PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8804354-B2
Application Number: US-201313833224-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Load sharing device and I/O architecture against imparted abuse loads

Abstract:
A bracket configured to be interposed between the housing of a mobile electronic device and an electrical receptacle that is disposed in the mobile electronic device. The bracket includes a bracket body, an elongated opening through the bracket and a sheath surrounding portions of the bracket body. The bracket body includes an elongated protrusion extending in a front direction from the front face of the bracket body and a pair of fastener accommodations extending through the bracket body, each fastener accommodation disposed on opposite sides of the elongated protrusion. The sheath includes a first portion surrounding a portion of the bracket body elongated protrusion and a second portion including a pair of fastener openings.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bracket configured to be interposed between the housing of a mobile electronic device and an electrical receptacle that is disposed in the mobile electronic device, the bracket including:
 a bracket body, comprising:
 a front face; 
 a back face; 
 an elongated protrusion extending in a front direction from the front face; and 
 a pair of fastener accommodations extending from the front face to the back face, each fastener accommodation disposed on opposite sides of the elongated protrusion; 
 
 an elongated opening extending through the bracket body; 
 a sheath surrounding portions of the bracket body, the sheath comprising:
 a first portion surrounding a portion of the bracket body elongated protrusion; and 
 a second portion including a pair of fastener openings, each fastener opening extending through the sheath second portion and disposed in predetermined alignment with one of the fastener accommodations of the bracket body, the fastener openings each configured to receive a fastener whereby the fastener is not in physical contact with the bracket body. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the bracket body elongated protrusion comprises:
 a pair of upper and lower outer surfaces that extend from the front face of the bracket body; 
 a pair of arcuate outer surfaces, each of which extends from the front face of the bracket body, each of which arcuate surfaces also extends between the upper and lower outer surfaces; and 
 a front edge extending from the outer surfaces in a plane parallel to the front face of the bracket body. 
 
     
     
       3. A bracket according to  claim 2 , wherein the bracket elongated opening comprises:
 a pair of upper and lower inner surfaces that correspond to the upper and lower outer surfaces of the bracket body elongated protrusion; and 
 a pair of arcuate inner surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the arcuate outer surfaces of the bracket body elongated protrusion. 
 
     
     
       4. A bracket according to  claim 3  further comprising a bevel extending between the bracket body front face and the bracket elongated opening inner surfaces. 
     
     
       5. A bracket according to  claim 3  further comprising an expanded opening, the expanded opening comprising:
 a ledge extending from the elongated opening inner surfaces; 
 a pair of upper and lower inner relief surfaces extending from the ledge and corresponding to the elongated opening upper and lower inner surfaces; and 
 a pair of arcuate relief surfaces, each of which extends from the ledge and corresponds to one of the elongated opening arcuate inner surfaces. 
 
     
     
       6. A bracket according to  claim 5  further comprising a chamfer extending between the bracket body back face and the inner relief surfaces of the expanded opening. 
     
     
       7. A bracket according to  claim 3  wherein the upper and lower outer surfaces and the upper and lower inner surfaces are planar. 
     
     
       8. A bracket according to  claim 3  wherein the upper and lower outer surfaces and the upper and lower inner surfaces are not planar. 
     
     
       9. A bracket according to  claim 2  wherein the sheath is formed of electrically insulative material and the fastener openings are each configured to receive a fastener that is not in electrical contact with the bracket body. 
     
     
       10. A bracket according to  claim 2 , wherein the sheath first portion includes:
 a pair of sheath first portion upper and lower outer surfaces that correspond to the bracket body upper and lower outer surfaces; 
 a pair of sheath first portion arcuate outer surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the outer arcuate surfaces of the bracket body; and 
 a sheath first portion front edge extending from the sheath first portion upper and lower outer surfaces and arcuate outer surfaces, 
 the sheath first portion front edge disposed flush with the front edge of the elongated protrusion. 
 
     
     
       11. A bracket according to  claim 10  wherein the sheath further comprises:
 a sheath second portion front face disposed parallel to the bracket body front face and extending from the sheath first portion; 
 a sheath second portion back face including an opening that receives portions of the bracket body back face whereby the portions of the bracket body back face are flush with the sheath back face; and 
 a sheath second portion outer edge extending between the sheath second portion front face and the sheath second portion back face. 
 
