Handheld computing device

• US 7,515,431 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lynch, Stephen Brian, Zadesky, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard; Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOA CAO
• Application Number:
  US10/884,172
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/737, 361/752, 361/741, 361/748, 361/756, 361/625, 361/616, 361/727, 361/796, 361/753, 361/802, 361/817, 361/815, 361/829, 361/725, 174/50.5, 174/50.54, 174/50.55, 174 521- 523, 174/50.51, 206/592, 206/521
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

A handheld computing device is disclosed. The handheld computing device includes a seamless enclosure formed from an extruded tube. The extruded tube includes open ends and internal rails which serve as a guide for slidably assembling an operational assembly through the open ends of the extruded tube, a reference surface for positioning the operational assembly relative to an access opening in the seamless enclosure, and a support structure for supporting the operational assembly during use.

Claims

1. A handheld computing device, comprising:

a user interface assembly including one or more operational components of the handheld computing device, the operational components including user interface elements; and

a seamless enclosure having at least one access opening, formed from an extruded tube having a substantially seamless construction with a substantially uniform cross section along a longitudinal axis of the extruded tube, the extruded tube including;

open ends and internal side rails parallel to the longitudinal axis which serve as a guide for slidably assembling the user interface assembly through the open ends of the extruded tube,

a reference surface for positioning the user interface assembly relative to the access opening in the seamless enclosure, and

a support structure for supporting the user interface assembly during use,

wherein at least one user interface element is positioned at the access opening to provide user access, the access opening allowing a user to interact with the user interface element therethrough.

2. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first end cap attached to the seamless enclosure and configured to cover a first open end of the extruded tube, and a second end cap attached to the seamless enclosure and configured to cover a second open end of the extruded tube, thereby fully enclosing the seamless enclosure.

3. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 2 wherein the end caps have an outer peripheral shape that matches an inner peripheral shape of the extruded tube, and wherein the end caps are fitted inside the extruded tube at locations that places a planar face of the end caps substantially flush with the outer surface of the extruded tube at the ends of the extruded tube.

4. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the cross sectional shape of the extruded tube taken transverse to a longitudinal axis of the extruded tube has a pill shaped cross section.

5. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the user interface assembly includes a carrier for providing a structure for carrying the operational components and supporting them when assembled inside the seamless enclosure, the carrier resting against the reference surface of the internal rails when assembled inside the seamless enclosure.

6. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 5 wherein the internal rails additionally serve as a reference surface for positioning the user interface assembly relative to a second access opening in the seamless enclosure, and wherein a second one of the operational components is positioned at the second access opening to provide user access to the second one of the operational components through the second access opening.

7. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 6 wherein the first one of the operational components is an output device, and wherein the second one of the operational components is an input device.

8. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the internal rails includes at least one set of opposed rails, each of which extends longitudinally through the inside of the extruded tube and each of which protrudes from the inner sides of the extruded tube.

9. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the reference surface is parallel to the surface of the extruded tube that contains the access opening.

10. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the extruded tube is formed from aluminum.

11. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the extruded tube is made of aluminum or a plastic material.

12. A planar retaining plate capable of being retained within an open end of a device enclosure, the open end including slots on an inside surface of the device enclosure for receiving the planar retaining plate, the planar retaining plate comprising:

a body;

a first set of flexure arms extending from a first side of the body; and

a second set of flexure arms extending from a second side of the body opposite the first side,

wherein each of the flexure arms are configured for insertion into a different slot located on the inside surface of the device enclosure in order to secure the retaining plate to the device enclosure,

wherein each of the flexure arms flexes inwardly towards the body when a force is applied thereto so that the planar retaining plate is sized for placement inside the open end of the device enclosure, and each of the flexure arms releases outwardly away from the body when no force is applied thereto so that the planar retaining plate becomes trapped within the different slots located on the inside surface of the device enclosure, and

wherein the retaining plate serves as a reference surface to various components located internal or external to the device enclosure.

13. The planar retaining plate of claim 12, wherein said planar retaining plate is formed from stainless steel or plastic.

14. The planar retaining plate of claim 12, wherein each of the flexure arms has a hole to receive the forth from a pinching tool.

15. The planar retaining plate of claim 12, wherein each of the flexure arms includes an outward protrusion to interface with the corresponding slot.

16. The planar retaining plate of claim 12, wherein the body includes features for receiving a locking mechanism of internal or external components.

17. An interface assembly of a handheld computing device, the handheld computing device having an enclosure and a first electronic device contained therein, the interface assembly comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) divided into a flexure portion, a first base portion and a second base portion, the flexure portion being positioned between the first and second base portions, the flexure portion allowing the first base portion to move relative to the second base portion, the second base portion being attached to the first electronic device;

a second electronic device attached to the first base portion, and operatively coupled to the first electronic device;

a support plate attached to the second electronic device, the flexure portion being configured to flex so that the first base portion can shift relative to the second base portion thereby allowing the plate to be correctly aligned with the enclosure during assembly of the handheld computing device.

18. The interface assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

a second PCB including the first electronic device.

19. The interface assembly of claim 18, wherein the second base portion includes a connector to couple to the second PCB.

20. A handheld computing device, comprising:

a user interface assembly including a carrier and one or more operational components of the handheld computing device, the carrier carrying and supporting the operational components,

a seamless enclosure formed from an extruded tube, the extruded tube having a substantially seamless structure, the extruded tube including open ends and internal side rails parallel to a longitudinal axis of the extruded tube, the side rails serving as a guide for slidably assembling the user interface assembly through the open ends of the extruded tube, the seamless enclosure having a first access opening and a second access opening, and

a first reference surface for positioning the user interface assembly relative to the first access opening in the seamless enclosure,

wherein the internal side rails further serve as a second reference surface for positioning the user interface assembly relative to the second access opening in the seamless enclosure, and

wherein at least one of the operational components is positioned at the first access opening to provide user access to the at least one of the operational components through the first access opening, and a second one of the operational components is positioned at the second access opening to provide user access to the second one of the operational components through the second access opening.

21. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 20 wherein the first one of the operational components is an output device, and wherein the second one of the operational components is an input device.

22. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 20 wherein the extruded tube has a substantially uniform cross section along a longitudinal axis thereof.