Display window securing system

• US 7,558,054 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/968,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 349/56, 349/58, 349/60, 345/905
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• 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. A device comprising:

a housing;

a bezel on said housing having a display opening therein;

a display window assembly mounted adjacent said display opening and having a display surface visible in said opening; and

a resilient element within said housing exerting a force along an adjustment direction urging said display window assembly toward said display opening;

wherein;

said display window assembly has a depending tab extending in a direction away from said display surface into said housing;

said device further comprises a fastener extending into said housing through a fastener opening in a side facing away from said bezel, said fastener having an advancement/withdrawal axis through said tab different from said adjustment direction; and

motion of said fastener in a first direction along said advancement/withdrawal axis causes motion of said display window assembly toward said display opening along said adjustment direction, and motion of said fastener in a second direction along said advancement/withdrawal axis opposite said first direction causes motion of said display window assembly away from said display opening along said adjustment direction.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

said fastener is a screw;

said tab has a threaded hole therein having a thread axis aligned along said advancement/withdrawal axis;

said advancement/withdrawal axis is at an oblique angle relative to said adjustment direction; and

movement of said screw along said advancement/withdrawal axis includes a component of motion along said adjustment direction, causing motion of said display window assembly along said adjustment direction.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein:

said fastener is a screw;

said tab has a through-hole therein elongated along a long axis aligned along said adjustment direction, and having a center along said long axis, a proximal end between said display surface and said center, and a distal end beyond said center from said display surface;

said device further comprises a body mass located on an opposite side of said tab from said fastener opening, said mass having a threaded hole therein aligned with said long axis between said center of said elongated through-hole and said distal end of said elongated through-hole, said threaded hole having a thread axis aligned along said advancement/withdrawal axis;

said advancement/withdrawal axis is substantially perpendicular to said adjustment direction; and

movement of said screw in said threaded hole along said advancement/withdrawal direction exerts a force on said distal end of said elongated through-hole, inducing motion of said display window assembly along said adjustment direction.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising:

an elastomeric mass mounted on said screw and positioned within said elongated hole;

wherein;

advancement of said screw causes compression of said elongated mass in said advancement/withdrawal axis and expansion of said elongated mass along said adjustment direction such that said expanding elongated mass exerts said force on said distal end of said elongated through-hole.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein:

said screw has a head and a threaded shaft that engages said threaded hole; and

said elastomeric mass is mounted on said threaded shaft and compressed between said head and said body mass.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein:

said screw has a shoulder and a threaded shaft that engages said threaded hole; and

said elastomeric mass is mounted on said threaded shaft and compressed between said shoulder and said body mass.

7. The device of claim 3 further comprises a cam/cam follower arrangement actuated by advancement of said screw to exert said force.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein:

said screw has a shoulder and a threaded shaft that engages said threaded hole;

said distal end of said elongated hole has a chamfer on a side facing said fastener opening; and

advancement of said screw causes said shoulder to contact said chamfer to exert said force.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein:

said screw has a shoulder and a threaded shaft that engages said threaded hole;

said shoulder has a conical portion adjacent said threaded shaft; and

advancement of said screw causes said conical portion of said shoulder to contact said distal end of said elongated hole to exert said force.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein:

said body mass has a nipple having a cam surface and a flat top portion, said threaded hole being in said flat top portion;

said screw has a threaded shaft that engages said threaded hole; and

advancement of said screw causes said nipple to project into said elongated hole such that said cam surface contacts said distal edge of said elongated hole to exert said force.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said cam surface is conical.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said cam surface is chamfered.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein:

said fastener opening is countersunk in said housing;

said device further comprising;

a removable cover closing off said countersunk fastener opening.

14. A device comprising:

a housing having a display opening therein;

a display window assembly mounted in said housing; and

a resilient element within said housing exerting a force along an adjustment direction urging said display window assembly toward said display opening;

wherein;

said device further comprises a fastener extending into said housing through a fastener opening in a side facing away from said display opening, said fastener having an advancement/withdrawal axis different from said adjustment direction; and

motion of said fastener in a first direction along said advancement/withdrawal axis causes motion of said display window assembly toward said display opening along said adjustment direction, and motion of said fastener in a second direction along said advancement/withdrawal axis opposite said first direction causes motion of said display window assembly away from said display opening along said adjustment direction.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein:

said fastener is a screw;

said display assembly has a through-hole therein elongated along a long axis aligned along said adjustment direction, and having a center along said long axis, a proximal end between said display surface and said center, and a distal end beyond said center from said display surface;

said device further comprises a body mass located on an opposite side of said through-hole from said fastener opening, said mass having a threaded hole therein aligned with said long axis between said center of said elongated through-hole and said distal end of said elongated through-hole, said threaded hole having a thread axis aligned along said advancement/withdrawal axis; and

movement of said screw in said threaded hole along said advancement/withdrawal direction exerts a force on said distal end of said elongated through-hole, inducing motion of said display window assembly along said adjustment direction.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein:

said fastener has an engagement surface; and

movement of said fastener relative to said body mass causes said engagement surface to bear against said distal end of said elongated through-hole.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein:

said body mass has an engagement surface; and

movement of said fastener relative to said body mass causes movement of said body mass relative to said housing such that said engagement surface bears against said distal end of said elongated through-hole.

18. A device comprising:

a housing;

a component mounted in said housing;

a resilient element within said housing exerting a force along an adjustment axis urging said component in a first adjustment direction along said adjustment axis;

wherein;

said device further comprises a fastener extending into said housing through a fastener opening, said fastener having an advancement/withdrawal axis different from said adjustment axis; and

motion of said fastener in a first direction along said advancement/withdrawal axis causes motion of said component in said first adjustment direction along said adjustment axis, and motion of said fastener in a second direction along said advancement/withdrawal axis opposite said first direction along said advancement/withdrawal axis causes motion of said component in a second adjustment direction, opposite said first adjustment direction, along said adjustment axis.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein:

said component has a through-hole therein elongated along a long axis aligned along said adjustment direction, and having a center along said long axis, a proximal end between said display surface and said center, and a distal end beyond said center from said display surface;

said fastener has an engagement surface thereon; and

movement of said fastener along said advancement/withdrawal direction causes said engagement surface to exert a force on said distal end of said elongated through-hole, inducing motion of said display window assembly along said adjustment direction.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein:

said component has a through-hole therein elongated along a long axis aligned along said adjustment direction, and having a center along said long axis, a proximal end between said display surface and said center, and a distal end beyond said center from said display surface;

said device further comprises a body mass having an engagement surface thereon and fastener-receiving hole therein; and

movement of said fastener in said fastener-receiving hole along said advancement/withdrawal direction causes movement of said body mass causing said engagement surface to exert a force on said distal end of said elongated through-hole, inducing motion of said display window assembly along said adjustment direction.