     
     
       12. A bracket, comprising:
 a bracket body, comprising:
 a front face; 
 a back face; 
 an elongated protrusion extending in a front direction from the front face, the elongated protrusion comprising an outer surface that extends from the front face of the bracket body and a front edge extending from the outer surface in a plane parallel to the front face; and 
 a pair of fastener accommodations extending from the front face to the back face, each fastener accommodation disposed on opposite sides of the elongated protrusion; 
 
 an opening extending through the bracket body; and 
 a sheath surrounding portions of the bracket body, comprising:
 a first portion surrounding a portion of the bracket body elongated protrusion, the first portion including a sheath first portion outer surface that corresponds to the bracket body protrusion outer surface; and a sheath first portion front edge extending from the sheath first portion outer surface; and 
 a second portion including a sheath second portion front face and a sheath second portion back face, and a pair of fastener openings, each extending between the sheath second portion front face and the sheath second portion back face and disposed in predetermined alignment with one of the fastener accommodations of the bracket body, the fastener openings each configured to receive a fastener whereby the fastener is not in physical contact with the bracket body. 
 
 
     
     
       13. A bracket according to  claim 12  wherein the sheath first portion front edge is disposed flush with the front edge of the elongated protrusion. 
     
     
       14. A bracket according to  claim 12  wherein the bracket body is formed of an electrically conductive material and the sheath is formed of electrically insulative material and the fastener openings are each configured to receive a fastener whereby the fastener is not in electrical contact with the bracket body. 
     
     
       15. A bracket configured to be interposed between the housing of a mobile electronic device and an electrical receptacle that is disposed in the mobile electronic device, the bracket including:
 a bracket body, comprising:
 a front face; 
 a back face; 
 an elongated protrusion extending in a front direction from the front face, the elongated protrusion comprising:
 an upper outer planar surface that extends from the front face of the bracket body; 
 a lower outer planar surface that extends from the front face of the bracket body; 
 a pair of arcuate outer surfaces, each of which extends from the front face of the bracket body, each of which arcuate surfaces extends between the upper outer surface and the lower outer surface; 
 a front edge extending from the upper outer planar surface, lower outer planar surface and arcuate outer surfaces in a plane parallel to the front face; and 
 a pair of fastener accommodations extending from the front face to the back face, each fastener accommodation disposed on opposite sides of the elongated protrusion; 
 
 
 an opening extending through the bracket body, the opening including:
 an upper inner planar surface that extends parallel to the upper outer planar surface of the elongated protrusion; 
 a lower inner planar surface that extends parallel to the lower outer planar surface of the elongated protrusion; 
 a pair of arcuate inner surfaces, each of which extends in a direction concentric with one of the arcuate outer surfaces of the elongated protrusion; 
 an upper bevel surface extending between the face of the elongated protrusion and the upper inner planar surface of the opening; 
 a lower bevel surface extending between the front edge of the elongated protrusion and the lower inner planar surface of the opening; 
 a pair of arcuate bevel surfaces, each of which extends between the front edge of the elongated protrusion and one of the arcuate inner surfaces of the opening; 
 a ledge extending from the upper inner planar surface, the lower inner planar surface, and the pair of arcuate inner surfaces of the opening in a direction parallel to the front face of the bracket body; 
 an upper inner planar relief surface extending from the ledge in a direction parallel to the upper inner planar surface; 
 a lower inner planar relief surface extending from the ledge in a direction parallel to the lower inner planar surface; 
 a pair of arcuate relief surfaces, each of which extends from the ledge in a direction concentric with one of the arcuate inner surfaces; 
 a chamfer extending between the back face and the upper inner planar relief surface, the lower inner planar relief surface, and arcuate relief surfaces; and 
 
 a sheath formed of electrically insulative material surrounding portions of the bracket body, comprising:
 a first portion surrounding the bracket body elongated protrusion, the first portion including:
 a sheath first portion upper outer planar surface that is disposed parallel to the upper outer planar surface of the bracket body; 
 a sheath first portion lower outer planar surface that is disposed parallel to the lower outer planar surface of the bracket body; 
 a sheath first portion pair of arcuate outer surfaces, each of which extends in a direction concentric with one of the outer arcuate surfaces of the bracket body; 
 a sheath first portion front edge extending from the sheath first portion upper outer planar surface, the sheath first portion lower outer planar surface and the sheath first portion arcuate outer surfaces disposed in a plane parallel to the front face; 
 the sheath first portion front edge disposed flush with the front edge of the bracket body elongated protrusion; and 
 
