Cover glass to housing interface system

• US 9,307,657 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gotham, Todd F., Nishibori, Shin, Stringer, Christopher J., McBroom, Michael, McBroom, Daniel, Sudderth, Brian, Ternus, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Hung
• Application Number:
  US14/023,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20140009880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 349/110, 349/149, 349/158, 349/58, 349/12, 349/124, 349/153, 349/42, 349/152, 361/679.21, 361/679.01, 361/679.22, 361/679.26, 361/679.27, 361/679.56, 361/679.02, 361/679.55, 361/679.54, 361/679.28, 361/679.08, 361/679.09, 361/679.23, 345/175, 345/184, 345/76, 345/174, 345/1.2, 345/905, 345/156, 345/212, 345/650, 345/419, 345/173, 345/168, 455/575.8, 455/575.1, 455/575.4, 455/575.5, 455/566.1, 248/346.03, 248/176.3, 248/125.1, 248/161, 248/917, 248/688, 248/125.7, 248/121
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1609 to support filters or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A display cover to housing interface system includes a display screen fronted by a display cover having front and obverse faces and a distal edge between the faces around a circumference thereof (i.e., edge thickness), and also an outer housing that provides support for the display cover. A portion of the display cover distal edge or thickness is fully exposed to outside, such that the display cover is exposed and substantially visible when viewed directly from the front and at least one side while installed. The display cover can be glass, while the housing is metal. A protective layer located between the housing and display cover protects the display cover from the housing. Various support components hold the display cover in place, and can include magnets and/or a stabilizer assembly affixed along a bottom edge of the display cover and adapted to couple to a bottom chin of the housing.

Claims

1. A computing device having an inside and an outside, the computing device comprising:

a display device; and

a transparent cover glass placed in front of the display device, wherein the transparent cover glass has a front face that is exposed to the outside of the computing device, a back face exposed to the inside of the computing device, and an edge surface that is not parallel to the front face, wherein the edge surface is exposed to the outside of the computing device.

2. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising a housing having a chin portion that borders a bottom portion of the transparent cover glass.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the housing is formed from metal.

4. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the housing is an integrated unit that includes the chin portion, side walls, a top wall, and a back wall.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the back wall has a curved portion.

6. The computing device of claim 4, further comprising a support component that secures the cover glass to the housing.

7. The computing device of claim 6, further comprising a stabilizer assembly that secures the bottom portion of the cover glass to the chin portion of the housing.

8. The computing device defined in claim 1, wherein the edge surface couples the front face to the back face.

9. An electronic device with a display screen, comprising:

a cover glass that is placed in front of the display screen, wherein the cover glass has a periphery; and

a housing that encloses the display screen and that is configured such that an edge portion of the cover glass along the periphery is exposed, wherein the edge portion of the cover glass is located between a front face and a back face of the cover glass, wherein the edge portion has a thickness that remains constant along the periphery of the cover glass.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the electronic device has an outside, wherein the front face of the cover glass is exposed to the outside of the electronic device, and wherein the back face of the cover glass is proximate to the display screen enclosed by the housing.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the housing further comprises a chin portion that contacts a bottom edge of the cover glass along the periphery.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the chin portion is monochromatic.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises side walls, a top wall, and a curved back wall.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the cover glass is affixed to the display screen using a support component.

15. A method of assembling an electronic device with a display screen, comprising:

placing a display screen within an enclosure; and

placing a cover glass over the display screen, wherein the cover glass has first and second opposing surfaces connected by an edge surface, and wherein the edge surface is located outside of the enclosure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein placing the cover glass over the display screen comprises placing a bottom edge portion of the cover glass in contact with a bottom ledge portion of the enclosure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein placing the cover glass over the display screen further comprises affixing a stabilizer assembly to the cover glass and engaging the stabilizer assembly with a mating component coupled to the bottom ledge portion of the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein placing the cover glass over the display screen further comprises moving the cover glass toward the display screen about an axis of rotation that runs along the bottom edge portion of the cover glass.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein placing the cover glass over the display screen further comprises supporting the cover glass using support components located on the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein supporting the cover glass using support components located on the electronic device comprises releasing the cover glass such that a magnet located on the computing device attracts a metal item located on the cover glass.