Press nut designs to minimize stack thickness

Abstract

The described embodiments relate to embedding a threaded insert into a thin-walled housing. A recess can be formed with a machining tool that forms a recess in a thickened portion of the thin-walled housing. In some embodiments, the recess can be formed along one of the walls of the thin-walled housing in a location having highly a constrained amounts of space available. Once the recess is formed a threaded insert can be pressed into the recess. An interference fit can be utilized to lodge the press-nut securely within the recess. Alternatively, a retaining member can be positioned across a front portion of the recess to trap the threaded insert between the retaining member and a rear surface of the recess.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing, comprising a first wall and a second wall, the first wall adjacent to the second wall;   a protrusion extending from the first wall and towards the second wall, the protrusion comprising a concave surface defining a recess; and   a threaded insert trapped within the recess by a plurality of retaining members extending across the recess and in front of at least a portion of the threaded insert, wherein the threaded insert is configured to receive a threaded fastener for securing an internal component against the first wall.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the threaded insert comprises a plurality of flanges extending peripherally from the threaded insert, and wherein at least one of the flanges is trapped between a rear surface defining the recess and one of the retaining members. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of retaining members comprises a plurality of shafts, and wherein each of the shafts compresses one of the flanges against the rear surface that defines the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a curvature of a portion of each of the shafts that comes into contact with the flange is complementary to a curvature of the corresponding flange. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is integrally formed with the first wall. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the threaded insert is formed from a material that is substantially harder than a material that forms the protrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the threaded insert further comprises a plurality of protruding features that are positioned in grooves in the concave surface that define the recess. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first wall is substantially parallel to the second wall. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first wall and the second wall is too small to accommodate a machining tool operative to form an aperture normal to a surface of the protrusion. 
     
     
         10 . A method for forming an attachment point in a thin-walled housing, the method comprising:
 positioning a machining tool between two adjacent walls of the thin-walled housing;   forming a channel with the machining tool in a protrusion extending from an interior surface of one of the walls;   forming a plurality of openings that extend through both a top portion and a bottom portion of the protrusion;   inserting a threaded insert into the channel, the threaded insert comprising a plurality of flanges; and   driving a shaft through each of the openings so that each of the flanges is trapped between one of the shafts and a back surface that defines the channel.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the holes are aligned in a direction substantially parallel to a front surface of the protrusion. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein at the beginning of the forming operation only a portion of the machining tool fits between the adjacent walls. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising forming the protrusion by selectively thinning one of the walls of the thin-walled housing. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the positioning the machining tool comprises orienting a holding portion of the machining tool at an acute angle with respect to a front face of the protrusion. 
     
     
         15 . An attachment feature, comprising:
 a protrusion extending from an inside surface of a sidewall, the protrusion comprising an inward curving surface disposed along a front surface of the protrusion, the inward curving surface defining a recess;   a threaded insert disposed within the recess; and   a retaining feature that prevents removal of the threaded insert from the recess, the retaining feature disposed across a front opening leading into the recess.   
     
     
         16 . The attachment feature as recited in  claim 15 , wherein threading of the threaded insert is oriented along an axis that is substantially normal to the front surface of the protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment feature as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the threaded insert comprises a plurality of protruding features that are disposed within channels formed within the inward curving surface defining the recess. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment feature as recited in  claim 15 , wherein a wall is disposed proximate the sidewall and wherein the sidewall cooperates with the wall to define a narrow channel that the protrusion extends into. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment feature as recited in  claim 15 , wherein a material forming the protrusion is substantially softer than a material that forms the threaded insert. 
     
     
         20 . The attachment feature as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the retaining feature comprises a shaft secured within the protrusion by an opening extending through the inward curving surface defining the recess.