U.S. patent application number 11/604167 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-18 for interchangeable wrist or ankle band arrangements.
This patent application is currently assigned to Movado LLC. Invention is credited to Florian Strasser.
Application Number | 20070241148 11/604167 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38603891 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070241148 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Strasser; Florian |
October 18, 2007 |
Interchangeable wrist or ankle band arrangements
Abstract
A kit for assembling a wearable band arrangement for the wrist
or ankle. The kit has a body portion and a band portion. The body
portion has a stationary portion and a movable portion. The band
portion has attachment media for attaching and detaching to the
body portion. The movable portion of the body is movable with
respect to the stationary portion, between a first position, where
the attachment media of the band portion are connected with the
body portion, and a second position, where the attachment media of
the band portion are removable from the body portion.
Inventors: |
Strasser; Florian;
(Mainisberg, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FERENCE & ASSOCIATES LLC
409 BROAD STREET
PITTSBURGH
PA
15143
US
|
Assignee: |
Movado LLC
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
38603891 |
Appl. No.: |
11/604167 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11404060 |
Apr 13, 2006 |
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11604167 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/164 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 15/009 20130101;
A44C 5/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/164 |
International
Class: |
A44C 5/00 20060101
A44C005/00 |
Claims
1. A kit for assembling a wearable band arrangement, said kit
comprising: a body portion; and a band portion; said body portion
comprising a stationary portion and a movable portion; said band
portion comprising attachment media for attaching and detaching
with respect to said body portion; said movable portion being
movable with respect to said stationary portion, between: a first
position, wherein said attachment media of said band portion are
connected with said body portion; and a second position, wherein
said attachment media of said band portion are removable from said
body portion.
2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said band portion is
interchangeable with at least one other band portion.
3. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said movable portion is
rotatably displaceable with respect to said stationary portion.
4. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said stationary portion
comprises receptacle portions for accommodating said attachment
media of said band portion.
5. The kit according to claim 4, wherein said movable portion
comprises tab portions cooperable with said receptacle
portions.
6. The kit according to claim 5 wherein, in said first position,
said tab portions cooperate with said receptacle portions to ensure
a secure connection of said attachment media of said band portion
with respect to said body portion.
7. The kit according to claim 5 wherein, in said second position,
said tab portions are disposed away from said receptacle portions
to ensure the removability of said attachment media of said band
portion from said body portion.
8. The kit according to claim 7 wherein, in said second position,
said tab portions are disposed away from some receptacle portions
just sufficiently to ensure the removability of said attachment
media of said band portion from said body portion.
9. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said wearable band
arrangement comprises a wristwatch.
10. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said wearable band
arrangement comprises a wrist bracelet.
11. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said wearable band
arrangement comprises an ankle bracelet.
Description
CLAIM FOR PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/404,060, filed on Apr. 13, 2006, and which
is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth
herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to wristwatches and
other types of items typically worn on a wrist or even ankle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Since their very invention, wristwatches (or "watches") have
provided an immensely important practical function for those
wanting or needing an immediate verification of the time of day or,
in many models, the day of the week or actual date. Mechanical
watches, with internal clockwork that can be reactivated by
winding, have given way to battery-operated watches with analog or
digital displays. Even with the advent of cellular phones, which
themselves typically provide information long provided by watches,
there is little to suggest that the immense popularity of watches
will abate in the foreseeable future.
[0004] Part and parcel of the popularity of wristwatches, of
course, is the immense variety found in their styling. A huge
multitude of ornamental styling, in fact, has been developed over
the years which has heightened the popularity of watches at
different times among different individuals or groups. While the
face, or time-bearing, portion of a watch can indeed sport its own
unique styling, wristbands also can exude a certain appeal, to
different individuals or groups (such as age groups), on the basis
of their specific styling.
[0005] The variety of styling involved with wristbands is indeed
immense but is usually tied in to a single watch "package", where a
wristband is more or less errantly affixed or integrated with
respect to a watch body. Interchangeable wristbands have been
developed but the methods required for effecting a changeover are
usually quite time-consuming and complex. A need has thus been
recognized in connection with affording a user-friendly mechanism
for exchanging wristbands in the context of a single watch
"package". A similar need has also been recognized in affording
such a capability in other contexts, such as wrist-borne or
ankle-borne jewelry (e.g., bracelets for the wrist or ankle).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] There is broadly contemplated herein, in accordance with at
least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention,
an arrangement for providing for the eased interchangeability of
wristbands in the context of a wristwatch package, whereby a
movable portion of the watch body can be displaced so as to expose
a convenient connection arrangement where wristbands can be
reliably detached from and connected to the watch body. Similar
arrangements are conceivable in the context of wrist or ankle
jewelry, such as wrist and ankle bracelets.
[0007] In one aspect, a kit is provided for assembling a wearable
band arrangement. The kit has a body portion and a band portion.
The body portion has a stationary portion and a movable portion.
The band portion has attachment media for attaching and detaching
to the body portion. The movable portion is movable with respect to
the stationary portion, between a first position, where the
attachment media of the band portion are connected with the body
portion, and a second position, where the attachment media of the
band portion are removable from the body portion.
[0008] In another aspect, the movable portion is rotatably
displaceable with respect to the stationary portion. The stationary
portion can include receptacle portions for accommodating the
attachment media of the band portion. Also, the movable portion can
have tab portions cooperable with the receptacle portions.
[0009] In yet another aspect, in said first position, the tab
portions cooperate with the receptacle portions to ensure a secure
connection of the attachment media of the band portion with respect
to the body portion. Also, in the second position, the tab portions
can be disposed away from the receptacle portions to ensure the
removability of the attachment media of the band portion from the
body portion. In one embodiment, the tab portions are disposed away
from some receptacle portions just sufficiently to ensure the
removability of the attachment media of the band portion.
[0010] For a better understanding of the present invention,
together with other and further features and advantages thereof,
reference is made to the following description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the
invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective view, a complete
wristwatch package including a watch body and a wristband.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates, in perspective view, essentially the
same wristwatch package as FIG. 1 but with a portion of the watch
body displaced.
[0013] 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
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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).
[0017] 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).
[0018] 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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.
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