IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,342,096
Granted Patent B2
US 10,342,096 · App. 16/113,667 · Granted Jul 2, 2019

Device with a mid-frame structure and reverse draft

Inventors: Archer Wun (Maple, CA); Anna Buechin (Toronto, CA); James Wu (Newmarket, CA); Ernesto Salas (Toronto, CA)
Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
H05B37/0218A45C11/00A45C13/1069A45F5/00F21V3/00F21V23/003F21V33/0056G02F1/133308G06F1/1626G06F1/1632G06F1/1698G06F1/203G06F1/3296G09G3/3406G09G3/3413G09G5/02G09G5/10H01H13/83H01Q1/22H04M1/0279H04M1/04H04M1/185H05B33/0857H05B33/0863H05B33/0872H05B37/0281H05K5/0017H05K7/1417H05K7/18A45C2011/002A45C2011/003A45C2200/15A45F2200/0516F21W2111/10F21Y2115/10G06F3/041G06F3/0488G06F3/04847G06F2200/1633G06F2200/1634G09G2320/0626G09G2320/0666G09G2320/08G09G2354/00G09G2360/141G09G2360/144G09G2360/16G09G2380/14H04M1/0214H04M1/0245
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,342,096
App. No.
16/113,667
Granted
Jul 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic reading device includes a mid-frame structure such that the mid-frame structure can include a reverse draft. A reverse draft corresponds to a back of the electronic reading device being a predetermined amount wider than a front of the electronic reading device. Additionally, a co-molded mid-frame stiffener provides a predetermined rigidity of the electronic reading device. The electronic reading device also includes a display integrated with the front of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the display and the mid-frame structure includes one or more electronic reading device components. Similarly, a back cover is integrated with the back of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the back cover and the mid-frame structure includes additional electronic reading device components.

Claims (44)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a mid-frame structure comprising a reverse draft corresponding to a back of the electronic device being a predetermined amount wider than a front of the electronic device;

a display integrated with the front of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the display and the mid-frame structure includes a first group of one or more electronic components; and

a back cover integrated with the back of the mid-frame structure, wherein a space between the back cover and the mid-frame structure includes a second group of one or more electronic components.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the reverse draft is at least a 7 degree reverse draft corresponding to the back of the electronic device being at least 7 degrees wider than the front of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the electronic device has a depth of less than 7 millimeters.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the mid-frame structure includes a co-molded mid-frame stiffener providing a predetermined rigidity of the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein

the co-molded mid-frame stiffener includes an injection molded magnesium stiffener.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the mid-frame structure comprises a portion to house a power button.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein

the co-molded mid-frame stiffener includes a portion to house a power button.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein

the power button is disposed at a first corner of the mid-frame structure.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein

the power button is axially aligned with a tri-color status light-emitting diode (LED) integrated into a second corner of the front of the mid-frame structure.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the first group of one or more electronic device components includes at least one of a daughter printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic paper display flexible printed circuit, a front light flexible printed circuit, a touch panel flexible printed circuit, and adhesive tape.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the second group of one or more electronic device components includes at least one of adhesive tape, an electro static discharge member, a battery, and a main printed circuit board (PCB).

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the electronic device is an electronic reading device.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the display is an electronic paper display.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein

the display includes a front light.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising:

a touch panel integrated with the display.

16. A method for reducing the depth of an electronic device, the method comprising:

combining a front cover, a back cover and a mid-frame disposed between the front cover and the back cover to provide a mid-frame structure, the mid-frame structure comprising a reverse draft;

integrating a first group of electronic device components between the front cover and the mid-frame; and

integrating a second group of electronic device components between the back cover and the mid-frame.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein

the reverse draft corresponds to a back of the electronic device being a predetermined amount wider than a front of the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein

the reverse draft is at least a 7 degree reverse draft corresponding to the back of the electronic device being at least 7 degrees wider than the front of the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein

the first group of one or more electronic device components includes at least one of a daughter printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic paper display flexible printed circuit, a front light flexible printed circuit, a touch panel flexible printed circuit, and adhesive tape.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein

the second group of one or more electronic device components includes at least one of adhesive tapes, an electro static discharge member, a battery, and a main printed circuit board (PCB).

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 058314 FRAME 0657. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Recorded Dec 26, 2023
From: RAKUTEN GROUP, INC.
To: RAKUTEN, INC.
Reel/Frame 066128/0193 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 6, 2021
From: RAKUTEN, INC.
To: RAKUTEN GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 058314/0657 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15678997 · Aug 16, 2017
Provisional Application 62375745 · Aug 16, 2016
Related Publication 20180368234A1 · Dec 20, 2018