Electronic devices with clips

• US 9,600,029 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Filson, John Benjamin, Moolsintong, Pinida Jan, Lynch, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US14/611,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20150153765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/023 Handles; Grips
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/04 Metal casings

Abstract

A portable electronic device may have a clip. The clip may be mounted to a housing using hinge structures. The hinge structures may bias the clip towards a closed position. The clip may be opened to attach the portable electronic device to an object. When in the closed position, the clip may lie flush with the exterior of the device housing. Clip biasing may be provided using a torsion spring, a coil spring, a ribbon spring, a clip with built-in biasing, a tension spring, or a compression spring. A coupling mechanism may be used to attach the clip to the housing. The coupling mechanism may include a ratcheting rotatable mechanism, a fixed attachment structure, a flexible attachment structure, a removable structure, or a structure that includes a spring bias adjustment mechanism. The device may have a button with a touch sensor array.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured to attach to a user, the device comprising:

a housing having a curved exterior surface;

a display positioned within the housing;

a touch sensor integrated with the display; and

a removable coupling structure attached to a feature formed in the housing, wherein;

the removable coupling structure is configured to attach the device to the user;

the removable coupling structure has an outer surface with a shape that matches at least a portion of the curved exterior surface of the housing such that the outer surface of the removable coupling structure and the curved exterior surface of the housing meet edge-to-edge to form a smooth exterior surface of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the feature that is formed in the housing is a recess and a portion of the removable coupling structure fills the recess.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the curved exterior surface and a portion of the shape of the removable coupling structure have a corresponding semicircular outline.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the removable coupling structure is configured to be detached from the housing.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the housing and the shape of the removable coupling structure have corresponding rounded edges.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the removable coupling structure is flush with the exterior surface of the housing when the removable coupling structure is attached to the housing.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the removable coupling structure forms a loop that is configured to attach the device to the user.

8. An electronic device attachment system, comprising:

an electronic device, comprising;

an exterior structural component having a first curved exterior surface and an aperture defined therein; and

a touch screen coupled to the structural component; and

a coupling mechanism having a second curved exterior surface, the coupling mechanism operable to couple to the exterior structural component and fit at least partially into the aperture such that the first and second exterior surfaces meet flush.

9. The electronic device attachment system of claim 8, wherein the first and second exterior surfaces form a continuous exterior surface of the electronic device when the coupling mechanism is coupled to the exterior structural component.

10. The electronic device attachment system of claim 8, wherein the coupling mechanism is operable to attach the electronic device to a user.

11. The electronic device attachment system of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the coupling mechanism is movable within the aperture when the coupling mechanism is coupled to the exterior structural component.

12. The electronic device attachment system of claim 8, wherein a first shape of a portion of the coupling mechanism conforms to a second shape of a portion of the exterior structural component.

13. The electronic device attachment system of claim 8, wherein the coupling mechanism is operable to movably couple to the exterior structural component.

14. The electronic device attachment system of claim 8, wherein the coupling mechanism further comprises a curved piece of metal.

21. The electronic device attachment system of claim 8, wherein the first curved exterior surface has first and second edges on opposing sides of the aperture, wherein the second curved exterior surface has first and second opposing edges within the aperture, and wherein the first and second edges of the first curved exterior surface meet edge-to-edge, respectively, with the first and second edges of the second curved exterior surface.

15. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a peripheral housing having rounded edges;

a display coupled to the peripheral housing;

a user-input device coupled to the peripheral housing;

a recess defined in the peripheral housing; and

a connection mechanism, coupled to the peripheral housing, that mates with the recess such that a surface of the peripheral housing and a surface of the connection mechanism meet edge-to-edge and together form a smooth exterior surface of the portable electronic device.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the surfaces of the peripheral housing and the connection mechanism have a common shape.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the connection mechanism is rotatably coupled to the peripheral housing.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the connection mechanism is operable to uncouple from the peripheral housing.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the connection mechanism connects the portable electronic device to a flexible member.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the display is coupled to a first side of the peripheral housing that is different than a second side where the recess is defined.