Patent Grant
9585445
This disclosure relates, in general, to buckles and clasps that are held together magnetically.
Buckles and clasps are used to secure items to a user's body, such as a clasp for a watch band to hold a watch on the wrist of a wearer.
Many conventional clasps have a length adjustment that requires the wearer to pass a strap with holes through a rotatable pin member that passes through one of the holes. Typically, the user has to perform this process each time the user wears the item or removes the item from their wrist.
According to one broad aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed herein is a clasp (also interchangeably referred to herein as a buckle) for securing a first strap with a second strap. In one example, the clasp may include a first clasp portion; a first set of magnets movable within the first clasp portion between a first position and a second position, the first clasp portion adapted to be attached with the first strap; a second clasp portion adapted to selectively connect with the first clasp portion; and a second set of magnets positioned within the second clasp portion and adjacent the first set of magnets when the second clasp portion is connected with the first clasp portion, the second clasp portion adapted to be attached with the second strap. When the first set of magnets is in the first position, the first and second set of magnets may create an attractive magnetic force therebetween.
In one example, when the first set of magnets is in the second position, the first and second set of magnets create a repulsive magnetic force therebetween.
The clasp may also include at least one biasing magnet positioned within the first clasp portion, adjacent to the first set of magnets, wherein the biasing magnet creates an additional attractive magnetic force that biases the first set of magnets into said first position.
In one example, the first set of magnets includes a plurality of magnets of alternating polarities positioned adjacent to one another, and the second set of magnets includes a plurality of magnets of alternating polarities positioned adjacent to one another.
The clasp may also include at least one button member positioned within the first clasp portion, the button member adapted to receive contact from a user. In one example, the button may include a latch that selectively secures to a portion of the second clasp portion. The first set of magnets may be positioned within or connected with the at least one button member.
In another example, the clasp may also include a first set of corner magnets positioned within the first clasp portion; and a second set of corner magnets positioned within the second clasp portion in a position that such that when the first and second clasp portions are connected together, the first and second set of corner magnets create an additional attractive magnetic force therebetween. In this embodiment, when the first set of magnets is in the second position, the first and second set of magnets create a repulsive magnetic force therebetween that is greater than said additional attractive magnetic force between the first and second set of corner magnets.
In one embodiment, the first and second straps that are adapted to be connected with the clasp may also be connected with a wearable electronic device.
According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed herein is a buckle. In one example, the buckle may include a first buckle portion having a first set of magnets positioned within the first buckle portion; and a second buckle portion having a second set of magnets positioned within the second buckle portion, wherein the first and second set of magnets are adapted to attract the first and second buckle portions together via an attractive magnetic force. The first buckle portion may also include one or more slideable magnets movable between at least a first position and a second position. The second buckle portion may also include one or more magnets in a fixed location within the second buckle portion, the one or more magnets adapted to magnetically interact with the one or more slideable magnets of the first buckle portion.
In one example, when the slideable magnets are in the first position, there is an additional attractive magnetic force between the slideable magnets and the one or more magnets in a fixed location within the second buckle portion. When the slideable magnets are in the second position, there is a repulsive magnetic force between the slideable magnets and the one or more magnets in a fixed location within the second buckle portion. In one example, the repulsive magnetic force is greater than the attractive magnetic force, thereby permitting the first and second buckle portions to be physically separated.
The buckle may also include at least one biasing magnet positioned within the first buckle portion adjacent to the one or more slideable magnets, wherein the biasing magnet creates a magnetic force that biases the slideable magnets into said first position.
According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed herein is a method of forming a buckle. In one example, the method may include forming a first buckle portion with a first set of magnets movable within the first buckle portion between a first position and a second position; forming a second buckle portion with a second set of magnets positioned in a fixed location within the second buckle portion; and biasing the first set of magnets toward the first position, such that when the first set of magnets is in the first position, the first and second set of magnets create a first attractive magnetic force therebetween.
In another example, the method may also include positioning a third set of magnets in the first buckle portion; and positioning a fourth set of magnets in the second buckle portion; wherein the third and fourth set of magnets create a second attractive magnetic force between the first and second buckle portions. In one example, when the first set of magnets is in the second position, a repulsive magnetic force is created between the first set of magnets and the second set of magnets, the repulsive magnetic force being greater than the second attractive magnetic force.
