Apple wants improved watch band, shoe string, belt, purse, iPad/iPhone cases attachment systems

Apple has applied for a patent (number 20210108660) for “attachment apparatuses and associated methods of use and manufacture.” Interestingly, it involves watch bands, iPad, iPhone cases, armstraps, belts, purses, shoestrings, and more.

In the patent filing, Apple notes that, generally, straps or bands may be attached to a variety of items for use in carrying the items (e.g., hand strap or luggage strap), strapping them to another item or a person’s body (e.g., arm band), or a plurality of other uses. The tech giant says that, however, conventional straps may require a mechanical connection to fixedly attach the strap to an item, and may not offer easy personal adjustments to length and other attributes. 

What’s more, “the mechanical connections may be difficult to use making it difficult to remove or replace the strap.” Apple thinks it can do better.

Here’s the summary of the patent filing: “A system for carrying or using a device includes the device and at least one attachment apparatus. The device may include at least one attachment element. The attachment apparatus may include a length of material and at least one attachment point arranged on an end of the length of material. The at least one attachment point may include at least one magnetic feature configured to attach and detach the device and the length of material. The material can include but is not limited to cloth, metallic (magnetic and non-magnetic), fibrous material, and so forth.”