COLD WORKED METAL HOUSING FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20140307370A1
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zadesky, Stephen P., Tan, Tang Yew, Hobson, Phillip M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,955,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• 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: Y10T 29/18 Expanded metal making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/477 of gear article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A cold worked stainless steel bezel for a portable electronic device. The bezel is secured flush to a housing to form part of the case of the portable electronic device. A brace that includes a slot for receiving a wall extending from the bezel is fixed to the housing. When the bezel engages the housing, the wall of the bezel is inserted in the slot of the brace and releasably held by a spring that engages both the brace and the wall. The bezel can be released by disengaging the spring. The bezel is hard and resistant to impacts. Cold worked steel also facilitates manufacturing within design constraints and tolerances, and requires very little machining after manufacturing to comply with those constraints. the portable electronic device may include a personal media device, a mobile telephone, or any other suitable device or combination thereof.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a lower housing;

a brace affixed to the lower housing; and

an upper housing structure releasably engaged with the lower housing by the brace wherein the upper housing structure is flush with the lower housing when the lower housing is coupled to the upper housing structure.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper housing structure has a metallic appearance.

3. The device of claim 1 further including:

a planar structure comprising a top surface and a peripheral side wall that extends around a perimeter of the planar structure and is perpendicular to the top surface;

said upper housing structure constructed with an opening to fit around the perimeter of the planar structure, the upper housing structure having a top surface that is co-planar with the top surface of the planar structure.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the device has a front and a back and the planar structure comprises a majority of an exterior surface of the front of the device.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper housing structure forms a uniform peripheral structure of the device.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the planar structure is transparent.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein brace includes a spring loaded mechanism for engaging the upper housing structure.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper housing structure further comprises a peripheral side surface that extends around a perimeter of the upper housing structure.

9. The upper housing structure of claim 1 wherein the lower housing further comprises a step on an inner surface of the lower housing wherein the step is operative to come into contact with internal components of the electronic device.

10. An upper housing structure for use with an electronic device, comprising:

a base structure comprising an externally exposed surface, wherein the entirety of the exposed surface has a smooth and curved outer surface and wherein the base structure surrounds, and is placed adjacent to, a periphery of a screen on the electronic device; and

a wall extending from the base structure, wherein the wall comprises an engaging member operative to engage a lower housing, and wherein the wall and the base structure are constructed from a single piece of material.

11. The upper housing structure of claim 10 wherein the base structure further comprises a step on an inner surface of the base structure wherein the step is operative to come into contact with internal components of the electronic device.

12. The upper housing structure of claim 10 wherein the upper housing structure is constructed from a metal.

13. The upper housing structure of claim 10 wherein:

the base structure comprises a planar surface operative to come into contact with the housing; and

the wall is operative to extend vertically from a plane of the planar surface.

14. The upper housing structure of claim 10 wherein the engaging member comprises a tab operative to extend into an opening of the lower housing.

15. A case for an electronic device comprising:

a planar structure comprising a top surface wherein the top surface forms nearly all of an exterior front surface of the case;

an upper housing structure surrounding a perimeter of the planar structure, the upper housing structure comprising a top surface that is in a same plane as the top surface of the planar structure; and

a lower housing coupled to the upper housing structure.

16. The case of claim 15 wherein the lower housing is coupled to the upper housing structure by a spring loaded mechanism.

17. The case of claim 15 wherein the upper housing structure forms a uniform border around the perimeter of the planar structure.

18. The case of claim 15 wherein the upper housing structure has a metallic appearance.

19. The case of claim 15 wherein the upper housing structure further comprises a peripheral side surface that extends around a perimeter of the upper housing structure and wherein the peripheral side surface is flush with the lower housing when the lower housing is coupled to the upper housing structure.

20. The case of claim 15 wherein the top surface of the planar structure is smooth and free of deviations in height.