Patent US4282597A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4282597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal-coated plastic housing for electronic components and the method of making same
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1977-11-28
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Granted: 1981-08-04
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Expires: 1997-11-28
Abstract
Abstract Plastic housings for electronic components such as plastic cases for electronic wrist watches and calculators have their interior surfaces coated with a first layer of highly-conductive metal to provide static protection for the electronic circuitry contained in the housing, and a second metal layer overlaying the first layer to provide corrosion resistance for the first metal layer. In a preferred embodiment, the metal layers are formed by unique ion plating techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Yenawine
- 👤 Richard K. Lowder
- 👤 Delwin L. Power
- 👤 Tommy L. Summers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:32
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/06; C23C14/14; C23C14/20; C23C14/22; C23C14/50; C23C14/505; G; G04; G04B; G04B43/00; G12; G12B; G12B17/00; G12B17/02; H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/0091; H05K9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A plastic container for an electronic component, said container including an interior floor surface and at least one interior wall surface upstanding from said floor surface, each of said interior floor surface and said interior wall surface having a continuous metallic coating thereon comprising a relatively thick layer of a first conductive metal next adjacent to said surface, said relatively thick layer of conductive metal grading into a relatively thin overlayer of a second corrosion resistant metal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A plastic container for an electronic component, said container including an interior floor surface and at least one interior wall surface upstanding from said floor surface, each of said interior floor surface and said interior wall surface having a continuous metallic coating thereon comprising a relatively thick layer of a first conductive metal next adjacent to said surface, said relatively thick layer of conductive metal grading into a relatively thin overlayer of a second corrosion resistant metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The plastic housing according to claim 1, wherein said relatively thick layer of metal is comprised of copper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The plastic housing according to claim 2, wherein said relatively thic layer of metal is between 2500 and 7500 angstroms in thickness.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The plastic housing according to claim 1, wherein said relatively thin layer of metal is comprised of nickel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The plastic housing according to claim 4, wherein said relatively thin layer is between 150 and 1000 angstroms in thickness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
A plastic container for an electronic component, said container including an interior floor surface and at least one interior wall surface upstanding from said floor surface, each of said interior floor surface and said interior wall surface having a continuous metallic coating theron comprising a relatively thick layer of copper next adjacent to said surface and a relatively thin overlayer comprising a corrosion resistant metal selected from the group consisting of nickel and chromium physically continguous with the copper layer and with the metallic coating on said floor surface in electrical contact with the metallic coating on said wall surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
A plastic container for an electronic component, said container including an interior floor surface and at least one interior wall surface upstanding from said floor surface, each of said interior floor surface and said interior wall surface having a continuous metallic coating theron comprising a relatively thick layer of copper next adjacent to said surface and a relatively thin overlayer comprising a corrosion resistant metal selected from the group consisting of nickel and chromium physically continguous with the copper layer and with the metallic coating on said floor surface in electrical contact with the metallic coating on said wall surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
A housing for an electric wrist watch comprising: (a) a plastic bezel member having a cavity therein; and (b) a plastic back member for sealing said cavity, the walls of said cavity and the interior surface of said back member being coated with a first relatively thick underlayer of conductive metal, said first underlayer providing static charge protection for an integrated timekeeping circuit contained within said cavity, and a second relatively thin overlayer physically contiguous with the underlayer to provide a corrosion resistant protective layer for said underlayer, and wherein said underlayer and overlayer on the walls of said cavity are in electrical contact with the underlayer on the interior surface of said back member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A housing for an electric wrist watch comprising: (a) a plastic bezel member having a cavity therein; and (b) a plastic back member for sealing said cavity, the walls of said cavity and the interior surface of said back member being coated with a first relatively thick underlayer of conductive metal, said first underlayer providing static charge protection for an integrated timekeeping circuit contained within said cavity, and a second relatively thin overlayer physically contiguous with the underlayer to provide a corrosion resistant protective layer for said underlayer, and wherein said underlayer and overlayer on the walls of said cavity are in electrical contact with the underlayer on the interior surface of said back member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
A housing for an electronic wristwatch comprising: (a) a plastic bezel member having a cavity therein; and (b) a plastic back member for sealing said cavity, the walls of said cavity and the interior surface of said back member each being coated with a continuous metallic coating comprising a relatively thick underlayer of a first conductive metal next adjacent to said surface and which grades into a relatively thin overlayer of a second corrosion-resistant metal, said underlayer providing static charge protection for an integrated timekeeping circuit contained within said cavity and said overlayer providing corrosion-resistant protection for said underlayer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
A housing for an electronic wristwatch comprising: (a) a plastic bezel member having a cavity therein; and (b) a plastic back member for sealing said cavity, the walls of said cavity and the interior surface of said back member each being coated with a continuous metallic coating comprising a relatively thick underlayer of a first conductive metal next adjacent to said surface and which grades into a relatively thin overlayer of a second corrosion-resistant metal, said underlayer providing static charge protection for an integrated timekeeping circuit contained within said cavity and said overlayer providing corrosion-resistant protection for said underlayer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The housing according to claim 8, wherein a module having an electronic integrated timekeeping circuit and a display coupled to said circuit for displaying time indications is contained within said cavity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The watch housing according to claim 8, wherein said relatively thin layer of metal is comprised of copper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The watch housing according to claim 8, wherein said relatively thick layer of metal is comprised of nickel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The watch housing according to claim 8, wherein said electronic integrated circuit is an I 2 L integrated circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-03 | 1985-02-02 | 1985-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-03 | 1989-02-02 | 1989-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-03 | 1993-02-02 | 1993-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |