Bracelet with information display and inputting capability

• US 8,149,212 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip J. Radley-Smith
• Original Assignee: Philip J. Radley-Smith
• Inventors: Radley-Smith, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US12/289,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0007 Bracelets specially adapted for other functions or with means for attaching other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0015 providing information, e.g. bracelets with calendars identification bracelets G09F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/083 Watches distributed over several housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0216 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts

Abstract

A bracelet with information display and inputting capability comprises twelve segments hinged together to allow the bracelet to be folded around the wrist of a user. An information processing unit receives inputted information from an inputting device, for example, by a QWERTY keyboard, and generates display for displaying information on display screen. The display screen and the keyboard each extends over more than one segment of the bracelet, and the segments of the bracelet are hinged to allow the bracelet to be arranged flat for input of information via the inputting device.

Claims

1. A bracelet with information display and inputting capability, the bracelet comprising:

an even number of segments hinged together to allow the bracelet to be folded around the wrist of a user;

an information processing unit for receiving inputted information and for generating display signals for displaying information;

a display device for displaying information derived from the information processing unit; and

an information inputting device for inputting information to the information processing unit by manual interaction with the inputting device;

the outer surface of the bracelet having an information exchange area comprising the area occupied by the display device and the area occupied by the inputting device in combination, the information exchange area extending over more than one segment of the bracelet,

the segments of the bracelet being hinged to allow movement of the segments between a first, wrist-worn, configuration in which the bracelet can be folded around the wrist of a user, and a second open configuration, in which the bracelet can be arranged by the user for input of information via the inputting device,

in which the information inputting device is provided as part of a touch sensitive screen extending over more than one segment of the bracelet.

2. A bracelet according to claim 1, in which in the open configuration, the bracelet has a “

C”

shape configuration.

3. A bracelet according to claim 2, comprising a microphone and a speaker such that in the “

C”

configuration, the device may operate as a telephone device.

4. A bracelet according to claim 3, in which the microphone and the speaker are positioned on the outer or top side of the bracelet.

5. A bracelet according to claim 3, in which the speaker and microphone are positioned on the underside of the bracelet.

6. A bracelet according to claim 1, in which the touch sensitive screen extends over two hinged segments.

7. A bracelet according to claim 1, in which the bracelet comprises components for coupling the segments together in such a manner as to maintain the bracelet at least substantially fixed in the open configuration during normal inputting of information.