Portable electronic device housing structures

• US 9,730,338 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2013
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hobson, Phillip M., Wang, Erik L., Jenks, Kenneth A., Mittleman, Adam D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US13/971,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20130335899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901-67903
• 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: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing

Abstract

Portable electronic devices are provided. Each device may be formed from two parts. A first part may be provided with components such as a display, a touch screen, a cover glass, and a frame. A second part may be provided with a plastic housing, circuit boards containing electrical components, and a bezel. Engagement members may be connected to the first and second parts. The engagement members may be formed from metal clips with holes and springs with flexible spring prongs that mate with the holes in the clips. The metal clips may be welded to frame struts on the frame and the springs may be welded to the bezel. Hard stop structures may be used to vertically align the first and second parts. A frame in the device may have an integral gasket.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a first frame member having a surface and at least one through-hole in the surface;

a second frame member coupled to the first frame member, wherein the second frame member is formed from material that passes through the through-hole in the surface of the first frame member, and wherein the second frame member has a shelf and a protrusion that is perpendicular to the shelf;

a gasket coupled to opposing sides of the protrusion; and

a display structure that bears against the shelf and that bears against the gasket.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the first frame member further comprises at least one additional through-hole and wherein the material that forms the shelf passes through the additional through-hole.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the first frame member further comprises at least a hole and wherein the shelf is disposed between the gasket and the hole in the frame.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 further comprising:

a first housing portion that comprises at least one spring prong; and

a second housing portion that includes the first frame member, the second frame member, the gasket, and the display structure, wherein, whenever the first and second housing portions are assembled together, the spring prong of the first housing portion engages with the hole in the first frame member by passing at least partially through the hole.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the at least one spring prong comprises:

first curved portions that are curved in a first direction into the hole; and

second curved portions that are curved in a second direction that is opposite the first direction and that out of the hole.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a metal frame member that comprises a surface and at least first, second, third, and fourth through-holes in the surface;

a plastic frame member having first and second opposing surfaces and having a shelf that is perpendicular to the first and second surfaces, wherein the plastic frame member is coupled to the metal frame member, wherein the plastic frame member is formed from material that passes through the first, second, third, and fourth through-holes in the surface;

a gasket on the first and second opposing surfaces of the plastic frame member;

and a display structure that bears against the shelf and the gasket.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6 wherein the material that forms the plastic frame member comprises a continuous length of material that passes through each of the first, second, third, and fourth through-holes in the surface of the frame.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 6 further comprising:

a display that includes the display structure that bears against the shelf, wherein the display comprises a glass layer; and

a bezel that surrounds a periphery of the display, wherein the gasket is disposed between the glass layer of the display and the bezel and wherein the gasket prevents the glass layer from directly bearing against the bezel.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the glass layer comprises cover glass.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the electronic device has an exterior surface, the electronic device further comprising:

a display that includes the display structure that bears against the shelf, wherein the gasket seals a gap in the exterior surface of the electronic device adjacent to the display and prevents debris from entering the electronic device through the gap.

11. A portable electronic device comprising:

a first frame member having a planar surface with a through-hole;

a second frame member having a first portion that passes through the through-hole, a second portion that forms a protrusion, and a shelf that is perpendicular to the protrusion;

a gasket on opposing sides of the protrusion, wherein the gasket comprises a thermoplastic elastomer; and

a display comprising a display cover layer that bears against the gasket and the shelf.

12. The portable electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the first frame member comprises metal and the second frame member comprises plastic.

13. The portable electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the first frame member comprises a frame strut.

14. The portable electronic device defined in claim 11 further comprising a conductive housing member that surrounds the display.

15. The portable electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the gasket separates the display cover layer from the conductive housing member.

16. The portable electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the protrusion extends between the display cover layer and the conductive housing member.