Dynamically adjustable bands for wearable devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12096829-B2
Application number	US-202217849487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2022
Priority date	Jun 24, 2022
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

Bands for electronic devices, including wearable devices, are designed to dynamically alter their shape (e.g., lengthen) in response to an external force. A band may include one or more interior structures disposed in an exterior structure. The interior structure(s) is/are pulled in tension by the exterior structure. When the interior structure(s) is/are pulled in tension, an additional force (e.g., by a user) that applies tension to the interior structure(s) may cause a relatively small change in tension to the interior structure(s). As a result, the band may appear to provide the same amount to users, despite users having a different wrist size/diameter. A similar phenomenon may occur to a single user when the user's wrist changes in size. Accordingly, based on the interior structure(s) being placed in tension by the exterior structure(s), the force provided by the band may appear constant to users.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A band for a wearable device, the band comprising:
a first structural member that comprises an internal chamber, the first structural member further comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a central portion between the first end and the second end; and
a second structural member positioned in the internal chamber, wherein the second structural member is secured with the first structural member, wherein in response to the first structural member coupling with the wearable device:
a first force is applied to the second structural member by the first structural member, and
a second force is applied to the first structural member by the second structural member, the second force altering the first structural member from a first dimension to a second dimension.

2. The band of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structural member comprises a fabric, and
the second structural member compresses the fabric.

3. The band of claim 1 , wherein the second structural member expands from a first length to a second length based on the first force provided by the first structural member.

4. The band of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structural member comprises a fabric, and
the second structural member comprises an assembly, the assembly comprising a first metal structure and a second metal structure.

5. The band of claim 4 , wherein:
the first end is configured to couple with a first receptacle of the wearable device; and
the second end is configured to couple with a second receptacle of the wearable device, wherein the first metal structure is secured with the first end, and the second metal structure is secured with the second end.

6. The band of claim 5 , wherein the first structural member extends continuously from the first end to the second end.

7. The band of claim 4 , wherein the first metal structure overlaps the second metal structure.

8. The band of claim 1 , wherein the second structural member is fixed to the first end, and the second dimension is less than the first dimension.

9. The band of claim 1 , wherein the second force provides a counterforce that biases the first end and the second end toward the central portion.

10. A band for a wearable device, the band comprising:
a fabric cover that forms a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a first spring element coupled with the first end; and
a second spring element coupled with the second end, wherein the fabric cover pulls the first spring element and the second spring element in tension, and based on the first spring element and the second spring element being in tension, the first spring element and the second spring element are configured to apply a counterforce to compress the fabric cover from a first dimension to a second dimension.

11. The band of claim 10 , wherein the fabric cover comprises a sleeve, and the first spring element and the second spring element are disposed in the sleeve.

12. The band of claim 10 , wherein the first spring element overlaps with the second spring element.

13. The band of claim 10 , wherein the first spring element and the second spring element are non-overlapping.

14. The band of claim 10 , wherein:
when the first end is secured in a first receptacle of the wearable device, at least a portion of the first spring element is located in the first receptacle, and
when the second end is secured in a second receptacle of the wearable device, at least a portion of the second spring element is located in the second receptacle.

15. A band for a wearable device, the band comprising:
an exterior structure that includes a sleeve, the exterior structure comprising a first end and a second end; and
an interior structure disposed in the sleeve, the interior structure fixed to the first end, wherein in response to the first end and the second end being coupled with the wearable device, the interior structure applies a first force to compress the exterior structure from a first dimension to a second dimension less than the first dimension while the exterior structure applies a second force to pull the interior structure in tension.

16. The band of claim 15 , wherein the interior structure comprises:
a first structural member that carries a first magnet and a second magnet; and
a second structural member that carries a third magnet and a fourth magnet, wherein the first structural member and the second structural member are adjustable with respect to each other to transition between a first position and a second position.

17. The band of claim 16 , wherein:
in the first position:
the first magnet is magnetically coupled to the third magnet, and
the second magnet is magnetically coupled to the fourth magnet, and

in the second position:
the first magnet is magnetically coupled to the fourth magnet, and
the second magnet is magnetically coupled to the third magnet.

18. The band of claim 15 , wherein the interior structure comprises:
a first structural member that carries a first detent and a second detent; and
a second structural member that carries a first receptacle, a second receptacle, and a third receptacle, wherein the first structural member and the second structural member are adjustable with respect to each other to transition between a first position and a second position.

19. The band of claim 18 , wherein:
in the first position:
the first detent is located in the first receptacle, and
the second detent is located in the second receptacle, and

in the second position:
the first detent is located in the second receptacle, and
the second detent is located in the third receptacle.

20. The band of claim 15 ,
wherein the exterior structure extends continuously from the first end to the second end.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Leith William
• Henrot Camille I
• Olmstead Donald L
• Lu Jessica J
• Camp John S
• Kim Seul Bi
• Walker Joseph B

Classifications

• A44C5/0053

  Flexible straps · CPC title

• A44C5/14 Primary

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