Apparatus for reducing fabric dimpling in electronic devices and associated methods

Abstract

The present document describes an apparatus for reducing fabric dimpling in electronic devices and associated methods. The apparatus is used during assembly to prevent fabric, which is stretched over a perforated part (e.g., speaker housing), from dimpling into the holes (e.g., perforations) of the perforated part. The apparatus includes protrusions (e.g., pins), which act as a negative of the holes in the perforated part, to support the fabric as it is stretched over the perforated part. In particular, the protrusions are inserted through the perforations via an interior surface of the perforated part such that the protrusions are “proud” (slightly projecting from a surface) with respect to an exterior surface of the perforated part. The proudness of the protrusions may vary based on a degree of curvature of the perforated part at a location corresponding to a respective protrusion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.