Consumer product attachment systems having a locking assembly

• US 10,123,593 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2018
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Perkins, Ryan C., Webb, Michael J., Dey, Stephen, Yabe, Osamu, Chen, Hsiang Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): SKURDAL, COREY NELSON
• Application Number:
  US15/867,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20180125178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• 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: 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: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking assembly for an attachment system of an electronic device. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an attachment unit that is configured to be inserted and removed from a housing of a consumer product. The attachment unit and/or the housing includes a catch member or other such locking assembly configured to releasably secure the attachment unit within the housing.

Claims

1. A watch comprising:

a housing having a channel and a recess; and

a band having an attachment unit configured to engage within the channel, wherein the attachment unit comprises;

a body portion insertable into the channel;

a catch member; and

an actuation mechanism that is arranged to be accessible outside the channel while the body portion is within the channel, wherein the actuation mechanism, when actuated, is configured to move the catch member from a first position in which the catch member extends from the body portion and into the recess to a second position in which the catch member is retracted toward the body portion and out of the recess.

2. The watch of claim 1, wherein the catch member is coupled to the actuation mechanism and the actuation mechanism includes multiple detents that interact with the catch member when the actuation mechanism is actuated.

3. The watch of claim 1, wherein the catch member is coupled to a spring and the actuation mechanism includes multiple detents that interact with the spring when the actuation mechanism is actuated.

4. The watch of claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism, when moved laterally within the body portion, is configured to engage with a ramp or channel on the catch member to move the catch member from the first position to the second position.

5. The watch of claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism, when actuated, is flush or substantially flush with an end of the body portion.

6. The watch of claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism is arranged to extend from a first side of the body portion while the catch member is in the first position and extend from a second side of the body portion while the catch member is in the second position.

7. The watch of claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism is moveable in first direction and the catch member is moveable in a second direction, transverse to the first direction.

8. A band for securing a watch to a user, the band comprising:

a strap; and

an attachment unit configured to engage a housing of the watch, the attachment unit comprising;

a body portion for insertion within a channel of the housing;

a catch member configured to move between a first position in which the catch member extends from the body portion and into a recess of the housing and a second position in which the catch member is retracted toward the body portion and out of the recess; and

an actuation mechanism that is arranged to be accessible outside the channel while the catch member is within the recess, wherein the actuation mechanism is moveable relative to the catch member to allow the catch member to move from the first position to the second position.

9. The band of claim 8, wherein the catch member is coupled to the actuation mechanism and the actuation mechanism includes multiple detents that interact with the catch member when the actuation mechanism is actuated.

10. The band of claim 8, wherein the catch member is coupled to a spring and the actuation mechanism includes multiple detents that interact with the spring when the actuation mechanism is actuated.

11. The band of claim 8, wherein the actuation mechanism, when moved laterally within the body portion, is configured to engage with a ramp or channel on the catch member to move the catch member from the first position to the second position.

12. The band of claim 8, wherein the actuation mechanism, when actuated, is flush or substantially flush with an end of the body portion.

13. The band of claim 8, wherein the actuation mechanism is arranged to extend from a first side of the body portion while the catch member is in the first position and extend from a second side of the body portion while the catch member is in the second position.

14. The band of claim 8, wherein the actuation mechanism is moveable in first direction and the catch member is moveable in a second direction, transverse to the first direction.

15. A band for securing a watch to a user, the band comprising:

a strap; and

an attachment unit configured to engage a housing of the watch, the attachment unit comprising;

a body portion for insertion within a channel of the housing;

a catch member; and

an actuation mechanism moveable relative to the catch member between a first position in which the actuation mechanism urges the catch member to extend from the body portion and into a recess of the housing and a second position in which the actuation mechanism allows the catch member to retract toward a detent of the actuation mechanism and out of the recess.

16. The band of claim 15, wherein the catch member is coupled to a spring and the detent interacts with the spring when the actuation mechanism is actuated.

17. The band of claim 15, wherein the actuation mechanism, when moved laterally within the body portion, is configured to engage with a ramp or channel on the catch member to move the catch member from the first position to the second position.

18. The band of claim 15, wherein the actuation mechanism, when actuated, is flush or substantially flush with an end of the body portion.

19. The band of claim 15, wherein the actuation mechanism is arranged to extend from a first side of the body portion while the catch member is in the first position and extend from a second side of the body portion while the catch member is in the second position.

20. The band of claim 15, wherein the actuation mechanism is moveable in first direction and the catch member is moveable in a second direction, transverse to the first direction.