Molded assembly
View Patent ↗Electronic device comprising frame and trim. Trim wrapped around at least three sides of the frame. Trim comprising an outer piece and an inner assembly. Outer piece of substantially continuous flexible tactile material comprising a substantially elongate first side portion, a substantially elongate second side portion substantially parallel to the first side portion, and at least one substantially elongate cross portion connecting the first and second side portions. The inner assembly comprising a substantially rigid first side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece first side portion; a substantially rigid second side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece second side portion; and at least one substantially rigid inner cross piece. Each cross piece substantially coextensive with the short dimension of the outer piece cross portion, and shorter than the long dimension of the outer piece cross portion, thereby creating at least one gap in the inner assembly.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a frame; and
a trim assembly, the trim assembly:
wrapped around at least three sides of the frame, and
comprising:
an outer piece of substantially continuous flexible tactile material comprising:
a substantially elongate first side portion,
a substantially elongate second side portion substantially parallel to the outer piece first side portion, and
at least one substantially elongate cross portion connecting the first and second side portions;
an inner assembly comprising:
a substantially rigid first side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece first side portion;
a substantially rigid second side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece second side portion; and
at least one substantially rigid inner cross piece, each inner cross piece:
substantially coextensive with the short dimension of the outer piece cross portion, and
shorter than the long dimension of the outer piece cross portion, thereby creating at least one gap in the inner assembly.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned symmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned asymmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the outer piece comprises a first substantially elongate cross portion connecting the distal end of the first side portion to the distal end of the second side portion, and the first substantially elongate cross portion is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first side portion and the second side portion.
5. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned symmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
6. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the outer piece comprises a second substantially elongate cross portion connecting the distal end of the first side portion to the proximal end of the second side portion, and the second substantially elongate cross portion is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first side portion and the second side portion.
7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned symmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
8. A method of making a mobile electronic device, comprising:
in a mold,
forming a trim assembly in a molded configuration, the forming comprising:
forming an inner shot;
forming an outer shot;
wherein:
each shot utilizes no sliders;
trim assembly features are oriented substantially parallel to direction of withdrawal from the mold; and
the trim assembly comprises:
an outer piece of substantially continuous flexible tactile material comprising:
a substantially elongate first side portion,
a substantially elongate second side portion substantially parallel to the outer piece first side portion, and
at least one substantially elongate cross portion connecting the first and second side portions;
an inner assembly comprising:
a substantially rigid first side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece first side portion;
a substantially rigid second side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece second side portion; and
at least one substantially rigid inner cross piece, each inner cross piece:
substantially coextensive with the short dimension of the outer piece cross portion, and
shorter than the long dimension of the outer piece cross portion, thereby creating at least one gap in the inner assembly, and
out of the mold
bending the trim assembly at the at least one gap to an installed configuration, and attaching the bent trim assembly to a frame of the device.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned symmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned asymmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the outer piece comprises a first substantially elongate cross portion connecting the distal end of the first side portion to the distal end of the second side portion, and the first substantially elongate cross portion is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first side portion and the second side portion.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned symmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the outer piece comprises a second substantially elongate cross portion connecting the distal end of the first side portion to the proximal end of the second side portion, and the second substantially elongate cross portion is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first side portion and the second side portion.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned symmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
15. A trim assembly comprising:
an outer piece of substantially continuous flexible tactile material comprising:
a substantially elongate first side portion,
a substantially elongate second side portion substantially parallel to the outer piece first side portion, and
at least one substantially elongate cross portion connecting the first and second side portions;
an inner assembly comprising:
a substantially rigid first side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece first side portion;
a substantially rigid second side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece second side portion; and
at least one substantially rigid inner cross piece, each inner cross piece:
substantially coextensive with the short dimension of the outer piece cross portion, and
shorter than the long dimension of the outer piece cross portion, thereby creating at least one gap in the inner assembly.
16. The trim assembly of claim 15 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned symmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
17. The trim assembly of claim 15 , wherein the outer piece comprises a first substantially elongate cross portion connecting the distal end of the first side portion to the distal end of the second side portion, and the first substantially elongate cross portion is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first side portion and the second side portion.
18. The trim assembly of claim 17 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned symmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.
19. The trim assembly of claim 17 , wherein the outer piece comprises a second substantially elongate cross portion connecting the distal end of the first side portion to the proximal end of the second side portion, and the second substantially elongate cross portion is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first side portion and the second side portion.
20. The trim assembly of claim 19 , wherein each inner cross piece is positioned symmetrically on the long dimension of one outer piece cross portion.