CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

An Application Data Sheet is filed concurrently with this specification as part of the present application. Each application that the present application claims benefit of or priority to as identified in the concurrently filed Application Data Sheet is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Wearable devices, such as watches or personal fitness and health monitoring devices, which may be referred to as biometric monitoring devices or fitness trackers herein, may be worn on a limb of a user, e.g., on the user's arm. To facilitate such use, such wearable devices may feature a housing that has a strap extending from opposing sides thereof, with the straps including some sort of clasp or fastening system that allows the free ends thereof to be fastened together so that the wearable device may be secured to the user's limb and worn in a particular orientation. Some wearable devices may include easily removable straps that may be replaced with other straps for a different look or feel, or to provide different functionality.

Disclosed herein are new mechanisms that may be used to provide removable strap functionality in a wearable device, as well as variations on straps that may be used with wearable devices (with or without such mechanisms).

SUMMARY

Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

In some implementations, an apparatus may be provided that includes a rigid insert. The rigid insert may include an insertion portion that may be configured to be insertable into a latching receptacle of a limb-wearable device, and the insertion portion of the rigid insert may have an outermost cross-sectional boundary, that is, when viewed along a first axis, inscribed within a boundary region defined between a first semicircle, a second semicircle, a first segment spanning between a first end of the first semicircle and a first end of the second semicircle, and a second segment spanning between a second end of the second semicircle and a second end of the first semicircle. The insertion portion may also have a first surface that may be perpendicular to the first axis and a second surface and a third surface that may both be generally perpendicular to the first surface, with the first surface interposed between the second surface and the third surface when viewed along the first axis. A recess may be located in the second surface and may be defined, at least in part, by a latching surface that extends from the second surface towards the third surface and that may be positioned such that it interfaces with a latch mechanism in the latching receptacle of the limb-wearable device when the rigid insert is fully inserted into the latching receptacle of the limb-wearable device. The latching surface may have a width along a direction nominally parallel to the second surface that may be at least 8 mm, and the latching surface may form a first included angle with the first surface of between 20° and 50°.

In some implementations, the insertion portion may not include any components that are movable relative to the remainder of the insertion portion.

In some implementations, the second surface, the third surface, or both the second surface and the third surface may be tapered by between 0.01° and 1° from the first axis.

In some implementations, the second surface, the third surface, or both the second surface and the third surface may be tapered by between 0.4° and 0.6° from the first axis.

In some implementations, the latching surface and the second surface may virtually intersect at a location that may be offset from the first surface in a direction normal to the first surface by a distance of between 0.35 mm and 0.6 mm.

In some implementations, the recess may be further defined by a floor surface, and the floor surface may span between a first end proximate to the latching surface and a second end proximate to the second surface and may also form a second included angle with the second surface that may be between 7° and 10°.

In some implementations, the second surface may be a concave surface and the third surface may be a convex surface.

In some implementations, the insertion portion may have an exterior surface with an arcuate obround profile, the second surface and the third surface may be spaced apart by a gap, a first endcap surface may span between, and may be tangent to, first ends of the second surface and the third surface, and a second endcap surface may span between, and may be tangent to, second ends of the second surface and the third surface.

In some implementations, the latching surface and the second surface may virtually intersect at a location that may be offset from the first surface in a direction normal to the first surface by a distance of between 0.35 mm and 0.45 mm.

In some implementations, the second surface may be a planar surface and the third surface may be a convex surface.

In some implementations, the insertion portion may have an exterior surface with a hybrid obround profile, the second surface and the third surface may be spaced apart by a gap, a first endcap surface may span between, and may be tangent to, first ends of the second surface and the third surface, and a second endcap surface may span between, and may be tangent to, second ends of the second surface and the third surface.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the rigid insert may further include a plurality of first holes and a plurality of second holes, the first holes may extend through the rigid insert along axes spanning between the second surface and the third surface, and the second holes may extend through the rigid insert in first directions generally aligned with the first axis.

In some such implementations of the apparatus, the apparatus may further include a co-molded elastomeric strap that may include first bridging portions that extend through the first holes. In such implementations, each first bridging portion may have a first end and a second end that may each be connected with the first end or the second end of one or more of the other first bridging portions by a continuous portion of the co-molded elastomeric strap other than that first bridging portion.

