IP Library Granted Patent US 10,945,496
Granted Patent B2
US 10,945,496 · App. 16/231,061 · Granted Mar 16, 2021

Consumer product attachment systems having locking or expansion characteristics

Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins (San Francisco, CA); Michael J. Webb (Scotts Valley, CA); Hsiang Hung Chen (New Taipei, TW); Motohide Hatanaka (Menlo Park, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
A44C5/14A44B11/2596A44B11/263A44C5/147A44C5/2085G04B37/1486H05K999/99A44D2203/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,945,496
App. No.
16/231,061
Granted
Mar 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking assembly for an attachment system of a consumer product. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an attachment unit that is configured to be inserted and removed from a housing of a consumer product. The attachment unit and/or the housing include an expansion component or other such locking assembly configured to releasably secure the attachment unit within the housing.

Claims (37)

1. A watch comprising:

a housing forming:

a channel for receiving a lug of a watch band; and

a recess connected to the channel; and

a button assembly at least partially within the recess and comprising:

flanges extending toward the housing within the recess;

a button for retracting the flanges toward each other and disengaging the flanges away from the housing; and

a bottom portion for engaging the lug of the watch band within the channel.

2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein each of the flanges is independently biased relative to the button by a spring mechanism.

3. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the housing forms a shoulder at the recess and the flanges abut the shoulder.

4. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:

the recess forms a tapered region; and

each of the flanges comprises a tapered portion, wherein the tapered portions of the flanges engage the tapered region of the recess to bias the button assembly away from the channel.

5. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the button assembly further comprises a button top, wherein a portion of the button is movable within the button top.

6. The watch of claim 5 , wherein the button assembly further comprises a constrain ring about a first portion of the button that is outside of the button top, wherein a second portion of the button is movable within the button top.

7. The watch of claim 5 , wherein:

the button top abuts the bottom portion; and

the flanges are moveable between the button top and the bottom portion as the flanges are retracted.

8. A watch comprising:

a housing forming:

a channel for receiving a lug of a watch band; and

a recess connected to the channel; and

a button assembly at least partially within the recess, wherein:

in a locked state of the button assembly, flanges of the button assembly engage the housing within the recess and a bottom portion of the button assembly extends to the channel to engage the lug of the watch band; and

in a released state of the button assembly, the flanges are retracted by a button of the button assembly to disengage from the housing and the bottom portion is disengaged from the lug.

9. The watch of claim 8 , wherein each of the flanges is independently biased relative to the button by a spring mechanism.

10. The watch of claim 8 , wherein the housing forms a shoulder at the recess and the flanges abut the shoulder.

11. The watch of claim 8 , wherein:

the recess forms a tapered region; and

each of the flanges comprises a tapered portion, wherein the tapered portions of the flanges engage the tapered region of the recess to bias the button assembly away from the channel.

12. The watch of claim 8 , wherein the button assembly comprises:

a button for retracting the flanges toward each other and disengaging the flanges away from the housing;

a button top, wherein a portion of the button is movable within the button top.

13. The watch of claim 12 , wherein the button assembly further comprises a constrain ring about a first portion of the button that is outside of the button top, wherein a second portion of the button is movable within the button top.

14. The watch of claim 12 , wherein:

the button top abuts the bottom portion; and

the flanges are moveable between the button top and the bottom portion as the flanges are retracted.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 14684180 · Apr 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62048248 · Sep 9, 2014
Provisional Application 62036080 · Aug 11, 2014
Related Publication 20190110561A1 · Apr 18, 2019
Cited By (3)
US 1,059,182 US 1,111,872 US 12,449,842