Attachment system for an electronic device

• US 10,219,591 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hatanaka, Motohide, Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Shiraishi, Eiryo, Yabe, Osamu, Chen, Hsiang Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson, Victor D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Upchurch, David M
• Application Number:
  US15/415,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20170265607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• 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 are directed to an attachment system for a consumer product and methods related to the manufacture thereof. In one aspect, an embodiment includes an attachment system including a band having an insert portion. The insert portion may include an aperture. The attachment system may further include a lug having a cavity and a friction element disposed at, and extending away from, an outer surface of the lug to define a protrusion. The attachment system may further include a pin and a retention member positioned within the cavity. The retention member may be configured to retain the pin within the aperture upon advancement of the pin past the retention member.

Claims

1. An attachment system, comprising:

a band having an insert portion;

an aperture within the insert portion;

a lug having a cavity;

a friction element disposed at, and extending away from, an outer surface of the lug and defining a protrusion;

a pin; and

a retention member positioned within the cavity and configured to retain the pin within the aperture upon advancement of at least a portion of the pin past the retention member.

2. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the retention member comprises a tapered surface extending between a first width and a second width of the cavity.

3. The attachment system of claim 2, wherein:

the second width of the cavity is less than a length of the pin; and

the length of the pin is elastically deformable to the second width of the cavity.

4. The attachment system of claim 3, wherein:

the cavity comprises a groove disposed adjacent the retention member and configured to receive the pin; and

the pin returns to an undeformed shape when received by the groove.

5. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein:

the friction element includes a flange; and

the friction element is connected to the lug at the flange.

6. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein:

the friction element includes an anchor pin; and

the friction element is connected to the lug at the anchor pin.

7. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein:

the friction element is a first friction element;

the protrusion is a first protrusion; and

the attachment system further comprises;

a second friction element disposed at, and extending away from, the outer surface of the lug to define a second protrusion; and

a catch member disposed between the first friction element and the second friction element at the outer surface, wherein the catch member is configured to move from a first position to a second position as the lug slides relative to a consumer product.

8. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein:

the friction element includes a shaft extending into the cavity of the lug; and

the insert portion is configured to receive the shaft when the pin is advanced past the retention member.

9. An attachment system, comprising:

a lug having a cavity;

a band having an insert portion within the cavity;

an aperture within the insert portion;

a friction element protruding away from an outer surface of the lug;

a spring-biased locking mechanism extending through the lug;

a pin within the aperture and preventing movement of the insert portion relative to the lug; and

a retention member positioned within the cavity and configured to retain the pin within the aperture upon advancement of at least a portion of the pin past the retention member.

10. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein:

the spring-biased locking mechanism is configured to removably engage the lug with a watch; and

the friction element is configured to maintain a spacing between the lug and the watch when the lug is removably engaged with the watch.

11. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein:

the cavity has first and second cavity portions positioned on opposite sides of the spring-biased locking mechanism;

the insert portion comprises two prongs;

a first of the two prongs is received within the first cavity portion;

a second of the two prongs is received within the second cavity portion.

12. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein the spring-biased locking mechanism comprises:

a ramp positioned at a first surface of the lug;

a catch member positioned at a second surface of the lug opposite the first surface; and

a spring arranged between the ramp and the catch member and biasing the ramp and the catch member in a direction away from one another.

13. The attachment system of claim 12, wherein the friction element is one of multiple friction elements positioned on the first surface and the second surface of the lug.

14. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein:

the pin has studs positioned on opposing sides of the pin; and

the lug comprises multiple receiving grooves arranged along an interior of the cavity and each configured to receive one of the studs.

15. An attachment system, comprising:

a lug having a cavity;

a band having an insert portion within the cavity;

an aperture within the insert portion;

a pin within the aperture;

a retention member positioned within the cavity and configured to retain the pin within the aperture; and

a friction element positioned over the pin and protruding away from an outer surface of the lug.

16. The attachment system of claim 15, wherein the cavity comprises a spring-biased locking mechanism extending through the lug.

17. The attachment system of claim 16, wherein:

the spring-biased locking mechanism is configured to removably engage the lug with a watch; and

the friction element is configured to maintain a spacing between the lug and the watch when the lug is removably engaged with the watch.

18. The attachment system of claim 16, wherein:

the cavity has first and second cavity portions positioned on opposite sides of the spring-biased locking mechanism;

the insert portion comprises two prongs;

a first of the two prongs is received within the first cavity portion;

a second of the two prongs is received within the second cavity portion.

19. The attachment system of claim 16, wherein the spring-biased locking mechanism comprises:

a ramp positioned at a first surface of the lug;

a catch member positioned at a second surface of the lug opposite the first surface; and

a spring arranged between the ramp and the catch member and biasing the ramp and the catch member in a direction away from one another.

20. The attachment system of claim 19, wherein the friction element is one of multiple friction elements positioned on the first surface and the second surface of the lug.