Attachment system for an electronic device

• US 10,085,523 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Perkins, Ryan C., Hobson, Phillip M., Webb, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W
• Application Number:
  US14/789,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 24DIG 45, 24DIG 46, 24DIG 52, 224168, 224177, 224180, 368281, 368282
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2596 the movement being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strap or chain
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/263 with a push-button acting perpendicularly to the main plane of the buckle
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 17/0011 Press-button fasteners in which the elastic retaining action is obtained by a spring working in the plane of the fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/147 Watchcase itself used as fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/2085 with the two ends sliding transversally to the main plane of the strap or chain
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/005 Means to increase the friction-coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/04 internal, i.e. with spreading action F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/06 external, i.e. with contracting action F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/12 using sliding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/14 using wedges
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1486 Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/602 by separate spring

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a removable module and a housing for an attachment system of a consumer product. The removable module includes a locking mechanism comprising a first portion having a substantially planar top surface and second portion that comprises a substantially non-planar bottom surface. The first portion and the second portion are coupled together. The locking mechanism also includes a first spring mechanism coupled between the first portion and the second portion. The first spring mechanism causes the first portion to be biased away from the second portion. The locking mechanism also includes a second spring mechanism. The second spring mechanism causes the substantially planar top surface of the first portion to be biased substantially flush with respect to the removable module and also causes the substantially non-planar bottom surface of the second portion to be biased proud with respect to the removable module.

Claims

1. An attachment system for a watch, the attachment system comprising:

a watch band comprising;

a first surface;

a second surface; and

a rounded sidewall that transitions from the first surface to the second surface; and

a housing comprising;

a channel having a shape that corresponds to a shape of the watch band and adapted to receive the watch band when the watch band slides relative to the housing;

a recess for receiving a locking mechanism of the watch band;

an opening;

a ledge between the recess and the opening;

a button at least partially within the opening and the recess; and

a spring mechanism configured to bias the button away from the channel and against the ledge.

2. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is spring-loaded and adapted to move from an extended state to a compressed state as the watch band is received into the housing.

3. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is spring-loaded and includes a catch member disposed on the first surface of the watch band and a ramp member disposed on the second surface of the watch band.

4. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the watch band further comprises one or more friction pads disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

5. The attachment system of claim 1, further comprising an accessory coupled to the watch band.

6. The attachment system of claim 5, wherein the watch band is integrated with the accessory.

7. The attachment system of claim 5, wherein the watch band comprises a bracket configured to be inserted into an aperture of the accessory.

8. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the button comprises:

a plunger having a flange; and

a button portion having a receiving slot for receiving the flange to couple the plunger to the button portion.

9. The attachment system of claim 8, wherein the plunger is positioned at least partially within the recess and the button portion is positioned within the opening.

10. The attachment system of claim 8, wherein the spring mechanism comprises multiple springs between the button portion and the ledge.

11. An attachment system for a watch, the attachment system comprising:

a watch band having a spring-loaded locking mechanism; and

a housing comprising;

a channel, wherein the channel is shaped to receive the watch band;

a recess for receiving at least a portion of the spring-loaded locking mechanisms;

an opening;

a ledge between the recess and the opening;

a button at least partially within the opening and the recess; and

a spring mechanism configured to bias the button to move from a first position for engaging the spring-loaded locking mechanism to a second position against the ledge.

12. The attachment system of claim 11, wherein the watch band includes a rounded sidewall that transitions from a first surface of the watch band to a second surface of the watch band.

13. The attachment system of claim 12, wherein each of the first surface of the watch band and the second surface of the watch band are substantially planar.

14. The attachment system of claim 12, wherein each of the first surface of the watch band and the second surface of the watch band are rounded.

15. An attachment system comprising:

a watch band;

a housing for receiving the watch band, the housing comprising;

a channel disposed along a length of the housing, the channel configured to slideably receive the watch band and having;

a first portion having a first width;

a second portion having a second width that is larger than the first width and forming an undercut; and

a recess disposed within the channel, the recess adapted to receive at least a portion of a locking mechanism of the watch band when the locking mechanism is in proximity to the recess;

an opening;

a ledge between the recess and the opening;

a button; and

a spring between the button and the ledge of the housing to bias the button to be substantially flush with an outer surface of the housing while the button is against the ledge.

16. The attachment system of claim 15, wherein the button comprises:

a plunger having a flange; and

a button portion having a receiving slot for receiving the flange to couple the plunger to the button portion.

17. The attachment system of claim 16, wherein the plunger is positioned at least partially within the recess and the button portion is positioned at least partially within the opening.

18. The attachment system of claim 16, wherein the spring comprises multiple springs between the button portion and the ledge.

19. The attachment system of claim 15, wherein the channel comprises:

a first portion having a first width; and

a second portion having a second width that is larger than the first width and forming an undercut.