files for patent on fused glass enclosures for use on sets and more

filed for an interesting new patent last week onmethods for fusing glass pieces together to crte various types of glass enclosures. The filing was published bythe Europn Patent yesterday, which creditsJony Ivs one of its inventors.More specifically, the patent appliion illustrates how the double-sided glass construction design of the iPhone 4/4S could be extended to the iPod, iPad, and various displays. even points to a set being encased in glass using its fused process…As usual,Patentlydoes a grt job of brking downthe filing:“’s new invention is about electronic devices that may have glass housing structures. The glass housing structures may be used to cover a display and other internal electronic device components. The glass housing structures may cover a front face of an electronic device and, if desired, may cover additional device surfaces.The glass housing structure may have multiple glass pieces that are joined using a glass fusing process. A peripheral glass member may be fused along the edge of a planar glass member to enhance the thickness of the edge. A rounded edge fture may be formed by machining the thickened edge. Raised fused glass ftures may surround openings in the planar glass member. Raised support structure ribs may be formed by fusing glass structures to the planar glass member.”The appliion goes on to explain that multiple planar glass members may be fused together to form a five-side box in which electronic components could be mounted. Display structures and other internal components may be slide in between two glass sides.sily the most interesting thing about the invention is the mention of a television. hasl ong been rumoredto be working on a full-blown set, but outside of analyst predictions and supply chain chatter we’ve literally seen zero evidence of its existence.In addition to Jony Ive,Peter Russell-Clark and Michael Polliod are also listed on the patent as inventors.