IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,733,118
Granted Patent B2
US 12,733,118 · App. 18/905,842 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Dual-screw assembly for device housing

Inventors: Daniel T Lau (San Jose, CA); Xiaoyi Ma (Stanford, CA); Nicholas Zell (San Jose, CA); Andres Ramos (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
H05K5/061H05K5/0017H05K5/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,733,118
App. No.
18/905,842
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device includes a device housing and a secondary component removably affixed to the device housing. A dual screw assembly is used to affix the secondary component to the device housing. The dual screw assembly includes a first screw inserted into a housing aperture of the device housing, such that a portion of the first screw extends into an interior of the device housing, and a second screw inserted into a screw aperture formed within a head of the first screw, such that at least a portion of the secondary component is positioned between a head of the second screw and the head of the first screw.

Claims (38)

1 . An electronic device, comprising:

a device housing;

a secondary component removably affixed to the device housing; and

a dual screw assembly affixing the secondary component to the device housing, the dual screw assembly including:

a first screw inserted into a housing aperture of the device housing, such that a portion of the first screw extends into an interior of the device housing; and

a second screw inserted into a screw aperture formed within a head of the first screw, such that at least a portion of the secondary component is positioned between a head of the second screw and the head of the first screw.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the dual screw assembly includes a sealing gasket disposed between the head of the first screw and the device housing, the sealing gasket providing a hermetic seal between the interior of the device housing and an external environment.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the sealing gasket continues to provide the hermetic seal between the interior of the device housing and the external atmosphere after removal of the secondary component and the second screw.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein insertion of the second screw into the first screw is limited by a spacer.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a spring washer disposed between the first screw and the secondary component.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a threaded insert disposed within the interior of the device housing, wherein the first screw is threaded into the threaded insert.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the threaded insert is metallic.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a grounding component that contacts a distal portion of the first screw within the interior of the device housing.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the dual screw assembly enables rotation of the secondary component about an insertion axis of the dual screw assembly.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the secondary component is an attachment clip for attaching the electronic device to another object.

11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising an input subsystem including one or more input mechanisms that, when manipulated, provide user input to a separate computing device communicatively coupled with the electronic device via a communications interface.

12 . An electronic device, comprising:

a device housing;

a secondary component removably affixed to the device housing; and

a dual screw assembly affixing the secondary component to the device housing, the dual screw assembly including:

a first screw inserted into a housing aperture of the device housing, such that a portion of the first screw extends into an interior of the device housing;

a second screw inserted into screw aperture formed within a head of the first screw, such that at least a portion of the secondary component is positioned between a head of the second screw and the head of the first screw, wherein the dual screw assembly enables rotation of the secondary component about an insertion axis of the dual screw assembly; and

a sealing gasket disposed between the head of the first screw and the device housing, the sealing gasket providing a hermetic seal between the interior of the device housing and an external environment.

13 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the sealing gasket continues to provide the hermetic seal between the interior of the device housing and the external atmosphere after removal of the secondary component and the second screw.

14 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein insertion of the second screw into the first screw is limited by a spacer.

15 . The electronic device of claim 12 , further comprising a spring washer disposed between the first screw and the secondary component.

16 . The electronic device of claim 12 , further comprising a metallic threaded insert disposed within the interior of the device housing, wherein the first screw is threaded into the metallic threaded insert.

17 . The electronic device of claim 12 , further comprising a grounding component that contacts a distal portion of the first screw within the interior of the device housing.

18 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the secondary component is an attachment clip for attaching the device housing to another object.

19 . The electronic device of claim 12 , further comprising an input subsystem including one or more input mechanisms that, when manipulated, provide user input to a separate computing device communicatively coupled with the electronic device via a communications interface.

20 . An electronic input device, comprising:

an input subsystem including one or more input mechanisms that, when manipulated, provide user input to a separate computing device;

a communications interface communicatively connecting the electronic input device to the separate computing device;

a device housing;

a secondary component removably affixed to the device housing; and

a dual screw assembly affixing the secondary component to the device housing, the dual screw assembly including:

a first screw inserted into a housing aperture of the device housing, such that a portion of the first screw extends into an interior of the device housing; and

a second screw inserted into a screw aperture formed within a head of the first screw, such that at least a portion of the secondary component is positioned between a head of the second screw and the head of the first screw.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2024
From: LAU, DANIEL T; MA, XIAOYI; ZELL, NICHOLAS; RAMOS, ANDRES
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 068786/0056 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20260101460A1 · Apr 9, 2026
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