Milanese band

• US 9,826,789 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dey, Stephen E., Wan, Xingyu, Sawyer, Justin T., Van Dyke, Matthew N., Chen, Hsiang Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): LARSON, JUSTIN MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US14/641,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 24265 WS, 24265 EC
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 20/00 Wristbands or headbands, e.g. for absorbing sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 27/00 Making jewellery or other personal adornments
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 27/001 Materials for manufacturing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 27/002 Metallic materials A44C27/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0061 essentially made from metal A44C5/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/02 Link constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/20 for open straps , chains or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/2071 with the two ends of the strap or chain overlapping each other and fastened by an action perpendicularly to the main plane of these two ends A44C5/2009 - A44C5/2057 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4782 Watch strap

Abstract

A metallic mesh material used to form a portion of a band or securing strap for a wearable electronic device. The band may include a magnetic tab for securing a wearable device to the wrist of a user. The tab may include one or magnetic elements that are configured to engage a surface of the mesh to secure the wearable device to the wrist of a user.

Claims

1. A wearable device having:

a body;

a band strap connected to the body and having a free end;

a magnetic tab attached to the free end of the band strap, the magnetic tab including a magnetic element, wherein the magnetic tab includes an attachment face having a substantially flat surface that is configured to attach to the surface of the band strap;

a loop defining a hole for receiving the free end of the band strap, wherein the band strap is configured to pass through the hole; and

a friction-enhancing member disposed on the attachment face and configured to provide a resistance to shear when the magnetic tab is attached to the surface of the band strap, wherein the friction-enhancing member comprises an elastic material disposed within a feature formed into the attachment face of the magnetic tab.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the loop is attached to the body and the band strap is configured to attach the wearable device to a wrist of a user.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein:

the band strap is formed from a metallic mesh material.

4. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the magnetic tab comprises:

a first magnetic element having a first magnetic pole orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the attachment face; and

at least one side magnetic element adjacent to the first magnetic element and having a second magnetic pole orientation that is at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the attachment face.

5. The wearable device of claim 4, wherein the non-perpendicular angle is approximately 45 degrees.

6. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the magnetic tab includes a single magnetic element having a magnetic pole orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the attachment face.

7. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the magnetic tab comprises:

a first magnetic element having a first magnetic pole orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the attachment face and oriented in a first direction; and

a second magnetic element having a second magnetic pole orientation that is oriented along a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

8. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the magnetic tab comprises:

a first magnetic element having a first magnetic pole that is substantially perpendicular to the attachment face and oriented in a first direction;

a second magnetic element disposed between the first magnetic element and a third magnetic element, the second magnetic element having a second magnetic pole that is oriented perpendicular to the first direction; and

the third magnetic element having a third magnetic pole that is oriented in a third direction that is opposite to the first direction.

9. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic tab comprises:

a shunt element adjacent to the magnetic element and opposite to the attachment face, the shunt element configured to shape a magnetic field of the magnetic tab.

10. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the friction-enhancing member forms a ring disposed in a groove formed in the attachment face of the magnetic tab.

11. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the friction-enhancing member forms a band formed around a portion of a perimeter of the magnetic tab.

12. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic tab is attached to the free end of the band strap via a butt joint having at least one filet weld formed at an intersection between the magnetic tab and the free end of the band strap.

13. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein:

the magnetic tab includes a groove feature formed along an edge of the magnetic tab;

the band strap includes a tongue feature formed in the free end of the band strap; and

the tongue feature of the band strap is mechanically engaged with the groove feature of the magnetic tab.

14. The wearable device of claim 13, wherein:

the tongue feature is formed by compressing the free end of the band strap to form a compressed portion, and

the compressed portion is filled with a braze material to form a solid section.

15. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein:

a slit is defined in the magnetic tab;

the free end of the band strap is received in the slit; and

a weld attaches the free end of the band strap within the slit.

16. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the elastic material is formed around a portion of a perimeter of the magnetic tab.

17. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein:

the band strap is formed from a metallic mesh of interlocking links; and

a portion of an edge of the band strap has been removed to create a substantially flattened surface.

18. The wearable device of claim 17, wherein multiple pairs of crescent features are formed by a portion of the interlocking links that have been substantially flattened.

19. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the loop further comprises a protective rail formed around a portion of an outer surface of the band strap.

20. The wearable device of claim 19, wherein:

the protective rail is integrally formed within a portion of the loop;

the hole is a first hole; and

the protective rail forms a second hole separated from the first hole by a web.

21. A wearable device having:

a body;

a band strap connected to the body and having a free end;

a magnetic tab attached to the free end of the band strap, the magnetic tab including a magnetic element; and

a loop defining a hole for receiving the free end of the band strap, wherein the magnetic tab is configured to pass through the hole and attach to a surface of the band strap using the magnetic element;

wherein the band strap is formed from a metallic mesh of interlocking links, and a portion of an edge of the band strap has been removed to create a substantially flattened surface.

22. The wearable device of claim 21, wherein multiple pairs of crescent features are formed by a portion of the interlocking links that have been substantially flattened.

23. The wearable device of claim 21, wherein:

the magnetic tab includes a groove feature formed along an edge of the magnetic tab;

the band strap includes a tongue feature formed in the free end of the band strap; and

the tongue feature of the band strap is mechanically engaged with the groove feature of the magnetic tab.

24. The wearable device of claim 23, wherein:

the tongue feature is formed by compressing the free end of the band strap to form a compressed portion, and

the compressed portion is filled with a braze material to form a solid section.

25. A wearable device having:

a body;

a band strap connected to the body and having a free end, wherein a protrusion is formed at the free end of the band strap;

a magnetic tab attached to the free end of the band strap, the magnetic tab including a magnetic element, wherein a recess having an undercut is formed into the magnetic tab, wherein the protrusion is configured to mechanically engage the undercut to attach the free end of the band strap to the magnetic tab; and

a loop defining a hole for receiving the free end of the band strap, wherein the magnetic tab is configured to pass through the hole and attach to a surface of the band strap using the magnetic element.

26. The wearable device of claim 25, wherein:

the protrusion is formed at an angle with respect to a central plane of the band strap;

during assembly, the protrusion is received by the recess when the protrusion is aligned with an opening portion of the recess; and

after assembly, the protrusion is configured to mechanically engage the undercut of the recess when rotated.

27. The wearable device of claim 25, wherein:

the band strap is formed from a metallic mesh of interlocking links; and

a portion of an edge of the band strap has been removed to create a substantially flattened surface.

28. The wearable device of claim 27, wherein multiple pairs of crescent features are formed by a portion of the interlocking links that have been substantially flattened.

29. The wearable device of claim 25, wherein:

the magnetic tab includes a groove feature formed along an edge of the magnetic tab;

the band strap includes a tongue feature formed in the free end of the band strap; and

the tongue feature of the band strap is mechanically engaged with the groove feature of the magnetic tab.

30. The wearable device of claim 29, wherein:

the tongue feature is formed by compressing the free end of the band strap to form a compressed portion, and

the compressed portion is filled with a braze material to form a solid section.