14 DAY TRIAL // Filed in January 2013 and published seven months later by The European Patent Office, a new Apple invention describes “fused glass device housings” for various products.
The patent abstract specifically mentions electronic devices that may have “glass housing structures,” which would fit with Apple’s marketing (think the iPod touch shipping box).
These glass cases are not shipping boxes, but rather the actual enclosure of an electronic device, such as a monitor or a computer (housing its electronics).
According to the published patent application, “The glass housing structure may have multiple glass pieces that are joined using a glass fusing process.”
Apple seems to be dreaming of a product that has a seamless glass body but, unfortunately, glass is both brittle and heavy. This particular invention may well remain on paper simply for the sake of reference.
The filing goes to describe various manufacturing (fusing) processes, as well as mounting, coloring, and fitting.
“Opaque masking material and colored glass may be used to create portions of the glass housing structures that hide internal device components from view,” reads another paragraph from the invention, which confirms that Apple is aiming high in both form and function.