Cold worked metal housing for a portable electronic device

• US 7,688,574 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tan, Tang Yew, Zadesky, Stephen P., Hobson, Philip M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/650,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.3, 361/679.56, 361/679.21, 361/679.22, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.21
• 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. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing enclosing circuitry to execute at least one function of the electronic device, wherein the circuitry is electrically connected to a display;

a component comprising;

a first planar surface having a plane and a periphery wherein the planar surface defines an exterior surface of the device, through which information provided by the display can be displayed; and

a lip portion that is vertically stepped down from the plane of the planar surface and extends beyond the periphery of the planar surface; and

a bezel comprising a top planar surface and a step portion, such that when the bezel is secured to the housing, the step portion engages the lip portion to secure the component in place on the electronic device, wherein the bezel surrounds the entire periphery of the component, wherein the top planar surface is substantially co-planar to the first planar surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the bezel sits substantially flush against the housing.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the bezel forms a uniform peripheral structure of the electronic device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the bezel provides structural support.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the bezel circumnavigates a periphery of the component.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the bezel has a metallic appearance.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein a union between the housing and the bezel forms a substantially continuous surface.

8. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing enclosing circuitry to execute at least one function of the electronic device, wherein the circuitry is electrically connected to a display;

a screen comprising a first planar surface, through which information provided by the display can be displayed; and

a bezel comprising a top planar surface defining an exterior surface of the device and a bottom planar surface, wherein the bottom planar surface is mounted to the housing and the top planar surface is substantially co-planar to the first planar surface, and wherein the bezel is visually distinguished in comparison to the housing.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the bezel has a metallic appearance.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein a union between the housing and the bezel forms a substantially continuous surface.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the bezel forms a uniform peripheral structure of the electronic device.