Patents by Inventor Brian Miehm
Brian Miehm has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9364922Abstract: A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Carlo Catalano, Derrick Jue, Brian Miehm, Takahiro Oshima, Masashige Tatebe
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Publication number: 20140183247Abstract: A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Carlo Catalano, Derrick Jue, Brian Miehm, Takahiro Oshima, Masashige Tatebe
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Patent number: 8716630Abstract: A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Carlo Catalano, Derrick Jue, Brian Miehm, Takahiro Oshima, Masashige Tatebe
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Publication number: 20130225050Abstract: An apparatus for lapping a portion of an exterior surface of a housing is described. The apparatus includes at least a lapping tool arranged to execute a lapping operation. The lapping tool takes the form of a lapping pad which includes a conduit through which slurry can be transported for local deposition on the housing during a lapping operation. The apparatus also includes a stage on which a workpiece in the form of a housing is mounted. During the lapping operation, slurry is passed through the slurry conduit in the lapping tool, the lapping tool and the housing are moved in various motions. In this way, a gradual transition region is created between an accessory region and the remainder of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Collin Chan, Brian Miehm, Simon Lancaster-Larocque, Ryan M. Satcher
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Publication number: 20130062325Abstract: A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Carlo CATALANO, Derrick Jue, Brian Miehm, Takahiro Oshima, Masashige Tatebe
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Patent number: 8338737Abstract: A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Carlo Catalano, Derrick Jue, Brian Miehm, Takahiro Oshima, Masashige Tatebe
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Publication number: 20110073575Abstract: A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2009Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Carlo Catalano, Derrick Jue, Brian Miehm, Takahiro Oshima, Masashige Tatebe