Assembly of a handheld electronic device

• US 9,601,286 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lynch, Stephen Brian, Moolsintong, Pinida Jan, Lim, Leng
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US14/796,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20150311011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/10 Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/50 having a single operating member
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/10 Operating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/034 Bezel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0207 Adjustable mounting of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

Several mechanical features of an electronic device are provided. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a bezel coupled to a housing. The bezel may include one or more snaps extending into the electronic device which may be operative to engage a cantilever spring extending from the inner surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a window that is formed by coupling an outer layer to an inner layer that is larger than the outer layer. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a chassis for supporting the window. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a grounding clip for simultaneously grounding the bezel, the housing and a circuit board. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a switch that includes a button molded into a base using a double shot process. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a switch supporting bracket that includes a slot operative to receive a pin of the bezel. In some embodiments, the housing of the electronic device may be manufactured using a forging process.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an exterior surface with an opening;

a base covered by the opening, wherein the base includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a first color, and wherein the second portion comprises a second color that is different than the first color; and

a button formed on the base, wherein the button is visible through the opening, wherein the button has first and second positions, wherein the first color is visible through the opening when the button is in the first position, and wherein the second color is visible through the opening when the button is in the second position.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein only the first portion of the base is visible through the opening when the button is in the first position.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the button is attached to the base with adhesive.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the button is attached to the base with a mechanical fastener.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the button is molded into the base.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a first state when the button is in the first position.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the electronic device has a second state when the button is in the second position.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7, wherein the electronic device switches from the first state to the second state when the button is switched form the first position to the second position.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the opening has first and second opposing sides, wherein the button is adjacent to the first side of the opening when the button is in the first position, and wherein the button is adjacent to the second side of the opening when the button is in the second position.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the button and the second side of the opening are separated by a gap when the button is in the first position, and wherein the button and the first side of the opening are separated by a gap when the button is in the second position.

11. A switch for use in an electronic device, the switch operative to be moved from a first position to a second position, comprising:

a base comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the base has a middle, wherein the first and second portion have different colors, and wherein a limit between the first and second portions is substantially the middle of the base; and

a button extending from the base, wherein the button is molded substantially in the middle of the base and wherein each of the first and second portion appear substantially only on one side of the button.

12. The switch of claim 11, wherein a top surface of the first and second portion is curved, and wherein the curvature of the top surface of the first and second portions is defined by a spline.

13. The switch of claim 11, wherein a top surface of the first and second portion is curved, and wherein the curvature of the top surface matches the curvature of an inner surface of a bezel into which the switch is mounted.

14. The switch of claim 11, wherein at least one end of the base comprises a curved surface.

15. The switch of claim 14, wherein the curved surface of the end of the base is operative to match an inner surface of a bezel into which the switch is mounted.