Method of covering a housing with a textile and related systems and devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12109753-B2
Application number	US-202016815708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	Mar 11, 2020
Publication date	Oct 8, 2024
Grant date	Oct 8, 2024

Abstract

A method of applying a cover to a housing may include bonding a plurality of reinforcement elements to respective inside corners of a textile having an initial shape and disposing the plurality of reinforcement elements within respective recesses at corners of the housing to secure the textile to the housing. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of applying a cover to a housing, comprising:
bonding a plurality of reinforcement elements to respective inside corners of a textile after the textile has been formed into an initial shape; and
disposing the plurality of reinforcement elements within respective outward-facing recesses at corners of the housing to secure the textile to the housing and to cover at least a portion of the housing with the textile including to cover the corners of the housing with the textile, wherein each of the recesses of the housing is defined by a first recess in a central surface of the housing, a second recess in a first lateral side surface of the housing, and a third recess in a second, adjacent lateral side surface of the housing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the textile into the initial shape.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein forming the textile into the initial shape comprises:
placing the textile into a mold assembly comprising an inner mold element and an outer mold element; and
applying at least one of heat or pressure to the textile.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
an area of a central surface of an inner mold element is less than an area of a corresponding central surface of the housing extending between the corners of the housing; and
placing the textile into the mold assembly comprises positioning corners of the central surface of the inner mold element adjacent to the inside corners of the textile.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the inner mold element comprises a plurality of drafted sidewalls adjacent to the central surface of the inner mold element.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein outside corners of the inner mold element have a rounded shape.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disposing of the plurality of reinforcement elements within respective recesses at the corners of the housing comprises stretching a central portion of the textile.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adhering the plurality of reinforcement elements within the respective recesses at the corners of the housing by applying an adhesive to at least one of the plurality of reinforcement elements or the respective recesses at the corners of the housing.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the plurality of reinforcement elements to exhibit a lateral width of less than 0.5 inch.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bonding of the plurality of reinforcement elements to the respective inside corners of the textile comprises:
placing the plurality of reinforcement elements in a fixture;
applying an adhesive to respective surfaces of the plurality of reinforcement elements; and
placing the textile over the adhesive applied to the surfaces of the plurality of reinforcement elements.

11. A covered housing comprising:
a housing having respective outward-facing recesses at corners of the housing, wherein each of the recesses of the housing is defined by a first recess in a central surface of the housing, a second recess in a first lateral side surface of the housing, and a third recess in a second, adjacent lateral side surface of the housing;
a textile covering at least a portion of the housing including the corners of the housing; and
a plurality of reinforcement elements bonded to respective inside corners of the textile after the textile has been formed into an initial shape, wherein the plurality of reinforcement elements are disposed within the respective recesses at the corners of the housing to secure the textile to the housing.

12. The covered housing of claim 11 , wherein the textile has an initial shape prior to securing the textile to the housing.

13. The covered housing of claim 11 , wherein the housing further comprises holes extending into a surface of the recesses and the reinforcement elements include respective inward protrusions sized and shaped for insertion into the holes.

14. The covered housing of claim 11 , wherein the textile comprises at least one of:
a woven fabric,
a non-woven fabric,
a synthetic fiber,
a microfiber,
a speaker grill mesh,
a carbon fiber,
a natural polymer material,
a synthetic polymer material,
a leather material, or
a foam material.

15. The covered housing of claim 11 , wherein the corners of the housing are defined at intersections of the central surface with two adjacent lateral side surfaces.

16. The covered housing of claim 11 , wherein a central portion of the textile is under tension.

17. The covered housing of claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive, wherein securing the textile to the housing comprises adhering the plurality of reinforcement elements within the respective recesses at the corners of the housing by applying the adhesive to at least one of the plurality of reinforcement elements or the respective recesses at the corners of the housing.

18. The covered housing of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement elements have a lateral width positioned along a corresponding lateral side of the housing, wherein the lateral width is less than 0.5 inch.

19. A covered housing for an electronic device comprising:
a housing having respective outward-facing recesses at corners of the housing, wherein each of the recesses of the housing is defined by a first recess in a central surface of the housing, a second recess in a first lateral side surface of the housing, and a third recess in a second, adjacent lateral side surface of the housing;
a textile covering at least a portion of the housing including the corners of the housing; and
a plurality of reinforcement elements bonded to respective inside corners of the textile after the textile has been formed into an initial shape, wherein:
the plurality of reinforcement elements are disposed within the respective recesses at corners of the housing to secure the textile to the housing; and
the housing comprises at least one opening configured to transmit sound waves produced by the electronic device through the at least one opening and the textile.

Assignees

• Meta Platforms Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ellis Shane Michael
• Hayenga Kristen Renee

Classifications

• B32B1/00

  Layered products having a non-planar shape · CPC title

• H04R2201/02

  Details casings, cabinets or mounting therein for transducers covered by H04R1/02 but not provided for in any of its subgroups · CPC title

• H04R1/02

  Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075}) · CPC title

• B32B2439/00

  Containers; Receptacles · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title