 
 a second portion including:
 a sheath second portion front face disposed parallel to the bracket front face and extending from the sheath first portion; 
 a sheath second portion back face including an opening that receives a portion of the back face of the bracket body whereby the portion of the back face of the bracket body is disposed flush with the sheath back face; 
 a sheath second portion outer edge extending between the sheath second portion front face and the sheath second portion back face; and 
 a pair of fastener openings, each extending between the sheath second portion front face and the sheath second portion back face and disposed in predetermined alignment with one of the fastener accommodations of the bracket body, the fastener openings each configured to receive a fastener that is not in electrical or physical contact with the bracket body. 
 
 
     
     
       16. A bracket according to  claim 15  wherein the bracket body front edge and sheath first portion front edge are configured to be flush with an outer surface of the housing. 
     
     
       17. A bracket according to  claim 15  wherein the fastener openings of the sheath are not threaded. 
     
     
       18. A bracket according to  claim 15  wherein the fastener openings of the sheath are threaded. 
     
     
       19. A bracket according to  claim 15  wherein the fastener openings of the sheath and the accommodations of the bracket body are configured to provide mechanical flexibility that permits movement of the bracket body relative to fasteners inserted in the fastener openings. 
     
     
       20. A bracket according to  claim 15  wherein the accommodations are C-shaped. 
     
     
       21. A bracket according to  claim 15  wherein the accommodations are not C-shaped.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional, claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/699,774 filed Sep. 11, 2012 for “Load Sharing Device and I/O Architecture Against Imparted Abuse Loads”. The entire disclosure of the above mentioned application is incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mobile devices typically require connectivity with cables or cords for power recharging, data connectivity and other purposes. The interface between such cables or cords and the mobile device classically requires a male/female physical connection, and usually one where a receptacle is disposed in the mobile device for receiving the male connector. The interface between the receptacle and the male connector requires physical robustness and stability, compatibility of electrical contacts and requisite wear and durability performance. Standards and designs for such male/female connectors have conventionally been defined by standards bodies, or developed by suppliers according to their own standards or designs for mass off-the-shelf availability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Various embodiments of the invention relate to input/output architecture structures that can withstand increased forces, bending moments and wear and tear, with minimum risk of structural or electrical connectivity failure, and without deforming or impairing the device in which they are contained. For instance, such cords and plugs may be stepped on, subjected to tension when a user pulls on the cable, or subjected to torque when the cable is pulled while the connector is inserted in the mobile device. More robust architectures that are structured to address such problems can also place additional forces and other requirements on portions of the mobile devices, including the housing, internal structure and circuits in the devices. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention relate to brackets or trim rings (hereinafter “brackets”) which may be interposed between the housing and a connector receptacle in a mobile device to form an input/output architecture. Certain embodiments of brackets according to the present invention provide structural reinforcement of the physical and mechanical connection between the receptacle and the housing. Certain embodiments can provide electrical insulation between the housing and the receptacle. Certain embodiments can impart flexibility in the physical and mechanical connection between the housing and the receptacle in order, for example, to reduce possibility of mechanical deformation of the housing and/or receptacle, or other portions of the device, when a connector imparts undue forces or torque on the receptacle or the input/output architecture. 
     Accordingly, there is provided a bracket configured to be interposed between the housing of a mobile electronic device and an electrical receptacle that is disposed in the mobile electronic device, the bracket including: 
     a bracket body, comprising:
         a front face;   a back face;   an elongated protrusion extending in a front direction from the front face; and   a pair of fastener accommodations extending from the front face to the back face, each fastener accommodation disposed on opposite sides of the elongated protrusion;       

     an elongated opening extending through the bracket body; 
     a sheath surrounding portions of the bracket body, the sheath comprising:
         a first portion surrounding a portion of the bracket body elongated protrusion; and   a second portion including a pair of fastener openings, each fastener opening extending through the sheath second portion and disposed in predetermined alignment with one of the fastener accommodations of the bracket body, the fastener openings each configured to receive a fastener whereby the fastener is not in physical contact with the bracket body.       

