Magnetic band device, in particular wristband

• US 10,098,422 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fidlock Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Fidlock Gmbh
• Inventors: Fiedler, Joachim, Tucholke, Artur, Botkus, Breido
• Primary Examiner(s): SKURDAL, COREY NELSON
• Application Number:
  US14/913,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20160198813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 1/002 Magnetic fastening devices
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0007 Bracelets specially adapted for other functions or with means for attaching other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/2019 Hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/2071 with the two ends of the strap or chain overlapping each other and fastened by an action perpendicularly to the main plane of these two ends A44C5/2009 - A44C5/2057 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3861 carried in a hand or on fingers

Abstract

A band device extends longitudinally along an extension direction and at least in sections is formed flexible for placing it around a user'"'"'s limb. It comprises a first end having a first surface, a second end having a second surface, and a closure device for connecting the first end and the second end to each other such that the first end and the second end are held on each other in a closed position of the closure device, wherein in the closed position the first end with its first surface and the second end with its second surface extend along each other. The closure device comprises at least one engagement element arranged on the first end and at least one engagement opening arranged on the second end, wherein in the closed position of the closure device the at least one engagement element engages the at least one engagement opening.

Claims

1. A band device, in particular wristband, which extends longitudinally along an extension direction and at least in sections is formed flexible for placing it around a user'"'"'s limb, comprising:

a first end having a first surface

a second end having a second surface, and

a closure device for connecting the first end and the second end to each other such that the first end and the second end are held on each other in a closed position of the closure device, wherein in the closed position the first end with its first surface and the second end with its second surface extend along each other,

wherein the closure device comprises at least one engagement element arranged on the first end and at least one engagement opening arranged on the second end, wherein in the closed position of the closure device the at least one engagement element engages the at least one engagement opening, wherein at least one of the ends comprises a magnetic member comprising at least two magnet poles of opposite polarity, the at least two magnet poles being displaced with respect to each other along the associated first or second surface,

wherein the magnetic member comprises more than two magnet poles which are displaced with respect to each other along the extension direction of the band device and are arranged to form a periodic sequence of a pattern of alternating magnet poles along a longitudinal length of the band device, and

wherein the at least one engagement opening is formed as an oblong hole or oblong recess extending longitudinally along the extension direction such that the at least one engagement element is displaceable in the at least one engagement opening along the extension direction.

2. The band device according to claim 1, wherein a first magnetic member is arranged on the first end and a second magnetic member is arranged on the second end, wherein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member each comprise at least two magnet poles of opposite polarity, the at least two magnet poles being displaced with respect to each other along the associated first or second surface.

3. The band device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic member is formed by discrete magnets, by magnetized regions of a magnetic strip or magnetic foil.

4. The band device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic member produces a magnetic field substantially only on the side of the associated first or second end carrying the first or second surface.

5. The band device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement opening extends longitudinally along the extension direction and has an opening width along the extension direction larger than the width of the at least one engagement element such that the at least one engagement element is displaceable in the at least one engagement opening along the extension direction.

6. The band device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement element is displaceable in the at least one engagement opening along the extension direction by at least half the width, preferably by the width, of one of the at least two magnet poles of the first and/or second magnetic member.

7. The band device according to claim 1, wherein a multiplicity of engagement elements are arranged equally spaced along the extension direction on the first end and/or a multiplicity of engagement openings are arranged equally spaced along the extension direction on the second end.

8. The band device according to claim 7, wherein the spacing between two adjacent engagement elements and/or between two adjacent engagement openings along the extension direction equals the periodic width of the magnetic pattern formed by the at least two magnet poles or a multiple of said periodic width.

9. The band device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement element has a pin shape protruding from the first end.

10. The band device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement element comprises a hook section forming an undercut in which the second end engages in the closed position of the closure device.

11. A band device, in particular wristband, which extends longitudinally along an extension direction and at least in sections is formed flexible for placing it around a user'"'"'s limb, comprising:

a first end,

a second end, and

a closure device for connecting the first end and the second end to each other such that the first end and the second end are held on each other in a closed position of the closure device,

wherein the closure device comprises

a first closure member connected to the first end and having a rigid first locking protrusion and

a second closure member connected to the second end and being attachable to the first closure member such that in the closed position the second closure member is held on the first closure member, the second closure member having a rigid second locking protrusion,

wherein the second locking protrusion is engageable with the first locking protrusion in an engagement direction and in the closed position engages the first locking protrusion in a positive locking manner, wherein the first closure member comprises a first magnetic member and the second closure member comprises a second magnetic member, the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member being constituted to magnetically attract each other when the second closure member is attached to the first closure member for closing the closure device, and

wherein the closure device comprises a force application element connected to the second end and pivotably attached to the second closure member at a force application location in the vicinity of the second locking protrusion, the force application element being constituted to introduce a force into the second closure member.

12. The band device according to claim 11, wherein the first closure member comprises a base and a locking element rigidly attached to the base and carrying the first locking protrusion, wherein the second closure member comprises a locking part carrying the second locking protrusion and having a front face which in the closed position faces the locking element of the first closure member.

13. The band device according to claim 12, wherein the locking element with the first locking protrusion arranged thereon and the base forms a U-shaped recess in which the locking part with the second locking protrusion arranged thereon engages in the closed position of the closure device.

14. The band device according to claim 12, wherein the first closure member comprises a blocking element, wherein the blocking element in the closed position faces a back face of the second closure member facing in a direction opposite to the engagement direction, the blocking element being constituted to prevent the second locking protrusion from moving out of its engagement with the first locking protrusion in the direction opposite the engagement direction when the closure device is in its closed position.

15. The band device according to claim 14, wherein the second closure member comprises a support element attached to the locking part and extending, in the direction opposite to the engagement direction, beyond the locking part, the support element being constituted to prevent an abutment of the back face with the blocking element prior to the second locking protrusion engaging the first locking protrusion.

16. An arrangement of an external electric device and a band device, in particular an wristband, with an electronic device arranged thereon, wherein

the band device extends longitudinally along an extension direction, at least in sections is formed flexible for placing it around a user'"'"'s limb and comprises at least one magnetic member and at least one electrical contact provided on a first end and at least one magnetic member and at least one electrical contact provided on an opposing, second end, and

the external electric device comprises at least two magnetic members and at least two electrical contacts,

in a connected state in which the band device is connected to the external electrical device the electrical contacts of the band device and the electrical contacts of the external electric device are electrically contacted for establishing an electrical connection between the band device and the external electric device, and wherein the magnetic members of the band device and the magnetic members of the external electric device are constituted to interact for guiding the electrical contacts of the band device into contact with the electrical contacts of the external electrical device when connecting the band device to the external electrical device.

17. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the band device further comprises a closure device for connecting the first end and the second end to each other such that the first end and the second end are held on each other in a closed position of the closure device, wherein the closure device comprises at least one engagement element arranged on the first end and at least one engagement opening arranged on the second end, wherein in the closed position of the closure device the at least one engagement element engages the at least one engagement opening.