Apple has been granted a patent for “Watchbands With Buckles And Woven Fabrics” for the Apple Watch.
About the patent
It relates generally to securement of wearable devices, and, more particularly, to watchbands with buckles and woven fabrics. In the patent Apple notes that some electronic devices may be removably attached to a user. For example, a wristwatch or fitness/health tracking device can be attached to a user’s wrist by joining free ends of a watchband together.
However, Apple notes that, in many cases, watchbands may have limited fit adjustment increments available. For example, some bands have an incrementally user-adjustable size (e.g., a buckling clasp, pin, and eyelet, etc.) whereas other bands have a substantially fixed size, adjustable only with specialized tools and/or expertise (e.g., folding clasp, deployment clasp, snap-fit clasp, etc.).
Other bands may be elasticated expansion-type bands that stretch to fit around a user’s wrist. The degree of comfort and securement of the electronic device can depend on the function and arrangement of the watchband. Apple thinks it can improve on the watchband.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface and an engagement ribbon forming loops on the engagement surface of the base for receiving a hook of a buckle. The engagement ribbon can be interwoven with the base to provide secure anchoring for the hook within one of the loops. The woven portions of the watchband can be securely coupled to end structures, such as the buckle, retaining rings, and/or a connector. The watchband provides adjustable lengths to accommodate different fit configurations as desired.”
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