In some further such implementations, the co-molded elastomeric strap may include second bridging portions that extend through the second holes. In such implementations, each second bridging portion may have a first end and a second end that may each be connected with the first end or the second end of one or more of the other second bridging portions by a continuous portion of the co-molded elastomeric strap other than that second bridging portion.

In some implementations of the apparatus having a co-molded elastomeric strap, the co-molded elastomeric strap may include bumper posts that extend through the second holes, and each bumper post may have a first end that may be connected with the first end of one or more of the other bumper posts by a continuous portion of the co-molded elastomeric strap and a second end that may be proud of the first surface.

In some implementations of the apparatus having a co-molded elastomeric strap, the co-molded elastomeric strap may be configured to interface with a complementary adjustment strap, the co-molded elastomeric strap may have a main portion, a first pass-through portion, a peg portion, and a second pass-through portion, the peg portion may be interposed between the first pass-through portion and the second pass-through portion, the first pass-through portion may be interposed between the peg portion and the second pass-through portion, and the first pass-through portion and the second pass-through portion may each have a hole therethrough that may be sized to allow the complementary adjustment strap to pass therethrough.

In some such implementations, the main portion, the first pass-through portion, the second pass-through portion, and the peg portion may be arranged along a strap axis, and each of the holes in the first pass-through portion and the second pass-through portion may be an elongate hole with a long axis that is perpendicular to the strap axis and a length along the long axis that is greater than a width of at least a part of the main portion along an axis parallel to the long axis.

In some implementations of the apparatus having a co-molded elastomeric strap, the co-molded elastomeric strap may be made of one or more materials such as a hypoallergenic silicone, a silicone, or a thermoplastic elastomer.

In some implementations of the apparatus having a co-molded elastomeric strap, the rigid insert may include two or more bumper ports in an exterior surface of the rigid insert, and the co-molded elastomeric strap may include two or more bumpers that each extend through a corresponding one of the bumper ports and may be proud of the exterior surface.

In some implementations, the rigid insert may include a wall that extends away from the first surface and towards the latching surface, and the wall may follow the outermost cross-sectional boundary.

In some implementations, the rigid insert may include a protrusion portion that may extend away from the insertion portion in a direction oriented away from the first surface, the protrusion portion may include a second recess that extends from a midplane of the rigid insert to spaced-apart locations on either side of the midplane, the midplane may be generally parallel to the first surface and the second surface and centered on the rigid insert, the second recess may have end surfaces that face each other and may be generally perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface, and each end surface may have a hole therein.

In some implementations, the rigid insert may include a protrusion portion that extends away from the insertion portion in a direction oriented away from the first surface, the protrusion portion may include a second recess that extends from a midplane of the rigid insert to spaced-apart locations on either side of the midplane, the midplane may be generally parallel to the first surface and the second surface and centered on the rigid insert, and the protrusion portion may include a first portion that may have a first width in a first direction parallel to the first surface and the second surface and a second portion that may have a second width in the first direction. In such implementations, the first portion may be between the second portion and the insertion portion, the first width may be larger than the second width, the second portion may have opposing end surfaces that may be generally perpendicular to the first direction and that may face in opposite directions, the recess may have end surfaces that face each other, may be generally perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface, and may be spaced apart on either side of the midplane, and the second portion may have a hole therethrough that may extend between the end surfaces.

In some implementations, the apparatus may further include a strap having a first end with a plurality of retention holes therethrough. In such implementations, the rigid insert may include a top cap and a bottom cap, a series of post-and-hole features may join the top cap to the bottom cap, and each post-and-hole feature may include a post protruding from either the top cap or the bottom cap (and towards the other of the top cap and the bottom cap) and a hole in the other of the top cap and the bottom cap that is sized to receive that post. The top cap and the bottom cap may form an opening in an exterior surface of the rigid insert that is on an opposite side of the rigid insert from the first surface, and the first end of the strap may be inserted through the opening and each post-and-hole feature of one or more of the post-and-hole features may be inserted through a corresponding one of the retention holes.

