Consumer product attachment systems having a locking assembly

• US 9,894,964 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Perkins, Ryan C., Webb, Michael J., Dey, Stephen, Yabe, Osamu, Chen, Hsiang Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): SKURDAL, COREY NELSON
• Application Number:
  US14/684,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• 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: 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: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• 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: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking assembly for an attachment system of an electronic device. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an attachment unit that is configured to be inserted and removed from a housing of a consumer product. The attachment unit and/or the housing includes a catch member or other such locking assembly configured to relaseably secure the attachment unit within the housing.

Claims

1. An attachment system for a consumer product, the attachment system comprising:

a housing;

a channel within the housing; and

an attachment unit configured for insertion within the channel, wherein the attachment unit comprises;

an elongated body portion having first surface that transitions to a second surface; and

at least one catch member disposed on either the first surface or the second surface, wherein the catch member is configured to move from a first position in which the catch member is flush or substantially flush with respect to the body portion to a second position in which the catch member extends from the body portion and is received by a recess within the channel of the housing,

wherein the catch member is configured to move from the first position to the second position in response to a magnetic force or an electric current.

2. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the catch member includes a spring mechanism and wherein the spring mechanism causes the catch member to move from the first position to the second position.

3. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the channel includes one or more ribs.

4. The attachment system of claim 3, wherein the attachment unit includes one or more grooves that are configured to mate with the one or more ribs in the channel.

5. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the catch member is configured to pivot about an axis as it moves from the first position to the second position.

6. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an actuation member configured to cause the catch member to move from the first position to the second position.

7. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a locking mechanism configured to be received by a recess disposed on the attachment unit.

8. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the channel is shaped in an arced configuration.

9. An attachment system for a consumer product, the attachment system comprising:

a housing;

a channel within the housing;

a locking assembly disposed within the housing; and

an attachment unit configured for insertion within the channel, wherein the attachment unit comprises;

an elongated body portion having first surface that transitions to a second surface; and

at least one recess disposed on either the first surface or the second surface, wherein the recess is configured to receive the locking assembly and wherein the locking assembly is in a first position within the housing when the attachment unit is outside the channel and moves from the first position to a second position when the attachment unit is inserted into the channel.

10. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein the locking assembly comprises a pivot mechanism.

11. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein the locking assembly is magnetic.

12. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein the locking assembly has a ramped configuration.

13. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein the recess has a ramped configuration.

14. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein the locking assembly includes a spring-biased catch member that is configured to be received within the recess.

15. The attachment system of claim 9, wherein the recess comprises one or more magnets.

16. An attachment unit for a consumer product, the attachment unit comprising:

an elongated body portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface;

a transition disposed between the first surface and the second surface; and

a catch member disposed at least partially on the first surface or the second surface,

wherein the catch member is configured to automatically move from a first position to a second position in response to a received stimuli and automatically move from the second position to the first position when the received stimuli is removed,

wherein the received stimuli is a magnetic stimuli or an electric stimuli.

17. The attachment unit of claim 16, wherein the stimuli is provided by a housing component into which the attachment unit is to be coupled.