WRISTBAND LOCKING MECHANISM, WRISTBAND, WEARABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF SECURING AN ARTICLE TO A PERSON

• US 20190320766A1
• Filed: 04/09/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareBand Inc.
• Original Assignee: CareBand Inc.
• Inventors: Sobol, Adam G., Gebhardt, Jason R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,729,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 20/00 Wristbands or headbands, e.g. for absorbing sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/2042 Fasteners provided with a turnable clamping lever
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/12 Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A wristband locking mechanism for a wearable electronic device, a wristband, a wearable electronic device and a method of securing an article to a person. The wristband locking mechanism includes a clasp assembly with independently-operable spring-biased actuators such that the wristband locking mechanism cannot be unlocked using one hand. The use of sensors, processors, communication equipment and associated components within the wearable electronic device allows a caregiver to monitor one or more of location, environmental, physiological and activity data of a wearer of the device, while the requirement for two-handed operation for unlocking of the wristband locking mechanism provides a deterrent against intentional or unintentional removal of the attached article or wearable electronic device by the wearer.

Claims

1. A wristband locking mechanism comprising:

a housing assembly; and

a clasp assembly cooperative with the housing assembly, the clasp assembly comprising;

a lock arm pair;

a first spring-biased actuator cooperative with the lock arm pair to provide a first selective interference fit between the lock arm pair and a portion of the housing assembly; and

a second spring-biased actuator cooperative with the lock arm pair to provide a second selective interference fit between the lock arm pair and a portion of the housing assembly, wherein a state of the wristband locking mechanism is changed upon the first and second spring-based actuators being simultaneously engaged through two-handed user actuation.

2. The wristband locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing assembly comprises a lower housing assembly movably coupled to an upper housing assembly.

3. The wristband locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the lower housing assembly is hingedly coupled to an upper housing assembly.

4. The wristband locking mechanism of claim 3, wherein the first spring-biased actuator is secured within the lower housing assembly and the second spring-biased actuator is secured within the upper housing assembly.

5. The wristband locking mechanism of claim 4, wherein (i) the first selective interference fit is between a lock arm of the first spring-biased actuator and an edge formed on the second spring-biased actuator, and (ii) the second selective interference fit is between a lock arm of the second spring-biased actuator and an edge formed on the upper housing assembly.

6. The wristband locking mechanism of claim 3, wherein upon the two-handed user actuation, movement of the first and second spring-biased actuators takes place along a common axial dimension.

7. The wristband locking mechanism of claim 6, wherein the selective interference fit is (i) between the lock arm pair and a first edge formed directly on the upper housing assembly, and (ii) between the lock arm pair and a second edge formed indirectly on the upper housing assembly.

8. The wristband locking mechanism of claim 7, wherein the second edge is formed on a movable part of the second spring-biased actuator.

9. The wristband locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second interference fit comprises a direct fit between the lock arm pair and the second spring-biased actuator.

10. The wristband locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the changed state comprises either from a locked position to an unlocked position upon the first and second spring-based actuators being simultaneously engaged through two-handed user actuation or from an unlocked position to a locked position upon the first and second spring-based actuators being simultaneously engaged through two-handed user actuation.

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20. A method of securing an article to a person, the method comprising:

coupling a locking mechanism to the article;

attaching the article to the person; and

locking the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism comprises;

a housing assembly; and

a clasp assembly cooperative with the housing assembly, the clasp assembly comprising;

a lock arm pair;

a first spring-biased actuator cooperative with the lock arm pair to provide a first selective interference fit between the lock arm pair and a portion of the housing assembly; and

a second spring-biased actuator cooperative with the lock arm pair to provide a second selective interference fit between the lock arm pair and a portion of the housing assembly, wherein a state of the locking mechanism is changed upon the first and second spring-based actuators being simultaneously engaged through two-handed user actuation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the article comprises a wristwatch.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the article comprises an article of clothing.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the article comprises at least one piece of jewelry.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the article comprises wearable electronic device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises a person tracking device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises a person wellness-monitoring device.