公开(公告)号：US20230413959A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-28

申请号：US17849487

申请日：2022-06-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： William LEITH ,  Camille I. Henrot ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Jessica J. Lu ,  John S. Camp ,  Seul Bi Kim ,  Joseph B. Walker

IPC: A44C5/14

CPC classification number: A44C5/14

Abstract: Bands for electronic devices, including wearable devices, are designed to dynamically alter their shape (e.g., lengthen) in response to an external force. A band may include one or more interior structures disposed in an exterior structure. The interior structure(s) is/are pulled in tension by the exterior structure. When the interior structure(s) is/are pulled in tension, an additional force (e.g., by a user) that applies tension to the interior structure(s) may cause a relatively small change in tension to the interior structure(s). As a result, the band may appear to provide the same amount to users, despite users having a different wrist size/diameter. A similar phenomenon may occur to a single user when the user's wrist changes in size. Accordingly, based on the interior structure(s) being placed in tension by the exterior structure(s), the force provided by the band may appear constant to users.

公开(公告)号：US20250063304A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-20

申请号：US18937399

申请日：2024-11-05

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Andrea L. Blakemore ,  Amit S. Barve ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Samuel G. Smith ,  Seulbi Kim ,  James G. Griffin, II ,  Linda D. Benavente-Notaro

IPC: H04R5/033 ,  A61B5/24 ,  A61F9/04 ,  H04W4/38

Abstract: A wearable electronic device may be formed from a layer of fabric having opposing first and second ends. The ends may have first and second respective ear openings that receive a user's ears and may have speakers for playing audio. A soft central portion of the fabric between the ends may overlap the user's eyes. The wearable electronic device may have control circuitry that receives power from a power source. Sensors may be used to gather sensor information such as biometric sensor information. The sensors, control circuitry, and power source may be mounted in a stiff edge portion of the fabric. The stiff edge portion of the fabric may have an elongated strip shape and may extend along an upper edge of the central and the electronic device. Stiffener structures sandwiched between inner and outer layers of the fabric may be used to support speakers.

公开(公告)号：US10427374B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-01

申请号：US15920340

申请日：2018-03-13

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yohji Hamada ,  Siddhartha Hegde ,  Zebinah P. Masse ,  Rimple Bhatia ,  Peter F. Coxeter ,  Amit S. Barve ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Javier Mendez

IPC: B32B1/08 ,  B32B5/02 ,  B32B3/26 ,  B32B27/12 ,  B32B27/08 ,  B32B5/26 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B7/03 ,  H04R1/02

Abstract: Electronic equipment may include seamless spacer fabric. Seamless spacer fabric may be used as a protective case or cosmetic cover for an electronic device such as a speaker. A seamless spacer fabric may include a seamless fabric outer layer, a spacer fabric inner layer, and an adhesive layer that bonds the seamless outer layer to the spacer fabric inner layer. The spacer fabric layer may have a seam region where one portion of the spacer fabric layer is joined with another portion of the fabric layer. The seamless fabric outer layer may cover the seam region to hide it from view. One or more additional seam hiding layers or strips may be formed on opposing sides of the spacer fabric layer to cover the seam. The seamless spacer fabric may have an array of openings that extends uniformly around the perimeter of the seamless spacer fabric.

公开(公告)号：US11504945B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-22

申请号：US16358590

申请日：2019-03-19

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sofiane Berlat ,  Aedhan M. Loomis ,  Peter F. Coxeter ,  Sarah J. Montplaisir ,  Timon A. Wright ,  Yohji Hamada ,  Patrick Perry ,  Chad J. Miller ,  Andrew L. Rosenberg ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Daniel D. Sunshine ,  Jessica J. Lu ,  Lia M. Uesato ,  Donald L. Olmstead

IPC: B32B7/09 ,  D04B1/08 ,  D04B21/20 ,  D04B1/22 ,  D05B1/06 ,  D05B93/00 ,  B29C70/24 ,  B29C65/00 ,  A45C11/00 ,  B32B3/26 ,  B32B5/06

Abstract: An item may be formed from structures that include holes. Stitching may be used to form a seam that joins the structures. The stitching may be formed from a chain stitch that passes through the holes. The holes may be formed from loops of knit fabric or other holes. Leather layers, polymer layers, fabric layers, and other structures with holes may be joined using the stitching. During fabrication, a layer of material with holes may be placed on an adjustable-shape fixture having a bed of needles. The shape of the bed of nails in the adjustable-shape fixture may then be changed. After the fixture has been used to transform the shape of one or more of the structures, the structures may be placed on needles in an assembly fixture and the stitching between the structures may be formed. The item may be an electronic device cover or other item.

公开(公告)号：US11381892B1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-05

申请号：US16017835

申请日：2018-06-25

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Timothy W. Scales ,  Kodiak D. Burke ,  Linda D. Benavente-Notaro ,  Nicholas R. Trincia ,  Benjamin A. Stevenson ,  Clayton McCoy ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Hao Zhu ,  William H. Chui ,  Jack Pickup

IPC: H04R1/02 ,  G06F1/18

Abstract: An enclosure may be provided with a housing. The housing may have an opening that separates and joins along a seam. A magnetic closure may have a pair of mating flexible magnetic members such as flexible rings or strips that run along the seam. Magnetic-field shunts may be provided in the flexible magnetic members. Multiple magnetic elements may be formed along the length of each magnetic member to form a multipole permanent magnet. Magnetic attraction may be varied along the lengths of the magnetic members and may be varied as a function of the separation between opposing magnet members. A magnetic clasp may be provided on the housing. The magnetic clasp may have attracting magnets to help close the opening in the housing. Protruding clasp portions may be formed from flexible material and may have embedded magnets configured to repel each other to facilitate use of the clasp.

