ELEMENT FOR INDICATING THE FASTENING TENSION OF A BAND, PARTICULARLY FOR A BRACELET FOR A PORTABLE DEVICE

• US 20090168612A1
• Filed: 11/11/2005
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogã¨Re Suisse (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogã¨Re Suisse (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Robin, Brice, Mazanowski, Piotr, Karapatis, Nakis, Wyssbrod, Baptist
• Application Number:
  US11/720,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20090168612A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/282
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0053 Flexible straps
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist

Abstract

The invention concerns a fastening band (1) of the belt type or a wristband or bracelet for a portable device (40) for example, including fastening and length adjustment means (5). The fastening band includes an element (6, 42) for indicating the fastening tension thereof that has a specific visual appearance identifiable to the user in order to indicate to the latter when the fastening tension of the band is sufficient for a given application. The fastening band of the present invention is particularly interesting when it is implemented in the form of a wristband for a pulsometer worn on the wrist comprising optical type measuring means. In this application, a fastening tension value sufficient to guarantee proper measurement precision is predefined, the features of the indicator element being adapted to this value in order to indicate to the wearer that he has reached said value when the wristband is being fitted to his wrist.

Claims

1. A portable device including:

a case; and

a fastening band fulfilling the function of a wristband allowing the portable device to be worn, the fastening band including at least first and second free ends, means for fastening and adjusting the length of said band, wherein the fastening band comprises an element for indicating a fastening tension able to take on a specific visual configuration identifiable by a user for a value of said tension applied to said band substantially equal to a predefined value, said fastening tension indicator element including at least one part able to deform elastically, and wherein said deformable part is delimited by a first and a second rigid end of said fastening tension indication element.

2. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening band includes at least one main portion, said element being a link whose said rigid ends have attachment means for cooperating with suitable attachment means of said main portion.

3. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein said deformable part includes at least one hole whose section has a shape dependent upon the value of the tension applied to said band.

4. The portable device according to claim 3, wherein, when the value of the tension applied to said band is substantially equal to said predefined value, the hole has a circular or rhomb-shaped cross-section or defines an inscription.

5. The portable device according to claim 3, wherein said element further comprises reference means secured to one of said ends and carrying at least one design arranged to be located opposite said hole and to have the same shape as said hole when the value of the tension applied to said band is substantially equal to said predefined value.

6. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein said deformable part includes at least one design whose shape is dependent upon the value of the tension applied to said band.

7. The portable device according to claim 6, wherein said design is circular or rhomb-shaped, or defines an inscription when the value of the tension applied to said band is substantially equal to said predefined value.

8. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein said deformable part includes at least one hole whose position relative to at least one of said rigid ends depends upon the fastening tension value of said band, said indicator element further including reference means secured to said end and located at a distance from the latter such that said reference means have a specific predefined visual appearance for a value of the tension applied to said band that is substantially equal to a predefined value.

9. The portable device according to claim 8, wherein said reference means include two portions of different respective colours located in the extension of each other along the longitudinal direction of said band.

10. The portable device according to claim 9, wherein said reference means are formed by a longitudinal stem which is secured to said end and which includes a first section of a first colour or texture, and a second section of a second colour or texture, the second section being arranged on the side opposite to said securing end, and wherein the second section is concealed under one portion of the band, when the value of the tension applied to the band is less than the predefined value, and is visible in the hole, when the value of the tension applied to the band is substantially equal to a predefined value.

11. The portable device according to claim 10, wherein the stem includes a third section of a different colour or texture from the second section, the third section extending from the opposite side to the first section and wherein the third section is visible in the hole when the value of the tension applied to the band is greater than or equal to a predefined value corresponding to an excessive band tension.

12. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein said means for fastening and adjusting the length of said band include means for continuously adjusting said length.

13. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein a first of said free ends of said band includes means for cooperating with first suitable means of a first side of said case, the second of said ends being adapted to cooperate with said fastening and length adjusting means, the latter including means for cooperating with second suitable means of a second side of said case.

14. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein said band includes a fastening tension indicator element taking the form of a link of which a first of said rigid ends carries attachment means for cooperating with suitable means of said case.

15. The portable device according claim 1, wherein said band includes at least two strands arranged on either side of said case and each carrying one of said free ends, at least one of the two strands including an element indicating the fastening tension of said band.

16. The portable device according to claim 15, said free ends being connected to said means for fastening and adjusting the length of said band, wherein at least one band fastening tension indicator element is arranged between one of said free ends and said case.

17. The portable device according to claim 16, wherein said band fastening tension indicator element is directly connected to the case.

18. The portable device according to claim 17, wherein a second said band fastening tension indicator element is directly connected to the case.

19. The portable device according to claim 10, wherein the band includes at least one fastening tension indicator element of which a first rigid end carries attachment means for cooperating with suitable means of the case, and wherein the stem cooperates with the suitable means of the case in order to be secured to the case.

20. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein it includes means for measuring physiological data of the wearer thereof, said measuring means being integrated in said case.

21. The portable device according to claim 20, wherein the device includes a pulsometer function, optical measuring means being arranged on one face of said case that will be arranged against said user'"'"'s arm.

22. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a watch.