     In some embodiments, the body elongated protrusion comprises: 
     a pair of upper and lower outer surfaces that extend from the front face of the bracket body; 
     a pair of arcuate outer surfaces, each of which extends from the front face of the bracket body, each of which arcuate surfaces also extends between the upper and lower outer surfaces; and 
     a front edge extending from the outer surfaces in a plane parallel to the front face of the bracket body. 
     In some embodiments, the bracket elongated opening comprises: 
     a pair of upper and lower inner surfaces that correspond to the upper and lower outer surfaces of the bracket body elongated protrusion; and 
     a pair of arcuate inner surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the arcuate outer surfaces of the bracket body elongated protrusion. 
     In some embodiments, the bracket can include a bevel extending between the bracket body front face and the bracket elongated opening inner surfaces, and/or an expanded opening that includes: 
     a ledge extending from the elongated opening inner surfaces; 
     a pair of upper and lower inner relief surfaces extending from the ledge and corresponding to the elongated opening upper and lower inner surfaces; and 
     a pair of arcuate relief surfaces, each of which extends from the ledge and corresponds to one of the elongated opening arcuate inner surfaces. 
     In some embodiments, the bracket can include a chamfer extending between the bracket body back face and the inner relief surfaces of the expanded opening. 
     In some embodiments, the upper and lower outer surfaces and the upper and lower inner surfaces are planar. 
     In some embodiments, the bracket body is formed of an electrically conductive material and the sheath is formed of electrically insulative material and the fastener openings are each configured to receive a fastener that is not in physical or electrical contact with the bracket body. 
     In some embodiments, the sheath first portion includes: 
     a pair of sheath first portion upper and lower outer surfaces that correspond to the bracket body upper and lower outer surfaces; 
     a pair of sheath first portion arcuate outer surfaces, each of which corresponds to one of the outer arcuate surfaces of the bracket body; and 
     a sheath first portion front edge extending from the sheath first portion upper and lower outer surfaces and arcuate outer surfaces, 
     the sheath first portion front edge disposed flush with the front edge of the elongated protrusion. 
     In some embodiments, the sheath further comprises: 
     a sheath second portion front face disposed parallel to the bracket body front face and extending from the sheath first portion; 
     a sheath second portion back face including an opening that receives portions of the bracket body back face whereby the portions of the bracket body back face are flush with the sheath back face; and 
     a sheath second portion outer edge extending between the sheath second portion front face and the sheath second portion back face. 
     There is also provided a bracket, comprising 
     a bracket body, comprising:
         a front face;   a back face;   an elongated protrusion extending in a front direction from the front face, the elongated protrusion comprising an outer surface that extends from the front face of the bracket body and a front edge extending from the outer surface in a plane parallel to the front face; and       

     a pair of fastener accommodations extending from the front face to the back face, each fastener accommodation disposed on opposite sides of the elongated protrusion; 
     an opening extending through the bracket body; and 
     a sheath surrounding portions of the bracket body, comprising:
         a first portion surrounding a portion of the bracket body elongated protrusion, the first portion including a sheath first portion outer surface that corresponds to the bracket body protrusion outer surface; and a sheath first portion front edge extending from the sheath first portion outer surface; and   a second portion including a sheath second portion front face and a sheath second portion back face, and a pair of fastener openings, each extending between the sheath second portion front face and the sheath second portion back face and disposed in predetermined alignment with one of the fastener accommodations of the bracket body, the fastener openings each configured to receive a fastener that is not in physical contact with the bracket body.       

     In some embodiments, the sheath first portion front edge is disposed flush with the front edge of the elongated protrusion. 
     In some embodiments, the sheath is formed of electrically insulative material and the fastener openings are each configured to receive a fastener whereby the fastener is not in electrical contact with the bracket body. 
     There is also provided a bracket configured to be interposed between the housing of a mobile electronic device and an electrical receptacle that is disposed in the mobile electronic device, the bracket including: 
     a bracket body, comprising:
         a front face;   a back face;   an elongated protrusion extending in a front direction from the front face, the elongated protrusion comprising:
           an upper outer planar surface that extends from the front face of the bracket body;   a lower outer planar surface that extends from the front face of the bracket body;   a pair of arcuate outer surfaces, each of which extends from the front face of the bracket body, each of which arcuate surfaces extends between the upper outer surface and the lower outer surface;   a front edge extending from the upper outer planar surface, lower outer planar surface and arcuate outer surfaces in a plane parallel to the front face; and   a pair of fastener accommodations extending from the front face to the back face, each fastener accommodation disposed on opposite sides of the elongated protrusion;   
               

