Attachment system for an electronic device

• US 9,877,549 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Perkins, Ryan C., Hobson, Phillip M., Webb, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Abigail
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amiri, Nahid
• Application Number:
  US14/869,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20160040695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 403321, 403326, 403327, 224164-179, 24265 B, 24265 WS, 368281-283
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2596 the movement being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strap or chain
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/263 with a push-button acting perpendicularly to the main plane of the buckle
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 17/0011 Press-button fasteners in which the elastic retaining action is obtained by a spring working in the plane of the fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/147 Watchcase itself used as fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/2085 with the two ends sliding transversally to the main plane of the strap or chain
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/005 Means to increase the friction-coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/04 internal, i.e. with spreading action F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/06 external, i.e. with contracting action F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/12 using sliding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/14 using wedges
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1486 Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/602 by separate spring

Abstract

An attachment system of a wearable electronic device includes a removable module. The removable module includes a locking mechanism comprising a first portion having a substantially planar top surface and second portion that comprises a substantially non-planar bottom surface. The first portion and the second portion are coupled together. The locking mechanism also includes a first spring mechanism coupled between the first portion and the second portion. The first spring mechanism causes the first portion to be biased away from the second portion. The locking mechanism also includes a second spring mechanism. The second spring mechanism causes the substantially planar top surface of the first portion to be biased substantially flush with respect to the removable module and also causes the substantially non-planar bottom surface of the second portion to be biased proud with respect to the removable module.

Claims

1. A watch band assembly for a wearable electronic device, the watch band assembly comprising:

a band strap configured to attach the wearable electronic device to a user;

a removable module coupled to the band strap and configured to be removably coupled to the wearable electronic device, the removable module defining an opening having a first portion and a second portion; and

a locking assembly configured to lock the removable module to the wearable electronic device, the locking assembly comprising;

a catch member disposed within the first portion of the opening;

a ramp member disposed within the second portion of the opening and moveably coupled to the catch member; and

a spring mechanism coupled between the catch member and the ramp member, wherein the spring mechanism biases the catch member away from the ramp member and to be substantially flush with a surface of the watch band.

2. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein a surface of the catch member is substantially planar.

3. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein a surface of the ramp member is substantially non-planar.

4. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein actuation of the ramp member causes the catch member to move from a first position to a second position.

5. The watch band assembly of claim 4, wherein the spring mechanism causes the catch member to move from the first position to the second position in response to actuation of the ramp member.

6. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein the ramp member comprises a flange that is received into an aperture defined by the catch member.

7. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein the ramp member comprises one or more protrusions that secure the spring mechanism between the catch member and the ramp member.

8. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is a first spring mechanism and the locking assembly further comprises a second spring mechanism, wherein the second spring mechanism causes the ramp member to protrude from an outer surface of the removable module.

9. The watch band assembly of claim 1, wherein the catch member comprises a chamfered edge.

10. A removable module of a watch band for removable attachment to a watch, the removable module comprising:

a locking assembly configured to lock the removable module to the watch, the locking assembly at least partially residing within an opening defined by the removable module, the opening having a first portion and a second portion, the locking assembly comprising;

a catch member disposed within the first portion of the opening;

a ramp member disposed within the second portion of the opening, the ramp member moveably coupled to the catch member;

a first spring mechanism coupled between the catch member and the ramp member; and

a second spring mechanism coupled between and against the ramp member and a ledge fixed within the opening.

11. The removable module of claim 10, wherein the second spring mechanism causes at least a portion of the ramp member to protrude from the opening.

12. The removable module of claim 10, wherein the catch member comprises a chamfer disposed at least partially around a top surface of the catch member.

13. The removable module of claim 10, wherein the catch member further comprises an aperture defined by a sidewall.

14. The removable module of claim 13, wherein the ramp member is moveably coupled to the catch member by one or more flanges that extend from the ramp member, wherein the one or more flanges are moveably coupled within the aperture.

15. A watch band assembly for a wearable electronic device having a channel and a recess, the watch band assembly comprising:

a band strap configured to attach the wearable electronic device to a user;

a removable module coupled to the band strap and configured to be removably coupled to the wearable electronic device, the removable module defining an opening; and

a locking assembly configured to lock the removable module to the wearable electronic device when inserted into the channel of the wearable electronic device, the locking assembly comprising;

a catch member;

a ramp member moveably coupled to the catch member; and

a spring element facilitating movement of the locking assembly between;

a first position, while the locking assembly is outside the channel, with the catch member substantially flush with a first surface of the removable module and the ramp member protruding out of the opening;

a second position, while the locking assembly is partially within the channel, with the catch member substantially flush with the first surface of the removable module and the ramp member substantially flush with a second surface of the removable module; and

a third position, while the locking assembly is inside the channel, with the catch member protruding out of the opening into the recess and the ramp member substantially flush with a second surface of the removable module.

16. The watch band assembly of claim 15, wherein the spring element comprises:

a first spring mechanism biasing the catch member away from the ramp member; and

a second spring mechanism biasing the ramp member away from a ledge disposed within the opening.

17. The watch band assembly of claim 15, wherein the spring element comprises:

a first spring mechanism coupled between the catch member and the ramp member; and

a second spring mechanism coupled between and against the ramp member and a ledge disposed within the opening.

18. The watch band assembly of claim 15, wherein the spring element facilitates movement of the locking assembly from the second position to the third position in response to actuation of the ramp member.