Holding accessory for a wirelessly locatable tag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12016449-B2
Application number	US-202117478262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2021
Priority date	Apr 17, 2019
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A holder for a wirelessly locatable tag may be used with a wirelessly locatable tag comprising a housing member defining a region of an exterior surface of the wirelessly locatable tag configured to act as a speaker diaphragm. The holder may include a receptacle portion configured to at least partially surround the wirelessly locatable tag, the receptacle portion defining a first opening configured to allow the wirelessly locatable tag to be positioned in the receptacle portion, a second opening configured to at least partially surround an outer periphery of a battery door of the wirelessly locatable tag, and a third opening aligned with the region of the exterior surface configured to act as the speaker diaphragm. The holder may further include a fastener coupled to the receptacle portion and configured to releasably secure the first opening in a closed configuration to retain the wirelessly locatable tag in the receptacle portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A holder for an electronic tag, the electronic tag comprising a housing member, the holder comprising:
a receptacle portion configured to at least partially surround the electronic tag, the receptacle portion comprising:
a first pouch portion defining a first opening configured to at least partially surround an outer periphery of a battery door of the electronic tag; and
a second pouch portion coupled to the first pouch portion and defining a second opening configured to at least partially surround a region of an exterior surface of the housing member of the electronic tag, the first pouch portion and the second pouch portion defining a third opening configured to allow the electronic tag to be positioned in the receptacle portion between the first pouch portion and the second pouch portion;

a fastener coupled to the receptacle portion and configured to releasably secure the first opening in a closed configuration to retain the electronic tag in the receptacle portion; and
a fastening strap configured to releasably attach the holder to an object.

2. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle portion defines a cavity having a size and a shape that corresponds to a size and a shape of the electronic tag.

3. The holder of claim 2 , wherein:
the cavity is defined by an inner surface of the receptacle portion; and
the inner surface contacts the electronic tag when the electronic tag is in the cavity.

4. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first and second openings are circular.

5. The holder of claim 4 , wherein the first and second openings have a same diameter.

6. The holder of claim 1 , wherein:
the fastener is a snap; and
the snap comprises:
a male assembly comprising:
a protrusion component defining a circumferential groove that extends around the protrusion component;
a compression ring positioned within the circumferential groove;
a compliant member positioned in the circumferential groove and configured to apply a biasing force on the compression ring; and

a female assembly defining an opening configured to receive the protrusion component, the compression ring configured to engage a surface of the female assembly to retain an engagement between the male and female assemblies.

7. The holder of claim 1 , wherein:
the fastening strap defines a strap opening at a terminal end of the fastening strap; and
the strap opening is configured to allow the receptacle portion to pass through the strap opening to form a loop in the fastening strap.

8. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first pouch portion defines a first side of the holder and the second pouch portion defines a second side of the holder opposite the first side.

9. The holder of claim 8 , wherein the first opening is concentric with the second opening.

10. A holder for an electronic tag, the electronic tag comprising a housing member, the holder comprising:
a first layer defining:
a first portion of a receptacle portion configured to at least partially surround the electronic tag;
a first opening extending through the first layer and configured to expose a first portion of the housing member of the electronic tag; and
a fastening strap; and

a second layer adjacent the first layer along an interface region and defining:
a second portion of the receptacle portion; and
a second opening extending through the second layer and configured to expose a second portion of the housing member of the electronic tag, the second layer attached to the first layer along a portion of the interface region, thereby defining a third opening between the first layer and the second layer; and

a fastener comprising:
a first fastener assembly coupled to the first layer; and
a second fastener assembly coupled to the second layer and configured to releasably secure the third opening in a closed configuration to retain the electronic tag in the receptacle portion.

11. The holder of claim 10 , wherein the third opening is configured to allow the electronic tag to be positioned in the receptacle portion.

12. The holder of claim 10 , wherein the fastening strap is attached to a clip configured to releasably attach the holder to an object.

13. The holder of claim 10 , wherein a terminal end of the fastening strap is secured to a base of the fastening strap to define a loop.

14. The holder of claim 13 , wherein the terminal end of the fastening strap is secured to the base of the fastening strap by the first fastener assembly.

15. The holder of claim 10 , wherein:
the fastening strap defines a strap opening at a terminal end of the fastening strap; and
the strap opening is configured to allow the receptacle portion to pass through the strap opening to form a loop in the fastening strap.

16. A holder for an electronic tag, the electronic tag comprising a housing member, the holder comprising:
a receptacle portion configured to at least partially surround the electronic tag, the receptacle portion defining:
a first opening configured to receive the electronic tag such that it can be positioned in the receptacle portion;
a second opening aligned with a region of an exterior surface of the housing member;

a tab extending from the receptacle portion proximate the first opening, the tab defining a third opening; and
a strap extending from the receptacle portion proximate the first opening and configured to extend through the third opening to retain the first opening in a closed configuration.

17. The holder of claim 16 , wherein the strap is configured to be removed from the third opening to allow the first opening to expand to receive the electronic tag.

18. The holder of claim 17 , wherein:
the strap defines a loop at a terminal end of the strap; and
the holder further comprises a removable split ring attached to the loop.

19. The holder of claim 18 , wherein a dimension of the removable split ring is larger than a dimension of the third opening, thereby preventing the terminal end of the strap from passing through the third opening when the removable split ring is attached to the loop.

20. The holder of claim 16 , wherein the receptacle portion further defines a fourth opening configured to at least partially surround an outer periphery of a battery door of the electronic tag.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Perkins Ryan C
• Ashcroft Anthony M
• De Jong Erik G
• Hunter Tirshathah A
• Kim Seul Bi
• Wang Erik L
• Werner Christopher M

Classifications

• A45F5/1508

  Holders or carriers for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or digital music players · CPC title

• A45F5/155

  Holders or carriers for thin, flat, rectangular articles, e.g. ID badges or cards · CPC title

• H01M50/184

  characterised by their shape or structure · CPC title

• H01M50/109

  of button or coin shape · CPC title

• H01R4/28

  Clamped connections, spring connections (made by means of terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits H01R12/00) · CPC title