Portable computer unified top case

• US 8,687,359 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2009
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Theobald, Matthew, Ive, Jonathan P., Andre, Bartley K., Stringer, Christopher, Coster, Daniel J., Raff, John, Hopkinson, Ron, Brock, John, Ligtenberg, Chris, Goldberg, Michelle Rae
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US12/353,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20100091442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.55, 4555751-5754, 29/171, 29/173, 29/525, 29/59, 294/58, 294/695, 294/211, 295/921, 298/25, 298/32
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• 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: H05K 5/04 Metal casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49996 Successive distinct removal operations

Abstract

A top case assembly for a portable computer is disclosed. The assembly may include an integral unified (e.g., homogenous) top case formed from a single part. The integral top case provides an enclosure, frame and cosmetic exterior of the portable computer. The integral top case also serves as the primary structure of the portable computer. The assembly may include a variety of subassemblies such as keyboards, touchpads, circuit boards, and drives that are carried by the underside of the integral top case. The integral top case may be formed from aluminum slab that has been machined to form walls, openings, attachment areas and cosmetic areas of the top case.

Claims

1. An enclosure for a portable computer, comprising:

an integral primary enclosure configured as a single finished homogeneous part formed by removing preselected portions of material from a single slab of extruded aluminum, the integral primary enclosure arranged to enclose components of the portable computer, the integral primary enclosure comprising;

an integral top wall and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity, the cavity being defined by the top wall and the integral side walls, the top wall having a substantially planar outside surface, and

a plurality of integral features extending from at least one of the plurality of walls defining the cavity and into the cavity, at least one of which is a structural rib extending from the integral top wall and into the cavity.

2. The enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein the structural rib extends across less than an entire length of the integral top wall.

3. The enclosure as recited in claim 2, wherein the structural rib comprises:

an attachment point comprising a threaded aperture extending into the structural rib.

4. The enclosure as recited in claim 2, wherein the structural rib comprises at least one cut out configured to assist in alignment of at least one component of the portable computer.

5. The enclosure as recited in claim 2, wherein the structural rib include an aperture machined through a bottom portion of the structural rib and configured to allow an internal connection to pass between the structural rib and the integral top wall.

6. The enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the integral features is a boss configured to capture a fastener within a threaded opening, and wherein the boss is configured such that the portion of the fastener captured within the boss is disposed entirely within a portion of the boss protruding from one of the walls of the integral primary enclosure.

7. The enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the integral features extends from the top wall a distance of at least half a height of one of the side walls of the integral primary enclosure.

8. The enclosure as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a bottom case secured to the integral primary enclosure by at least one fastener coupled with one of the integral features of the primary enclosure, the integral feature comprising a boss configured to retain a threaded end of the fastener.

9. The enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein the integral primary enclosure is anodized.

10. The enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the side walls has an undercut geometry, the undercut geometry providing an undercut area for placement of a component of the portable computer.

11. A housing for a portable computer, comprising:

a top case configured as a single finished homogeneous part formed by removing a volume of material from a single block of extruded aluminum, the top case arranged to enclose components of the portable computer, the top case comprising;

a top wall and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity, the cavity being defined by the top wall and the side walls, the top wall having a substantially planar outside surface, and

a plurality of integral features extending from at least one of the plurality of walls defining the cavity and into the cavity, at least one of which is an attachment feature extending from the top wall and configured to secure a subassembly within the cavity,

wherein the volume of material removed from the single block of extruded aluminum is greater than a volume of the cavity defined by the top wall and sidewalls.

12. The housing as recited in claim 11, wherein the attachment feature comprises a boss configured to capture a portion of a fastener within a threaded opening, and wherein the boss is configured such that the portion of the fastener captured within the boss is disposed entirely within a portion of the boss protruding from the top wall of the top case.

13. The housing as recited in claim 12, wherein the subassembly is selected from the group consisting of keyboards, touchpads, and printed circuit boards.

14. The housing as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of integral features further comprises a structural rib extending from the top wall of the top case.

15. The housing as recited in claim 14, wherein the structural rib includes a threaded aperture extending into a top surface of the structural rib, the threaded aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing an electronic component within the top case.

16. A housing for a portable computer, comprising:

a top case configured as a single finished homogeneous part formed by removing a quantity of material from a single block of metal, the top case arranged to enclose components of the portable computer, the top case comprising;

a top wall and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity, the cavity being defined by the top wall, and the side walls, the top wall having a substantially planar outside surface, and

a plurality of integral features extending from at least one of the plurality of walls defining the cavity and into the cavity, at least one of which is a boss configured to capture a fastener within a threaded opening,

wherein the quantity of material removed from the single block of metal corresponds to a volume of material greater than a volume of the cavity defined by the top wall and sidewalls.

17. The housing as recited in claim 16, wherein the boss is configured such that a portion of the fastener captured within the boss is entirely within a portion of the boss protruding from the top wall of the top case.

18. The housing as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

a bottom case coupled to the top case by a fastener coupled with one of the plurality of integral features.