Magnetic wristband

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016007697-A1
Application number	US-201414771563-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 10, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This application relates generally to various embodiments of a magnetic wristband. More specifically the application describes a design for a magnetic wristband having a number of configurations. In one configuration the wristband is magnetically coupled around a user's wrist. In another configuration the magnetic wristband can be magnetically coupled around an electronic device to which it is attached. In this second described configuration the magnetic wristband acts as a protective cover for the electronic device to which the wristband is attached. In this way a user can reduce the likelihood of damage being inflicted upon the electronic device while it is not being worn.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A magnetic wristband, comprising:
a first wrist strap having a first end configured for attaching to a first end of an object, the first wrist strap comprising: a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a first plurality of magnets disposed between the first and second surface in accordance with a first polarity pattern; and a second wrist strap having a first end configured for attaching to a second end of the object, the second wrist strap comprising: a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a second plurality of magnets disposed between the first and second surface in accordance with a second polarity pattern, wherein in a first wrapping configuration the first wrist strap is magnetically coupled concurrently to both the first and second surface of the second wrist strap, and wherein in a second wrapping configuration the first wrist strap is magnetically coupled only to the first surface of the second wrist strap.

2 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second polarity patterns comprise repeating polarity sequences for the first and second plurality of magnets that read the same from both a first and second end of each of the wrist straps.

3 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 2 , wherein in the second wrapping configuration the first and second straps cooperate to form an aperture configured to fit around a wrist of a user, and wherein the formed aperture has an adjustable size because the first and second polarity patterns cooperate to allow the first and second wrist straps to magnetically couple to one another in a plurality of different positions.

4 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 3 , wherein a magnetic field of each of the first plurality of magnets is orientated in a first direction and wherein each of the second plurality of magnets of the second wrist strap have a polarity oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction.

5 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 4 , wherein a magnetically neutral spacer is arranged between adjacent magnets within the first and second wrist straps.

6 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 4 , wherein a plurality of magnetically attractable elements are arranged between select ones of the first and second plurality of magnets.

7 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first and second plurality of magnets are neodymium bar magnets.

8 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 4 , wherein in the second wrapping configuration the first and second plurality of bar magnets have magnetic fields aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the formed aperture.

9 . An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having a first end and second end, the second end opposite the first end; a display; a user interface; and a magnetic wristband, comprising:
a first wrist strap having a first end mechanically coupled to the first end of the housing, the first wrist strap comprising: a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a first plurality of magnets disposed between the first and second surface in accordance with a first polarity pattern; and
a second wrist strap having a first end mechanically coupled to the second end of the housing, the second wrist strap comprising: a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a second plurality of magnets disposed between the first and second surface in accordance with a second polarity pattern,
wherein in a first wrapping configuration the first wrist strap is magnetically coupled concurrently to both the first and second surface of the second wrist strap, and wherein in a second wrapping configuration the first wrist strap is magnetically coupled only to the first surface of the second wrist strap.

10 . The electronic device as recited in claim 9 , wherein a substantial portion of both the first and second wrist straps have a width dimension greater than the housing of the electronic device, thereby allowing the first and second wrist straps to provide protection for lateral portions of the housing in the first wrapping configuration.

11 . The electronic device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the magnetic wristband further comprises a plurality of pockets disposed within each of the first and second wrist straps, the plurality of pockets operable to hold each of the first and second plurality of magnets in place within the first and second wrist straps.

12 . The electronic device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the plurality of pockets are padded, thereby providing additional protection for each of the first and second plurality of magnets.

13 . The wrist-mountable electronic device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch sensor disposed above the display and configured to receive touch inputs from a user of the wrist-mountable device.

14 . The wrist-mountable electronic device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the user interface further comprises a plurality of buttons disposed along lateral portions of the housing.

15 . A magnetic wristband, comprising:
a first wrist strap comprising: a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of magnetically attractable elements disposed between the first and second surface; and a second wrist strap comprising: a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a second plurality of magnets disposed between the first and second surface in accordance with a polarity pattern, wherein in a first wrapping configuration the first wrist strap is magnetically coupled concurrently to both the first and second surface of the second wrist strap, and wherein in a second wrapping configuration the first wrist strap is magnetically coupled only to the first surface of the second wrist strap.

16 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first wrist strap further comprises a magnet disposed at a distal end of the first wrist strap, thereby increasing strength of the magnetic coupling between the first and second wrist straps in both the first and second wrapping configurations.

17 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 16 , wherein a plurality of magnetically neutral spacers are interspersed with both the magnetically attractable elements of the first wrist strap and the magnets of the second wrist strap.

18 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 17 , wherein the plurality of magnetically neutral spacers are aluminum bars.

19 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of magnetically attractable elements act as a shunt for the plurality of magnets of the second wrist strap, thereby limiting a size of a magnetic field emanating from the second wrist strap.

20 . The magnetic wristband as recited in claim 15 , wherein the second wrist strap further comprises a layer of padding disposed beneath the first and second surface of the second wrist strap, thereby providing protection for the plurality of magnets of the second wrist strap.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• De Jong Erik G

Classifications

• F16B1/00

  Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts · CPC title

• G06F1/1662

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• F16B2001/0035

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• A44C5/2071 Primary

  with the two ends of the strap or chain overlapping each other and fastened by an action perpendicularly to the main plane of these two ends (A44C5/2009 - A44C5/2057 take precedence) · CPC title