Attachment system for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11717060-B2
Application number	US-202117306802-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2021
Priority date	Aug 11, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

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 watch band assembly for a wearable electronic device having a channel and a recess, the watch band assembly comprising:
a removable module configured to be removably coupled to the wearable electronic device, the removable module comprising a body defining a surface and an opening extending into the surface;
a catch member moveable within the opening, the catch member comprising:
a substantially planar top surface; and
a chamfered edge surrounding the substantially planar top surface and extending from the substantially planar top surface at least to the surface of the body; and

a spring mechanism configured to bias the catch member to be proud of the surface of the removable module, wherein the chamfered edge is configured to actuate the catch member to be flush with the surface of the removable module when the removable module moves along the channel and the chamfered edge contacts the channel or the recess.

2. The watch band assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a band strap configured to attach the wearable electronic device to a user, the removable module being coupled to the band strap.

3. The watch band assembly of claim 1 , further comprising friction pads on opposite sides of the catch member.

4. The watch band assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring mechanism is a first spring mechanism and the watch band assembly further comprises a second spring mechanism to bias the catch member.

5. The watch band assembly of claim 1 , wherein the catch member forms a rounded oblong shape.

6. The watch band assembly of claim 1 , wherein the catch member is further configured to be actuated by force applied by a tool or a user.

7. A watch band assembly for a wearable electronic device having a channel and a recess, the watch band assembly comprising:
a band strap configured to attach the wearable electronic device to a user;
a removable module coupled to the band strap and configured to be removably coupled to the wearable electronic device, the removable module comprising a body defining a top surface and an opening extending into the top surface; and
a locking mechanism configured to lock the removable module to the wearable electronic device when inserted into the channel of the wearable electronic device, the locking mechanism comprising:
a catch member having a chamfered edge extending either to the top surface of the body or into the opening; and
a spring mechanism facilitating movement of the locking mechanism between:
a first position, while the locking mechanism is outside the channel, with the catch member being proud with respect to the top surface of the removable module;
a second position, while the locking mechanism is partially within the channel, with the catch member substantially flush with the top surface of the removable module, wherein the chamfered edge actuates the locking mechanism from the first position to the second position when the chamfered edge contacts the channel of the wearable electronic device; and
a third position, while the locking mechanism is inside the channel, with the catch member protruding out of the opening into the recess.

8. The watch band assembly of claim 7 , wherein the spring mechanism is a first spring mechanism and the locking mechanism further comprises a second spring mechanism to bias the catch member.

9. The watch band assembly of claim 7 , wherein the chamfered edge surrounds a substantially planar top surface of the catch member.

10. The watch band assembly of claim 7 , further comprising friction pads on opposite sides of the catch member.

11. The watch band assembly of claim 7 , wherein the catch member forms a rounded oblong shape.

12. The watch band assembly of claim 7 , wherein the catch member is further configured to be actuated by force applied by a tool or the user.

13. A watch band assembly for a wearable electronic device, the watch band assembly comprising:
a removable module configured to be removably coupled to the wearable electronic device, the removable module comprising a body defining a surface and an opening extending into the surface;
a catch member moveable within the opening, the catch member comprising:
a substantially planar top surface; and
a chamfered edge extending from the substantially planar top surface at least to the surface of the body, the chamfered edge being configured to actuate the catch member as the removable module is inserted into a channel and the chamfered edge contacts the channel; and

a spring mechanism configured to bias the catch member to be proud of the surface of the removable module.

14. The watch band assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a band strap configured to attach the wearable electronic device to a user, the removable module being coupled to the band strap.

15. The watch band assembly of claim 13 , wherein the chamfered edge surrounds the substantially planar top surface.

16. The watch band assembly of claim 13 , further comprising friction pads on opposite sides of the catch member.

17. The watch band assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spring mechanism is a first spring mechanism and the watch band assembly further comprises a second spring mechanism to bias the catch member.

18. The watch band assembly of claim 13 , wherein the catch member forms a rounded oblong shape.

19. The watch band assembly of claim 13 , wherein the catch member is moveable within the opening to a position with the substantially planar top surface being substantially flush with the surface of the removable module.

20. The watch band assembly of claim 13 , wherein the catch member is further configured to be actuated by force applied by a tool or a user.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A44B17/0011 Primary

  Press-button fasteners in which the elastic retaining action is obtained by a spring working in the plane of the fastener · CPC title

• A44B11/2596 Primary

  the movement being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strap or chain · CPC title

• A44B11/263

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

• A44C5/14

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

• A44C5/147

  Watchcase itself used as fastener · CPC title