Wearable holder for securing a smart watch

• US 10,966,492 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2018
• Issued: 04/06/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twelve South, LLC
• Original Assignee: Andrew Bradford Green
• Inventors: Green, Andrew Bradford
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US15/881,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20180213895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 224170, 224219
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0053 Flexible straps
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• 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 2205/00 Fastening by use of touch and close elements
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0525 Personal portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping

Abstract

A versatile smart device holder that secures the device to a user while offering enhanced protection during physical activity as compared to conventional device bands and holders. The device holder is suitable to wear in a number of locations, such as across the bicep, the forearm, leg, ankle, or the wrist. The device holder comprises a band made of flexible material and a frame permanently or removably embedded within or attached to the band that is capable of securely holding the electronic device in place.

Claims

1. A watch holder, comprising:

a continuous band comprising a single, unitary piece with a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, and a watch-holding portion disposed between the first end and second end, further comprising a hole through the band in the watch-holding portion; and

a watch-holding frame extending through the hole and attached to the watch-holding portion of the band, said frame comprising an upper section extending a first height above the outer surface of the watch-holding portion of the band and a lower section extending a second height below the inner surface of the watch-holding portion of the band, said upper section comprising a protective frame bumper extending for some or all of the outer circumference of the frame, the watch-holding frame further comprising an open top and/or an open bottom;

wherein the first height is greater than the second height; and

further wherein the open bottom is configured to receive a watch inserted therein and passing through the hole so a face of the watch extends above the outer surface of the watch-holding portion of the band and is accessible to a user.

2. The watch holder of claim 1, wherein the watch-holding frame is permanently attached or embedded in the watch-holding portion of the band.

3. The watch holder of claim 1, wherein the watch-holding frame is removably attached to the watch-holding portion of the band.

4. The watch holder of claim 1, wherein the watch-holding frame is configured to be inserted into the hole.

5. The watch holder of claim 1, wherein a portion of the protective frame bumper is raised above the outer surface of the watch-holding portion of the band.

6. The watch holder of claim 1, further comprising a ring on the first end of the band.

7. The watch holder of claim 6, wherein a first strip of hook-and-loop material is attached to the outer surface of the band proximate the second end of the band and a second strip of complementary hook-and-loop material is attached to the outer surface of the band between the first strip and the watch-holding portion.

8. The watch holder of claim 7, wherein the second strip is longer than the first strip.

9. The watch holder of claim 8, wherein the second end of the band is configured to be inserted through the ring, and the band secured into a loop by attachment of the first strip to the second strip.

10. The watch holder of claim 1, the watch-holding frame further comprising an open top, and configured to securely hold a smart watch.

11. The watch holder of claim 10, the watch-holding frame further comprising an open bottom, wherein the smart watch is insertable through said open bottom.

12. The watch holder of claim 10, further comprise one or more thin areas on the bumpers configured to align with buttons or controls on the watch when inserted therein.