Our report updated some information at 11:50 PST
In late July 2019, Digitimes announced that Apple was set to release a new MacBook Pro in September that will deliver an ultra-narrow bezel design. That rumor never shot out. The good news, though, is that Apple may be delivering its next MacBook Pro with the rumored ultra-thin bezel in the not-too-distant future, based on new design patents that have just been revealed.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Earlier today, Patently unveiled Apple’s series of four licensed “design patents” for the MacBook Pro in the Hong Kong Patent Office database. I never knew Apple had accidentally released photos or drawings of a product before a device was launched at a special event. Today, however, may be the rare exception.
Below is a series of images of four design patents published by the Hong Kong Patent Office yesterday. In total, there were 32 separate images covering different corners of the designs. All designs point to the new ultra-thin bezel form factor that does not exist today. That the designs are sure about what’s coming.
This is exactly what Apple fans have wanted for the longest time. Apple’s competitors have been beating Apple on this front for years and it’s finally clear that Apple will deliver this feature in style. Of course, Apple will likely limit the ultra-thin bezel designs to its Pro models just as the design patents illustrate.
Unlike “patent applications” which give the public an abstract, summary and details of an invention, patents around the world published design are limited to providing the public only with figures on design patents. No additional design specifications are available and unfortunately this applies to the new ultra-thin bezel designs for the MacBook Pro presented below.
In the first image below, we present you with the bottom of the MacBook Pro from the .2M001 design presented above. Under that design, we provide you with the main image of the other three permitted patents.
It should be noted that Apple usually divides a main design into several points of emphasis. This provides Apple legally with the ability to protect the design first as a whole and then through various design elements they choose for further protection.
For example, design patent .2M002 below emphasize the Touch Bar for which they want extra protection. We’ve added the yellow highlight to make this clearer. In design .2M004 below, Apple shows that it wants to protect the entire face of the MacBook Pro, including the ultra-thin bezel, but nothing below the top surface.
Below is one exemplary form of the licensed 2016000.2M001 patent that treats the MacBook Pro design with an ultra-thin rim. The others are identical except for the design patent number.
(Click on image to enlarge)
International classes for industrial property
All of Apple’s design patents granted yesterday by the Hong Kong Patent Office for MacBooks were filed under the same three ‘Locarno Classes’ as follows:
14-01: EQUIPMENT OF RECORDING OR REPRODUCTION OF SOUNDS OR IMAGES
14-02: DATA TREATMENT EQUIPMENT BE AS PERIPHERAL APPARATUS AND DEVICES
14-03: TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROLS AND RADIO AMPLIFIERS
Finally, although it is rumored that MacBook Pro “will go into production sometime in Q4, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, it’s still a rumor with time to still be in demand. However, we at least know that Apple has introduced the next-gen MacBook Pro designs with ultra-thin edges and ready to go, as Apple gives its teams the green light to go through.
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