Electronic Devices With Structural Glass Members

• US 20130140965A1
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Franklin, Jeremy C., Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Ternus, John P., Gibbs, Kevin D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,864,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/223.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]

Abstract

Electronic devices may be provided having internal components mounted to a structural glass support member. The structural glass support member may have a planar front surface that forms a front surface of the device. The structural glass support member may have bent portions that form sidewall surfaces of the device. Portions of the structural glass support member may form a transparent display cover layer. A rigid or flexible display may be mounted to the structural glass support member. Additional internal device components may be mounted to the display. A thin enclosure for enclosing the internal components in the device may be mounted to the structural glass support member. The thin enclosure may be mounted to the structural glass support member using a peripheral member. The thin enclosure may be free from attachments to internal components or may be adhesively bonded to one or more internal components.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing structure that covers at least a planar rear surface of the electronic device; and

a planar glass member that covers an opposing planar front surface of the electronic device, wherein the planar glass member has a peripheral edge; and

a protective member molded to the planar glass member along the peripheral edge.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the peripheral edge of the planar glass member has engagement features and wherein the protective member is molded into engagement with the engagement features.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the protective member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, thermoplastic polyurethane, silicone, and rubber.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of internal device components, wherein the planar glass member serves as a structural support member for at least some of the plurality of internal device components.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the planar glass member has thickness of 0.6 mm to 1 mm, the electronic device further comprising a touch sensitive display mounted to an interior surface of the planar glass member.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing structure that forms at least a planar rear surface of the electronic device; and

a glass member that forms at least an opposing planar front surface of the electronic device, wherein the glass member has at least one portion protruding from an interior surface.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6 wherein the at least one portion is configured to form a flange on an interior surface of the glass member, and wherein the housing structure is attached to the flange.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7 further comprising adhesive, wherein the housing structure is attached to the flange using the adhesive.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the glass member comprises bent sidewall portions that cover sidewall surfaces of the electronic device and wherein the flange includes flange structures on each of the bent sidewall portions.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 further comprising:

a display mounted to the glass member; and

at least one internal component mounted to the display.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 10 wherein the at least one internal component comprises a battery attached to the display using adhesive.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 6 wherein the glass member comprises bent sidewall portions that cover sidewall surfaces of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 6 wherein the display comprises a flexible display having bent portions that conform to the sidewall portions of the glass member.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a glass member having at least one opening;

display structures covered by the glass member; and

a molded member having at least a portion that extends into the opening.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the glass member comprises a planar glass layer having opposing interior and exterior surfaces, wherein the at least one opening extends from the interior surface to the exterior surface, and wherein the molded member comprises a molded protective member that extends through the opening.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings, wherein the molded member comprises a peripheral member that runs along an edge of the glass member, and wherein the molded peripheral member has portions that extend into the plurality of openings.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 further comprising a housing structure mounted to the glass member.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17 wherein the housing structure has openings and wherein at least a portion of the molded peripheral member extends into the openings in the housing structure.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 14 further comprising an additional glass member mounted to the glass member.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 19 wherein the additional glass member has openings, wherein the molded member comprises a peripheral member that runs along an edge of the glass member, and wherein at least a portion of the molded peripheral member extends into the openings in the additional glass member.

21. The electronic device defined in claim 19 further comprising an opaque masking layer formed on an at least a portion of an internal surface of the additional glass member

22. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the glass member comprises a hollow glass support member that forms a planar front surface of the electronic device, a planar rear surface of the electronic device, and sidewall surfaces of the electronic device.

23. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing structure that forms at least a rear surface of the electronic device; and

a curved glass member having a concave interior surface and having a convex exterior surface that forms a front surface of the electronic device, wherein the curved glass member has at least one portion configured to form a mounting feature.

24. The electronic device defined in claim 23 wherein the mounting feature comprises a recess in the curved glass member.

25. The electronic device defined in claim 24 wherein the recess includes a notch in the glass member, wherein the housing structure includes a bent portion and wherein the bent portion of the housing structure is mounted to the notch in the curved glass member using an adhesive.

26. The electronic device defined in claim 24 further comprising a molded plastic member, wherein the recess comprises an opening that extends from the interior surface to the exterior surface of the curved glass member, and wherein at least a portion of the molded plastic member extends into the opening in the curved glass member.

27. The electronic device defined in claim 24 further comprising a molded plastic member, wherein the recess comprises an opening that extends from the interior surface to a peripheral edge of the curved glass member, and wherein at least a portion of the molded plastic member extends into the opening in the curved glass member.

28. The electronic device defined in claim 23 wherein the mounting feature comprises a protrusion from the interior surface of the curved glass member.

29. The electronic device defined in claim 28 wherein the protrusion is configured to form a flange on the interior surface of the glass member and wherein the housing structure is attached to the flange.

30. The electronic device defined in claim 23 further comprising a molded protective member, wherein the mounting feature comprises a protruding portion of a peripheral edge of the curved glass member, wherein the protruding portion is configured to lock the molded protective member onto the peripheral edge.

31. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing structure that forms at least a rear surface of the electronic device; and

a glass member having a planar portion that forms an opposing front surface of the electronic device, wherein the glass member includes at least one bent portion that forms a sidewall of the electronic device, and wherein the housing structure is mounted to an interior surface of the sidewall.

32. The electronic device defined in claim 31 wherein the housing structure comprises at least first and second bent portions and wherein the first bent portion is mounted to the interior surface of the sidewall using adhesive.

33. The electronic device defined in claim 31 further comprising an attachment member and a fastener, wherein the attachment member is attached to the interior surface of the sidewall and wherein the housing structure is attached to the attachment member using the fastener.