Mounting system for portable electronic device

• US 9,756,927 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Auclair, Martin, Rothkopf, Fletcher
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US13/307,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20130135796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 345157, 345168, 345169, 248917-924
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0508 Portable audio devices, e.g. walkman, discman, radio, MP3 player, headphones
• 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 2200/0533 Cameras, e.g. reflex, digital, video camera
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for fabricating an electronic device with an integrated railing system that detachably couples mounting hardware to the electronic device. By selectively detaching the mounting hardware, the electronic device may be made more compact and portable. In some embodiments, the railing system is fabricated substantially contemporaneous to fabricating the electronic device, such as by extrusion of the railing and the electronic device together. This fabrication approach may reduce the overall cost and complexity of manufacturing the railing system.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic device, comprising:

a main body, comprising;

a user interface positioned on a first side of the main body,

a first edge,

a second edge opposite the first edge,

a first recess extending at least from the first edge to the second edge, and

a second recess separated from the first recess by a portion of the main body that is positioned between the first recess and the second recess, the second recess extending at least from the first edge to the second edge; and

an attachment mechanism configured to attach the main body to a user, the attachment mechanism comprising;

a component releasably coupled to the main body,

an insert attached to an inner side of the component,

a first protrusion extended from the component and that slides along the main body from the first edge to the second edge to mate with the first recess, and

a second protrusion extended from the component and that slides along the main body from the first edge to the second edge to mate with the second recess.

2. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a lateral dimension defined from the first edge to the second edge, and wherein the first protrusion includes a dimension corresponding to the lateral dimension.

3. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion includes a first shape, and wherein the first recess includes a second shape that corresponds to the first shape.

4. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a polymeric material.

5. The wearable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the polymeric material comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

6. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first recess and the second recess are diagonally configured to match an angular shape of the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively.

7. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface is located between the first recess and the second recess.

8. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first recess and the second recess are symmetric about the portion of the main body.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises circuitry such that the user interface configured to control the circuitry.

10. An attachment mechanism that releasably attaches with a wearable electronic device and is configured to secure the wearable electronic device with a user, the wearable electronic device including a first recess and a second recess separated from the first recess by a portion of the wearable electronic device, the attachment mechanism comprising:

a body portion having a first projection and a second projection that is opposite the first projection;

a first insert portion extending from the body portion and located proximate to the first projection; and

a second insert portion extending from the body portion and located proximate to the second projection, wherein when the body portion slides relative to, and secures with, the wearable electronic device i) the first projection is positioned in the first recess and the first insert portion engages the wearable electronic device at a third recess of the wearable electronic device, and ii) the second projection is positioned in the second recess and the second insert portion engages the wearable electronic device at a fourth recess of the wearable electronic device.

11. The attachment mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first projection includes a first material, and wherein the first insert portion includes a second material different from the first material.

12. The attachment mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first projection and the second projection positioned in the first recess and the second recess, respectively, define a user attachment system that secures the wearable electronic device to the user.

13. The attachment mechanism of claim 12, wherein the user attachment system surrounds a portion of the wearable electronic device.

14. The attachment mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first projection includes a metal mixed with a polymeric material.

15. The attachment mechanism of claim 10, further comprising:

a stop; and

a recess, wherein when the first projection is positioned in the first recess, the stop is aligned with the recess.

16. The attachment mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first recess includes a first shape, and wherein the first projection comprises a second shape corresponding to the first shape.

17. A wearable electronic device configured to secure with an attachment mechanism, the attachment mechanism including a first protrusion having a first insert portion and a second protrusion having a second insert portion, the wearable electronic device comprising:

a body comprising;

a user interface positioned on a first side of the body,

a first recess located at a first end and proximate to the first side, the first recess having a first curved surface corresponding to a curvature of the first protrusion and the first insert portion such that the first recess is capable of receiving the first protrusion and the first insert portion, and

a second recess located at a second end opposite the first end, the second recess having a second curved surface corresponding to a curvature of the second protrusion formed by the second insert portion such that the second recess is capable of receiving the second protrusion and the first insert portion, and

a body portion that separates and is positioned between the first recess and the second recess.

18. The wearable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the first projection and the second projection are molded to match the curvature of the first curved surface and the second curved surface, respectively.

19. The wearable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the first recess and the second recess are diagonally configured to match an angular shape of the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively.

20. The wearable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the first recess and the second recess are symmetric about a portion of the body portion.

21. The wearable electronic device of claim 17, further comprising:

electronic circuitry that is used by the user interface to control the electronic circuitry.

22. The wearable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the user interfaces comprises a button and a switch.

23. The wearable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the body extends from a first edge to a second edge, and wherein the first recess and the second recess extend from the first edge to the second edge.