Wristband having embedded electrically conductive members for a wrist-mountable type electronic device

• US 5,742,256 A
• Filed: 04/29/1994
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Wakabayashi, Teruhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US08/236,290
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 343/718, 343/741, 343/743, 343/866, 343/868, 343/870, 343/748, 224/178
• US Class Current: 343/718
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

A wristband for a wrist-mountable type electronic device comprises two wristband segments each including an outer layer member, an inner layer member and an antenna strip made of an electrically conductive member sandwiched between these members. The outer layer member is made of an ornamental material such as leather, while the inner layer member is made of urethane. The inner layer member includes extended portions which extend beyond the edges of the electrically conductive member to cover laterally the side edges of the outer layer member. The inner layer member also has a recess formed at its outer surface continuously extending along the longitudinal direction of the wristband. According to the present invention, the appearance of the wristband is improved, and the feel of the wristband is enhanced when it is mounted. Further, durability of the wristband is also improved.

Claims

1. A wristband for a wrist-mountable type electronic device, comprising;

first and second wristband segments each for coupling to one side of the electronic device, each of said wristband segments comprising;

an electrically insulating inner layer member for contact with a wrist of a wearer;

an electrically insulating outer layer member made of a material different from that of said inner layer member; and

an antenna strip, made of an electrically conductive member and sandwiched between said inner layer member and said outer layer member, for electrically coupling to the electronic device;

wherein in at least one of said two wristband segments, at least one of said inner and outer layer members includes extended portions on two opposite sides along the lengthwise direction, said extended portions extending beyond adjacent edges of said antenna strip and covering at least a portion of adjacent edges of the other layer member.

2. The wristband of claim 1 wherein said inner layer member is made of urethane.

3. The wristband of claim 2 wherein said outer layer member is made of ornamental material.

4. The wristband of claim 2 wherein said outer layer member is made of leather.

5. The wristband of claim 1 wherein in at least one of said wristband segments, said antenna strip is attached to at least one of said inner and outer layer members by means of primer processing.

6. The wristband of claim 1 wherein said layer member that includes said extended portions is formed by injection molding.

7. The wristband of claim 1 wherein said antenna strips are made from a rolled sheet of material, with the rolled direction of the sheet being different from the band-width direction of said antenna strips.

8. The wristband of claim 1 further comprising a metal clasp attached to at least one of said first and second wristband segments, and wherein said antenna strips form a loop antenna of the electronic device when connected by said metal clasp.

9. A wristband for a wrist-mountable type electronic device, comprising:

first and second wristband segments each for coupling to one side of the electronic device, each of said wristband segments comprising;

an electrically insulating inner layer member for contact with a wrist of a wearer;

an electrically insulating outer layer member made of a material different from that of said inner layer member; and

an antenna strip, made of an electrically conductive member and sandwiched between said inner layer member and said outer layer member, for electrically coupling to the electronic device;

wherein said inner layer member of said second wristband segment includes a recess extending continuously along the longitudinal direction and facing the wrist of the wearer when the electronic device is mounted on the wrist.

10. The wristband of claim 9 wherein said inner layer member is made of urethane.

11. The wristband of claim 10 wherein said outer layer member is made of ornamental material.

12. The wristband of claim 10 wherein in at least one of said two wristband segments, at least one of said inner and outer layer members includes extended portions on two opposite sides along the lengthwise direction, said extended portions extending beyond adjacent edges of said antenna strip and covering at least a portion of adjacent edges of the other layer member.

13. The wristband of claim 10 wherein said second wristband segment further includes a thin layer within the recess covering a portion of the antenna strip.

14. The wristband of claim 10 wherein each wristband segment includes an end piece, integrally formed with one end of said antenna strip, for connecting the respective wristband segment to the electronic device, and wherein said end piece is made of an insulating synthetic resin having a strength higher than that of urethane.

15. The wristband of claim 10 further comprising a metal clasp including a first portion attached to said first wristband segment and a second portion slidably attached to and in contact with a portion of said antenna strip exposed by the recess.