Other embodiments of the disclosure are described herein. The features, utilities and advantages of various embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent from the following more particular description of embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Disclosed herein are various examples of buckles (also interchangeably referred to herein as clasps) that allow quick attachment and quick release from a wearer's body, while maintaining a length adjustment as set by the wearer. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, once an appropriate strap length has been set in the buckle, the buckle retains that setting and can be attached or removed from the wearer without having to adjust or re-set the length. In one example embodiment of the present disclosure, an arrangement of a plurality of magnets are utilized and provide various magnetic attractive and repulsive forces which aid in the operation of the buckle. Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein.
In the example of
Buckle 20 may be made of any conventional materials, such as, but not limited to, metal, rubber, plastic, composite materials, or any other material or combination of materials as desired. Straps 22, 24 can also be made of any conventional materials, such as, but not limited to, cloth, leather, plastic, rubber, metal, composite materials, or any other material or combinations of materials as desired.
Buckle 20 may have first and second portions. In one example, buckle 20 includes a first, bottom, outer portion 28 (
As described herein and shown in
Referring to
A second plate 36 may be coupled with frame members 30. In one example, the second plate 36 is secured (using rivets, bolts, screws or other conventional attachment structures) with the first frame member 30 to form the bottom portion 28 of the buckle. Plate 36 may be generally rectangular in shape with one or more hollow portions, and may have a flat or slightly curved profile, with a cross member 47 joining opposing sides of plate 36, or may take other shapes depending upon the implementation. As shown in
A third plate 38 may be coupled with frame member 32. Plate 38 may be sized such that it fits securely within the interior of frame member 32. In one example, the third plate 38 is secured (using rivets, bolts, screws or other conventional attachment structures) with the second frame member 32 to form the top portion 29 of the buckle. In one example, plate 38 may be generally H-shaped and may have a flat or slightly curved profile, with a cross member 49 joining opposing sides of plate 38, or may take other shapes depending upon the implementation. As shown in
The second frame member 32, in one example, may be generally rectangular in shape and may have a flat or slightly curved profile with one or more hollow portions, or may take other shapes depending upon the implementation. A cross member 53 may be provided joining opposing sides of frame member 32, in one example. A knob or other protrusion 55 may be provided in order to engage an opening 25 of strap 24, as shown in
Strap 24 may be positioned and secured to frame member 32 by the user of the buckle 20. In one example, the user positions strap 24 into frame member 32 so as to select a desired length of strap 24 around the user's wrist, arm, leg, waist or other body part. Once strap 24 is secured into position and engaged with knob 55, in one example, the user does not have to continually disengage and re-engage strap 24 with knob 55 each time the user removes or applies the buckle the their body—instead, the user can release the buckle through the use of buttons 40, 42, and re-attach buckle 20 to their body using the magnetic properties of buckle 20 as described herein. In certain embodiments, knob 55 may be omitted or may not extend through a hole when the strap 24 passes through the frame member 32 and the user selects a desired length of the strap (and thus, snugness around the user's wrist or the like). Instead, friction and/or pressure between the frame member 32 and strap 24 may retain the strap in place even if the knob 55 is not present or is not passing through an opening 25 in the strap. In still further embodiments, the strap 24 may be mechanically retained with respect to the frame through a different mechanism, such as a snap-fit, clamshell, track or the like and the knob may thus be omitted. In the various embodiments permitting adjustment of the strap 24 with respect to the frame member 32, it should be appreciated that the strap may be positioned at any point along its length desired by a user and maintained in such a position regardless of the presence of the knob 55 or any holes 25.
A first button 40 and a second button 42 may be provided and position between plates 34, 36, in one example. Buttons 40, 42 may be axially aligned along or approximately along a centerline of buckle 20 in one example, and buttons 40, 42 may be positioned on opposing ends or opposing sides of buckle 20. Each button 40, 42 has a portion which extends or protrudes beyond the outer periphery of frame members 30, 32, such that a user can press or move the buttons 40, 42 inwardly with a user's fingers or thumbs in order to release and open buckle 20. In some embodiments the button 40, 42 may be flush with sides of the buckle 20 rather than protruding.
