IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,669,131
Granted Patent B2
US 11,669,131 · App. 17/525,614 · Granted Jun 6, 2023

Handheld device enclosure

Inventors: Scott Myers (Saratoga, CA); Matthew Theobald (San Francisco, CA); Richard Heley (Los Altos, CA); Adam Stagnaro (Santa Cruz, CA); Richard Hung Minh Dinh (Cupertino, CA); David Pakula (San Francisco, CA); Tang Yew Tan (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
G06F1/1656G06F1/1626G06F1/1658G06F1/1684G06F1/1698H01Q1/2258H01Q1/241H01Q1/42H04M1/026H04M1/0249H04M1/0274H05K5/02H05K5/0208H05K5/0247H05K5/03Y10T29/49002Y10T29/49169
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,669,131
App. No.
17/525,614
Granted
Jun 6, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

This is directed to an electronic device enclosure. The enclosure includes an outer periphery member forming an outer surface of a device, and to which an internal platform is connected. Electronic device components can be assembled to one or both surfaces of the internal platform. The enclosure can include front and back cover assemblies assembled to the opposite surfaces of the outer periphery member to retain electronic device components. One or both of the cover assemblies can include a window through which display circuitry can provide content to a user of the device.

Claims (58)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a touch screen display;

electronic circuitry; and

a housing enclosing the touch screen display and the electronic circuitry, the housing comprising:

a front cover positioned over the touch screen display;

a first housing element formed from a first metal material defining a first portion of a side surface of the electronic device adjacent to a side portion of the front cover;

a second housing element formed from a second metal material defining a second portion of the side surface of the electronic device adjacent to the side portion of the front cover; and

an intermediate housing element formed from a plastic material positioned between the first housing element and the second housing element and defining a third portion of the side surface; wherein:

the first housing element is operably coupled to the electronic circuitry; and

the electronic device is configured to determine a health characteristic of a user using the first housing element and the electronic circuitry.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the health characteristic is a heart rate of the user.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first housing element, the second housing element, and the intermediate housing element define at least a portion of an outer periphery member; and

the outer periphery member surrounds the front cover.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein:

the intermediate housing element is a first intermediate housing element;

the plastic material is a first plastic material;

the outer periphery member further comprises a second intermediate housing element formed from a second plastic material;

the first intermediate housing element is positioned at a first end of the first housing element; and

the second intermediate housing element is positioned at a second end of the first housing element.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first housing element defines a top side of the housing, a left side of the housing, and a right side of the housing opposite to the left side of the housing.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first metal material and the second metal material are an aluminum material.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device.

8. A wearable electronic device comprising:

a display; and

a housing enclosing the display and comprising:

a front cover positioned over the display; and

an outer periphery member surrounding the display and comprising:

a first housing element formed from a first metal material and defining a first portion of an exterior surface of the housing;

a second housing element formed from a second metal material and defining a second portion of the exterior surface of the housing; and

an intermediate housing element formed from a plastic material positioned between the first housing element and the second housing element and defining a third portion of the exterior surface of the housing; wherein:

the wearable electronic device is configured to monitor a health-related characteristic using the first housing element.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the health-related characteristic is a heart rate.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:

the intermediate housing element is a first intermediate housing element;

the plastic material is a first plastic material;

the outer periphery member further comprises a second intermediate housing element formed from a second plastic material and defining a fourth portion of the exterior surface of the housing; and

the outer periphery member further comprises a third housing element formed from a third metal material and defining a fifth portion of the exterior surface of the housing.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein a front portion of the outer periphery member is flush with a portion of the front cover.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the housing further comprises a rear cover assembly defining a rear surface of the wearable electronic device.

13. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:

the wearable electronic device comprises a motor configured to produce a haptic vibration; and

the wearable electronic device comprises a speaker configured to produce an audio output.

14. A housing for an electronic device, the housing comprising: a front cover defining a front exterior surface of the housing; a first housing element formed from a first conductive material defining a first portion of a side exterior surface of the housing; a second housing element formed from a second conductive material defining a second portion of the side exterior surface of the housing; and an intermediate housing element formed from an insulating material positioned between the first housing element and the second housing element and defining a third portion of the side exterior surface of the housing; wherein: the first housing element is configured to operably couple to electronic circuitry and, when operably coupled to the electronic circuitry, the first housing element and the electronic circuitry together are configured to measure a health characteristic of a user.

15. The housing of claim 14 , wherein:

a front portion of the first housing element is flush with the front cover; and

a front portion of the second housing element is flush with the front cover.

16. The housing of claim 14 , wherein:

the intermediate housing element is a first intermediate housing element;

the insulating material is a first insulating material; and

the housing further comprises a second intermediate housing element defining a fourth portion of the side exterior surface of the housing.

17. The housing of claim 16 , wherein:

the housing further comprises a third housing element; and

a second insulating material of the second intermediate housing element is positioned between the second housing element and the third housing element.

18. The housing of claim 14 , wherein:

a front surface of the first housing element is flush with a front surface of the front cover; and

a front surface of the second housing element is flush with the front surface of the front cover.

19. The housing of claim 14 , wherein the health characteristic is a heart rate of the user.

Continuity (10)
Continuation 16994299 · Aug 14, 2020
Continuation 16405239 · May 7, 2019
Continuation 15892310 · Feb 8, 2018
Continuation 15168194 · May 30, 2016
Continuation 14064785 · Oct 28, 2013
Continuation 12794529 · Jun 4, 2010
Provisional Application 61325786 · Apr 19, 2010
Provisional Application 61325625 · Apr 19, 2010
Provisional Application 61300780 · Feb 2, 2010
Related Publication 20220075422A1 · Mar 10, 2022