Apple Inc.

Other

Andrew David Lauder

Christopher J Stringer

John Patrick Ternus

Matthew Dean Rohrbach

Florence W Ow

Jonathan P Ive

Daniel J Coster

Jiang Ai

Elvis Mwenda Kibiti

Sean D Lubner

Sean S Corbin

Jared Sartee

Samuel Gilkison Smith

Kevin M Kenney

Santhana Krishnan Balaji

Robert Michael Merritt

Richard P Howarth

Rico L Zorkendorfer

Tang Yew Tan

Richard Hung Minh Dinh

Jeremy C Franklin

Erik L Wang

Phillip Michael Hobson

Todd F Gotham

Michael S Nashner

Kathryn P Crews

Crenshaw Whitley

Brian G Bentrim

Jared A Sartee

Haibing Zhu

A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.

Cover for an electronic device

Electronic device that detects a wearable object

An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.

Accessory units for consumer electronic devices and related assemblies

Magnetic attachment unit

Electronic devices are provided with a protective housing having one or more housing components. A housing component can be formed from a single sheet of material to appear as if the housing component had been formed from a hollowed out solid block of material. The sheet of material may be deep drawn, forged, and machined to form the housing component. One or more holes may be formed through a portion of the housing component to provide an I/O interface.

Housing components for electronic devices

Methods for forming fiber composite structures

Glue-free hinge assemblies including press-fit pins are disclosed. A press-fit pin of one material can mechanically attach to a workpiece of another material during a press fit operation. The press-fit pin can include a pin shaft having a chamfered first end, a notched portion, a grooved portion having axial grooves, a clinching feature, and a sealing feature. The chamfered first end can guide the press-fit pin into a counter-bored receiving hole in the workpiece. The axial grooves can etch the workpiece material to rotationally lock the press fit-pin into the receiving hole. The clinching feature can plastically deform workpiece material into the notched portion to axially lock the press-fit pin into receiving hole without causing substantial axial expansion of the workpiece. The sealing feature can form a stepped fit between an outer diameter of the press-fit pin and an outer diameter of the counter-bored receiving hole.

Assembly process for glue-free hinge

Cover

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, United Kingdom

Andrew David Lauder