.

48. The bezel of claim 47, wherein:

portions of the outer surface adjacent to the bezel are substantially co-planar with the planar portion of the bezel.

49. The bezel of claim 46, wherein:

the housing is operative to enclose circuitry to execute at least one function of the electronic device, wherein the circuitry is electrically connected to a display visible through the window.

50. The bezel of claim 46, wherein:

the bezel sits substantially flush against the housing.

51. The bezel of claim 46, wherein:

the bezel forms a uniform peripheral structure of the electronic device.

52. The device of claim 46, wherein:

the bezel circumnavigates a periphery of the window.

53. The bezel of claim 46, wherein:

the bezel has a metallic appearance.

54. The bezel of claim 46 wherein:

the bezel is visually distinguished in comparison to the housing.