Portable computer housing and assembly methods
First Claim
1. A portable computing device, comprising:
- a first housing including a first wall defining a first opening and a surface surrounding the opening, the opening having a first mechanism associated therewith and an inside periphery;
a first component removably received within the opening, the first component defining a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening; and
a first locking member removably engaged with the first mechanism within the opening, the first locking member defining an outer periphery extending along the inner periphery of the first opening of the housing, the first locking member further defining a second opening having an inner periphery that is inset with respect to the outer periphery of the first component body such that a portion of the first locking member overlies a first portion of the first component body, a second portion of the first component body being exposed within the opening of the first locking member and within the opening of the first wall of the first housing wherein when the first locking member is engaged with the first mechanism, the first locking member and the first mechanism form a snap-fit connection adjacent a top edge of the inside periphery of the opening to secure the first component within the opening.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable computer includes a first housing having a first wall defining a first opening and a surface surrounding the opening and having an inside periphery. A first component is removably received within the opening and defines a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening. A first locking member is removably attached within the opening. The first locking member defines an outer periphery extending along the inner periphery of the first opening of the housing. The first locking member also defines a second opening having an inner periphery that is inset with respect to the outer periphery of the first component body such that a portion of the first locking member overlies a first portion of the first component body. A second portion of the first component is exposed within the opening of the first locking member.
11 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A portable computing device, comprising:
- a first housing including a first wall defining a first opening and a surface surrounding the opening, the opening having a first mechanism associated therewith and an inside periphery;
a first component removably received within the opening, the first component defining a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening; and a first locking member removably engaged with the first mechanism within the opening, the first locking member defining an outer periphery extending along the inner periphery of the first opening of the housing, the first locking member further defining a second opening having an inner periphery that is inset with respect to the outer periphery of the first component body such that a portion of the first locking member overlies a first portion of the first component body, a second portion of the first component body being exposed within the opening of the first locking member and within the opening of the first wall of the first housing wherein when the first locking member is engaged with the first mechanism, the first locking member and the first mechanism form a snap-fit connection adjacent a top edge of the inside periphery of the opening to secure the first component within the opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 26)
- a first housing including a first wall defining a first opening and a surface surrounding the opening, the opening having a first mechanism associated therewith and an inside periphery;
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15. A method for assembling a portable computing device, comprising:
- positioning a first component within a first opening in a wall of a first housing, the opening having an inside periphery with the wall extending laterally outward from the periphery, and the first component defining a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening; and
securing the first component body within the first opening by affixing a locking member within the first opening, the locking member defining an outer periphery and a second opening having an inner periphery that is inset with respect to the outer periphery, the locking member being removably affixed within the first opening such that the outer periphery thereof extends along the inner periphery of the first opening of the housing and such that a portion of the locking member overlies a first portion of the first component body, a second portion of the first component body being exposed within the opening of the first locking member and within the opening of the first wall of the first housing wherein affixing the locking member within the first opening comprises forming a snap-fit connection between the locking member and the opening by engaging the locking member with a mechanism associated with a top edge of the inside periphery of the opening such that it can be removed and re-connected via the snap-fit connection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- positioning a first component within a first opening in a wall of a first housing, the opening having an inside periphery with the wall extending laterally outward from the periphery, and the first component defining a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening; and
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24. A method for replacing a keyboard in a device, comprising:
- removing a locking member from a releasably affixed snap-fit position within a keyboard opening of a lower housing unit of the device, the locking member being configured to surround an inner periphery of the keyboard opening and to overlie a portion of a first keyboard within the keyboard opening so that the keyboard is retained within the keyboard opening when the locking member is engaged with a mechanism positioned adjacent a top edge of the inner periphery of the opening; and
removing the first keyboard from within the keyboard opening, the first keyboard defining a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening such that the first keyboard is moveable from out of the keyboard opening after removal of the locking member. - View Dependent Claims (25)
- removing a locking member from a releasably affixed snap-fit position within a keyboard opening of a lower housing unit of the device, the locking member being configured to surround an inner periphery of the keyboard opening and to overlie a portion of a first keyboard within the keyboard opening so that the keyboard is retained within the keyboard opening when the locking member is engaged with a mechanism positioned adjacent a top edge of the inner periphery of the opening; and
Specification