Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 42 granted patents for Apple Inc. with 34 Utility patents and 8 design patents. In this particular report we briefly cover two patents relating to the assembly of speakers and the display for iMac. We also cover two original design patents relating to retail fixtures/tables. And as always, we wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple this week.

iMac Speaker Assembly

Apple has won a patent covering Apple's iMac Speaker Assembly. According to some examples of Apple's invention, an iMac includes a housing defining an aperture, a display positioned in the aperture, the display and the housing defining an internal volume, a speaker enclosure positioned in the internal volume, the speaker enclosure and the housing defining a speaker volume, and a speaker module positioned in the internal volume and in fluid communication with the speaker volume.

In some examples, the speaker volume has a thickness of between 1.7 millimeters (mm) and 2.3 mm. The speaker volume can be between 50 cubic centimeters (cm.sup.3) and 100 cm.sup.3. The speaker volume can have a length of between 100 mm and 300 mm, a width of between 170 mm and 180 mm, and a thickness of between 1.7 mm and 3 mm.

According to some examples, the speaker module can include a first woofer having a first diaphragm, and a second woofer having a second diaphragm, the first woofer being adjacent to the second woofer, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm configured to move in opposite directions while being acoustically in phase. The electronic device can include a second speaker enclosure positioned in the internal volume and at least partially defining a second speaker volume, and a second speaker module positioned in the internal volume in fluid communication with the second speaker volume. The speaker module can include a tweeter positioned adjacent to a woofer of the speaker module.

According to some examples, an electronic device includes a housing at least partially defining an internal volume, a speaker enclosure disposed in the internal volume, the speaker enclosure at least partially defining a speaker volume having a thickness of between 1.7 and 2.3 mm, a speaker module disposed in the internal volume and in fluid communication with the speaker volume, and a processor and memory disposed in the internal volume.

According to some examples, a speaker system includes an enclosure defining an internal volume having a thickness of between 1.7 mm and 2.3 mm and a volume of between 50 cm.sup.3 and 100 cm.sup.3, and a speaker module in fluid communication with the internal volume; the speaker system having a ratio of a V.sub.as to a V.sub.b of less than 2.

Apple's patent FIG. 4 shows a perspective exploded view of an iMac (#100) with speaker assemblies #118 that could be positioned between the display #108 and the housing #104. In some examples the chin #112 is connected to the display and also to the housing such that portions of the speaker assemblies, such as the speaker modules #120, can be at least partially sandwiched between the chin and the housing. During manufacturing, the housing can be formed, and thereafter the speaker module and the speaker enclosure 124 can be placed or positioned within the housing.

(Click on Patent Figure to Enlarge)

For more details, review Apple's granted patent US 11606633 B2.

iMac Display or Cover Glass/Cell Attachment to Frame

Apple was granted a second iMac related patent relating to its display or cover glass/cell attachment to the frame. More particularly, the patent relates to methods for attaching a cover glass layer to a structural housing while minimizing an amount of stress transferred through the cover glass layer to the LCD module. A continuous and compliant foam adhesive can be used to bond the cover glass layer to a structural. The compliant bond can absorb and distribute local stress concentrations caused by structural loads, mismatched surfaces and differing thermal expansion rates between various structures and cover glass layer. This can reduce stress concentrations in the cover glass layer that can lead to stress induced birefringence in the LCD cell. In other embodiments, the cover glass layer can be attached using magnets or a tongue and groove design.

While Apple's patent FIG. 2A relates directly to the mechanics of an iMac display, Apple ensures that their invention could also relate to other desktop displays such as their Studio Display, or a MacBook or future TV display.

For more details, review Apple's granted patent US 11604491 B2.

Apple's Key Design Patents

Although Apple was granted a total of 8 design patents today, only two of them were first-time original design patents. The remaining six designs are continuation patents or renewals of previous grants such as designs for iPods cases.

Today's Remaining Granted Patents