Patents by Inventor J. Benjamin Filson

J. Benjamin Filson 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).

  • Patent number: 8948824
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may have a clip. The clip may be mounted to a housing using hinge structures. The hinge structures may bias the clip towards a closed position. The clip may be opened to attach the portable electronic device to an object. When in the closed position, the clip may lie flush with the exterior of the device housing. Clip biasing may be provided using a torsion spring, a coil spring, a ribbon spring, a clip with built-in biasing, a tension spring, or a compression spring. A coupling mechanism may be used to attach the clip to the housing. The coupling mechanism may include a ratcheting rotatable mechanism, a fixed attachment structure, a flexible attachment structure, a removable structure, or a structure that includes a spring bias adjustment mechanism. The device may have a button with a touch sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: J. Benjamin Filson, P. Jan Moolsintong, S. Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20120050958
    Abstract: Electronic devices are provided that have components. A housing protrusion may be interposed between a display cover layer and display components. A button may have a button member. A support structure for a dome switch in the button may have a screw hole. A housing may have screw holes through which a screw passes. The screw may also pass through the screw hole of the support structure to hold the switch structure near the button member. A clip may have a spring. A metal plate may prevent the clip from becoming worn by the spring. A display may be mounted on a ledge in a device housing. The ledge may have gaps with supports and removed corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Emery Sanford, Wey-Jiun Lin, Felix Alvarez, J. Benjamin Filson, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20110034219
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may have a clip. The clip may be mounted to a housing using hinge structures. The hinge structures may bias the clip towards a closed position. The clip may be opened to attach the portable electronic device to an object. When in the closed position, the clip may lie flush with the exterior of the device housing. Clip biasing may be provided using a torsion spring, a coil spring, a ribbon spring, a clip with built-in biasing, a tension spring, or a compression spring. A coupling mechanism may be used to attach the clip to the housing. The coupling mechanism may include a ratcheting rotatable mechanism, a fixed attachment structure, a flexible attachment structure, a removable structure, or a structure that includes a spring bias adjustment mechanism. The device may have a button with a touch sensor array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: J. Benjamin Filson, P. Jan Moolsintong, S. Brian Lynch