In some implementations, an apparatus may be provided that includes a device housing having a latching receptacle, a release button, one or more axles, and a first spring. The latching receptacle may have an opening defined by a plurality of surfaces including a top surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, and the opening may have a floor surface that may be adjacent to the top surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface. Additionally, the release button may include an engagement surface and a flank surface, the opening may be further defined by the flank surface, the engagement surface may face towards the floor surface, the release button may be supported by the one or more axles relative to the device housing and may be configured to pivot about a pivot axis of the one or more axles relative to the device housing, and the first spring may be configured to apply a biasing force to the release button to cause a portion of the release button that is closest to the floor surface to be rotatably urged towards the top surface.

In some implementations, the one or more axles may include a first axle and a second axle that may be coaxial, a first portion of the first axle may be positioned in a first hole that may extend into the release button along the pivot axis and a second portion of the first axle may be positioned in a first pivot hole that extends into the device housing, a first portion of the second axle may be positioned in a second hole that may extend into the release button along the pivot axis and a second portion of the second axle may be positioned in a second pivot hole that extends into the device housing, and the first spring may be a helical torsion spring having a coil portion, a first leg extending from the coil portion, and a second leg extending from the coil portion. In such implementations, the first axle may extend at least partially into the coil portion, and the first spring may be torsionally compressed such that first leg is pressed against a portion of the release button and the second leg is pressed against a portion of the device housing.

In some such implementations, the apparatus may further include a second spring that may be a helical compression spring. The second spring may be configured to urge at least one axle of the first axle and the second axle to move along the pivot axis and in a direction away from a midpoint of the release button.

In some further such implementations, the first axle may include a first segment and a second segment, the first segment may have a first diameter, the second segment may have a second diameter, the second diameter may be smaller than the first diameter, and the second segment may extend into the coil portion.

In some implementations, the first spring may be an open-wound helical torsion spring that may be interposed between the first axle and the second axle and configured to urge the first axle and the second axle to move away from each other along the pivot axis.

In some such implementations, the first axle may have a first radial shoulder surface and a third portion that may extend therefrom and may be inserted into the coil portion, the first radial shoulder surface may be interposed between the third portion of the first axle and the first portion of the first axle, the first radial shoulder surface may butt up against one end of the first spring, the second axle may have a second radial shoulder surface and a third portion that may extend therefrom and may be inserted into the coil portion, the second radial shoulder surface may be interposed between the third portion of the second axle and the first portion of the second axle, and the second radial shoulder surface may butt up against another end of the first spring.

In some implementations, the release button may be configured to be rotatable about the pivot axis between at least a first position and a second position, the flank surface, when the release button is in the first position, may be generally parallel to the top surface, and the flank surface may rotate through an angle of between 15° and 30° when the release button is rotated between the first position and the second position.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the device housing may have a bottom surface that extends up to a recess in the device housing in which the release button is located, the release button may have an exterior surface that may be nominally flush with the bottom surface, and the release button may include a protrusion that extends away from the exterior surface and in a direction away from the one or more axles.

In some such implementations, a surface of the protrusion facing away from the flank surface may have a concave profile when viewed along the pivot axis.

In some alternative or additional such implementations, the protrusion may protrude from the exterior surface by between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

In some implementations having a protrusion, the surface of the protrusion that is furthest from the pivot axis may be between 1.5 mm and 3 mm from the pivot axis.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the first side surface and the second side surface may both be concave surfaces, the top surface may have a first end that meets the first side surface and a second end, opposite the first end, which meets the second side surface, and the top surface may be tangent to the first side surface and the second side surface where it meets the first side surface and the second side surface.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the first side surface, the second side surface, and the top surface may all be generally perpendicular to the floor surface.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the first side surface, the second side surface, the top surface, or combinations thereof may be tapered relative to an axis that is perpendicular to the floor surface by between 0.2° and 0.8°.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the shortest distance between the engagement surface and the pivot axis may be between 1.5 mm and 2 mm.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the flank surface and the engagement surface may form an included angle within the release button of between 100° and 145°.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the engagement surface may have a width along the pivot axis of between 7 mm and 11 mm.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the device housing may have a second latching receptacle with a second release button, a second spring, and one or more second axles, and the second latching receptacle may be on an opposite side of the device housing from the latching receptacle.

These and other implementations are discussed in more depth below and with respect to the Figures; the above listed implementations are not to be considered limiting, and additional implementations consistent with this disclosure are also considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.

