Consumer product attachment systems having locking or expansion characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10945496-B2
Application number	US-201816231061-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2018
Priority date	Aug 11, 2014
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking assembly for an attachment system of a consumer product. 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 include an expansion component or other such locking assembly configured to releasably secure the attachment unit within the housing.

First claim

We claim:

1. A watch comprising:
a housing forming:
a channel for receiving a lug of a watch band; and
a recess connected to the channel; and

a button assembly at least partially within the recess and comprising:
flanges extending toward the housing within the recess;
a button for retracting the flanges toward each other and disengaging the flanges away from the housing; and
a bottom portion for engaging the lug of the watch band within the channel.

2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein each of the flanges is independently biased relative to the button by a spring mechanism.

3. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the housing forms a shoulder at the recess and the flanges abut the shoulder.

4. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the recess forms a tapered region; and
each of the flanges comprises a tapered portion, wherein the tapered portions of the flanges engage the tapered region of the recess to bias the button assembly away from the channel.

5. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the button assembly further comprises a button top, wherein a portion of the button is movable within the button top.

6. The watch of claim 5 , wherein the button assembly further comprises a constrain ring about a first portion of the button that is outside of the button top, wherein a second portion of the button is movable within the button top.

7. The watch of claim 5 , wherein:
the button top abuts the bottom portion; and
the flanges are moveable between the button top and the bottom portion as the flanges are retracted.

8. A watch comprising:
a housing forming:
a channel for receiving a lug of a watch band; and
a recess connected to the channel; and

a button assembly at least partially within the recess, wherein:
in a locked state of the button assembly, flanges of the button assembly engage the housing within the recess and a bottom portion of the button assembly extends to the channel to engage the lug of the watch band; and
in a released state of the button assembly, the flanges are retracted by a button of the button assembly to disengage from the housing and the bottom portion is disengaged from the lug.

9. The watch of claim 8 , wherein each of the flanges is independently biased relative to the button by a spring mechanism.

10. The watch of claim 8 , wherein the housing forms a shoulder at the recess and the flanges abut the shoulder.

11. The watch of claim 8 , wherein:
the recess forms a tapered region; and
each of the flanges comprises a tapered portion, wherein the tapered portions of the flanges engage the tapered region of the recess to bias the button assembly away from the channel.

12. The watch of claim 8 , wherein the button assembly comprises:
a button for retracting the flanges toward each other and disengaging the flanges away from the housing;
a button top, wherein a portion of the button is movable within the button top.

13. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the button assembly further comprises a constrain ring about a first portion of the button that is outside of the button top, wherein a second portion of the button is movable within the button top.

14. The watch of claim 12 , wherein:
the button top abuts the bottom portion; and
the flanges are moveable between the button top and the bottom portion as the flanges are retracted.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Perkins Ryan C
• Webb Michael J
• Chen Hsiang Hung
• Hatanaka Motohide

Classifications

• A44B11/2596 Primary

  the movement being transverse to the longitudinal direction 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

• A44D2203/00

  Fastening by use of magnets · CPC title

• A44C5/147

  Watchcase itself used as fastener · CPC title

• A44C5/2085

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