Sliding clasps for adjustable straps
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsCamille I Henrot, Bryan A Cloyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A strap may have a strip of material. Sliding clasps may be attached to ends of left and right segments of the strip. Each sliding clasp may have a slot through which one of the segments slides to adjust strap length. The strap may be coupled to an item such as a device with a battery. The sliding clasps are each in a first mode in which the sliding clasp is locked to the strip and does not allow the strip to slide and a second mode in which the sliding clasp is unlocked and allows the strip to slide. Rotational motion, squeezing motions, and/or other motions may be used to transition the sliding clasp between locked and unlocked states.
Claims26
An adjustable strap for an item, comprising:
- a strip of material configured to couple to the item;
- and
- a sliding clasp having a first portion that is attached to an end of a first segment of the strip of material and that has a slot configured to receive a second segment of the strip of material for sliding motion within the slot and having a second portion that rotates relative to the first portion, wherein the first and second portions are configured to rotate relative to each other between:
- 1) a locked position in which a brake presses against the strip of material and holds the strip of material in place relative to the sliding clasp and 2) An unlocked position in which the brake does not press on the strip of material and the strip of material slides relative to the sliding clasp, wherein the strip of material extends through the slot along a first axis, and wherein the first portion rotates relative to the second portion about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
A strap for an item, comprising:
- a strip of material configured to couple to the item;
- and
- a sliding clasp having a body with a longitudinal axis that extends along a first direction, an end cap, a first slot that receives a first segment of the strip of material, a second slot that is parallel to the first slot and that receives a second segment of the strip of material that overlaps and is parallel to the first segment, and brake pads configured to move towards and away from the first segment of the strip of material in response to movement of the end cap relative to the body, wherein the first and second slots are stacked in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the sliding clasp is operable in:
- a locked mode in which the brake pads hold the first segment of the strip of material in place in the first slot;
- and
- an unlocked mode in which the brake pads allow the first segment of the strip of material to slide through the first slot along a third direction that is perpendicular to the first and second directions while the second segment of the strip of material remains fixed within the second slot.
A strap for an item, comprising:
- a strip of material configured to couple to the item;
- and
- a sliding clasp having a longitudinal axis that extends along a first direction, a first slot that receives a first segment of the strip of material, and a second slot that is parallel to the first slot and that receives a second segment of the strip of material that overlaps and is parallel to the first segment of the strip of material, wherein the first and second slots are stacked in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the sliding clasp has a locking mechanism operable in:
- a locked mode in which the locking mechanism holds the first segment of the strip of material in place in the first slot;
- and
- an unlocked mode in which the locking mechanism allows the first segment of the strip of material to slide through the first slot along a third direction that is perpendicular to the first and second directions while the second segment of the strip of material remains fixed within the second slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.