Watch band with adjustable fit
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsYoshihiko Yokoyama, Osamu Yabe, Eiryo Shiraishi, Naoto Matsuyuki
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Abstract
Watch bands can be provided with an ability to dynamically adjust the fit of a watch against a wrist of a user. One or more of a variety of tensioning elements can be provided with a shape memory polymer that responds to a stimulus to adjust a fit of the band. Such stimulus can be from user or actively applied by the watch. The shape memory polymer can be a composite material that provides high durability under cyclic stretching and high speed response of shape recovering while avoiding a drastic moduli drop by shape recovering.
Claims20
A watch band comprising:
- a cover defining ends configured to engage a housing of a watch;
- a tensioning element between the ends of the cover, the tensioning element comprising a shape memory polymer and being configured to transition, based on an induced temperature, between:
- a first configuration in which the tensioning element is substantially straight;
- and
- a second configuration in which the tensioning element is substantially serpentine.
A watch band comprising:
- a watch engagement element configured to engage a housing of a watch;
- and
- tensioning elements each comprising multiple tensioning layers overlapping each other and extending from the watch engagement element, each one of the tensioning layers extending a different distance from the watch engagement element, the tensioning layers comprising one or more shape memory polymers.
A watch band comprising:
- a watch engagement element configured to engage a housing of a watch;
- a first tensioning layer connected to and extending from the watch engagement element, the first tensioning layer having a first terminal end that is a first distance away from the watch engagement element;
- a second tensioning layer connected to and extending from the watch engagement element, the second tensioning layer having a second terminal end that is a second distance, greater than the first distance, away from the watch engagement element;
- and
- a third tensioning layer connected to and extending from the watch engagement element, the third tensioning layer having a third terminal end that is a third distance, greater than the second distance, away from the watch engagement element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.