In one example, the second plate 36 includes, along cross member 47, a first opening 44 for receiving button 40, and a second opening 46 for receiving button 42. The openings 44, 46 may acts as guides for the lateral movement of buttons 40, 42 within the respective openings 44, 46.
Buckle 20 may include a first slide magnet array 50 and a second slide magnet array 52. In one example, slide magnet array 50 may be positioned within first button 40, and slide magnet array 52 may be positioned within second button 42.
In one example, slide magnet arrays 50, 52 may each contain a series of two or more magnets of alternating polarities. For instance, in the example shown in
As shown in
Buckle 20 may also include a third magnet array 54 and a fourth magnet array 56 positioned in the top portion 29 of buckle 20. In one example, magnet arrays 54, 56 may be positioned in a fixed location along cross member 49 within recessed portions 60 and 62, respectively, of the third plate 38 (
Magnet arrays 54, 56 interact with the slide magnet arrays 50, 52 depending on the position of slide magnet arrays 50, 52 and the corresponding attractive magnetic forces or repulsive magnetic forces between slide magnet arrays 50, 52 and magnet arrays 54, 56. These various interactions are described herein with reference to
In one example, buckle 20 may also include a plurality of magnets 64A-B positioned within the bottom portion 28, and magnets 66A-B positioned within the top portion 29 of buckle 20. Magnets 64A-B and 66A-B can be positioned within the respective and opposing corners of the lower and upper portions 28, 29 of the buckle. The polarities of the magnets can be selected so as to provide an attractive magnetic force between the lower and upper portions 28, 29 of buckle 20, in one example.
In one example, the lower portion 28 may include one or more magnets 68A-B positioned below slide magnet array 50; and lower portion 28 may also include one or more magnets 69A-B positioned below slide magnet array 52. In one example and as shown in
Magnet(s) 68A-B provide a biasing magnetic force upon slide magnet array 50 that holds button 40 in a default or normal position, until a time when a user depresses button 40 inwardly in a manner that overcomes the biasing magnetic force. In one example as shown in
Magnet(s) 69A-B provide a biasing magnetic force upon slide magnet array 52 that holds button 42 in a default or normal position, until a time when a user depresses button 42 inwardly in a manner that overcomes the biasing magnetic force. In one example as shown in
In one example and as shown in
Likewise, as shown in the example of
In one example and as shown in
In one example and as shown in
One example of operations of buckle 20 will now be described, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
In
Likewise, when buckle 20 is in a closed state, slide magnet array 52 is positioned relative to magnet array 56 such that magnets of the same polarities (with respect to the same orientation) are in vertical alignment or substantial vertical alignment, which also creates a magnetic attractive force between magnet arrays 52 and 56 which has an effect to hold together the bottom and top portions 28, 29 of buckle 20. This magnetic attractive force is additive to the magnetic attractive force created between magnet arrays 50 and 54.
In addition, when buckle 20 is in a closed state, lower magnets 64A-B and upper magnets 66A-B are in alignment, which creates an attractive magnetic force between magnets 64A-B and 66A-B. This, in turn, holds together the bottom and top portions 28, 29 of buckle 20. This magnetic attractive force is additive to the magnetic attractive force created between magnet arrays 50 and 54, and magnet arrays 52 and 56.
Also, as described above, magnets 68A-B exert an attractive magnetic force upon slide magnet array 50 which outwardly biases the position of button 40, as shown in
As shown in
When the buttons 40, 42 are pressed inwardly, slide magnet array 50 and magnet array 54 are positioned such that magnets of opposing polarities (e.g., the facing surfaces of vertically-aligned magnets have the same polarity) from arrays 50, 54 move into vertical alignment or substantial vertical alignment, which creates a magnetic repulsion force between magnet arrays 50 and 54 which has an effect to move the bottom and top portions 28, 29 of buckle 20 away and apart from one another.
