System for coupling interfacing parts

• US 7,762,817 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Degner, Brett William, DiFonzo, John C., Ligtenberg, Chris, Brock, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad; Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US12/239,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 439/38, 439/39, 439/40, 439/505, 439/519, 361/733
• US Class Current: 439/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a first subassembly having a first housing component. The first housing component has an opening. The electronic device also includes a second subassembly having a second housing component. The second housing component cooperates with the first housing component to enclose components of an electronic device. The at least one internal component is also movable relative to the second subassembly so as to properly align with the opening. The at least one internal component is additionally magnetically attracted towards the first housing component near the opening.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a first housing having an opening;

a second housing having a first mounting point, the second housing cooperating with the first housing to form an enclosure, and

a functional component including at least one magnetic element, and being located internal to the enclosure, and being movably coupled to the first mounting point;

wherein the functional component magnetically couples with the first housing to movably align the functional component with the opening.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the opening and the first mounting point are aligned within a first tolerance range, and the functional component and the first mounting point are aligned within a second tolerance range, the movement of the functional component limited within the second tolerance range, and wherein the second tolerance range is greater than the first tolerance range.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the functional component is an electrical connector.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the functional component is an input/output device.

5. The electrical device of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnetic element includes a magnet.

6. The electrical device of claim 5 wherein the magnet is embedded in a flange.

7. The electrical device of claim 1 wherein the first housing includes at least one second magnetic element which magnetically couples with the at least one magnetic element.

8. The electrical device of claim 1 wherein the first housing includes a aligning element for automatically aligning the functional component with the opening.

9. The electrical device of claim 8 wherein the aligning element is a chamfered surface.

10. The electrical device of claim 1 wherein the functional component is accessible through the opening.

11. A method for assembling an electronic device, the method comprising:

coupling a functional component to a first housing, the functional component including at least one magnetic element, wherein the functional component is movable in relation to the first housing; and

mounting a second housing to the first housing to form at least a portion of an enclosure of an electronic device, the enclosure at least partially enclosing the functional component, the second housing including an opening for the functional component, wherein the functional component magnetically couples with the second housing to automatically align with the opening.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the opening of the second housing and the functional component are aligned within a first tolerance range, and the functional component and the first housing are aligned within a second tolerance range, the movement of the functional component limited within the second tolerance range, and wherein the second tolerance range is greater than the first tolerance range.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the functional component is an electrical connector.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the functional component is an input/output device.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein coupling the functional component to the first housing includes screwing the functional component to the internal housing.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the magnetic element includes a magnet.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the second housing includes at least one second magnetic element which magnetically couples with the at least one magnetic element.

18. A electronic device, comprising:

a first wall of an electronic device, the first wall including a wall opening;

an insert attached to the first wall, the insert including an insert opening aligned with the wall opening, the insert including a first aligning element at least partially surrounding the insert opening, the insert including at least one first magnetic element;

a second wall of an electronic device, the second wall and first wall forming at least a portion of an enclosure of an electronic device;

a connector base movably attached to the second wall, the connector base including at least one second magnetic element, the connector base including at least one second aligning element which aligns with the first aligning element; and

a connector attached to the connector base,

wherein the at least one second magnetic element magnetically couples with the at least one first magnetic element to move and automatically align the first and second aligning elements when the first and second walls form at least a portion of an enclosure.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 wherein the connector is accessible through the wall opening.

20. The electronic device of claim 18 wherein the wall opening is on at least a partially curved surface of the first wall.

21. The electronic device of claim 18 wherein the insert includes a lip which fits within the wall opening.

22. The electronic device of claim 18 wherein the insert include a flange portion which extend laterally away from the insert opening, the flange portion including the at least one first magnetic element.

23. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein the at least one first magnetic element is a ferromagnetic material.

24. The electronic device of claim 22 wherein the at least one second magnetic element is a magnet which couples to the ferromagnetic material.

25. The electronic device of claim 18 wherein the connector base is movably attached to the second outer wall through an at least one post of the second outer wall.

26. The electronic device of claim 25 wherein the connector base is movable within six degrees of freedom.

27. The electronic device of claim 18 wherein the first and second aligning elements included chamfered surfaces.

28. A connector system, comprising:

a first wall of an electronic device, the first wall including a wall opening on at least a partially curved portion of the first wall;

an insert attached to the first wall, the insert including an insert opening aligned with the wall opening by a lip, the insert including a first chamfered surface surrounding the insert opening, the insert including two flanged portions, each flanged portion including a ferromagnetic surface;

a second wall of an electronic device, the second wall and first wall forming at least a portion of an enclosure of an electronic device;

a connector base movably attached to a portion of the second wall, the connector base including at least one second magnetic element, the connector base including at second chamfered surface which aligns with the first chamfered surface; and

a power connector including a magnetic attachment system for attaching to an external power cord, the power connector attached to the connector base,

wherein the power connector is accessible through the insert opening through the curved portion of the first wall after the first and external walls form at least a portion of an enclosure, and wherein the magnets magnetically couple with the ferromagnetic surfaces to move and automatically align the first and second chamfered surfaces when the first and second walls form at least a portion of an enclosure, and wherein the opening of the insert and the connector base are aligned within a first tolerance range, and the connector base and the second wall are aligned within a second tolerance range, the movement of the connector base limited within the second tolerance range, and wherein the second tolerance range is greater than the first tolerance range.