公开(公告)号：US20250009079A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-09

申请号：US18752588

申请日：2024-06-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： William Leith ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Charlotte M. Baravian

IPC: A44C5/00

Abstract: A fabric strap may be used to attach a wearable electronic device to a user's body. The fabric strap may include a stretchable inner fabric layer formed from mesh fabric. A first set of ribs may be formed on a first side of the inner fabric layer and a second set of ribs may be formed on a second opposing side of the inner fabric layer. Load-modifying structures may be located in the ribs and may be used to increase the initial force required to stretch the strap, while allowing additional elongation to occur without requiring increasing force once a certain elongation percentage is reached. The load-modifying structures may be located in upper portions of the ribs and/or may span across openings in the ribs, and may include stitching, stiffeners, fabric layers, metal or plastic materials, spring members, and/or other structures.

公开(公告)号：US11838716B1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-05

申请号：US17319698

申请日：2021-05-13

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Kendall L. Helbert ,  Benjamin C. Creed ,  Chad J. Miller ,  Jenna L. Withrow ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Lee M. Panecki ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Bryan A. Cloyd

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  A61B5/021 ,  A61B5/024 ,  A61B5/0295 ,  A61B5/00 ,  A61B5/369 ,  A61B5/01

CPC classification number: H04R1/105 ,  A61B5/01 ,  A61B5/021 ,  A61B5/024 ,  A61B5/0295 ,  A61B5/369 ,  A61B5/4266 ,  A61B5/6803 ,  H04R1/1008 ,  H04R1/1033 ,  H04R1/1041 ,  H04R1/1066

Abstract: An electronic device such as a pair of headphones may be configured to be worn on a head of a user. The headphones may have a headband and earcups that are coupled to the headband. The headband may have a frame and a headband frame cover that is removably attached to the frame. The cover may have protrusions, may be inflated using a pump, may include a battery and other components, and may include sensors. An earcup movement synchronization mechanism may be used to synchronize movement of a left earcup with a right earcup. A torsion spring with a stop mechanisms or other bend limiter may be configured to prevent overbending of the headband.

公开(公告)号：US11290818B1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-29

申请号：US16452926

申请日：2019-06-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Andrea L. Blakemore ,  Amit S. Barve ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Samuel G. Smith ,  Seulbi Kim

IPC: H04R5/033 ,  H04W4/38 ,  A61F9/04 ,  A61B5/24

Abstract: A wearable electronic device may be formed from a layer of fabric having opposing first and second ends. The ends may have first and second respective ear openings that receive a user's ears and may have speakers for playing audio. A soft central portion of the fabric between the ends may overlap the user's eyes. The wearable electronic device may have control circuitry that receives power from a power source. Sensors may be used to gather sensor information such as biometric sensor information. The sensors, control circuitry, and power source may be mounted in a stiff edge portion of the fabric. The stiff edge portion of the fabric may have an elongated strip shape and may extend along an upper edge of the central and the electronic device. Stiffener structures sandwiched between inner and outer layers of the fabric may be used to support speakers.

公开(公告)号：US12177639B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-24

申请号：US17680102

申请日：2022-02-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Andrea L. Blakemore ,  Amit S. Barve ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Samuel G. Smith ,  Seulbi Kim ,  James G. Griffin, II ,  Linda D. Benavente-Notaro

IPC: H04R5/033 ,  A61B5/24 ,  A61F9/04 ,  H04W4/38

Abstract: A wearable electronic device may be formed from a layer of fabric having opposing first and second ends. The ends may have first and second respective ear openings that receive a user's ears and may have speakers for playing audio. A soft central portion of the fabric between the ends may overlap the user's eyes. The wearable electronic device may have control circuitry that receives power from a power source. Sensors may be used to gather sensor information such as biometric sensor information. The sensors, control circuitry, and power source may be mounted in a stiff edge portion of the fabric. The stiff edge portion of the fabric may have an elongated strip shape and may extend along an upper edge of the central and the electronic device. Stiffener structures sandwiched between inner and outer layers of the fabric may be used to support speakers.

公开(公告)号：US12096829B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-24

申请号：US17849487

申请日：2022-06-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： William Leith ,  Camille I. Henrot ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Jessica J. Lu ,  John S. Camp ,  Seul Bi Kim ,  Joseph B. Walker

IPC: A44C5/00 ,  A44C5/14

CPC classification number: A44C5/14

Abstract: Bands for electronic devices, including wearable devices, are designed to dynamically alter their shape (e.g., lengthen) in response to an external force. A band may include one or more interior structures disposed in an exterior structure. The interior structure(s) is/are pulled in tension by the exterior structure. When the interior structure(s) is/are pulled in tension, an additional force (e.g., by a user) that applies tension to the interior structure(s) may cause a relatively small change in tension to the interior structure(s). As a result, the band may appear to provide the same amount to users, despite users having a different wrist size/diameter. A similar phenomenon may occur to a single user when the user's wrist changes in size. Accordingly, based on the interior structure(s) being placed in tension by the exterior structure(s), the force provided by the band may appear constant to users.