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US 12,004,638 B2Granted
Fastener with a constrained retention ring
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRyan C. Perkins, Erik G. de Jong, Tirshathah A. Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A holder for a wirelessly locatable tag may include a snap assembly coupling a first element of the holder to a second element of the holder thereby securing the wirelessly locatable tag within a recess of the holder, the snap assembly including a male assembly having a protrusion component, a female assembly defining an opening that is configured to receive the protrusion component, a groove defined in one of either the male assembly or the female assembly, a compression ring positioned in the groove and configured to retain the male assembly to the female assembly, and a compliant member positioned in the groove and providing a biasing force on the compression ring.
Claims20
A wirelessly locatable tag system comprising:
- a wirelessly locatable tag comprising:
- a housing member defining a region of an exterior surface of the wirelessly locatable tag configured to act as a speaker diaphragm;
- and
- an audio system comprising a coil positioned within a magnetic field and coupled to an interior surface of the housing member opposite exterior surface, the coil configured to interact with the magnetic field to impart a force on the housing member, thereby moving the region of the exterior surface to produce an audible output;
- and
- a holder defining a recess at least partially enclosing the wirelessly locatable tag and comprising:
- a first element defining a first portion of the recess;
- and
- a second element defining a second portion of the recess and configured to at least partially surround the wirelessly locatable tag, the second element defining a holder opening aligned with the region of the exterior surface configured to act as the speaker diaphragm;
- and
- a snap assembly coupling the first element to the second element thereby securing the wirelessly locatable tag within the recess, the snap assembly comprising:
- a male assembly having a protrusion component;
- a female assembly defining an opening that is configured to receive the protrusion component;
- and
- a groove defined in one of either the male assembly or the female assembly;
- and
- a compression ring positioned in the groove and configured to retain the male assembly to the female assembly.
14 more elements
An accessory for a wirelessly locatable tag, the accessory comprising:
- an attachment feature that is configured to attach the accessory to an article;
- a first element and a second element that together define a recess configured to receive a wirelessly locatable tag therein, at least one of the first element or the second element defining an opening that aligns with a portion of a housing of the wirelessly locatable tag that is movable, by a conductive coil, to produce an audio output, and
- a snap assembly coupling the first element to the second element to close the recess, the snap assembly comprising:
- a male assembly having a protrusion component;
- a female assembly defining:
- an opening that is configured to receive the protrusion component;
- and
- a groove positioned around the opening and defined by a bottom surface, a first side wall, and a second side wall opposite the first side wall;
- a compression ring positioned in the groove and configured to retain the male assembly to the female assembly, wherein the compression ring is an open-section wire loop formed into a partially helical shape such that a first end of the compression ring is biased against the first side wall of the groove and a second end of the compression ring is biased against the second side wall of the groove.
6 more elements
A wirelessly locatable tag system, comprising:
- a wirelessly locatable tag comprising:
- a housing member defining a region of an exterior surface of the wirelessly locatable tag configured to act as a speaker diaphragm;
- and
- an audio system comprising a coil positioned within a magnetic field and coupled to an interior surface of the housing member opposite exterior surface, the coil configured to impart a force on the housing member, thereby moving the region of the exterior surface to produce an audible output;
- and
- a holder comprising a recess configured to retain the wirelessly locatable tag therein and comprising:
- an attachment component that is configured to attach the holder to an article;
- a pocket portion that is configured to hold the wirelessly locatable tag, the pocket portion defining:
- a pocket opening configured to receive the wirelessly locatable tag;
- and
- a hole aligned with the region of the exterior surface configured to act as the speaker diaphragm;
- and
- a snap assembly configured to close the opening, the snap assembly comprising:
- a male assembly having a protrusion component;
- a female assembly defining a snap opening that is configured to receive the protrusion component and a groove positioned around the snap opening;
- and
- a compression ring positioned in the groove and configured to retain the male assembly to the female assembly, wherein the female assembly is configured to exert a biasing force on the compression ring.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.