Attachment system for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11026484-B2
Application number	US-201916297390-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2019
Priority date	Aug 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A removable module and a housing for an attachment system of a consumer product is described. The removable module includes a locking mechanism comprising a first portion having a substantially planar top surface and second portion that comprises a substantially non-planar bottom surface. The first portion and the second portion are coupled together. The locking mechanism also includes a first spring mechanism coupled between the first portion and the second portion. The first spring mechanism causes the first portion to be biased away from the second portion. The locking mechanism also includes a second spring mechanism. The second spring mechanism causes the substantially planar top surface of the first portion to be biased substantially flush with respect to the removable module and also causes the substantially non-planar bottom surface of the second portion to be biased proud with respect to the removable module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A housing for a watch, the housing comprising:
a channel configured to slideably receive a watch band and having:
a first portion having a first width; and
a second portion having a second width that is larger than the first width and forming an undercut;

a recess open to the channel, the recess adapted to receive at least a portion of a locking mechanism of the watch band when the locking mechanism is aligned with the recess;
an opening;
a ledge between the recess and the opening, the ledge defining a ledge width across opposing sides of the ledge; and
a release mechanism comprising:
a button portion at least partially within the opening and defining a button portion width greater than the ledge width;
a plunger at least partially within the recess and defining a plunger width greater than the ledge width; and
a spring between the button portion and the ledge and biasing the button portion to be flush with an outer surface of the housing.

2. The housing of claim 1 , wherein:
the plunger has a flange; and
the button portion has a receiving slot for receiving the flange to couple the plunger to the button portion.

3. The housing of claim 1 , further comprising an additional spring between the button portion and the ledge.

4. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the channel includes a rounded sidewall that matches a rounded shape of a removable module of the watch band.

5. A housing for a watch, the housing comprising:
a channel, wherein the channel is shaped to receive a watch band having a spring-loaded locking mechanism;
a recess;
an opening;
a ledge between the recess and the opening;
a button at least partially within the opening and the recess, the button being moveable between:
a first position against the ledge and providing a space within the recess for receiving at least a portion of the spring-loaded locking mechanism; and
a second position for urging the spring-loaded locking mechanism out of the recess and into the channel; and

a spring mechanism biasing the button toward the first position.

6. The housing of claim 5 , wherein, while in the first position, the button is flush with an outer surface of the housing.

7. The housing of claim 5 , wherein, while in the second position, the button is flush with a surface of the channel.

8. The housing of claim 5 , wherein the button comprises:
a plunger having a flange; and
a button portion having a receiving slot for receiving the flange to couple the plunger to the button portion.

9. The housing of claim 8 , wherein the plunger is positioned at least partially within the recess and the button portion is positioned at least partially within the opening.

10. The housing of claim 5 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises multiple springs between the button and the ledge.

11. The housing of claim 5 , wherein the channel comprises:
a first portion having a first width; and
a second portion having a second width that is larger than the first width and forming an undercut.

12. The housing of claim 11 , wherein the channel includes a rounded sidewall that matches a rounded shape of a removable module of the watch band.

13. A housing for a watch, the housing comprising:
a channel adapted to receive a watch band when the watch band slides relative to the housing;
a recess for receiving a locking mechanism of the watch band, wherein the locking mechanism is spring-loaded and includes a catch member disposed on a first surface of the watch band and a ramp member disposed on a second surface of the watch band;
an opening;
a ledge between the recess and the opening;
a button at least partially within the opening and the recess; and
a spring mechanism configured to bias the button away from the channel and against the ledge.

14. The housing of claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism is spring-loaded and adapted to move from an extended state to a compressed state as the watch band is received into the housing.

15. The housing of claim 13 , wherein the channel comprises:
a first portion having a first width; and
a second portion having a second width that is larger than the first width and forming an undercut.

16. The housing of claim 15 , wherein the channel includes a rounded sidewall that matches a rounded shape of a removable module of the watch band.

17. The housing of claim 13 , wherein the button comprises:
a plunger having a flange; and
a button portion having a receiving slot for receiving the flange to couple the plunger to the button portion.

18. The housing of claim 17 , wherein the plunger is positioned at least partially within the recess and the button portion is positioned at least partially within the opening.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Perkins Ryan C
• Hobson Phillip M
• Webb Michael J

Classifications

• A44B11/263

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

• A44C5/147

  Watchcase itself used as fastener · CPC title

• F16B2/14

  using wedges · CPC title

• F16B2/04

  internal, i.e. with spreading action (F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• A44C5/14

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