# US 10,306,972 B2 · Securement apparatus having a concealed structural component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,306,972 B2 - Document ID: US10306972B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/166,204 - Filed: 2016-05-26 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-26 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Javier Mendez; Craig M. Stanley; Tyler S. Bushnell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10306972B2 ## CPC - A45F 5/00: Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping - A45F 5/1508: {Holders or carriers for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or digital music players} - A45F 5/1516: {Holders or carriers for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones} - A45F 5/155: {Holders or carriers for thin, flat, rectangular articles, e.g. ID badges or cards} - A45F 2005/006: {comprising a suspension strap or lanyard} - A45F 2005/008: {Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg} - A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a securement apparatus, such as a lanyard, that has increased tensile strength and shear strength when compared with a conventional securement apparatus. The securement apparatus includes a connector extending from a connector body, a strap coupled to the connector body, and a structural component. The structural component has a tapered geometry such that a first end that is contained within the connector body has a first width and/or height and a second end that transitions from the connector body into the strap has a second width and/or height that is less than the first width and/or height. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A securement apparatus for an electronic device, comprising: a connector body; a connector extending from the connector body and operative to connect to the electronic device; a flexible strap coupled to the connector body and having a first end and a second end coupled to the connector body, the connector body having a maximum dimension that is larger than a maximum dimension of the flexible strap; a structural component within the flexible strap and tapering from a maximum dimension of the structural component within the connector body to a point within the flexible strap and outside the connector body; and a pin mechanism coupled to the first end of the strap and the second end of the strap and operative to secure the flexible strap within the connector body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the maximum dimension of the structural component is a width of the structural component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the maximum dimension of the structural component is a height of the structural component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structural component further comprises strands arranged in an orientation that is offset from both a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis of the structural component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pin mechanism is received in an aperture defined by an end of the structural component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The securement apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first adhesive layer positioned between a first side of the structural component and a first side of the flexible strap; and a second adhesive layer positioned between a second side of the structural component and a second side of the flexible strap. ### Claim 7 A securement apparatus, comprising: a cover portion; and a strap, comprising: a first end coupled to the cover portion; a second end coupled to the cover portion; a first tapered component extending within the cover portion and the first end of the strap; a second tapered component extending within the cover portion and the second end of the strap; and a reinforcement component positioned between the first tapered component and the second tapered component, wherein the reinforcement component defines an aperture for receiving a pin mechanism; wherein the first tapered component and the second tapered component each have a teardrop shape and are configured to resist tearing of the strap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The securement apparatus of claim 7, further comprising the pin mechanism being coupled to the first end of the strap and the second end of the strap, and operative to secure the strap within the cover portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The securement apparatus of claim 7, wherein the reinforcement component has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.1 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The securement apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first tapered component and the second tapered component each have a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The securement apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a connector extending from the cover portion and operative to secure the cover portion and the strap to an electronic device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The securement apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the strap comprises: a first material on a first side of the strap; a second material on a second side of the strap; and a portion of each of the first material and the second material are coupled to respective portions of the first tapered component and the second tapered component using an adhesive. ### Claim 13 A lanyard for an electronic device, comprising: a connector body defining a first side and a second side; a connector extending from the first side of the connector body and operative to removably attach the lanyard to the electronic device; a strap having first and second ends coupled to the second side of the connector body, thereby forming a loop; a first structural component, comprising: a first head portion defining a first aperture; and a first tapered body portion extending along the first end of the strap; a second structural component, comprising: a second head portion defining a second aperture; a second tapered body portion extending along the second end of the strap; a pin mechanism contained within the connector body and coupled to the first structural component and the second structural component by the first aperture and the second aperture; and a reinforcement component positioned within the connector body and between the first head portion of the first structural component and the second head portion of the second structural component, wherein the reinforcement component is coupled to the first head portion of the first structural component and the second head portion of the second structural component by an adhesive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lanyard of claim 13, wherein the strap comprises: a first material coupled to a first side of the first tapered body portion and a first side of the second tapered body portion; and a second material coupled to a second side of the first tapered body portion and a second side of the second tapered body portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The lanyard of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the first tapered body portion and at least a portion of the second tapered body portion are contained within the connector body.