Apple receives US patent for seamless glass phone casings
Apple has been awarded a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office for “Fused glass device housings” which could be used to produce structurally seamless glass iPhones and iPads.
Patent No. 8,773,848 contains diagrams and descriptions of technology which could be used to seamlessly hide iOS device’s internal electronics in a glass structure - causing it to appear transparent.
Devices built using this patent would have a futuristic glass aesthetic. Instead of having a glass front and back, like the iPhone 4, the device’s shell would be fully comprised of glass with no noticeable divide between screen and phone.
It is unclear whether Apple will use the patent with future iOS.
Apple design chief Jonathan Ive is among one of the inventors on the patent.