Cold worked metal housing for a portable electronic device
First Claim
1. A bezel configured to engage a housing to form the case of a portable electronic device, the bezel comprising:
- a base structure comprising an externally exposed surface, wherein the entirety of the exposed surface has a substantially smooth outer surface; and
an attachment portion extending from the base structure, wherein the base structure and the attachment portion are constructed from a single piece of material, the attachment portion comprising;
a plurality of walls configured to extend into the housing, the plurality of walls comprising at least one engaging member configured to engage the housing; and
at least one feature, wherein the at least one feature is configured to align with at least one corresponding feature in the housing.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A bezel configured to engage a housing to form the case of a portable electronic device, the bezel comprising:
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a base structure comprising an externally exposed surface, wherein the entirety of the exposed surface has a substantially smooth outer surface; and an attachment portion extending from the base structure, wherein the base structure and the attachment portion are constructed from a single piece of material, the attachment portion comprising; a plurality of walls configured to extend into the housing, the plurality of walls comprising at least one engaging member configured to engage the housing; and at least one feature, wherein the at least one feature is configured to align with at least one corresponding feature in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A bezel for use as part of an electronic device housing, comprising:
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a smooth outer surface comprising a planar portion and an externally exposed surface, wherein the entirety of the exposed surface has a substantially smooth outer surface; an interior surface comprising a step that is vertically stepped down from the planar portion, the step operative to engage a corresponding tab of a window; and a wall extending from the interior surface to engage a housing, wherein the outer surface, the interior surface, and the wall are constructed from a single piece of material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A bezel for use with an electronic device, comprising:
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a base structure comprising an externally exposed surface, wherein the entirety of the exposed surface has a smooth and curved outer surface, and wherein the base structure surrounds and is placed adjacent to a periphery of a screen of the electronic device; and a wall extending from the base structure, wherein the wall comprises an engaging member operative to engage a housing, and wherein the wall and the base structure are constructed from a single piece of material. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification