Cold worked metal housing for a portable electronic device

摘要

A cold worked stainless steel bezel for a portable electronic device. The bezel is secured flush to a housing to form part of the case of the portable electronic device. A brace that includes a slot for receiving a wall extending from the bezel is fixed to the housing. When the bezel engages the housing, the wall of the bezel is inserted in the slot of the brace and releasably held by a spring that engages both the brace and the wall. The bezel can be released by disengaging the spring. The bezel is hard and resistant to impacts. Cold worked steel also facilitates manufacturing within design constraints and tolerances, and requires very little machining after manufacturing to comply with those constraints. The portable electronic device may include a personal media device, a mobile telephone, or any other suitable device or combination thereof.

主权项

1. An electronic device comprising:
a planar structure comprising a top surface and a peripheral side wall that extends around a perimeter of the planar structure and is perpendicular to the top surface; a bezel constructed with an opening to fit around the perimeter of the planar structure, the bezel including:
a top surface that is co-planar with the top surface of the planar structure;a substantially smooth curved side surface; and a housing coupled to the bezel, said housing including a substantially smooth curved side surface flush with said side surface of said bezel such that said side surface of said bezel and said side surface of said housing form a substantially smooth curved surface.