Consumer product attachment systems having a locking assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10575602-B2
Application number	US-201816165980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2018
Priority date	Aug 11, 2014
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking assembly for an attachment system of an electronic device. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an attachment unit that is configured to be inserted and removed from a housing of a consumer product. The attachment unit and/or the housing includes a catch member or other such locking assembly configured to relaseably secure the attachment unit within the housing.

First claim

We claim:

1. A watch comprising:
a housing having a channel and a recess; and
a band having an attachment unit configured to be inserted within the channel, wherein the attachment unit comprises:
a body portion insertable into the channel; and
a catch member defining a terminal end of the attachment unit and being configured to pivot with respect to the body portion from a first position to a second position, wherein:
while the catch member is in the first position, the attachment unit is permitted to slide within the channel; and
while the catch member is in the second position with a portion of the catch member within the recess of the housing, the attachment unit is locked in place within the channel.

2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the catch member is configured to pivot between the first position to the second position while within the channel of the housing.

3. The watch of claim 1 , wherein a shoulder is positioned at a transition from the channel to the recess, wherein while in the second position the catch member engages the shoulder.

4. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the catch member forms a convex surface at a terminal end of the band.

5. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the catch member forms a hook.

6. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first magnet and the catch member comprises a second magnet, wherein the first magnet magnetically pulls the catch member into the second position.

7. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the catch member has a ramp that enables the catch member to move from the second position to the first position in response to an applied force.

8. A watch comprising:
a housing having a channel and a locking mechanism movable from a first position and a second position, wherein the locking mechanism has an end exposed at a surface of the housing for actuation of the locking mechanism by an applied force; and
a band having an attachment unit configured to be inserted within the channel, wherein the attachment unit comprises a recess defined at a terminal end of the attachment unit, wherein:
while the locking, mechanism is in the first position, the attachment unit is permitted to slide within the channel past the locking mechanism; and
while the locking mechanism is in the second position with a portion of the locking mechanism within the recess of the attachment unit, the attachment unit is locked in place within the channel.

9. The watch of claim 8 , further comprising a spring biasing the locking mechanism toward the second position.

10. The watch of claim 8 , wherein the convex surface and the concave surface are aligned when the locking mechanism is in the first position.

11. The watch of claim 8 , further comprising ribs within the channel and extending toward each other and against the attachment unit when the attachment unit is inserted within the channel.

12. A watch comprising;
a housing comprising:
a channel;
a button recess; and
a button movable within the button recess; and

a band having an attachment unit comprising:
a body portion insertable into the channel;
a first bar latch portion; and
a second bar latch portion pivotably coupled to the first bar latch portion,

wherein the first and second bar latch portions are biased to extend into the button recess while the body portion is within the channel, and the button is moveable to urge the first and second bar latch portions out of the button recess.

13. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the bar latch is spring-biased to extend into the button recess while the body portion is within the channel.

14. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the first bar latch and the second bar latch each comprise a protrusion that extends into the button recess while the body portion is within the channel.

15. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the button recess comprises a first button recess portion and a second button recess portion, wherein the first bar latch portion is biased to extend into the first button recess portion while the body portion is within the channel and the second bar latch portion is biased to extend into the second button recess portion while the body portion is within the channel.

16. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the channel has a protrusion that is configured to fit within a space between the first bar latch portion and the second bar latch portion.

17. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the button configured to urge both the first bar latch portion and the second bar latch portion simultaneously.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Perkins Ryan C
• Webb Michael J
• Dey Stephen
• Yabe Osamu
• Chen Hsiang Hung

Classifications

• A44C5/2085

  with the two ends sliding transversally to the main plane of the strap or chain · CPC title

• G04B37/1486

  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

• A44B11/263

  with a push-button acting perpendicularly to the main plane of the buckle · CPC title

• A44D2203/00

  Fastening by use of magnets · CPC title

• A44C5/147

  Watchcase itself used as fastener · CPC title