Wearable band including magnets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10117504-B2
Application number	US-201514701615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2015
Priority date	Aug 9, 2014
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A wearable band for an electronic device and a method of forming the wearable band for the electronic device. The wearable band may include a first strap portion including a loop, and a second strap portion positioned through the loop of the first strap portion. The second strap portion may include a first group of components positioned adjacent a first end of the second strap portion. The first group of components may include magnetic properties. The second strap portion may also include a second group of components positions adjacent a second end, opposite the first end, of the second strap portion. The second group of components may include magnetic properties.

First claim

We claim:

1. A watch band comprising:
a first strap portion including a loop; and
a second strap portion insertable through the loop of the first strap portion, the second strap portion including first magnets and second magnets, wherein each of the first magnets lies beneath a first protrusion on a first surface of the second strap portion, each of the second magnets lies beneath a second protrusion on a second surface of the second strap portion, the first magnets and the second magnets are arranged to be magnetically coupled to each other in a first alignment relative to each other while the second strap portion is in a first folded state with the first protrusions overlapping the second protrusions, and the first magnets and the second magnets are further arranged to be magnetically coupled to each other in a second alignment relative to each other, different than the first alignment, while the second strap portion is in a second folded state with the first protrusions extending into gaps between adjacent pairs of the second protrusions.

2. The watch band of claim 1 , wherein the first magnets include a first magnets having a first magnetic field.

3. The watch band of claim 2 , wherein the second magnets include a second magnets having a second magnetic field, distinct from the first magnetic field.

4. The watch band of claim 3 , wherein the second magnetic field of the second magnets is stronger than the first magnetic field of the first magnets.

5. The watch band of claim 3 , wherein the second magnets includes an enlarged magnet positioned directly adjacent a second end of the second strap portion, the enlarged magnet substantially larger than a remainder of the second magnets.

6. The watch band of claim 1 , wherein the loop of the first strap portion is formed from a material having magnetic properties.

7. The watch band of claim 6 , wherein the loop of the first strap portion is formed from a ferrous metal material.

8. The watch band of claim 1 further comprising inserts positioned between the first magnets and the second magnets, the inserts including magnetic properties.

9. The watch band of claim 8 , wherein a number of the first magnets is larger than at least one of:
a number of the second magnets; and
a number of inserts forming the inserts.

10. The watch band of claim 1 , wherein a first length of the second strap portion having the first magnets comprises approximately half of a second length of the second strap portion having the second magnets.

11. The watch band of claim 1 , wherein over a second length of the second strap portion having the second magnets comprises at least approximately a quarter of a total length of the second strap portion.

12. A watch comprising:
a housing; and
a watch band coupled to the housing, the watch band including:
a first strap portion including a loop coupled to the housing; and
a second strap portion coupled to the housing, opposite the first strap portion, the second strap portion including:
first magnets each having a first magnetic polarity;
second magnets each having a second magnetic polarity, opposite the first magnetic polarity; and
inserts each formed of a magnetically attractable metal and positioned between the first magnets and the second magnets, wherein the second magnets are attracted to the first magnets and at least some of the inserts when the second strap portion is folded onto itself.

13. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the first strap portion and the second strap portion are formed from leather material.

14. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the second strap portion further comprises:
a top layer; and
a bottom layer positioned opposite the top layer, wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are one of:
formed from distinct pieces of material, or formed from a single piece of material.

15. The watch of claim 14 , wherein the first magnets, the second magnets and the inserts are positioned between the top layer and the bottom layer of the second strap portion.

16. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the second strap portion further comprises a filler material substantially surrounding at least one of:
the first magnets;
the second magnets; and
the inserts.

17. The watch of claim 16 , wherein the first strap portion includes the filler material.

18. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the second strap portion further comprises a protective layer at least one of:
coupled to the first magnets, the second magnets and the inserts, respectively; and
positioned between the first magnets, the second magnets and the inserts, respectively.

19. The watch of claim 18 , wherein the protective layer is formed from a polycarbonate.

20. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the loop is integrally formed with the first strap portion.

21. The watch of claim 20 , wherein the loop includes reinforcing fibers positioned:
around an entire circumference of the loop, or within two opposite portions of the circumference of the loop.

22. The watch of claim 21 , wherein the reinforcing fibers include magnetic properties.

23. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the second strap portion includes a length of excess material between an end and the second magnets.

24. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the second magnets are magnetically coupled to at least one of:
the first magnets; and
the inserts.

25. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the second strap portion further comprises a magnetic shield coupled to a bottom side of:
the first magnets; and
the second magnets.

26. The watch of claim 25 , wherein the magnetic shield is formed from steel.

27. The watch of claim 25 , wherein the second strap portion further comprises a resin outer coating positioned around:
the first magnets and the magnetic shield; and
the second magnets and the magnetic shield.

28. A watch band comprising:
a first strap portion including a loop formed of a magnetically attractable metal; and
a second strap portion insertable through the loop of the first strap portion, the second strap portion including first magnets and second magnets arranged to be magnetically coupled to each other when the second strap is folded onto itself, wherein one of the second magnets is an enlarged magnet that is positioned at a free end of the second strap, produces a stronger magnetic field than each of a remainder of the second magnets, and becomes magnetically coupled to the loop when the free end of the second strap passes through the loop.

29. The watch band of claim 28 , further comprising:
inserts each formed of a magnetically attractable metal and positioned between the first magnets and the second magnets, wherein the second magnets are attracted to the first magnets and at least some of the inserts when the second strap portion is folded onto itself.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Bataillou Jeremy D
• Kosoglow Richard D
• Corbin Sean S

Classifications

• A45F5/00 Primary

  Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping · CPC title

• A44C5/2071

  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 title

• A45F2005/008

  Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg · CPC title

• H01F7/0263

  Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts · CPC title

• A44D2203/00

  Fastening by use of magnets · CPC title