     an opening extending through the bracket body, the opening including:
         an upper inner planar surface that extends parallel to the upper outer planar surface of the elongated protrusion;   a lower inner planar surface that extends parallel to the lower outer planar surface of the elongated protrusion;   a pair of arcuate inner surfaces, each of which extends in a direction concentric with one of the arcuate outer surfaces of the elongated protrusion;   an upper bevel surface extending between the face of the elongated protrusion and the upper inner planar surface of the opening;   a lower bevel surface extending between the front edge of the elongated protrusion and the lower inner planar surface of the opening;   a pair of arcuate bevel surfaces, each of which extends between the front edge of the elongated protrusion and one of the arcuate inner surfaces of the opening;   a ledge extending from the upper inner planar surface, the lower inner planar surface, and the pair of arcuate inner surfaces of the opening in a direction parallel to the front face of the bracket body;   an upper inner planar relief surface extending from the ledge in a direction parallel to the upper inner planar surface;   a lower inner planar relief surface extending from the ledge in a direction parallel to the lower inner planar surface;   a pair of arcuate relief surfaces, each of which extends from the ledge in a direction concentric with one of the arcuate inner surfaces;   a chamfer extending between the back face and the upper inner planar relief surface, the lower inner planar relief surface, and arcuate relief surfaces; and       

     a sheath formed of electrically insulative material surrounding portions of the bracket body, comprising:
         a first portion surrounding the bracket body elongated protrusion, the first portion including:
           a sheath first portion upper outer planar surface that is disposed parallel to the upper outer planar surface of the bracket body;   a sheath first portion lower outer planar surface that is disposed parallel to the lower outer planar surface of the bracket body;   a sheath first portion pair of arcuate outer surfaces, each of which extends in a direction concentric with one of the outer arcuate surfaces of the bracket body;   
           a sheath first portion front edge extending from the sheath first portion upper outer planar surface, the sheath first portion lower outer planar surface and the sheath first portion arcuate outer surfaces disposed in a plane parallel to the front face;
           the sheath first portion front edge disposed flush with the front edge of the bracket body elongated protrusion; and   
               

     a second portion including:
         a sheath second portion front face disposed parallel to the bracket front face and extending from the sheath first portion;   a sheath second portion back face including an opening that receives a portion of the back face of the bracket body whereby the portion of the back face of the bracket body is disposed flush with the sheath back face;   a sheath second portion outer edge extending between the sheath second portion front face and the sheath second portion back face; and   a pair of fastener openings, each extending between the sheath second portion front face and the sheath second portion back face and disposed in predetermined alignment with one of the fastener accommodations of the bracket body, the fastener openings each configured to receive a fastener whereby the fastener is not in electrical or physical contact with the bracket body.       

