Textile Product Having Reduced Density

Abstract

Embodiments described herein may take the form of a textile product having one or more regions of reduced density. These reduced density volumes may form one or more features in the product. For example, the reduced density volumes may have better acoustic transmission properties, optical transmission properties, flexibility, and the like. Sound transmission may be enhanced not only in terms of clarity, but also overall range. That is, certain audio frequencies that the textile may normally block when in an unaltered state may pass through a textile having reduced density or reduced density regions.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A cover for an electronic device with a speaker, the cover comprising:
 a first fabric portion that covers the speaker, wherein the first fabric portion has first and second opposing surfaces and a plurality of perforations that extend through the first fabric portion from the first surface to the second surface; and   a second fabric portion that does not cover the speaker, wherein the second fabric portion does not have any perforations and wherein a visual appearance of the first fabric portion matches a visual appearance of the second fabric portion.   
     
     
         2 . The cover defined in  claim 1 , wherein each perforation of the plurality of perforations extends at a right angle between the first and second surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The cover defined in  claim 1 , wherein each perforation of the plurality of perforations extends at a non-right angle between the first and second surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The cover defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fabric portions form a sidewall for the cover. 
     
     
         5 . The cover defined in  claim 4 , further comprising an opening in the sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The cover defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a third fabric portion configured to cover a light source in the electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The cover defined in  claim 6 , wherein the third fabric portion has an additional plurality of perforations, and wherein the third fabric portion has a greater light transmission than the second fabric portion. 
     
     
         8 . The cover defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric portion has a greater acoustic transmission than the second fabric portion. 
     
     
         9 . The cover defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric portion has a lower density than the second fabric portion. 
     
     
         10 . A cover for an electronic device with a speaker, the cover comprising:
 first and second parallel surfaces; and   first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls that are interposed between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first sidewall is formed from fabric, wherein the first sidewall has a first portion with perforations in the fabric that defines an acoustic outlet for the speaker, and wherein the first sidewall has a second portion that surrounds the first portion and does not include any perforations in the fabric.   
     
     
         11 . The cover defined in  claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the first sidewall has a greater acoustic transmission than the second portion of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The cover defined in  claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the first sidewall has a visual appearance that matches a visual appearance of the second portion of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The cover defined in  claim 10 , wherein the perforations comprise a first set of perforations that extend through the first sidewall at a first angle and a second set of perforations that extend through the first sidewall at a second angle that is different than the first angle. 
     
     
         14 . The cover defined in  claim 10 , wherein the first sidewall has a third portion configured to cover a status indicator light in the electronic device, and wherein the third portion has additional perforations that reduce the density of the third portion relative to the second portion. 
     
     
         15 . The cover defined in  claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the first sidewall has a lower density than the second portion of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . A cover for an electronic device with a speaker and a microphone, the cover comprising:
 an upper surface;   a lower surface that is parallel to the upper surface; and   a fabric side portion that extends between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the fabric side portion has an opening between first and second regions, wherein the first region is configured to cover the speaker, wherein the second region is configured to cover the microphone, and wherein the first and second regions of the fabric side portion include a plurality of perforations that increase acoustic transmission of the first and second regions of the fabric side portion relative to a surrounding region of the fabric side portion.   
     
     
         17 . The cover defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first and second regions of the fabric side portion have a visual appearance that matches a visual appearance of the surrounding region of the fabric side portion. 
     
     
         18 . The cover defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first region of the fabric side portion defines an acoustic outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The cover defined in  claim 18 , wherein the second region of the fabric side portion defines an acoustic inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The cover defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first and second regions of the fabric side portion have a lower density than the surrounding region of the fabric side portion.