Structural support for portable electronic devices

1. A parallel stacking mid-frame structural support for use with a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device including at least a printed circuit board (PCB), a switch mounted on the PCB, and a bezel that contacts the switch, the switch being disposed between the PCB and the bezel, the bezel including at least a control interface for receiving force applied by a user of the portable electronic device, the mid-frame structural support comprising:

a first side member, the first side member including at least a first portion for supporting the PCB, the switch and the PCB being disposed between the bezel and the first portion, the first portion receiving the force transmitted through the control interface, the switch, and the PCB when the control interface receives the force for actuating the switch to control at least an action of the portable electronic device;

a second side member disposed substantially parallel to the first side member, the first member and the second member each configured with

at least one support feature for providing structural support for the portable electronic device when an applied load exceeding a predetermined threshold is exerted on the portable electronic device, and

at least one attachment feature;

a third side member mechanically contiguous with and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first side member; and

a fourth side member mechanically contiguous with and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first side member.

2. The mid-frame structural support of claim 1 wherein the at least one attachment feature is selected from the group consisting of: a screw, a bolt, a rivet, and a pin.

3. The mid-frame structural support of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of rib supports for supporting the PCB, the first plurality of rib supports disposed substantially perpendicular to the first side member and the second side member; and

a second plurality of rib supports for supporting the PCB, the second plurality of rib supports disposed substantially parallel to the first side member and the second side member wherein the first plurality of rib supports and the second plurality of rib supports define a plurality of openings configured to surround a plurality of electronic components on the PCB, the switch being disposed between the control interface and a portion of the second plurality of rib supports.

4. The mid-frame structural support of claim 3 wherein the first plurality of rib supports and the second plurality of rib supports are configured to provide support for a PCB mounted switch.

5. The mid-frame structural support of claim 1 wherein the mid-frame structural support is composed of a non-conducting metallic compound.

6. The mid-frame structural support of claim 1 wherein the mid-frame structural support is composed of a non-conducting polymeric compound.

7. The mid-frame structural support of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device is a music device.

8. The mid-frame structural support of claim 1 wherein the predetermined threshold is at most 800 grams.

9. A portable electronic device for use by at least a user, the portable electronic device comprising:

a base having a snap-weldment feature;

a bezel for enclosing the base, the bezel configured to receive the snap-weldment feature such that the bezel is retained by the snap-weldment feature, the bezel including at least a control interface for receiving force applied by the user;

a printed circuit board (PCB) for mounting a plurality electronic components in the base;

a switch mounted on the PCB, the switch being disposed between the bezel and the PCB, the switch contacting the bezel; and

a parallel stacking mid-frame structural support for structurally supporting the bezel and the PCB, the parallel stacking mid-frame structural support including,

a first side member, the first side member including at least a first portion for supporting the PCB, the switch and the PCB being disposed between the bezel and the first portion, the first portion receiving the force transmitted through the control interface, the switch, and the PCB when the control interface receives the force for actuating the switch to control at least an action of the portable electronic device,

a second side member disposed substantially parallel to the first side member, the first member and the second member each configured with

at least one support feature for providing structural support for the portable electronic device when an applied load exceeding a predetermined threshold is exerted on the portable electronic device, and

at least one attachment feature,

a third side member mechanically contiguous with and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first side member, and

a fourth side member mechanically contiguous with and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first side member.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the parallel stacking mid-frame structural support is disposed with respect to the base such that a gap exists, the gap being configured to close when the applied load exceeds the predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being greater than zero gram.

11. The device of claim 9 further comprising:

a first plurality of rib supports for supporting the PCB, the first plurality of rib supports disposed substantially perpendicular to the first side member and the second side member; and

a second plurality of rib supports for supporting the PCB, the second plurality of rib supports disposed substantially parallel to the first side member and the second side member wherein the first plurality of rib supports and the second plurality of rib supports define a plurality of openings configured to surround the plurality of electronic components on the PCB, the switch being disposed between the control interface and a portion of the second plurality of rib supports.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the first plurality of rib supports and the second plurality of rib supports are configured to provide support for a PCB mounted switch.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the mid-frame structural support is composed of a non-conducting metallic compound.

14. The device of claim 9 wherein the mid-frame structural support is composed of a non-conducting polymeric compound.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein the portable electronic device is a music device.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein the snap-weldment feature is composed of spring steel.

17. The mid-frame structural support of claim 9 wherein the predetermined threshold is less than 1500 grams.

18. A parallel stacking mid-frame structural support for use with a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device including at least a printed circuit board (PCB), a switch mounted on the PCB, and a bezel that contacts the switch, the switch being disposed between the PCB and the bezel, the bezel including at least a control interface for receiving force applied by a user of the portable electronic device, the mid-frame structural support comprising:

first member means, the first member means including at least a first portion for supporting the PCB, the switch and the PCB being disposed between the bezel and the first portion, the first portion receiving the force transmitted through the control interface, the switch, and the PCB when the control interface receives the force for actuating the switch to control at least an action of the portable electronic device;

second member means disposed substantially parallel to the first member means, the first member means and the second member means each configured with;

means for providing structural support when an applied load exceeding a predetermined threshold is exerted on the portable electronic device, and

means for attaching the first member means and the second member means with a bezel;

third member means mechanically contiguous with and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first member means; and

fourth member means mechanically contiguous with and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first member means.

19. The mid-frame structural support of claim 18 further comprising:

first support means for supporting a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed substantially perpendicular to the first member means and the second member means; and

second support means for supporting the PCB disposed substantially parallel to the first member means and the second member means wherein the first support means and the second support means define a plurality of openings configured to surround a plurality of electronic components on the PCB, the switch being disposed between the control interface and a portion of the second support means.