     In some embodiments, the bracket body front edge and sheath first portion front edge are configured to be flush with an outer surface of the housing. 
     In some embodiments, the fastener openings of the sheath are not threaded. 
     In some embodiments, the fastener openings of the sheath are threaded. 
     In some embodiments, the fastener openings of the sheath and the accommodations of the bracket body are configured to provide mechanical flexibility that permits movement of the bracket body relative to fasteners inserted in the fastener openings. 
     In some embodiments, the accommodations are C-shaped. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a bracket according to one embodiment of the present invention interposed between a housing of a mobile device and a receptacle. 
         FIG. 1B  is an exploded perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 1A  interposed between a housing of a mobile device and a receptacle. 
         FIG. 2A  is a front perspective view of the bracket of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         FIG. 2B  is a back perspective view of the bracket of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         FIG. 3A  is a partially transparent view that corresponds to  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3B  is a partially transparent view that corresponds to  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the bracket of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , taken through section  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the bracket of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , taken through section  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 6A-6E  are plan views of various embodiments of bracket bodies of brackets according to various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIGS. 6F and 6G  correspond to  FIGS. 6B and 6D  and show portions of the bracket bodies of  FIGS. 6B and 6D . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a bracket  10  according to a first embodiment of the invention. Bracket  10  is shown mechanically interposed between a mobile device housing  12  and a receptacle  14 . Housing  12  may be a housing for a mobile telephone, music/media player, SMART phone, or other mobile or small device. Brackets  10  may also be configured for use in non-mobile devices. Receptacle  14  provides, among other things, electrical connectivity using pins, leads or similar structure for providing input and output of electrical power and/or data to the mobile device. Together, the bracket  10  and receptacle  14 , in combination with the portion of the housing  12  in which bracket  10  is received, are referred to as “input/output architecture”  16 . 
     For purposes of description of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , a three-dimensional set of orthogonal axes is shown relative to the input/output architecture  16  of  FIG. 1A . The axes set is labeled relative to the direction in which the bracket  10  extends through the housing  12  as the front direction, and the opposite direction as the back direction to form a front-back axis. Orthogonal to the front direction, a right direction and a left direction are shown and form a left-right axis. Again, orthogonal to the front-back and left-right axes, an upper direction and lower direction are shown which form an upper-lower axis. A frontal plane is defined by the left-right and upper-lower axes. A sagittal plane is defined by the front-back and upper-lower axes. A superior plane is defined by the left-right and front-back axes. Accordingly, it is apparent that the particular bracket  10  shown in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  is symmetrical in a sagittal plane through a centerline through the center of the elongated opening (which opening is described below) in the sagittal plane, though asymmetrical in a frontal plane or a superior plane through that center. Brackets according to various embodiments of the invention may be symmetrical or asymmetrical in various planes as desired. 
       FIG. 1B  shows an exploded view of bracket  10 , receptacle  14  and housing  12 , and thus an exploded view of input/output architecture  16  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  show, in front and back perspective, respectively, the bracket  10  of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , bracket  10  includes a bracket body  20  and a sheath  22  that surrounds portions of the bracket body  20 . Bracket body  20  may be formed of metal or any other desired material that has requisite stiffness and strength properties. Preferably bracket body  20  is electrically conductive. Bracket body  20  may be cast, machined, stamped or formed as otherwise desired. Sheath  22  that surrounds portions of bracket body  20  may be formed of any desirable plastic or other material that is preferably electrically insulative; such material also may feature resilience or deformability characteristics as desired in order to add mechanical flexibility to input/output architecture  16 . Sheath  22  may be over-molded or otherwise formed on bracket body  20  in conventional fashion or as otherwise desired. 
     Bracket  10  as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  includes two fastener openings, a right fastener opening  24  and a left fastener opening  26 , that extend in a front-back direction through sheath  22 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the fastener openings  24 ,  26  extend only through the sheath  22  and do not intersect the bracket body  20 , so that fasteners  18  (see  FIGS. 1A and 1B ) extending through them are not in electrical contact with bracket body  20 . Bracket  10  also includes an elongated opening  28  that extends in a front-back direction through bracket  10  (the elongated direction of opening  28  is right-left). Bracket  10  as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  also includes a front face  30  and a back face  32 . A bracket edge face  34  extends between the bracket front face  30  and the bracket back face  32 . An elongated protrusion  36  extends in the front direction from the bracket front face  30 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the structures