"Plastic headphones typically include holes that permit the passage of soundwaves from the inside of the headphones to the outside of the headphones. The creation o these holes can result in remnants left in or around the holes that degrade the aesthetic and acoustic properties of the headphones. Therefore, what are needed are systems and methods for deburring curved plastic objects," Apple's patent application describes.

The patent explains that a headphone cap can be deburred and polished to ensure that no remnants remain in the holes or on any surface of the headphone.

Apple is to be working on a significant update for its iTunes software.