Wrist Band Attachment for a Wearable Device

• US 20150366098A1
• Filed: 06/12/2014
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lapetina, John, Jones, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/303,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20150366098A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0525 Personal portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• 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: G04G 17/08 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

A wearable device includes an electronics module having a first peripheral mating surface extending around a periphery of the electronics module. The first peripheral mating surface includes a first level portion and a second level portion. The second level portion is substantially concentric with the first level portion. The second level portion is configured to meet the first level portion at the periphery of the electronics module to form a step. The wearable device also includes a strap configured for removable placement about an external body surface. The wearable device further includes a holder coupled to the strap. The holder defines a frame configured to receive the electronics module. The frame includes a second peripheral mating surface opposing the first peripheral mating surface of the electronics module. The second peripheral mating surface includes a respective step configured to mate with the step of the first peripheral mating surface.

Claims

1. A wearable device, comprising:

an electronics module having a first peripheral mating surface extending around a periphery of the electronics module, wherein the first peripheral mating surface includes a first level portion and a second level portion, wherein the second level portion is substantially concentric with and extends from the first level portion, and wherein the second level portion is configured to meet the first level portion at the periphery of the electronics module to form a step;

a strap configured for removable placement about an external body surface; and

a holder coupled to the strap, wherein the holder defines a frame configured to receive the electronics module, wherein the frame includes a second peripheral mating surface opposing the first peripheral mating surface of the electronics module, wherein the second peripheral mating surface includes a respective step configured to mate with the step of the first peripheral mating surface.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of magnets positioned relative to the frame and configured to exert a magnetic force on the electronics module to secure the electronics module within the frame.

3. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the electronics module includes a respective plurality of magnets corresponding to the plurality of magnets positioned relative to the frame, and wherein the magnetic force results from interaction between the plurality of magnets positioned relative to the frame and the corresponding plurality of magnets of the electronics module.

4. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the electronics module includes a magnetic material such that the magnetic force results from interaction between the plurality of magnets positioned relative to the frame and the magnetic material of the electronics module.

5. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a magnetic material and the electronics module includes a respective magnetic material such that a magnetic force results from interaction between the magnetic material of the frame and the respective magnetic material of the electronics module, and wherein the magnetic force is sufficient to secure the electronics module within the frame.

6. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to have one or more protruding male portions that protrude from the second peripheral mating surface, and wherein the electronics module is configured to have one or more recessed female portions in the first peripheral mating surface corresponding to the one or more protruding male portions of the frame such that, as the electronics module is received in the frame, the one or more protruding male portions and the female portions engage in a snap configuration to secure the electronics module within the frame.

7. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the step formed as a result of the second level portion meeting the first level portion at the periphery of the electronics module comprises a sloped surface connecting the second level portion with the first level portion.

8. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the external body surface is a wrist location.

9. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the electronics module includes a biological sensor configured to obtain a measurement via the external body surface and a user-interface comprising at least a display, wherein the frame defines an opening through which the biological sensor can obtain the measurement via the external body surface, and wherein the display is configured to provide information associated with the measurement obtained by the biological sensor.

10. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the electronics module further includes one or more of a motion sensor and a location sensor, data storage, and a touch sensor.

11. A method, comprising:

securing an electronics module within a holder coupled to a strap to form a wearable device, wherein;

(i) the electronics module includes a first peripheral mating surface extending around a periphery of the electronics module, (ii) the first peripheral mating surface includes a first level portion and a second level portion, (iii) the second level portion is substantially concentric with and extends from the first level portion, (iv) the second level portion is configured to meet the first level portion at the periphery of the electronics module to form a step, (v) the strap is configured for removable placement about an external body surface, (vi) the holder defines a frame configured to receive the electronics module, (vii) the frame includes a second peripheral mating surface opposing the first peripheral mating surface of the electronics module, (viii) the second peripheral mating surface includes a respective step configured to mate with the step of the first peripheral mating surface as the electronics module is secured within the holder, (ix) the frame defines an opening over the external body surface, and (x) the electronics module includes a biological sensor configured to obtain one or more measurements via the external body surface through the opening defined by the frame;

mounting the wearable device to the external body surface such that the opening is over the external body surface;

causing the biological sensor coupled to the electronics module to obtain the one or more measurements via the external body surface through the opening defined by the frame; and

receiving, from the wearable device, a user-discernible indication of the one or more measurements.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the frame includes a plurality of magnets configured to exert a magnetic force on the electronics module to secure the electronics module within the holder.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronics module includes a respective plurality of magnets corresponding to the plurality of magnets of the frame, and wherein the magnetic force results from interaction between the plurality of magnets of the frame and the corresponding plurality of magnets of the electronics module.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronics module includes a magnetic material such that the magnetic force results from interaction between the plurality of magnets positioned relative to the frame and the magnetic material of the electronics module.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the frame includes a magnetic material and the electronics module includes a respective magnetic material such that a magnetic force results from interaction between the magnetic material of the frame and the respective magnetic material of the electronics module, and wherein the magnetic force is sufficient to secure the electronics module within the frame.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronics module is configured to have one or more protruding male portions that protrude from the first peripheral mating surface, and wherein the frame is configured to have and one or more recessed female portions in the second peripheral mating surface corresponding to the one or more protruding male portions of the electronics module such that, as the electronics module is received in the frame, the one or more protruding male portions and the female portions engage in a snap configuration to secure the electronics module within the frame.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step formed as a result of the second level portion meeting the first level portion at the periphery of the electronics module comprises a sloped surface connecting the second level portion with the first level portion.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the external body surface is a wrist location.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the user-discernible indication is received at a display coupled to the electronics module.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronics module further includes at least one of a motion sensor and a location sensor.