of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  in partially transparent views. These figures make evident that bracket body  20  includes a bracket body front face  38  that corresponds to and is parallel to bracket front face  30 ; a bracket body back face  40  that corresponds to and is parallel to bracket back face  32 , a bracket body edge face  42  that corresponds to bracket edge face  34 , and a bracket body elongated protrusion  44  that corresponds to bracket elongated protrusion  36 . As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , bracket body elongated protrusion  44  includes an upper outer planar surface  46 , a lower outer planar surface  48  and a pair of arcuate outer surfaces  50 ,  52 , all of which extend from bracket body front face  38  in the front direction to form the exterior of bracket body elongated protrusion  44 . Extending in turn from surfaces  46 ,  48 ,  50  and  52  is a bracket body front edge  54  that is located in the frontal plane (and thus parallel to bracket body front face  38 ) and configured to be flush with the exterior of housing  12  when bracket  10  is installed in the mobile device. 
     Extending through bracket body  20  and thus through bracket  10  is elongated opening  28 . Elongated opening  28  includes an upper inner planar surface  56  that extends parallel to the bracket body upper outer planar surface  46 ; a bracket body lower inner planar surface  58  that extends parallel to the bracket body lower outer planar surface  48 , and a pair of arcuate inner surfaces  60 ,  62 , each of which is concentric with one of the arcuate outer surfaces  50 ,  52 . The elongated opening  28  intersection with bracket body front face  38  may be beveled: In the bracket body  20  shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , bracket body front edge  54  is connected to bracket body upper inner planar surface  56  via upper bevel surface  64  that extends between bracket body front edge  54  and bracket body upper inner planar surface  56 . Similarly, a lower bevel surface  66  extends between front edge  54  and lower inner planar surface  58 , and a pair of arcuate bevel surfaces  68 ,  70  extends between front edge  54  and arcuate inner surfaces  60 ,  62  of bracket body  20 . Bevel surfaces  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  may be dimensioned and otherwise formed in bracket body  22  to allow bracket  10  to accommodate connectors more easily, and to avoid sharp edges that might otherwise be presented to the user, among other purposes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , with respect to the back of bracket  10 , opening  28  toward the back direction opens on to a relief or expanded opening  72  whose shape in the frontal plane corresponds to the shape of opening  28 . Expanded opening  72  may, among other things, receive or otherwise accommodate portions of receptacle  14 . A ledge  74  extends from the upper inner plane surface  56 , lower inner planar surface  58  and arcuate inner surfaces  60 ,  62  of opening  28  in a plane that is parallel to bracket body back face  40 . From ledge  74  extends an upper inner planar relief surface  76  that is parallel to the bracket body upper inner planar surface  56 . Likewise, a lower inner planar relief surface  78  extends from the ledge  74  in a direction parallel to bracket body lower inner planar surface  58 , and a pair of arcuate relief surfaces  80 ,  82  extend from the ledge in a direction that is concentric with one of the arcuate inner surfaces  60 ,  62 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 3B , a chamfer  84  extends between the back face  40  of bracket body  20  and relief surfaces  76 ,  78 ,  80  and  82 . Chamfer  84  may be formed as desired to round edges and otherwise finish the bracket body  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , bracket body  20  also includes a left fastener accommodation  86  and a right fastener accommodation  88 . These accommodations  86 ,  88  are formed in bracket body  20  to allow penetration by fasteners  18  through fastener openings  24 ,  26  in sheath  22  (which is electrically insulative) without physical or electrical contact between the fasteners  18  and bracket body  20 . Accommodations  86 ,  88  may also be dimensioned to provide sufficient distance and material between fastener openings  24 ,  26 , on the one hand, and bracket body  20  on the other hand, to take advantage of resilient properties of the material of which sheath  22  is formed to allow bracket  10  to provide any desired degree of mechanical flexibility to input/output architecture  16  as the connector  18  encounters physical force or torque. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , accommodations  86 ,  88  are C-shaped, having a center of rotation that aligns generally with the center of rotation of fastener openings  24 ,  26 , but of larger circumference. Additionally, accommodations  86 ,  88  open onto bracket body edge face  42  to provide the C-shape. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , bracket body  20  is thinner in the front-back dimension in the vicinity of the accommodations  86 ,  88 . The thinner portions of bracket body  20  form a left wing and right wing  90 ,  92  which are covered by portions of sheath  22 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  also illustrate the dimensional and physical relationship of sheath  22  to bracket body  20  in the embodiment of bracket  10  shown in those figures. There, sheath  22  includes a first portion  94  that generally surrounds portions of bracket body elongated protrusion  44 . Sheath first portion  94  accordingly includes a sheath first portion upper outer planar surface  96  that is disposed parallel to the bracket body upper outer planar surface  46 . Similarly, sheath first portion  94  includes a sheath first portion lower outer planar surface  98  that corresponds to bracket body lower outer planar surface  48 , and includes sheath first portion arcuate outer surfaces  100 ,  102 , each of which extends in a direction that is concentric with one of the bracket body arcuate outer surfaces  50 ,  52 . Extending orthogonally from outer surfaces  96 ,  98 ,  100  and  102  is a sheath first portion front edge  104  that is disposed in a plane that is parallel to front face  38  of bracket body  20 . Sheath first portion front edge  104  is preferably disposed on sheath  22  relative to bracket body front edge  54  to be coplanar to bracket body front edge  54  and also flush with the outer surface of housing  12  of the mobile device when the bracket  10  is installed in the mobile device. Sheath first portion  94  also includes inner surface  105  that corresponds to outer surfaces  96 ,  98 ,  100  and  102 , which inner surface  105  extends from sheath first portion front edge  104  and abuts bracket body elongated protrusion  44  surfaces as a result of formation of sheath  22  on bracket body  20 . 
