BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective view, a complete wristwatch package including a watch body and a wristband.
FIG. 2 illustrates, in perspective view, essentially the same wristwatch package as FIG. 1 but with a portion of the watch body displaced.
FIG. 3 illustrates, in perspective view, essentially the same wristwatch package as FIGS. 1 and 2 but with wristband portions detached from the watch body.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a wristwatch package 100 that includes a watch body 102 and a wristband including portions 150a and 150b. The watch body 102 may be of any conceivable type and could thus include, for example, a digital or analog watch face (not shown) and could be powered electronically or mechanically.
As can be appreciated from FIG. 2, there is preferably provided, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement whereby wristband portions 150a/b can easily be detached and reattached with respect to the watch body 102. As shown, watch body 102 may preferably include a movable portion 104 and a stationary portion 106, whereby movable portion 104, e.g., is rotatably displaceable with respect to stationary portion 106. Movable portion 104 preferably includes tab portions 105a/b while immovable portion 106 preferably includes receptacle portions 108a/b. In a first position (as seen in FIG. 1), tab portions 105a/b are positioned directly above, and cooperate with, receptacle portions 108a/b while in a second position (as seen in FIG. 2), tab portions 105a/b are positioned away from receptacle portions 108a/b.
Thus, as can be appreciated from FIG. 3, when tab portions 105a/b are in the aforementioned second position, wristband portions 150a/b can be removed from the watch body 102. Preferably, wristband portions 150a/b each include a catch portion 152a/b (respectively) that can be inserted into and removed from a corresponding one of the receptacle portions 108a/b. Upon such insertion, when movable portion 104 is rotated back into the first position (see FIG. 1) so that tab portions 105a/b cooperate with receptacle portions 108a/b, the catch portions 152a/b will preferably be locked into place to thus ensure that wristband portions 150a/b are securely attached to the watch body 102. Essentially, catch portions 152a/b, receptacle portions 108a/b and tab portions 105a/b may be configured and disposed essentially in any conceivable manner that would ensure an ease of detachment (of catch portions 152a/b from receptacle portions 108a/b) in the “second position” (as in FIGS. 2 and 3) as well as a strong and secure attachment (of catch portions 152a/b with respect to receptacle portions 108a/b and tab portions 105a/b) in the “second position” (as in FIG. 1).
Though a wide variety of arrangements are conceivable, it will preferably be the case that movable portion 104 rotates away from the “first position” (as in FIG. 1) only to an extent needed to fully ensure that catch portions 152a/b can be removed from receptacle portions 108a/b; such a limit of rotation can be appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3. Though essentially any workable arrangement is conceivable, tabs 105a/b may preferably lock into place with respect to receptacle portions 108a/b when in the “first position” (as in FIG. 1).
Essentially any type of wristband is conceivable in the context discussed hereinabove. Accordingly, though a two-part wristband is shown (wherein those ends of the wristband 150a/b that do not attach to the watch body 102 are themselves attachable to one another so as to complete the “loop” around a user's wrist), a unitary wristband is also conceivable (such as a unitary elastic wristband with two ends that only attach to a watch body). The concepts discussed hereabove could be applied to the case of a reversible wristband, where one and the same wristband could be detached from a watch body, “flipped over”, and reattached. Contexts other than wristwatches are also conceivable within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention. For instance, a wrist or ankle bracelet that has a central body (analogous to the watch body 102 described and illustrated herein) could include a band, or band portions, that is/are attachable and detachable with respect to the central body in a manner substantially similar to that described hereinabove.
If not otherwise stated herein, it is to be assumed that all patents, patent applications, patent publications and other publications (including web-based publications) mentioned and cited herein are hereby fully incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in their entirety herein.
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
Patent Application
20070241148
