Attachment system for an electronic device

• US 10,264,857 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• 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): Anderson, Amber R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amiri, Nahid
• Application Number:
  US14/869,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20160040698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 403321, 403326, 403329, 224164-179, 24265 B-265 WS, 368281-283
• 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

An attachment system of a wearable electronic device includes a removable module. 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. A watch band assembly for a wearable electronic device, comprising:

a band portion configured to attach the wearable electronic device to a user; and

a removable module coupled to the band portion and configured to be removably coupled to the wearable electronic device, the removable module comprising;

a first surface;

a second surface being an outward-facing surface of the removable module;

an opening defined by the removable module; and

a locking mechanism disposed at least partially within the opening, the locking mechanism comprising;

a catch member disposed adjacent to the first surface of the removable module, the catch member being adapted to move from a first position to a second position as the removable module slides relative to the wearable electronic device;

a ramp disposed adjacent to the second surface of the removable module, the ramp having a non-planar surface that, when fully extended, comprises edges flush with the second surface and a section between the edges that is proud with respect to the second surface, wherein the catch member is moveably coupled to the ramp; and

a spring mechanism disposed between the catch member and the ramp.

2. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein the catch member is substantially flush with respect to the first surface of the removable module and the ramp protrudes from the second surface of the removable module when the catch member is in the first position.

3. The watch band assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more friction pads disposed on at least one of the first surface of the removable module and the second surface of the removable module.

4. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein the band portion is removably coupled to the removable module.

5. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable module is at least partially integrated with the band portion.

6. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable module comprises a bracket configured to mate with the band portion.

7. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface are rounded.

8. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein the first surface comprises one or more friction pads.

9. A watch band assembly for a wearable electronic device, comprising:

a band portion configured to attach the wearable electronic device to a user; and

a removable module coupled to the band portion and configured to be removably coupled to the wearable electronic device, the removable module comprising;

a first surface;

a second surface;

an opening extending from the first surface to the second surface; and

a locking mechanism disposed at least partially within the opening, the locking mechanism comprising;

a catch member disposed adjacent to the first surface of the removable module and being moveable within the opening;

a ramp member disposed adjacent to the second surface of the removable module, wherein the ramp member is moveably coupled to the catch member;

a first spring mechanism disposed between the catch member and the ramp member; and

a second spring mechanism disposed between the catch member and the ramp member.

10. The watch band assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the second spring mechanism causes a first surface of the catch member to be biased substantially flush with respect to the first surface of the removable module; and

the second spring mechanism causes at least a portion of the ramp member to be biased proud with respect to the second surface of the removable module.

11. The watch band assembly of claim 9, wherein the first spring mechanism causes the catch member to protrude from the first surface of the removable module in response to actuation of the ramp member.

12. The watch band assembly of claim 9, wherein the band portion is removably coupled to the removable module.

13. The watch band assembly of claim 9, wherein the band portion is integrated with the removable module.

14. The watch band assembly of claim 9, further comprising one or more friction pads disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

15. A removable module configured to removably couple to a watch, the removable module comprising:

a first surface and a second surface; and

an opening extending from the first surface to the second surface;

a locking mechanism within the opening, the locking mechanism comprising;

a catch member having a substantially planar surface;

a ramp member moveably coupled to the catch member, the ramp member having a substantially non-planar surface that is opposite the substantially planar surface of the catch member, wherein the ramp member comprises one or more protrusions adapted to mate with corresponding apertures disposed in one or more sidewalls of the catch member; and

a first spring mechanism coupled between the catch member and the ramp member, wherein the first spring mechanism causes the catch member to be biased away from the ramp member.

16. The removable module of claim 15, further comprising a second spring mechanism, the second spring mechanism causing the substantially planar surface of the catch member to be substantially flush with respect to the first surface of the removable module and causing the substantially non-planar surface of the ramp member to protrude from the second surface of the removable module.

17. The removable module of claim 15, wherein the ramp member comprises one or more protrusions that secure the first spring mechanism between the ramp member and the catch member.

18. The removable module of claim 15, further comprising one or more friction pads disposed on at least one of the first surface of the removable module and the second surface of the removable module.

19. The removable module of claim 15, wherein the catch member comprises a chamfered edge at least partially disposed around its first surface.

20. The removable module of claim 15, wherein the first spring mechanism causes the catch member to move from a first position in which the substantially planar surface of the catch member is substantially flush with respect to the removable module, to a second position in which the substantially planar surface of the catch member protrudes from a body of the removable module, in response to actuation of the ramp member.

21. The removable module of claim 20, wherein the catch member is configured to be received in a recess within the watch when in the second position.

22. The removable module of claim 15, wherein the removable module comprises one or more arms that extend therefrom.

23. The removable module of claim 15, wherein a width of the removable module increases from a first side to a second side.