Apple eyes ways to make Apple Watch bands even more comfortable

Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,893,726) for “attachment systems for electronic devices” that shows it’s trying to make Apple Watch bands that are even more comfortable.

In the patent data, Apple says that conventional watch bands often require multiple steps and/or dexterity to attach or to detach from a user’s wrist. A user may ignore these and other disadvantages of conventional watch bands since traditional wristwatches are typically removed and reattached relatively infrequently. However, Apple adds that the same user may be aggravated or inconvenienced with the task of regularly attaching and detaching a smart watch, or other portable electronic device, that may require regular recharging of internal batteries and/or regular connection to a data port of a separate electronic device. 

The tech giant says there’s a need for a watch band suitable for rapid, comfortable, and convenient attachment and detachment from a user’s wrist. One solution: a smart watch that can be attached to a user’s wrist simply by joining free ends of a watch band together.

Here’s the summary of the patent: Attachment systems for attaching a wearable electronic device to a user including a sizing band and a retaining band are disclosed. The sizing band includes at least one sizing eyelet and a band-insertable end. The retaining band includes at least a post for insertion into the sizing eyelet of the sizing band and a concealment aperture configured to receive the band-insertable end of the sizing band. 

“On a bottom surface of the retaining band can be a recessed guide bed configured to guide the band-insertable end along the bottom surface of the retaining band. A wearable electronic device can couple to both the sizing band and the retaining band by accepting an end portion of each band into receiving channels extending into opposite sidewalls of the housing.