Consumer product attachment systems having locking or expansion characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11723443-B2
Application number	US-202117174225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2021
Priority date	Aug 11, 2014
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

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 comprising:
a top surface;
a bottom surface;
a channel on a side of the housing that is between the top surface and the bottom surface;
a locking assembly including a locking element configured to be received into the channel, a first portion of the locking assembly being accessible at the bottom surface;
a first portion forming an entirety of the channel; and
a second portion, wherein at least a second portion of the locking assembly is between the first portion and the second portion; and

a band comprising:
an attachment unit configured to be inserted into the channel; and
a recess disposed on a surface of the attachment unit,

wherein the locking assembly is spring-biased toward the bottom surface of the housing and the locking element is spring-biased to engage the recess of the band.

2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the locking element comprises an hourglass mechanism.

3. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the attachment unit is configured to be inserted laterally into the channel of the housing in a direction that is across the housing until the locking assembly engages the recess of the band.

4. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the attachment unit is configured to be inserted forwardly into the channel of the housing in a direction that is toward the housing until the locking assembly engages the recess of the band.

5. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the channel is a first channel;
the locking assembly is a first locking assembly;
the side is a first side; and
the housing further comprises:
a second channel on a second side of the housing that is between the top surface and the bottom surface; and
a second locking assembly, a portion of the second locking assembly being accessible at the bottom surface.

6. A watch comprising:
a housing comprising:
a top surface;
a bottom surface;
a channel on a side of the housing that is between the top surface and the bottom surface;
a locking assembly including a locking element configured to be received into the channel, a first portion of the locking assembly being accessible at the bottom surface;
a first portion forming an entirety of the channel; and
a second portion, wherein at least a second portion of the locking assembly is between the first portion and the second portion; and

a band comprising:
an attachment unit configured to be inserted into the channel; and
a recess disposed on a surface of the attachment unit,

wherein the attachment unit is configured to be inserted forwardly into the channel of the housing in a direction that is toward the housing until the locking assembly engages the recess of the band.

7. The watch of claim 6 , wherein the locking element comprises an hourglass mechanism.

8. The watch of claim 6 , wherein the housing further comprises a spring between the first portion and the at least second portion of the locking assembly.

9. The watch of claim 6 , wherein:
the channel is a first channel;
the locking assembly is a first locking assembly;
the side is a first side; and
the housing further comprises:
a second channel on a second side of the housing that is between the top surface and the bottom surface; and
a second locking assembly, a portion of the second locking assembly being accessible at the bottom surface.

10. A watch comprising:
a housing comprising:
a first portion forming an entirety of a channel; and
a second portion coupled to the first portion; and
a locking assembly including a locking element configured to be received into the channel, a first portion of the locking assembly being accessible at the second portion, wherein at least a second portion of the locking assembly is between the first portion and the second portion; and

a band comprising:
an attachment unit configured to be inserted into the channel; and
a recess disposed on a surface of the attachment unit,

wherein the locking assembly is spring-biased toward the second portion of the housing and the locking element is spring-biased to engage the recess of the band.

11. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the locking element comprises an hourglass mechanism.

12. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the attachment unit is configured to be inserted laterally into the channel of the housing in a direction that is across the housing until the locking assembly engages the recess of the band.

13. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the attachment unit is configured to be inserted forwardly into the channel of the housing in a direction that is toward the housing until the locking assembly engages the recess of the band.

14. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the housing further comprises a spring between the first portion and the at least second portion of the locking assembly.

15. The watch of claim 10 , wherein:
the channel is a first channel;
the locking assembly is a first locking assembly;
the housing further comprises:
a second channel; and
a second locking assembly, a portion of the second locking assembly being accessible at the second portion.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A44C5/14 Primary

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

• A44C5/147

  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