Electronic device assembly

• US 9,781,846 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanford, Emery, Lynch, Stephen Brian, Montevirgen, Anthony Sagala, Rothkopf, Fletcher, Schmidt, Mathias, Mohammadinia, Hamid, Murphy, R. Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Rose, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/216,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20110305875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,232 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901, 36167902, 36167908, 36167909, 36167926-67929, 3616793, 36167955-67959, 248917-924, 206307, 451 41
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24628 Nonplanar uniform thickness material

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for assembling an electronic device and components thereof are provided. The electronic device may include a housing and a cover inserted into an opening in the housing. The electronic device may also include a first assembly that may be inserted into the housing through a first end, and a second assembly that may be inserted into the housing through a second end. The electronic device may also include end cap assemblies. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include an input mechanism coupled to the housing and a plate coupled to the housing. In some embodiments, a connector of the electronic device may be mounted on a circuit board by inserting a fixture into the connector, mounting the connector to a portion of the circuit board, removing the fixture from the connector, and separating the portion of the circuit board from another portion of the circuit board.

Claims

1. A glass cover for use in a portable electronic device, comprising:

a rectangular glass component comprising two sets of parallel edges;

a first flange extending from a first edge of the rectangular glass component, the first flange having a first width smaller than a width of the first edge and defining a flange base extending from, and coplanar with, a base of the rectangular glass component;

a second flange extending from a second edge of the rectangular glass component, the second flange having a second width smaller than a width of the second edge, wherein the second edge and the first edge are provided at opposite sides of the rectangular glass component, and wherein the first flange and the second flange are positioned in an opening of a housing of the portable electronic device; and

a polished outer surface of the rectangular glass component between the first edge and the second edge,

wherein the first flange and second flange are configured to assist in securing the rectangular glass component relative to the opening of the housing of the portable electronic device.

2. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein:

the length of the cover is in the range of 43.56 millimeters and 43.62 millimeters.

3. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein:

the width of the cover is in the range of 33.60 millimeters and 33.66 millimeters.

4. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein:

the height of the cover is no more than 1.63 millimeters.

5. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein:

the flanges on each of the two opposite edges have a length of 25.86 millimeters.

6. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein the flanges on each of the two opposite edges have a height in the range of 0.62 millimeters to 0.68 millimeters.

7. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein:

the first flange is positioned on a first side of the opening; and

the second flange is positioned on a second side of the opening, the first side opposite the second side.

8. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein a periphery of the polished outer surface is flush with a surface of the housing.

9. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein the rectangular glass component is transparent.

10. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein the rectangular glass component is formed from a scratch resistant material.

11. The glass cover of claim 1, further comprising:

a third flange extending from a third edge of the rectangular glass component; and

a fourth flange extending from a fourth edge of the rectangular glass component,

wherein the third edge and the fourth edge are in the other set of parallel edges.

20. The glass cover of claim 1, wherein the polished outer surface is a curved surface.

21. The glass cover of claim 20, wherein the curved surface is defined by a spline projected along an axis of the rectangular glass component, wherein the axis extends along an edge of the rectangular glass component between the first edge and the second edge.

12. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing having an opening and at least two reference openings on opposing ends of the opening; and

a glass cover configured to be received within the opening and comprising;

a rectangular glass component comprising two sets of parallel edges;

a first flange extending from a first edge of the rectangular glass component, the first flange having a first width smaller than a width of the first edge and defining a flange portion extending from the rectangular glass component having a bottom surface contiguous with a bottom surface of the rectangular glass component;

a second flange extending from a second edge of the rectangular glass component, the second flange having a second width smaller than a width of the second edge, wherein the second edge and the first edge are in a set of parallel edges; and

a polished curved surface defined by a spline projected along an axis of the rectangular glass component, wherein the axis extends along an edge of the rectangular glass component between the first edge and the second edge,

wherein the first flange and second flange are configured to be respectively received in the at least two reference openings.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the glass cover is configured to be disposed over a display of the portable electronic device.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first flange includes at least one additional flange, and wherein the second flange includes at least one additional flange.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein edges of the polished curved surface are flush with a surface of the housing.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

a third flange extending from a third edge of the rectangular glass component; and

a fourth flange extending from a fourth edge of the rectangular glass component, wherein the third edge and the fourth edge are in another set of parallel edges.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the length of the cover is about 43 millimeters.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the width of the cover is about 33 millimeters.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the height of the cover is no more than 1.63 millimeters.

22. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing having an opening and at least two reference openings on opposing ends of the opening;

a display provided within the housing; and

a glass cover configured to be received within the opening of the housing and positioned over the display of the portable electronic device, the glass cover providing a user interface surface, and the glass cover including at least;

a rectangular glass component comprising two sets of parallel edges;

a first flange extending from a first edge of the rectangular glass component, the first flange having a first width smaller than a width of the first edge and defining a flange member extending from, and having a bottom surface coplanar with, a bottom surface of the rectangular glass component;

a second flange extending from a second edge of the rectangular glass component, the second flange having a second width smaller than a width of the second edge, wherein the second edge and the first edge are provided at opposite sides of the rectangular glass component; and

a polished outer surface of the rectangular glass component between the first edge and the second edge,

wherein the first flange and second flange are configured to assist in securing the rectangular glass component relative to the opening of the housing of the portable electronic device.