Attachment system for watchband

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10327520-B1
Application number	US-201715680138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 17, 2017
Priority date	Aug 17, 2017
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

Wearable electronic devices, such as watches, can be provided with an attachment system for connecting and releasing a removable module that interfaces with some portion of the electronic device. For example, a watch can include locking mechanisms that allow a user to connect a watchband to a watch housing by moving the watchband directly toward the watch housing. An attachment unit of a watchband can be moved in a direction along its own longitudinal axis to securely engage the watch housing. Once engaged, one or more locking mechanisms limit longitudinal movement of the attachment unit away from the watch housing. One or more locking mechanisms also limit lateral movement of the attachment unit with respect to the watch housing until a user releases the one or more locking mechanisms and enables the lateral movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A watch comprising:
a band having an attachment unit; and
a housing comprising a channel configured to receive the attachment unit with a longitudinal movement of the attachment unit into the channel;
a longitudinal lock mechanism that, when the attachment unit is engaged to the housing, limits a longitudinal movement of the attachment unit out of the channel without limiting a lateral movement of the attachment unit within the channel; and
a lateral lock mechanism that, when the attachment unit is engaged to the housing, limits the lateral movement of the attachment unit within the channel without limiting the longitudinal movement of the attachment unit out of the channel.

2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the longitudinal lock mechanism comprises:
a recess of the housing; and
a catch member of the attachment unit, the catch member being retractably biased to extend into the recess when the attachment unit is within the channel; and

the lateral lock mechanism comprises:
an opening of the attachment unit; and
a locking member of the housing, the locking member being configured to releasably engage the attachment unit within the opening.

3. The watch of claim 2 , wherein the recess comprises:
a ledge on a longitudinal side of the catch member to retain the catch member within the recess; and
a ramp on a lateral side of the catch member to guide the catch member laterally out of the recess.

4. The watch of claim 2 , wherein opening comprises a first portion with a first lateral width and a second portion with a second lateral width greater than the first lateral width.

5. The watch of claim 4 , wherein the locking member is moveable:
to be within the first portion of the opening to limit the lateral movement of the attachment unit within the channel; and
to be within the second portion of the opening to allow the lateral movement of the attachment unit within the channel.

6. The watch of claim 2 , wherein, when the catch member is within the recess, an attachment incline surface of the attachment unit is laterally separated within the channel from a housing incline surface of the housing.

7. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the attachment unit comprises an attachment incline surface and the housing comprises a housing incline surface for contacting the attachment incline surface and guiding the attachment unit longitudinally out of the channel upon application of a lateral force to the attachment unit.

8. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the attachment unit comprises attachment incline surfaces and the housing comprises housing incline surfaces, and a maximum lateral distance between the attachment incline surfaces is greater than a maximum lateral distance between the housing incline surfaces.

9. A housing of a watch, the housing comprising:
a channel for receiving an attachment unit of a band;
a recess within the channel, configured to receive a catch member of the attachment unit, and comprising:
a ledge on a longitudinal side of the recess to retain the catch member longitudinally within the recess; and
a ramp on a lateral side of the recess to guide the catch member laterally out of the recess; and

a locking member configured to releasably engage the attachment unit with an engagement portion extending into the channel to limit a lateral movement of the attachment unit within the channel until the locking member is actuated with an interface portion accessible to a user and positioned outside the channel.

10. The housing of claim 9 , wherein the locking member is biased to have the interface portion flush with a body of the housing.

11. The housing of claim 9 , wherein the recess is a first recess, the housing comprises a second recess within the channel, and the locking member is positioned laterally between the first and second recesses.

12. The housing of claim 9 , wherein the channel is configured to allow longitudinal movement of the attachment unit into the channel and lateral movement of at least a portion of the attachment unit out of the channel.

13. The housing of claim 9 , wherein the recess is configured to engage the attachment unit to limit a longitudinal movement of the attachment unit out of the channel without limiting a lateral movement of the attachment unit within the channel.

14. An attachment unit of a band for securing a housing of a watch to a user, the attachment unit comprising:
a catch member that is retractably biased to engage the housing; and
an opening configured to receive a locking member of the housing, the opening comprising:
a first portion for receiving the locking member to limit a lateral movement of the attachment unit relative to the housing; and
a second portion for receiving the locking member to allow the lateral movement of the attachment unit relative to the housing wherein the first portion has a first lateral width and the second portion has a second lateral width greater than the first lateral width.

15. The attachment unit of claim 14 , further comprising an attachment incline surface for contacting a housing incline surface of the housing to guide the attachment unit out of the housing.

16. The attachment unit of claim 14 , wherein the catch member is retractably biased to extend into a recess of the housing when the attachment unit is within the housing.

17. The attachment unit of claim 14 , wherein the catch member is a first catch member, the attachment unit comprises a second catch member that is retractably biased to engage the housing, and the opening is positioned laterally between the first and second catch members.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Ely Colin M

Classifications

• G04B37/16

  Fastening the case to the bracelet · CPC title

• G04B37/1486 Primary

  Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet (building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446) · CPC title

• G04B47/046

  Changeable decorations and parts thereof, decorations for the case which change the external appearance of the clockwork (clip-on -, sliding - or tilting protective lids or covers G04B37/005; with a clockwork which can be mounted on different cases for changing its external appearance G04B37/0427; clockworks which can be mounted in different cases for changing their purpose G04B37/14; decoration of the case or parts thereof G04B45/0076; changeable pictures or inscriptions G04B45/0092) · CPC title

• G04B37/12

  Cases for special purposes, e.g. watch combined with ring, watch combined with button (watch guards or protectors A45C11/10, A45C11/12; watches combined with cosmetic powder containers A45D33/30 {; domed dial G04B19/10; calibers in which the clockwork is disposed on different planes G04B33/08; means for fixing watches on items of clothing G04B37/1433; cases having means for fixing onto a normal bracelet G04B37/1486; cases giving special affects due to their particular shape G04B45/0069; watches combined with various objects and therefore having a specially shaped case G04B47/00}) · CPC title

• A44C5/14 Primary

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