Strap assembly for a wearable mobile device and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12059068-B2
Application number	US-202318335696-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2023
Priority date	Apr 26, 2022
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to strap assemblies for securing a mobile device relative to an arm of a user and methods of using the same. Various embodiments are directed to a strap assembly comprising a strap panel comprising a rachet cable tension adjustment slot, a ratchet assembly for selective tightening of the strap assembly towards an arm and comprising a ratchet element on the strap panel; a dynamic cable attachment element disposed within the rachet cable tension adjustment slot and configured to move along a length of the rachet cable tension adjustment slot; and a ratchet cable extending between the ratchet element and the dynamic cable attachment element and having a looped cable portion configured for attachment to the dynamic cable attachment element; wherein the dynamic cable attachment element is movable along the length of the rachet cable tension adjustment slot in response to forces imparted from the ratchet cable.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A strap assembly for securing a mobile device to an arm of a user, the strap assembly comprising:
a strap panel comprising a ratchet cable tension adjustment slot;
a ratchet assembly configured to facilitate selective tightening of the strap assembly towards the arm of the user, the ratchet assembly comprising:
a ratchet element arranged on the strap panel;
a dynamic cable attachment element disposed within the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot; and
a ratchet cable extending at least between the ratchet element and the dynamic cable attachment element;
wherein the dynamic cable attachment element is configured to be moved along a length of the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot in response to one or more forces imparted on the dynamic cable attachment element from the ratchet cable.

2. The strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or more forces imparted on the dynamic cable attachment element from the ratchet cable are defined at least in part by a first tension at a front strap portion of the strap assembly and a second tension at a rear strap portion of the strap assembly.

3. The strap assembly of claim 2 , wherein the strap assembly is configured such that a movement of the dynamic cable attachment element to an offset position along the length of the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot causes the first tension and the second tension to be at least partially equilibrated.

4. The strap assembly of claim 3 , wherein the offset position of the dynamic cable attachment element within the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot corresponds to a magnitude of tension imbalance within the strap assembly that is defined by a difference in diameter of a narrower arm portion and a wider arm portion.

5. The strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the length of the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot extends between a first slot end and a second slot end, and wherein the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot is defined by a curved profile.

6. The strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strap assembly is configured to enable a range of skewed tension angles for a plurality of angular tension forces resulting from differences in diameters between ends of an arm portion.

7. The strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet cable is defined at least in part by a looped cable portion configured for attachment to the dynamic cable attachment element.

8. The strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet element comprises at least one of a ratchet wheel, a knob, a gear and a lever to adjust tension in the ratchet cable.

9. A method for securing a strap assembly on an arm of a user, the method comprising:
configuring a ratchet assembly in the strap assembly to facilitate selective tightening of the strap assembly towards the arm of the user, wherein the ratchet assembly comprises a ratchet element, a dynamic cable attachment element and a ratchet cable; and
configuring the dynamic cable attachment element within a ratchet cable tension adjustment slot to move throughout a range of motion defined along a length of the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot in response to one or more forces imparted on the dynamic cable attachment element from the ratchet cable, wherein:
the ratchet cable extends at least between the ratchet element and the dynamic cable attachment element.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the length of the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot extends between a first slot end and a second slot end, and wherein the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot is defined by a curved profile.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein a movement of the dynamic cable attachment element from a nominal position along the length of the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot to an offset position at a first end of the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot corresponds to an angular movement of the dynamic cable attachment element about the ratchet element.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ratchet element is configured to receive a user interaction and initiate the tightening of the strap assembly based at least in part on the user interaction.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the strap assembly is configured to enable a range of skewed tension angles for a plurality of angular tension forces resulting from differences in diameters between ends of an arm portion.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein one or more forces imparted on the dynamic cable attachment element from the ratchet cable are defined at least in part by a first tension at a front strap portion of the strap assembly and a second tension at a rear strap portion of the strap assembly.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the strap assembly is configured such that a movement of the dynamic cable attachment element to an offset position along the length of the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot causes the first tension and the second tension to be at least partially equilibrated.

16. A strap assembly comprising:
a ratchet cable tension adjustment slot, wherein the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot is defined by a curved profile; and
a dynamic cable attachment element disposed within the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot, wherein:
the dynamic cable attachment element is configured to enable a range of skewed tension angles for a plurality of angular tension forces resulting from differences in diameters between ends of an arm portion of a user.

17. The strap assembly of claim 16 , wherein one or more forces imparted on the dynamic cable attachment element from a ratchet cable are defined at least in part by a first tension at a front strap portion of the strap assembly and a second tension at a rear strap portion of the strap assembly.

18. The strap assembly of claim 17 , wherein the strap assembly is configured such that a movement of the dynamic cable attachment element to an offset position along a length of the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot causes the first tension and the second tension to be at least partially equilibrated.

19. The strap assembly of claim 18 , wherein the front strap portion is configured to engage a first arm portion of an arm of the user and the rear strap portion is configured to engage a second arm portion of the user, wherein the first arm portion is defined by a first diameter and the second arm portion is defined by a second diameter that is at least substantially different than the first diameter.

20. The strap assembly of claim 19 , wherein the strap assembly is configured such that a position of the dynamic cable attachment element within the ratchet cable tension adjustment slot corresponds at least in part to a difference in the first diameter and the second diameter.

Assignees

• Hand Held Prod Inc

Inventors

• Franz Dwight
• Dunbar Blake E
• Cort Emily N
• Pierce Robert M

Classifications

• A45F5/1516

  Holders or carriers for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones · CPC title

• A45F2005/008

  Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg · CPC title

• A45F2005/006

  comprising a suspension strap or lanyard · CPC title

• A45F5/00 Primary

  Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping · CPC title

• A45F2200/0516

  Human Necessities · mapped topic