Self-closing buckle mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10021945-B2
Application number	US-201514641404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2015
Priority date	Aug 11, 2014
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a wearable device including first and second band straps attached to a device body. A buckle mechanism is configured to attach the first band strap to the second band strap and includes a spring bar attached to an end of the first band strap and a buckle loop engaged to the spring bar. A tang is configured to engage a hole formed in the second band strap to secure the first band strap to the second band strap. The tang defines an aperture that receives the spring bar and is configured to pivot about an offset axis that is offset with respect to an axis of the bar. As the tang is rotated, a restoring force biases the tang toward the buckle loop.

First claim

We claim:

1. A buckle mechanism for a wearable device, the buckle mechanism comprising:
a tang disposed at an end of a band strap and having an opening;
a buckle loop disposed at the end of the band strap and having a notch feature that is configured to receive an end of the tang when the buckle mechanism is closed;
a biasing member positioned within the opening of the tang and configured to deform when the tang is pivoted away from the notch feature in the buckle loop and to bias the tang toward the notch feature; and
a spring bar attached to the end of the band strap and rotatably connecting the tang to the buckle loop, wherein the opening receives the spring bar.

2. The buckle mechanism of claim 1 ,
wherein
the tang is configured to pivot about an offset axis that is offset with respect to an axis of the spring bar;
the biasing member is formed from an elastic material disposed between the spring bar and a side wall of the opening; and
the elastic material is configured to compress when the tang is pivoted away from the notch feature in the buckle loop.

3. The buckle mechanism of claim 1 ,
wherein
the tang is configured to pivot about an offset axis that is offset with respect to an axis of the spring bar; and
the biasing member includes the spring bar, which is configured to bend when the tang is pivoted away from the notch feature formed in the buckle loop.

4. The buckle mechanism of claim 1 , wherein:
the wearable device is a health monitoring device; and
the band strap is configured to attach the health monitoring device to a wrist of a user.

5. A self-closing buckle mechanism comprising:
a bar disposed at an end of a band strap;
a tang defining an opening that receives the bar, the tang configured to pivot about an offset axis that is offset with respect to an axis of the bar; and
a buckle loop disposed at the end of the band strap and having a recess that receives an end of the tang, wherein as the tang is rotated away from the recess, a restoring force biases the tang toward the recess.

6. The self-closing buckle mechanism of claim 5 , further comprising:
an insert member disposed within the opening, wherein the insert member is configured to generate the restoring force biasing the tang toward the recess.

7. The self-closing buckle mechanism of claim 6 , wherein:
the insert member is formed from an elastic material; and
the elastic material deforms when the tang is pivoted away from the recess.

8. The self-closing buckle mechanism of claim 6 , wherein:
the insert member is formed from two or more elastic materials; and
the two or more elastic materials have different elastic properties.

9. The self-closing buckle mechanism of claim 5 , wherein:
the buckle loop includes a bearing sleeve portion;
the tang includes a cylindrical portion that pivotally engages the bearing sleeve portion of the buckle loop; and
the tang is configured to pivot about the offset axis defined by the cylindrical portion.

10. The self-closing buckle mechanism of claim 5 , wherein:
the opening is a clearance fit with respect to the bar; and
the bar is configured to bend in response to a rotational movement of the tang.

11. A wearable electronic device comprising:
a body;
a first band strap attached to a first portion of the body;
a second band strap attached to a second portion of the body; and
a buckle mechanism configured to attach the first band strap to the second band strap, the buckle mechanism comprising:
a spring bar attached to an end of the first band strap;
a buckle loop engaged to the spring bar; and
a tang configured to engage a hole formed in the second band strap to secure the first band strap to the second band strap, wherein:
the tang defines an opening that receives the spring bar;
the tang is configured to pivot about an offset axis that is offset with respect to an axis of the spring bar; and
as the tang is rotated, a restoring force biases the tang toward the buckle loop.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the restoring force maintains engagement of the tang within the hole of the second band strap.

13. The wearable electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising:
an elastic material disposed between the spring bar and a side wall of the opening;
wherein the elastic material is configured to deflect in response to the tang being pivoted away from the buckle loop and provide the restoring force.

14. The wearable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the spring bar is configured to bend when the tang is pivoted away from the buckle loop and provide the restoring force.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Rohrbach Matthew D
• Russell-Clarke Peter N
• Shah Dhaval N
• Shaffer Benjamin A
• Siahaan Edward
• Su ying-liang
• Dabov Teodor
• Webb Michael J
• Brickner Michael T

Classifications

• A44C5/20

  for open straps {, chains or the like} · CPC title

• A44C5/14

  characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like · CPC title

• A44B11/24 Primary

  Buckle with movable prong · CPC title