Likewise, when the buttons 40, 42 are pressed inwardly, slide magnet array 52 and magnet array 56 are positioned such that magnets of opposing polarities (e.g., the facing surfaces of vertically-aligned magnets have the same polarity) from 52, 56 move into vertical alignment or substantial vertical alignment, which also creates a magnetic repulsive force between magnet arrays 52 and 56 which has an effect to move the bottom and top portions 28, 29 of buckle 20 away and apart from one another. This magnetic repulsive force is additive to the magnetic repulsive force created between magnet arrays 50 and 54.
In one example, the sum of the magnetic repulsive forces between magnet arrays 50 and 54, and 52 and 56, overcomes the magnetic attractive forces of the lower magnets 64A-B and upper magnets 66A-B. Moreover, as buttons 40, 42 are moved inwardly, the protrusions 84 and 114 engage surfaces 130, 132 of upper frame member 32, which exerts contact forces which separate the bottom and top portions 28, 29 of buckle 20. Hence, the user's depressions of buttons 40, 42 may separate lower and upper portions of buckle 20, which thereby opens buckle 20.
Although the configuration, interplay and operation of buttons 40, 42 have been described in detail, it should be appreciated that other structures may be used in place of one or both buttons, and that one button alone may be used. For example, a post, protrusion, or other structure may slide, twist, tilt, move outwardly or diagonally, or otherwise move to reposition the magnet arrays 52, 56 (or other magnets) in order to open the buckle. Such motion may lever the buckle open, as another example. As yet another example, the frame members 30, 32 may slide, twist, or otherwise move with respect to one another to realign the magnets and/or undo a mechanical detent or other locking feature in order to open the buckle.
Once the buckle 20 is in an open state, as shown in
As the user brings the lower and upper portions 28, 29 of buckle 20 together in close proximity, lower magnets 64A-B and upper magnets 66A-B create an attractive magnetic force therebetween, which has an effect to attract the bottom and top portions 28, 29 of buckle 20
Also, slide magnet arrays 50 and 54 create a magnetic attractive force between the magnet arrays 50 and 54 (and more specifically, the individual magnets in each array) which has the effect to bring together the bottom and top portions 28, 29 of buckle 20. Likewise, slide magnet arrays 52 and 56 also create a magnetic attractive force which has an effect to bring together the bottom and top portions 28, 29 of buckle 20.
As shown in
Hence, it can be seen that a buckle can be formed using one or more features described herein, wherein once the straps attached to the buckle are set by the user with respect to length, the user can open and close the buckle without having to continually adjust the length of the straps attached to the buckle.
While embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to strap 24 being positioned toward the user's skin or body, it is understood that embodiments of the present disclosure can be formed wherein straps 22 and 24 can be inverted, and bottom, outer portion 28 and top, inner portion 29 can be inverted, if desired.
Also, frame members 30, 32 and plates 34, 36, 38 can be curved (i.e., concave or other accurate shape) in order to adapt the buckle 20 to its desired use, for instance to be attached to a wearer's arm or other body part.
While embodiments of the disclosure have been described with reference to a wearable device, it is understood that embodiments of the present disclosure can be utilized with a variety of electronic devices including but not limited to mobile devices, mobile phones, tablet computers, music and multi-media players, watches, gaming devices, and other handheld, wearable or portable devices. Likewise, embodiments described herein may be used as closures for a bag, luggage, briefcase and the like. Embodiments may be used to attach a device to a stand or holder or clothing rather than about a user's wrist, limb or body part. Embodiments may likewise attach an accessory, peripheral or other device to another device, for example serving to attach a media player to a computer or the like.
While the methods disclosed herein have been described and shown with reference to particular operations performed in a particular order, it will be understood that these operations may be combined, sub-divided, or re-ordered to form equivalent methods without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, the order and grouping of the operations is not a limitation of the present disclosure.
It is understood that the directional references provided herein, such as top, bottom, upwards, downwards, clockwise, counterclockwise, left, right, and the like, are provided to describe examples of the embodiments disclosed herein, and are not intended to be limiting.
It should be appreciated that in the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, various features of the disclosure are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment, and each embodiment described herein may contain more than one inventive feature.
While the disclosure is presented and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
This application is a nonprovisional patent application of and claims the benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/035,561, filed Aug. 11, 2014 and titled “Magnetic Buckle,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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