     A sheath second portion  106  generally surrounds portions of non-elongated bracket body  20  that do not form bracket elongated protrusion  36 . As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , sheath second portion  106  includes a sheath second portion front face  108  that is disposed parallel to the bracket body front face  38  and that extends from the sheath first portion  94 . Similarly, sheath second portion  106  includes a sheath second portion back face  110  that includes an opening  112 . Opening  112  receives portions of bracket body back face  40  that do not correspond to left or right wings  90 ,  92  of bracket body  20 . Accordingly, the non-wing portions of the back face  40  of bracket body are flush with sheath second portion back face  110  when the sheath  22  is formed. Additionally, sheath second portion  106  includes a sheath second portion outer edge  114  that extends between the sheath second portion front face  108  and the sheath second portion back face  110 . 
     As alluded to above, a pair of fastener openings  24 ,  26  extends between the sheath second portion front face  108  and the sheath second portion back face  110  in a front-back direction. Each fastener opening  24 ,  26  is disposed in predetermined alignment with one of the fastener accommodations  86 ,  88  of bracket body  20 , and each fastener opening  24 ,  26  is configured to receive a fastener  18  such that the fastener  18  is not in electrical or physical contact with the bracket body  20 . Rather, because the dimensions and positioning of the fastener openings  26 ,  28  relative to the accommodations  86 ,  88  do not allow physical contact of the fasteners with the bracket body, but rather interpose material of the sheath  22  between the fastener openings  24 ,  26  and accommodations  86 ,  88 , there is no electrical contact between fasteners and the bracket body  20 . Such interposed material of sheath  22  can also lend mechanical flexibility to the input/output architecture  16  to accommodate predetermined forces and torque on that architecture  16  as may be imposed by or transmitted through a fastener  18  that is inserted or being inserted into the input/output architecture  16 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side cross sectional view of portions of the input/output architecture  16  shown in  FIG. 1A  taken through section  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1A . As this figure makes evident, portions of sheath  22  are received in and abut an opening in housing  12  and in turn surround and support bracket body  20 ; in this view and preferably, the outer face of the housing  12 , sheath first portion front edge  104 , and bracket body front edge  54  are preferably flush. The receptacle  14  is mechanically connected to the bracket  10 . 
       FIG. 5  is a side cross sectional view of portions of the input/output architecture  16  shown in  FIG. 1A  taken through section  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 5  shows a fastener  18  extending through housing  12 , sheath  22  of bracket  10  and captured in receptacle  14 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , fastener  18  is not in physical or electrical contact with bracket body  20 , due to material of sheath  22  being interposed between fastener  18  and bracket body  20 . 
       FIGS. 6A-6E  show various sizes and shapes of fastener accommodations  86 ,  88 .  FIG. 6A  shows C-shaped fastener accommodations formed in bracket body  20  in which the distance between bracket body front face  38  and bracket body back face  40  remains constant.  FIG. 6B  shows similar C-shaped accommodations  86 ,  88 , but a thinner left wing and right wing  90 ,  92  of bracket body  20 .  FIG. 6C  shows accommodations  86 ,  88 , each of which is formed of only one lip  116 ,  118 .  FIG. 6D  shows a structure similar to that shown in  FIG. 6B , but with thinner wings  90 ,  92 .  FIG. 6E  shows accommodations  86 ,  88  formed of lips  116 ,  118  that define upper portions of the accommodations  86 ,  88 . 
       FIG. 6F  corresponds to  FIG. 6B  and shows a thicker wing  90  in the vicinity of accommodation  92 .  FIG. 6G  corresponds to  FIG. 6D  and shows a thinner wing  90  in the vicinity of accommodation  92 . 
     In the foregoing portions of this document, an embodiment of the invention has been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. This specification and the accompanying drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20130315
Publication Date: 20140812
Grant Date: 20140812
Priority Date: 20120911
Inventors: GOLKO ALBERT J.
JOL ERIC S.
WOODHULL CHARLES B.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04M1/0274", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0274", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/516", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K7/14", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/516", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0217", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/748", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/516", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02G15/007", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/748", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0274", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/748", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/74", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02G15/007", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 50232092