Electronic device wristband

• US 5,526,006 A
• Filed: 01/25/1995
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Akahane, Fumiaki, Miyashita, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Jay H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, DUANE
• Application Number:
  US08/378,106
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 224/164, 224/165, 224/167, 224/171, 224/174, 224/178, 224/179, 368/10, 368/282, 368/281, 455/344, 455/351, 340/825.44, 343/718, 343/868, 343/866
• US Class Current: 343/718
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14311 using means for bonding the coating to the articles B29C45/14795 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14778 the article consisting of a material with particular properties, e.g. porous, brittle
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2083/005 LSR, i.e. liquid silicone rubbers, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2715/006 Glues or adhesives, e.g. hot melts or thermofusible adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/086 Desktop clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/04 Antennas attached to or integrated in watch bracelets
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches

Abstract

A wrist mounted electronic device, including a loop antenna embedded within a single-injection molded, multiple-segment wristband, has an electrically conductive, obtusely angled mounting bracket disposed between an embedded antenna and the electronic device. The mounting bracket has at least one screw hole to facilitate attachment of the wristband segments to the electronic device. The embedded antenna has a plurality of round holes therethrough.

Claims

1. A wrist-mountable electronic device comprising:

a) a housing that contains said electronic device, and has an inner wide for contact with said wrist;

b) two single-injection molded, electrically insulative, wrist straps extending from opposite sides of said housing, each of said straps having a first end and second end, and each of said straps having an inner side for contact with said wrist;

c) a flexible electrically conductive member located inside each of said straps, said flexible electrically conductive member being insulated from the wrist of a wearer, each of said flexible electrically conductive members having a first end and a second end;

d) coupling means, connected to said first end of each of said flexible electrically conductive members, for physically coupling said first end of each of said straps to said housing and electrically coupling said first end of each of said flexible electrically conductive members to said electronic device; and

e) a non-insulated buckle operable to physically and electrically couple the second ends of said straps and the second ends of said flexible electrically conductive members so as to form a loop antenna;

wherein said coupling means comprise an electrically conductive, angled bracket, said bracket having at least one screw hole therethrough for attachment to said housing with at least one screw, and said bracket forming an obtuse angle when said angle is measured between said housing inner side and said strap inner side and wherein said angle of said angled bracket is formed prior to coupling each of said straps to said housing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible electrically conductive member has a plurality of round holes arranged in three lines along its longitudinal direction.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said flexible electrically conductive member comprises stainless steel.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said flexible electrically conductive member comprises stainless steel having a thickness in the range of approximately 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said flexible electrically conductive member comprises beryllium-copper alloy.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said flexible electrically conductive member comprises a copper plated metal.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein said flexible electrically conductive member comprises a silver plated metal.

8. A wrist mounted electronic device comprising:

a multifunction electronic component;

an electronic component housing for retaining said electronic component, said housing configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s wrist;

a single injection molded wristband having at least one end secured to said housing;

said wristband comprising at least one segment comprising a flexible electrically conductive member integrally embedded within an insulating molded body, said electrically conductive member being electrically connected at a first end to said electronic component; and

an extended tag formed integrally at a second, opposite end of said electrically conductive member for projecting outside of a mold cavity to receive applied tension thereto during formation of said insulating molded body.

9. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said extended tag includes means at said second end for reducing a portion of cross-sectional connection between said second end and said integral tag to provide for easier removal of said tag from said electrical conductive member after said insulating molded body has been formed.

10. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 9 wherein a portion of said first end of said electrical conductive member is nipped between upper and lower faces of a two-part mold defining a molding cavity, said nipped first end portion for connecting said molded wristband to the side of said electronic device.

11. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said electrical conductive member is provided with a plurality of holes.

12. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said electrical conductive member is coated on at least one surface with an adhesive for bonding said conductive member to molding material comprising said molded body.

13. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said electrical conductive member is made of stainless steel having a thickness in the range of about 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm.

14. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said molding material is a two-part silicone rubber and said adhesive is a primer comprising a silane coupling agent.

15. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tag is removed from said conductive member along a cut-away line formed in said second end portion positioned immediately within said molded wristband.

16. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said cut-away line is in the form of reduced cross-sectional thickness at said second end portion.

17. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said electrical conductive member is made of stainless steel having a thickness in the range of about 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm.

18. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 17 wherein said molded body comprises a molding material of a two-part silicone rubber.

19. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said electrical conductive member is coated on at least one surface portion thereof with a silane coupling agent.

20. The wrist mounted electronic device as set forth in claim 19 wherein said electronic device is a wrist-mounted radio receiver and said molded wristband serves as an antenna.

21. A wrist mounted electronic device comprising:

at least one injection molded wristband segment;

said segment having an integrally formed flexible electrically conductive member;

said segment embedded within an insulating molding material;

said segment including a first portion of said conductive member intended for exposure to electromagnetic radiation present in the environment and a second portion of said conductive member intended for non-exposure to electromagnetic radiation;

an adhesive coated onto said second portion, said adhesive being chemically reactive with injected molding material during the injection molding of said segment to from a chemical bond between said electrically conductive member and said molding material; and

a mounting bracket having a portion secured to one end of said electrically conductive member to be electrically congruent therewith, said adhesive also being coated onto said bracket securing portion for forming a chemical bond between said bracket securing portion and said molding material.

22. A wrist mounted electronic device comprising:

a multifunction electronic component in a housing;

a wristband connected to said electronic component and including;

an electrically conductive strip of elongated contour and having a top and bottom surface embedded in an insulating body approximating the contour of said electrically conductive strip, at least one end of said strip electrically connected to said electronic component;

a plurality of openings formed along at least a portion of a length of said conductive strip, said insulating body extending through said openings; and

a lip forming each of said openings curved arcuately out of a plane comprising said strip contour to prevent the development of a shearing action between said insulated body and said conductive strip due to flexure of said wristband.

23. The wrist mounted electronic device of claim 22 wherein

a body portion of said insulating body formed on a top and bottom surface of said conductive strip wherein said top body portion of said insulating body is thicker in cross-section compared to said bottom body portion of said insulating body;

said arcuately curved lips are curved into said top body portion of said insulating body.