Granted Patent B2

US 12,672,701 · App. 18/900,543 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins (Lagunitas, CA); Phillip M. Hobson (Menlo Park, CA); Michael J. Webb (Scotts Valley, CA)

Assignee: Apple Inc.

A44B17/0011A44B11/2596A44B11/263A44C5/14A44C5/147A44C5/2085F16B2/005F16B2/04F16B2/06F16B2/12F16B2/14G04B37/1486Y10T403/602

Abstract

Claims (52)

1 . A removable module of a watch band for removable attachment to a watch, the removable module comprising:

a body defining:

an opening having a first portion extending into the body from a first surface of the body and a second portion extending into the body from a second surface of the body opposite the first surface of the body;

first recesses extending into the body from the first surface and being positioned on opposing sides of the first portion of the opening; and

second recesses extending into the body from the second surface and being positioned on opposing sides of the second portion of the opening;

a catch member disposed at least partially within the first portion of the opening;

a ramp member disposed at least partially within the second portion of the opening, the ramp member being moveably coupled to the catch member;

first friction pads each extending from a respective one of the first recesses to protrude beyond the first surface; and

second friction pads each extending from a respective one of the second recesses to protrude beyond the second surface.

2 . The removable module of claim 1 , wherein each of the first friction pads and the second friction pads form a rounded outer surface.

3 . The removable module of claim 1 , wherein:

a surface of the catch member is substantially planar; and

a surface of the ramp member is substantially non-planar.

4 . The removable module of claim 1 , wherein the body is of a first material and each of the first friction pads and the second friction pads are of a second material different from the first material.

5 . The removable module of claim 1 , further comprising a spring mechanism coupled between the catch member and the ramp member, wherein actuation of the ramp member causes the catch member to move from a first position to a second position.

6 . The removable module of claim 5 , wherein the spring mechanism biases the catch member away from the ramp member and to be substantially flush with the second surface.

7 . The removable module of claim 5 , wherein the ramp member comprises one or more protrusions that secure the spring mechanism between the catch member and the ramp member.

8 . The removable module of claim 5 , wherein the spring mechanism is a first spring mechanism and the removable module further comprises an additional spring mechanism, wherein the additional spring mechanism causes the ramp member to protrude from an outer surface of the removable module.

9 . The removable module of claim 1 , wherein the ramp member comprises a flange that is received into an aperture defined by the catch member.

10 . A removable module of a watch band for removable attachment to a watch, the removable module comprising:

a body defining:

a first opening extending through the body from a first surface of the body to a second surface of the body opposite the first surface of the body;

a second opening extending through the body from the first surface of the body to the second surface of the body; and

a third opening extending through the body from the first surface of the body to the second surface of the body, the second opening and the third opening being on opposite sides of the first opening;

a catch member disposed at least partially within the first opening and at the first surface;

a ramp member disposed at least partially within the first opening and at the second surface, the ramp member being moveably coupled to the catch member;

one or more first friction pads disposed partially within the second opening and protruding beyond the first surface and the second surface; and

one or more second friction pads disposed partially within the third opening and protruding beyond the first surface and the second surface.

11 . The removable module of claim 10 , wherein each of the first friction pads and the second friction pads form a rounded outer surface.

12 . The removable module of claim 10 , wherein:

a surface of the catch member is substantially planar; and

a surface of the ramp member is substantially non-planar.

13 . The removable module of claim 10 , wherein the body is of a first material and each of the first friction pads and the second friction pads are of a second material different from the first material.

14 . The removable module of claim 10 , further comprising a spring mechanism coupled between the catch member and the ramp member, wherein actuation of the ramp member causes the catch member to move from a first position to a second position.

15 . A removable module of a watch band for removable attachment to a watch, the removable module comprising:

a body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the body being of a first material;

a catch member disposed at least partially within the body and at the first surface;

a ramp member disposed at least partially within the body and at the second surface, the ramp member being moveably coupled to the catch member;

one or more first friction pads disposed partially within the body and protruding beyond the first surface of the body; and

one or more second friction pads disposed partially within the body and protruding beyond the second surface of the body, the first friction pads and the second friction pads being of a second material different from the first material.

16 . The removable module of claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more first friction pads and the one or more second friction pads form a rounded outer surface.

17 . The removable module of claim 15 , wherein:

a surface of the catch member is substantially planar; and

a surface of the ramp member is substantially non-planar.

18 . The removable module of claim 15 , wherein:

the one or more first friction pads comprise a pair of the first friction pads on opposing sides of the catch member; and

the one or more second friction pads comprise a pair of the second friction pads on opposing sides of the ramp member.

19 . The removable module of claim 15 , wherein the body defines:

a first opening extending through the body from the first surface to the second surface, the catch member and the ramp member being at least partially within the first opening;

a second opening extending through the body from the first surface to the second surface, at least one of the one or more first friction pads being at least partially within the second opening; and

a third opening extending through the body from the first surface to the second surface, at least one of the one or more second friction pads being at least partially within the third opening.

20 . The removable module of claim 15 , further comprising a spring mechanism coupled between the catch member and the ramp member, wherein actuation of the ramp member causes the catch member to move from a first position to a second position.

Continuity (9)

References Cited (219)