Patent on Velcro-like Liquidmetal fastener could be used to prevent Apple device tampering
A U.S. patent application published on Thursday illustrates a Velcro-like fastener concept, but using the amorphous alloy technology Apple picked up through a licensing deal with Liquidmetal.
Although the filing, first discovered by AppleInsider, goes into detail about the manufacturing process, the fastener concept itself is simple, consisting of a series of hooks and/or loops allowing two surfaces to attach either permanently or semi-permanently.
The patent is particularly concerned with using mechanisms to deter tampering with electronics, "by either the normal users of a product, package, or system or others with physical access to it." There's claimed to be a need for a fastener that would either prevent tampering, or render itself and/or the device it was attached to non-functional afterwards.
The patent was originally filed in March 2012, and is credited to people previously linked with Liquidmetal patents such as Christopher Prest and Quoc Tran Pham. The assignee is Crucible Intellectual Property, a Liquidmetal subsidiary.
Apple could conceivably use amorphous alloy fasterners as a way of blocking access to the innards of its devices. Typically, the company denies warranty service to people who try to conduct their own repairs or upgrades. Alternately it could use the technology to combat theft.
The company has had exclusive access to Liquidmetal patents since 2010, but done relatively little with them. At least some iPhone SIM pins have been made using Liquidmetal material, but even products like the Apple Watch use more conventional metals for their cases, despite the Liquidmetal option being up to 1.5 times harder than stainless steel. The expense of mass manufacturing is likely Apple's main obstacle.
Although the filing, first discovered by AppleInsider, goes into detail about the manufacturing process, the fastener concept itself is simple, consisting of a series of hooks and/or loops allowing two surfaces to attach either permanently or semi-permanently.
The patent is particularly concerned with using mechanisms to deter tampering with electronics, "by either the normal users of a product, package, or system or others with physical access to it." There's claimed to be a need for a fastener that would either prevent tampering, or render itself and/or the device it was attached to non-functional afterwards.
The patent was originally filed in March 2012, and is credited to people previously linked with Liquidmetal patents such as Christopher Prest and Quoc Tran Pham. The assignee is Crucible Intellectual Property, a Liquidmetal subsidiary.
Apple could conceivably use amorphous alloy fasterners as a way of blocking access to the innards of its devices. Typically, the company denies warranty service to people who try to conduct their own repairs or upgrades. Alternately it could use the technology to combat theft.
The company has had exclusive access to Liquidmetal patents since 2010, but done relatively little with them. At least some iPhone SIM pins have been made using Liquidmetal material, but even products like the Apple Watch use more conventional metals for their cases, despite the Liquidmetal option being up to 1.5 times harder than stainless steel. The expense of mass manufacturing is likely Apple's main obstacle.
Comments
Seems like it would be too brittle for that application, but maybe not.
iFixit will not be amused.
iFixit can grind their way in if need be, they don't need to re-assemble.
This isn't an Apple patent, rather it is a patent filed by the owners of the LiquidMetal patent. This patent filing is over 3-years old. While Apple most likely has a license to this process, Apple has done nothing with their LiquidMetal license. They may have licensed LiquidMetal as a defensive maneuver to prevent a competitor from developing the product
I believe with Apple's Exclusivity License they retain the ownership of any developments made under the agreement.
They're not the only ones with a license agreement. The Swatch Group also has a license for use on timepieces.
Wonder if they could use this type of system, or something like it, to attach parts to their boards? It would have to be pretty small though. Might not even be feasible since it would require nonstandard connections. But it could work for Apple-made parts. I doubt it, but you never know with Apple. If anyone could find a different way of doing things, it's them.
If Cleetus is jimmeying it, what is Jimmy doing?
Apple has done nothing with their LiquidMetal license.
Not true, they've made some industry leading SIM ejectors tools!
wake me up when it's not just a rumor on a website.
Jimmy open with a screwdriver. Jimmy need focus. Go check on moonshine cleetus.