Apple patents metal housings that stop rust by bonding two different metals
Apple describes a method for making device casings using a material made of two different metals bonded together. The outer metal is melted slightly to create a smooth opening, which helps prevent corrosion where the two metals meet.
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, comprising: a clad material comprising an interior metal disposed within an exterior metal, wherein the interior metal defines an internal volume and wherein the exterior metal is different from the interior metal; a clad interface between the interior metal and the exterior metal; a melt interface comprising a layer of hardened flux formed from a contiguous portion of the exterior metal; and an aperture formed through the clad material, the melt interface: defines a continuous boundary surface of the aperture; and extends past the clad interface and past the interior metal; wherein: the exterior metal defines a uniform grain structure portion; and the exterior metal defines a non-uniform grain structure portion at the melt interface.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Clad parts
- Patent number
- US12764883B2
- Application number
- 17930031
- Filed
- Sep 6, 2022
- Granted
- Oct 13, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 11
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 Materials & manufacturing
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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.