16. A wristband for a wrist-mountable type electronic device, comprising:

first and second wristband segments each for coupling to one side of the electronic device, each of said wristband segments comprising;

an electrically insulating inner layer member made of urethane for contact with a wrist of a wearer;

an electrically insulating outer layer member made of ornamental material; and

an antenna strip, attached between said inner layer member and said outer layer member, for electrically coupling to the electronic device, said antenna strip being made from a rolled sheet of electrically conductive material such that the rolled direction of the sheet is not aligned with the band-width direction of said antenna strip;

wherein in at least one of said two wristband segments, at least one of said inner and outer layer members includes extended portions on two opposite sides along the lengthwise direction, said extended portions extending beyond adjacent edges of said antenna strip and covering at least a portion of adjacent edges of the other layer member;

wherein said inner layer member of said second wristband segment includes a recess extending continuously along the longitudinal direction and facing the wrist of the wearer when the electronic device is mounted on the wrist.

17. The wristband of claim 16 wherein each wristband segment includes an end piece, integrally formed with one end of said antenna strip, for connecting the respective wristband segment to the electronic device, and wherein said end piece is made of an insulating synthetic resin having a strength higher than that of urethane.

18. The wristband of claim 16 further comprising a metal clasp including a first portion attached to said first wristband segment and a second portion slidably attached to and in contact with a portion of said antenna strip exposed by the recess, and wherein said antenna strips form a loop antenna of the electronic device when connected by said metal clasp.

19. A wrist-mountable type electronic device, comprising:

a main body housing electronic circuits and including a pin through-hole; and

a wristband coupled to said main body, said wristband including;

first and second wristband segments each coupled to one side of the main body, each of said wristband segments comprising;

an electrically insulating inner layer member for contact with a wrist of a wearer;

an electrically insulating outer layer member made of a material different from that of said inner layer member;

an antenna strip made of an electrically conductive member and sandwiched between said inner layer member and said outer layer member; and

a connecting pin attached to one end portion of said antenna strip and inserted into the pin through-hole of said main body so as to electrically connect said antenna strip to said electronic circuits; and

an end piece integrally enclosing said connecting pin and the end portion of said antenna strip, said end piece being made of an insulating material having a high mechanical strength than that of said inner layer member.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein in each wristband segment the end portion of said antenna strip includes bent portions.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein in each wristband segment at least a portion of said end piece is covered with a covering layer made of the same material as that of said inner layer member to form a projected portion of said wristband.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein said main body includes two grooves and each projected portion of said wristband is inserted into a respective groove of said main body;

and

wherein each projected portion and each groove include engaging projections extended outwardly from their two sides for engagement with each other when the projected portion is inserted into the respective groove.

23. The device of claim 22, further comprising a fixing pin having a flange;

wherein said projected portion includes at least one pin through-hole extending along the thickness direction of said main body and said main body includes pin-fitting holes; and

wherein said flange of said fixing pin is inserted into said pin through-hole of said projected portion such that both ends of said fixing pin are fitted into said pin-fitting holes of said main body and that said flange of said fixing pin is sandwiched between said projected portion and said main body along the thickness direction of said main body.

24. The device of claim 22, further comprising a screw, wherein said projected portion includes at least one screw through-hole extending along the thickness direction of said main body and said main body includes screw holes and wherein said screw is fastened through said screw through-hole and said screw holes.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of said wristband segments further comprises a tubular elastic member made of insulating material and disposed between said pin through-hole of said main body and said connecting pin, wherein said tubular elastic member includes a flange facing said wristband segment and having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of said pin through-hole.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein said flange of said tubular elastic member has a predetermined thickness in the inserting direction of said projected portion of said wristband so that when said projected portion is inserted into said groove, said flange is compressed by said projected portion by a certain amount along the inserting direction.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein said connecting pin includes a root portion comprising a circumferentially tapered outer portion capable of expanding said tubular elastic member in its radial direction when said connecting pin is inserted into said tubular elastic member.