Speaker clip

• US 10,063,951 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Filson, John Benjamin, Whang, Eugene, Rohrbach, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US15/134,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20160234585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 381306, 381311, 381333-336, 381388
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/021 incorporating only one transducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/005 using a piezoelectric polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Certain embodiments may take the form of an electronic device having a main housing encapsulating operative circuitry for the device. The electronic device includes an attachment member moveably coupled to the metal housing. The attachment member has an acoustical device located therein that is communicatively coupled to the operative circuitry in the main housing. The attachment member includes a recessed portion for positioning the acoustical device within the attachment member.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic device comprising:

a housing including a processor;

a band removably coupled to the housing at an interface, the band configured to attach the wearable electronic device to a user, the band defining a cavity and comprising protrusions extending from a surface of the band and into the cavity; and

a speaker positioned within the cavity and configured to generate audible sound waves, the speaker resting on the protrusions and offset from the surface by a height of the protrusions,

wherein the speaker is electrically coupled to the processor by an electrical connection that extends through the interface.

2. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a coupling element that defines a hole, and the speaker is electrically coupled to the processor via the electrical connection that passes through the hole in the coupling element.

3. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the protrusions comprise dimples arranged in a grid pattern along the surface.

4. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are arranged in a pattern that improves the sound quality of the speaker and increases the air space within the cavity, the protrusions having a size and spacing that preserves the strength of the band.

5. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a cover layer and a layer of mesh secured to an interior facing surface of the cover layer, the cover layer concealing the speaker and cavity.

6. The wearable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the cover layer defines a first plurality of perforations and the layer of mesh defines a second plurality of perforations smaller than the first plurality of perforations.

7. The wearable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the layer of mesh is thinner than the cover layer.

8. A band assembly for an electronic device comprising:

a band defining a cavity and comprising a pattern of dimples protruding from a surface of the band and into the cavity, the band;

configured to be removably attached to a housing including a processor; and

configured to attach the housing to a user;

a speaker located within the cavity of the band, the speaker resting on the pattern of dimples and offset from the surface by a height of the pattern of dimples; and

an electrical connection configured to communicably couple the speaker and the processor when the band is coupled to the housing.

9. The band assembly of claim 8, wherein the electrical connection passes through a hole in the band.

10. The band assembly of claim 8, further comprising a rib that stiffens a wall defining the cavity.

11. The band assembly of claim 8, wherein the pattern of dimples are arranged in a pattern that improves the sound quality of the speaker and increases the air space within the cavity, the pattern of dimples having a size and spacing that preserves the strength of the band.

12. The band assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the band is formed of a first material and a second material; and

the cavity is defined in the second material.

13. The band assembly of claim 8, further comprising adhesive coupling the speaker to the band.

14. An electronic watch comprising:

a body;

a processor disposed in the body;

a watchband removably coupled to the body that is operable to attach the body to a user, the watchband having side surfaces and a bottom surface that define a cavity, the bottom surface having a plurality of dimples extending into the cavity;

a speaker positioned within the cavity of the watchband, the speaker resting on the plurality of dimples and offset from the bottom surface by a height of the plurality of dimples; and

a conductive member communicably coupling the speaker and the processor via an interface between the body and the watchband.

15. The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein the body is formed from at least one of aluminum, magnesium, titanium, an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, a titanium alloy, or steel.

16. The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein the watchband hand is formed of plastic.

17. The electronic watch of claim 14, further comprising:

an aperture defined in the body; and

an input component positioned in the aperture.

18. The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein the plurality of dimples are arranged in a pattern that improves the sound quality of the speaker and increases the air space within the cavity, the pattern of dimples having a size and spacing that preserves the strength of the watchband.

19. The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein the body includes a curved side surface.