Patent Application
20220175097
The current invention relates in general to an improved wrist band for use with a personal management device, and more specifically to an improved rotary adjustable watch band with a rotary adjuster and at least one push button release mechanism.
Personal management devices, such as watches, fitness trackers, schedulers, communication devices have become once again popular as people go about their busy lifestyles. in many cases, the bands are worn continuously for days at the gym, the beach, the office and at school in a variety of ambient conditions and surrounding temperatures.
Most wrist bands are worn on the wrist or forearm of a wearer, the specific dimension of which vary from a variety of factors from about 5 inches to 11 inches in diameter in increments of ¼ an inch. In addition, the personal preference of how tight or loose a wearer will wear their wrist band will vary. Because these personal management devices are designed to be worn in a variety of activities and environments, the wrist band needs to be constantly adjusted. For example, as the user moves between sedentary and more active activities their body changes and their dimension of their wrist band may need to expand or contract. Therefore, there is a need for an accurately, easily adjustable wrist band which allows a user to quickly, accurately and easily adjust their wrist band.
Typical wrist bands are either fixed or adjustable. Adjustable bands are typically adjusted using ¼″ increments with, for example, a single prong buckle fastener. However, these fasteners can pinch or pull the wearer's skin or hair. Fixed wrist bands are typically either elastic bands or segmented bands. The elastic bands can stretch, but are generally loose and not very useful when used with a personal management device. Segmented bands are typically adjusted with the use of specialty tools for removing excess segments to provide a band which is generally fixed. Typically, the adjusted segmented bands are configured to compress the wearer's wrist which can cause discomfort or can result in pinching of the wearer's skin and hair. The discomfort and hair pulling can increase while the wearer is engaging in active activities. Therefore, there is a need for a adjustable wrist band which will decrease the discomfort and pinching of the wearer's
Therefore, there is a need for a rotary adjustable wrist band which at least partially addresses some of the aforementioned disadvantages.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing is addressed by providing a rotary adjustable watch band comprising a rectangular housing with a rotary gear extending therethrough, a tab extending upwardly from said housing, a fastener extending downwardly from said housing; and said fastener being in communication with said rotary gear whereby rotation of said rotary gear incrementally spaces said fastener from said housing.
In general, the rotary adjustable watch band is configured for receipt of a strap connectably secured to a rotary closure which includes the detachable tab at one end and the fastener at the other, the fastener being adjustable by rotation of the gear.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, top, bottom, front, back, right and left refer to the illustrated embodiment as oriented in the view being referred to. The words “upwardly” and “downwardly” refer to directions up or down and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.
Referring to
As depicted in
As further illustrated in
The embodiment of the rotary closure 30 depicted in
In operation, rotation of a rotary gear 46 allows for movement of the tab 42 and fastener 44 for engagement of the elongated strap 20. As the rotary gear 46 is rotated, the tab 42 and fastener 44 extend or retract from the housing 40 which allows for contraction or expansion of the wrist strap 20. In this way, the personal management device 4 may be adjustably secured, for example, to a wearer's limb (not shown) as desired.
The tab 42 generally extends from the housing 40 and presents the elongated slot 32 with the centrally extending axle 33 extending along one end of the elongated slot 32. In one embodiment, the removable centrally extending axle 33 is configured for extending through the circular receivers 28 and for being removed as desired for securing one end of the elongated strap 20 to the housing 40. The depicted embodiment of the tab 42 is further illustrated in
The fastener 44 illustrated in
As illustrated in
The bottom 31b is generally associated with the fastener 44 which is configured for receipt along an opposite region of the elongated strap 20. In the embodiment of the rotary adjustable wrist band 10 depicted in
The housing 40 depicted in
Activation of the first operator 51 allows for movement of the housing 40 from a closed orientation to an open orientation by engaging a housing releasing mechanism 55 and the latching mechanism 67. Activation of the second operator 53 allows for movement of the fastener 44 in relation to the housing 40 by releasing the gear 46.
The embodiment of the housing 40 illustrated in
The housing releasing mechanism 55 is accessible through an upper window 34 associated with the housing 40 which provides access to the housing releasing mechanism 55. The housing releasing mechanism 55 is in mechanical communication with the first operator 51. Operation of the first operator 51 permits the housing 40 to move between an open and a closed orientation. The housing releasing mechanism 55 generally includes a supra clasp 56 and an infra clasp 57 with complementary structures for engagement.
As depicted in
In operation, engagement of the first operator 51 disengages the housing releasing mechanism 55 by separating the supra clasp 56 from the infra clasp 57. As the first operator 51 is operated downward, one end of the supra clasp 56 is rotated, causing the opposite end to rotate in the opposite direction, separating one end of the supra clasp 56 from the infra clasp 57. Upon separation of the supra clasp 56 from the infra clasp 57, the tab 42 can extend from the housing 40.
In operation, engagement of the first operator 51, depresses one end of the supra clasp 56 in a generally downward orientation. Downward rotation of one end of the supra clasp 56 rotates the opposite end of the supra clasp 56 upwardly, in the opposite direction. Upward rotation of one end of the supra clasp 56 from the infra clasp 57, releases the tab 42 from the housing 40.
The housing 40 generally includes a bottom panel 61 with a cylindrical support 62 which is configured for threaded receipt of a threaded fastener 71. The threaded fastener 71 extends through the housing 40 and into the cylindrical support for securing the housing 40 during operation. The cylindrical support 62 is configured for receipt of the gear 46 with an outside diameter which is compatible for receipt by the inner diameter associated with the central aperture 45. The cylindrical support 62 facilitates rotation of the gear 46.
The rotary gear 46 extends through the housing 40, providing for rotational operation of the rotary closure 30. Generally, the lateral and longitudinal spacers 12, 14 are elongated channels positioned within a guide 49 which moves in relation to the movement of the rotary gear 46. As depicted in
As illustrated in
The elongated channel 66 is separated from the central receiving structure 69 along a partition 69f with the latching mechanism 67 extending through the second side passage 69b into the elongated channel 66. The elongated channel 66 is configured for receipt of the catching mechanism 68 and the latching mechanism 67. The latching mechanism 67 and catching mechanism 68 form an engagement assembly which releasably secures the divisible upper top panel 63 to the lower top panel 65. The divisible upper top panel 63 can be separated from the lower top panel 65 by activation of the first operator 51, in communication with the latching mechanism 67, separating the latching mechanism 67 from the catching mechanism 68.
The elongated spacers 12, 14 associated with the guide 49, are positioned along opposite axes which provide for reciprocal inward movement of the guide 49 as the gear 46 rotates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. By way of example, as the gear 46 rotates in a clockwise direction, the downward detent 47 moves up, towards the tab 42, sliding the guide 49 upward until stopped by the cylindrical support 62 along the closed end of the longitudinal spacer 14. Once the guide 49 comes to a stop, the fastener 44 is closest to the rotary closure 30 as illustrated in
It should be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.
