Components of an electronic device

• US 8,933,347 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bryan P. Kiple, David A. Pakula, Tang Y. Tan
• Inventors: Kiple, Bryan P., Woodhull, Charles B., Pakula, David A., Tan, Tang Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US13/610,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20130319755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.8, 174/541
• US Class Current: 174/541
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2220/04 Milling with the axis of the cutter inclined to the surface being machined
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2220/16 Chamferring
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2220/20 Deburring
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2220/28 Finishing
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2220/48 Methods of milling not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2226/31 Diamond
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2226/315 polycrystalline [PCD]
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 5/00 Milling-cutters for cutting gear-teeth B23F21/12
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 5/1081 with permanently fixed cutting inserts B23C5/1018 and B23C5/1063 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 17/00 Metal-working operations, not covered by a single other subclass or another group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 17/02 Single metal-working processes; Machines or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 11/02 Anodisation
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 11/022 Anodisation on selected surface areas
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 11/12 Anodising more than once, e.g. in different baths
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 11/246 for sealing layers
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 11/34 of metals or alloys not provided for in groups C25D11/04 - C25D11/32
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 1/38 Masks having auxiliary features, e.g. special coatings or marks for alignment or testing; Preparation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 : Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 : comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/11 : Supports for sets, e.g. incorporating armrests
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 : Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 : Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0243 : for decorative purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 : Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/04 : Metal casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1064 : Partial cutting [e.g., grooving or incising]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/47 : Burnishing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 : Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/1906 : including holder [i.e., head] having seat for inserted tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/300896 : with sensing of numerical information and regulation without mechanical connection between sensing means and regulated means [i.e., numerical control]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/303752 : Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30952 : with cutter holder

Abstract

Various components of an electronic device housing and methods for their assembly are disclosed. The housing can be formed by assembling and connecting two or more different sections together. The sections of the housing may be coupled together using one or more coupling members. The coupling members may be formed using a two-shot molding process in which the first shot forms a structural portion of the coupling members, and the second shot forms cosmetic portions of the coupling members.

Claims

1. A system for retaining components of an electronic device within a housing that comprises housing sections coupled together with coupling members, the system comprising:

a plurality of retention holes formed in at least one section of the housing;

a plurality of threaded inserts, wherein a threaded insert is retained within each of the plurality of retention holes, wherein each threaded insert comprises a hollow, threaded core; and

a plurality of fasteners for coupling internal components of the electronic device to the housing, wherein at least one fastener couples an internal component to a threaded insert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the threaded inserts comprise at least one of titanium, 7075 Aluminum, zinc, tantalum, and magnesium.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing sections comprise at least one of:

6063 Aluminum;

aluminum; and

stainless steel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling members comprise machined features for retaining one or more internal components of the electronic device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the machined features comprise a plurality of through holes in locations corresponding to retention holes of the plurality of retention holes.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the coupling members are physically coupled to the housing via fasteners inserted through the through holes and into the threaded inserts of the retention holes.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive that retains the threaded inserts in the plurality of retention holes.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the threaded inserts comprise a body section and a cap section, and wherein the cap section has a larger cross-sectional dimension than the body section.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a top portion of the plurality of retention holes has a larger cross sectional dimension than a bottom portion of the plurality of retention holes to prevent the cap section of the threaded inserts from passing through the plurality of retention holes.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the cap section of the threaded inserts comprise protrusions that are received by complementary notches in the plurality of retention holes to prevent the threaded inserts from rotating within the plurality of retention holes.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling members overlap the plurality of retention holes, and wherein the coupling members comprise holes corresponding to locations of the plurality of retention holes.

12. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a device housing, comprising a plurality of housing sections coupled together to define both an interior volume within which a plurality of internal components are secured and a retention hole;

a threaded insert disposed within the retention hole, the threaded insert defining a hollow, threaded core; and

a fastener that secures one of the plurality of internal components to the device housing by engaging the hollow, threaded core of the threaded insert.

13. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

a dielectric coupling member that couples at least two of the plurality of housing sections together and electrically insulates the plurality of housing sections from each other.

14. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the coupling member is formed by injecting molding material between the two of the plurality of housing sections.

15. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 14, wherein the coupling member is secured to at least one of the two of the plurality of housing sections by way of a plurality of edge locking mechanisms defined by the housing section.

16. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of threaded inserts, each of the threaded inserts retained within a retaining hole defined by one of the plurality of housing sections.

17. A system for retaining internal components of an electronic device within a housing that comprises a plurality of housing sections, the system comprising:

a plurality of threaded inserts, each of the threaded inserts being retained within a retention hole defined by at least one of the plurality of housing sections, wherein each of the threaded inserts comprises;

a plurality of protrusions that interact with the retention hole to prevent rotation of the threaded insert within the retention hole, and

interior surfaces that define a threaded hollow configured to receive a fastener; and

a plurality of fasteners, each of the fasteners being configured to couple at least one of the internal components within an interior volume defined by the housing by engaging the threaded hollow of a corresponding one of the plurality of threaded inserts.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the threaded inserts is coupled within the retention hole by press fitting the threaded insert into the retention hole.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the threaded inserts is retained within the retention hole by an adhesive coupling.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the retention hole includes a plurality of notches complementary to the plurality of protrusions of a corresponding one of the plurality of threaded inserts.