Apple patents mixed-metal housing to stop corrosion in devices
Apple describes a housing design for portable electronics that combines two different metals to prevent rust-like damage. The outer layer is made of titanium, while the inner layer is aluminum, with a specific interface between them to stop the metals from reacting negatively.
In the filing’s own words
To eliminate galvanic corrosion, a housing includes a clad material. The clad material includes an interior metal disposed within an exterior metal. The exterior metal is different from the interior metal. The housing further includes a clad interface and a melt interface. The melt interface includes a layer of hardened flux disposed on a portion of the interior metal.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A housing sidewall of a portable electronic device, comprising: an elongate clad material comprising: titanium defining an external surface of the portable electronic device; aluminum secured to the titanium and defining an internal surface of the portable electronic device; a melt interface defined by the titanium and the aluminum; a recessed feature defined by the melt interface, the melt interface having an axis perpendicular to the external surface and extending a length of the recessed feature; and a non-metallic portion coupled to the melt interface at the recessed feature.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Clad parts
- Patent number
- US12750965B2
- Application number
- 18670660
- Filed
- May 21, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 29, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H05K 5/04 Electricity & electronicsH05K 5/069 Electricity & electronicsH05K 5/13 Electricity & electronicsY10T 428/24273 Emerging technologiesY10T 428/24298 Emerging technologiesMore from Apple in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.