Portable electronic device with strap

Abstract

The invention proposes a portable electronic device ( 100 ) having a housing ( 101 ) and a strap ( 107 ) that is mechanically attached to the housing. The housing encompasses electronic components and protects them from ambient influences. The strap bears further electronic components ( 108 ), whereby an electrically conductive connection ( 301 A, 301 B) exists between the housing and the strap. The strap is mechanically attached to the housing by means of a form-fitting connection ( 304 ), whereby the connection is oriented appropriately such that a tensile force acting on the strap in the strap's longitudinal direction generates a force component that aims to push the strap onto the housing. The strap can be mounted easily on the housing and establishes a mechanical and electrical connection between the housing and the strap in a single assembly step. The mechanical connection between the strap and the housing also resists tensile forces without forces acting on the electric contacts that might lead to a disconnection of the electrical connection between the strap and the housing.

1 . A portable electronic device having a housing and a strap that is mechanically attached to the housing, whereby the housing encompasses electronic components;
 wherein the strap is mechanically attached on at least one of its ends to the housing by means of corresponding interlocking mechanical elements forming a form-fitting connection, whereby said corresponding mechanical elements comprise respective thrust surfaces oriented appropriately such that a tensile force acting on the strap in the strap's longitudinal direction and away from said housing generates a force component orthogonal to said longitudinal direction that aims to push the strap onto the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical connection is secured through a latching mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical connection is secured through a rotary or sliding mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the strap comprises a projecting mechanical element that engages a corresponding recess in the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a projecting mechanical element is provided on the housing and engages a corresponding recess in the strap. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the projecting mechanical element is designed in the shape of a fin or a peg. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the projecting mechanical element is a fin whose one side surface and a main surface of the strap form an angle smaller than 90°, in that the side surface touches against the recess such that a tensile force acting on the strap in the strap's longitudinal direction generates a force component that aims to push the strap on to the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the strap bears further electronic components; and whereby an electrically conductive connection exists between the housing and the strap;
 and the strap comprises an electrical plug contact with a contact pin that engages a contact socket that comprises at least one contact spring in order to establish the electrical connection between the strap and the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to claim  98 , wherein the contact pin is pushed against the at least one contact spring by the action of the tensile force acting on the strap in the strap's longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the latching mechanism is designed to be detachable for disconnection of the mechanical connection between the strap and housing. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein a gasket, sections of which are conductive, is arranged between the strap and the housing, whereby the conductive sections of the gasket form contact surfaces for the electrical connection. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the gaskets are arranged between the strap and the housing on surfaces that are pushed against each other by the action of a tensile force acting on the strap in the strap's longitudinal direction.