IP Library Granted Patent US 9,591,110
Granted Patent B2
US 9,591,110 · App. 14/618,744 · Granted Mar 7, 2017

Housing features of an electronic device

Inventors: Matthew D. Hill (Santa Clara, CA); Derek C. Krass (San Francisco, CA); Benjamin Shane Bustle (Cupertino, CA); Lucy Elizabeth Browning (San Francisco, CA); Michael Benjamin Wittenberg (Sunnyvale, CA); James B. Smith (Los Gatos, CA); Ashutosh Y. Shukla (Santa Clara, CA); Scott A. Myers (Saratoga, CA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
H04M1/0249
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,591,110
App. No.
14/618,744
Granted
Mar 7, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An enclosure and a method for forming an enclosure are disclosed. The enclosure may be formed from metal, such as aluminum, and further include a non-metal portion allowing for transmission and receipt of electromagnetic waves. The non-metal portion may be interlocked to the enclosure and in particular, to a region within the enclosure including a first material having a relatively high strength and stiffness compared to the non-metal portion. Interlocking means may include forming dovetail cuts into the enclosure to receive the non-metal portion, a hole or cavity drilled into the enclosure which includes internal threads, and a rod inserted into the first material to provide a tension to the non-metal portion. Methods of assembling internal components using anodization are also disclosed.

Claims (11)

1. An enclosure, comprising:

a first region formed in an interior portion of the enclosure, the first region comprising a first material molded in the first region;

a second region formed in an exterior portion of the enclosure, the second region comprising a second material different than the first material, the second material molded in the second region;

a protrusion integrally formed with the enclosure, the protrusion extending through the first material; and

means for interlocking the second material to the first material, wherein the first material engages the second material to define an interface region that allows transmission of electromagnetic waves.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the means for interlocking the second material to the first material comprises a cavity, wherein the second material is molded into the cavity.

3. The enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the cavity comprises an internal threaded region.

4. The enclosure of claim 3 , wherein the second material comprises a shape corresponding to the cavity and the internal threaded region.

5. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first material includes a material selected from a group consisting of metal or glass.

6. The enclosure of claim 5 , further comprising a rod member inserted first material, the rod member providing a tension to secure the second material to the enclosure.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a sidewall, wherein the second material extends into the sidewall, the second material comprising an extension that extends into the sidewall.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2015
From: HILL, MATTHEW D.; KRASS, DEREK C.; BUSTLE, BENJAMIN SHANE; BROWNING, LUCY ELIZABETH; WITTENBERG, MICHAEL BENJAMIN; SMITH, JAMES B.; SHUKLA, ASHUTOSH Y.; MYERS, SCOTT A.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 034942/0615 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2015015127 · Feb 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62047466 · Sep 8, 2014
Related Publication 20160072932A1 · Mar 10, 2016