# US 10,945,496 B2 · Consumer product attachment systems having locking or expansion characteristics

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- Number: US 10,945,496 B2
- Document ID: US10945496B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/231,061
- Filed: 2018-12-21
- Published: 2019-04-18
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-11
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins; Michael J. Webb; Hsiang Hung Chen; Motohide Hatanaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945496B2

## CPC

- A44C 5/14: characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
- A44B 11/2596: {the movement being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strap or chain}
- A44B 11/263: {with a push-button acting perpendicularly to the main plane of the buckle}
- A44C 5/147: {Watchcase itself used as fastener}
- A44C 5/2085: {with the two ends sliding transversally to the main plane of the strap or chain}
- G04B 37/1486: {Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet (building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446)}
- A44D 2203/00: Fastening by use of magnets
- A44C: PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
- A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C)
- G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08)
- A44D: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES OR SLIDE FASTENERS, AND TO JEWELLERY, BRACELETS OR OTHER PERSONAL ADORNMENTS

## Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking assembly for an attachment system of a consumer product. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an attachment unit that is configured to be inserted and removed from a housing of a consumer product. The attachment unit and/or the housing include an expansion component or other such locking assembly configured to releasably secure the attachment unit within the housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A watch comprising:
a housing forming:
a channel for receiving a lug of a watch band; and
a recess connected to the channel; and
a button assembly at least partially within the recess and comprising:
flanges extending toward the housing within the recess;
a button for retracting the flanges toward each other and disengaging the flanges away from the housing; and
a bottom portion for engaging the lug of the watch band within the channel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The watch of claim 1, wherein each of the flanges is independently biased relative to the button by a spring mechanism.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The watch of claim 1, wherein the housing forms a shoulder at the recess and the flanges abut the shoulder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The watch of claim 1, wherein:
the recess forms a tapered region; and
each of the flanges comprises a tapered portion, wherein the tapered portions of the flanges engage the tapered region of the recess to bias the button assembly away from the channel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The watch of claim 1, wherein the button assembly further comprises a button top, wherein a portion of the button is movable within the button top.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The watch of claim 5, wherein the button assembly further comprises a constrain ring about a first portion of the button that is outside of the button top, wherein a second portion of the button is movable within the button top.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The watch of claim 5, wherein:
the button top abuts the bottom portion; and
the flanges are moveable between the button top and the bottom portion as the flanges are retracted.

### Claim 8

A watch comprising:
a housing forming:
a channel for receiving a lug of a watch band; and
a recess connected to the channel; and
a button assembly at least partially within the recess, wherein:
in a locked state of the button assembly, flanges of the button assembly engage the housing within the recess and a bottom portion of the button assembly extends to the channel to engage the lug of the watch band; and
in a released state of the button assembly, the flanges are retracted by a button of the button assembly to disengage from the housing and the bottom portion is disengaged from the lug.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The watch of claim 8, wherein each of the flanges is independently biased relative to the button by a spring mechanism.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The watch of claim 8, wherein the housing forms a shoulder at the recess and the flanges abut the shoulder.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The watch of claim 8, wherein:
the recess forms a tapered region; and
each of the flanges comprises a tapered portion, wherein the tapered portions of the flanges engage the tapered region of the recess to bias the button assembly away from the channel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The watch of claim 8, wherein the button assembly comprises:
a button for retracting the flanges toward each other and disengaging the flanges away from the housing;
a button top, wherein a portion of the button is movable within the button top.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The watch of claim 12, wherein the button assembly further comprises a constrain ring about a first portion of the button that is outside of the button top, wherein a second portion of the button is movable within the button top.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The watch of claim 12, wherein:
the button top abuts the bottom portion; and
the flanges are moveable between the button top and the bottom portion as the flanges are retracted.