Apple patents phone frame design that uses a plastic piece to join metal parts
Apple describes a way to build a mobile device's outer shell by joining two metal sections together. Instead of using screws or glue, the design uses a non-conductive plastic piece that fits into holes in both metal parts to lock them together.
In the filing’s own words
A device includes a display and a housing. The housing at least partially surrounds the display. The housing includes a first housing segment defining at least a first portion of an exterior surface of the device and a first interlock feature having an interlock surface that is offset with respect to an end surface of the first housing segment. The first interlock feature has a first opening formed in the interlock surface. The housing further includes a second housing segment defining at least a second portion of the exterior surface of the device and a second interlock feature having a second opening aligned with the first opening, and a non-conductive housing component defining a third portion of the exterior surface of the device and extending into the first opening and the second opening.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A device comprising: a display; and a housing defining a sidewall of the device and at least partially defining an interior volume including the display, the housing comprising: a first housing segment defining a first portion of the sidewall and a first interlock feature extending into the interior volume, the first interlock feature having a first interlock surface and a first hole extending into the first interlock surface; a second housing segment defining a second portion of the sidewall and a second interlock feature extending into the interior volume; the second interlock feature having a second interlock surface opposite to the first interlock surface and a second hole extending into the second interlock surface; and a non-conductive housing component at least partially filling the first hole and the second hole, thereby structurally coupling the first housing segment to the second housing segment.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- HOUSING AND ANTENNA ARCHITECTURE FOR MOBILE DEVICE
- Publication number
- US20260280103A1
- Application number
- 19306908
- Filed
- Aug 21, 2025
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 9
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H01Q 1/243 Electricity & electronicsH01Q 5/30 Electricity & electronicsH01Q 13/10 Electricity & electronicsH04M 1/0249 Electricity & electronicsH04M 1/0283 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Phones & computers
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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.