Wristbands with magnetic coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12453396-B2
Application number	US-202418622396-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2024
Priority date	May 22, 2019
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

A wristband can comfortably secure an electronic device, such as a wristwatch or fitness/health tracking device, to a wrist of a user. The wristband can include a number of magnets that allow the wristband to be magnetically coupled to itself when folded over or when separate band portions are overlapping. The magnets can include a polymer mixed with a magnetic material to provide magnetic properties and flexibility. The magnets can be joined together by a continuous support structure that extends through opposing pairs of the magnets. The support structure can provide substantial and ability as well as tensile strength. The magnets and the support structure can be surrounded by a flexible cover to protect the components within.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A band for securing an electronic device to a user, the band comprising:
a connector for attaching to a housing of the electronic device;
multiple first segments each comprising a hard magnetic material;
multiple second segments between the first segments and the connector, each of the second segments comprising a soft magnetic material;
a support structure, wherein the support structure extends continuously through each of the first segments and each of the second segments; and
an outer cover surrounding each of the first segments and the second segments.

2. The band of claim 1 , wherein each of the first segments and each of the second segments further comprises a polymer.

3. The band of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer bonding each of the first segments and each of the second segments to the outer cover.

4. The band of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first band portion comprising:
the connector;
the first segments;
the second segments; and
the outer cover; and

a second band portion comprising:
an additional connector for attaching to the housing of the electronic device;
multiple third segments each comprising the hard magnetic material;
multiple fourth segments between the third segments and the additional connector, each of the fourth segments comprising the soft magnetic material; and
an additional outer cover surrounding each of the third segments and the fourth segments.

5. The band of claim 1 , further comprising a retaining ring slidably disposed along the outer cover, the retaining ring comprising:
an additional connector configured to connect to the housing; and
an opening, wherein the outer cover extends through the opening and is configured to be folded onto itself.

6. The band of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover comprises leather.

7. The band of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises holes, wherein each of the holes is positioned between a corresponding pair of the first segments or a corresponding pair of the second segments.

8. The band of claim 1 , wherein widths of the first segments and widths of the second segments are greater than a width of the support structure, such that opposing pairs of the first segments and opposing pairs of the second segments are connected to each other outside the width of the support structure.

9. The band of claim 1 , wherein the connector is attached to the support structure.

10. The band of claim 1 , further comprising multiple third segments between the first segments and the connector, each of the third segments being non-magnetic, wherein the multiple second segments are between the multiple first segments and the multiple third segments, wherein the cover is further surrounding the third segments.

11. A band for securing an electronic device to a user, the band comprising:
a connector for attaching to a housing of the electronic device;
a first section comprising a hard magnetic material;
a second section between the first section and the connector, the second section comprising a soft magnetic material;
a support structure defining a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein multiple segments of the first section are disposed on both of the first side and the second side of the support structure and wherein multiple segments of the second section are disposed on both of the first side and the second side of the support structure; and
an outer cover surrounding each of the first section and the second section.

12. The band of claim 11 , wherein each of the first section and each of the second section further comprises a polymer.

13. The band of claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive layer bonding each of the first section and each of the second section to the outer cover.

14. The band of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first band portion comprising:
the connector;
the first section;
the second section; and
the outer cover; and

a second band portion comprising:
an additional connector for attaching to the housing of the electronic device;
a third section comprising the hard magnetic material;
a fourth section between the third section and the additional connector, the fourth section comprising the soft magnetic material; and
an additional outer cover surrounding each of the third section and the fourth section.

15. The band of claim 11 , further comprising a retaining ring slidably disposed along the outer cover, the retaining ring comprising:
an additional connector configured to connect to the housing; and
an opening, wherein the outer cover extends through the opening and is configured to be folded onto itself.

16. The band of claim 11 , wherein the outer cover comprises leather.

17. A band for securing an electronic device to a user, the band comprising:
a connector configured to connect to a housing of the electronic device;
a magnet comprising permanent magnetic particles;
a non-magnetic portion between the magnet and the connector;
a soft magnetic portion between the magnet and the non-magnetic portion, the soft magnetic portion comprising soft magnetic particles; and
a support structure extending continuously through each of the magnet, the non-magnetic portion, and the soft magnetic portion.

18. The band of claim 17 , wherein each of the magnet, the non-magnetic portion, and the soft magnetic portion comprises a polymer.

19. The band of claim 17 , further comprising:
a first band portion comprising:
the connector;
the magnet;
the non-magnetic portion; and
the soft magnetic portion; and

a second band portion comprising:
an additional connector for attaching to the housing of the electronic device;
an additional magnet comprising additional permanent magnetic particles;
an additional non-magnetic portion between the additional magnet and the additional connector; and
an additional soft magnetic portion between the additional magnet and the additional non-magnetic portion, the additional soft magnetic portion comprising additional soft magnetic particles.

20. The band of claim 17 , further comprising a retaining ring slidably disposed along an outer cover, the retaining ring comprising:
an additional connector configured to connect to the housing; and
an opening, wherein the outer cover extends through the opening and is configured to be folded onto itself.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Moustafa Zaki
• Ji Qigen
• Mclain Caitlin M
• Mccoy Clayton J
• Zhu Hao
• Chen Hsiang Hung
• Dey Stephen E
• Cunha Fernando F

Classifications

• A41D20/00

  Wristbands or headbands, e.g. for absorbing sweat · CPC title

• A44D2203/00

  Fastening by use of magnets · CPC title

• A44C5/0007 Primary

  Bracelets specially adapted for other functions or with means for attaching other articles · CPC title

• A44C5/0053 Primary

  Flexible straps · CPC title

• A44C5/14

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