Adaptive plug for edge protection

• US 9,451,065 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Van Asseldonk, Brandon J., Rosenthal, Brett A., Huang, Chien-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US14/244,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 205/118, 205/131, 455/575.1, 379/428.01, 379/440, 295/30, 295/276, 295/264, 428/67
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

Housings for electronic devices including adaptive plugs, and the use of adaptive plugs in methods of manufacturing housings. The housing may include an opening, and an adaptive plug releasably positioned within the opening. A method of forming a housing may include forming an opening within the housing, disposing a curable material within the opening of the housing, and curing the material to form an adaptive plug. The adaptive plug may be positioned within the opening of the housing. The method may also include performing at least one surface treatment on the housing. A method of protecting an edge of an opening in a housing may include providing the housing including the opening, forming an adaptive plug within the opening of the housing, and forming a barrier on the edge of the opening using the adaptive plug.

Claims

1. A method of forming a housing, comprising:

forming an opening within the housing and causing a bur to be formed on an outer surface of the housing;

disposing a curable material within a portion of the opening of the housing and forming a bead portion of the curable material on the outer surface of the housing, wherein the bead portion is coupled to the bur;

curing the material to form an adaptive plug, wherein the adaptive plug is positioned within the opening of the housing;

performing at least one surface treatment on the housing, the at least one surface treatment comprising one or more of polishing the outer surface of the housing;

buffing the outer surface of the housing; and

sand blasting the outer surface of the housing; and

removing the bead portion of the adaptive plug, the bead portion positioned on the outer surface of the housing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the opening within the housing further comprises:

machining the opening through the housing from an inner surface of the housing to the outer surface of the housing

such that the bur is in alignment with the opening.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the disposing of the curable material within the portion of the opening of the housing further comprises dispensing the curable material within the opening from the inner surface of the housing to the outer surface of the housing.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the adaptive plug formed within the opening of the housing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the removing of the adaptive plug formed within the opening of the housing further comprises removing the plug from the opening of the housing through the inner surface of the housing.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the removing of the adaptive plug formed within the opening of the housing further comprises:

exposing the housing and the adaptive plug to a liquid;

applying a force to the adaptive plug positioned within the opening of the housing; and

peeling the adaptive plug from the opening of the housing.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the removing of the adaptive plug formed within the opening of the housing further comprises burning the adaptive plug from the opening of the housing.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

in response to removing the adaptive plug formed within the opening of the housing, performing a fine buffing process on the housing including the opening.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposing of the curable material within the opening of the housing further comprises one of:

spraying the curable material within the opening of the housing;

dunking the housing including the opening within a supply of the curable material;

or

locally applying the curable material within the opening of the housing.

10. A method of forming a housing, comprising:

removing a portion of the housing to define an aperture within the housing, wherein the removing creates a bur on a top surface of the housing;

disposing a curable material within a portion of the aperture and forming a bead portion of the curable material on the to surface of the housing, thereby coupling the bead portion of the curable material to the bur;

curing the curable material to form an adaptive plug disposed within the aperture;

mechanically treating the top surface of the housing by performing at least one of;

polishing the top surface of the housing;

buffing the top surface of the housing; and

sand blasting the top surface of the housing; and

separating the bead portion of the adaptive plug from the top surface of the housing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the curable material is substantially malleable.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the curing comprises curing the curable material using ultraviolet light.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the curing comprises curing the curable material by increasing a temperature of the curable material.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the removing of the portion of the housing further comprises:

machining the aperture through the housing from an inner surface of the housing to the top surface of the housing such that the bur is aligned with the aperture.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the disposing of the curable material within the portion of the aperture further comprises dispensing the curable material within the aperture from the inner surface of the housing to the top surface of the housing.

16. A method of forming a housing, comprising:

generating a hole within the housing such that a bur is formed on an exterior surface of the housing;

depositing a curable material along a contour of the hole and forming a bead portion of the curable material on the exterior surface of the housing, wherein the bead portion of the curable material is affixed to the bur;

hardening the material to define an adaptive plug positioned within the hole;

modifying a surface texture of the housing by at least one of;

polishing the exterior surface of the housing;

buffing the exterior surface of the housing; and

sand blasting the exterior surface of the housing; and

detaching the bead portion of the adaptive plug from the exterior surface of the housing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the hole comprises one of:

a through hole;

a blindhole;

or

a counter bore.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the depositing of the curable material further comprises three-dimensionally (3D) printing the adaptive plug with the hole.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing the adaptive plug formed within the hole.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the removing of the adaptive plug formed within the hole further comprises removing the plug from the hole of the housing through the inner surface of the housing.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the depositing of the curable material within the hole of the housing further comprises one of:

spraying the curable material within the hole of the housing;

submerging the hole within a supply of the curable material;

or

locally applying the curable material within the hole of the housing.