Quick Release Band/Lug Mechanism for Smartwatch

Abstract

A watch system may include a watchband including a flexible member configured to be mounted onto a wrist of a user, and a puck including watch functionality. The watchband may have an end that has a concave curved shape. The puck may have a connection interface that has a convex curved shape. The connection interface may be to be removably coupled to the end of the watchband. The watchband and the puck may have corresponding locking features that are configured to rotationally and translationally fix the puck to the watchband. The corresponding locking features may be configured to be engaged when the watchband is translated relative to the puck and rotated relative to the puck by a predetermined rotation angle.

1 . A watch, comprising:
 a puck including watch functionality, the puck having a connection interface that has a convex curved shape, the connection interface configured to be removably coupled to the end of a watchband;   wherein the connection interface comprises locking features that are configured to rotationally and translationally fix the puck to the watchband, the locking features configured to be engaged when the watchband is translated relative to the puck and rotated about a central axis of the puck by a predetermined rotation angle.   
     
     
         2 . The watch of  claim 1 , wherein the locking features include a plurality of puck teeth, such that the puck teeth prevent translation of the puck relative to the watchband. 
     
     
         3 . The watch of  claim 2 , wherein each of the puck teeth extends circumferentially about the central axis of the puck by a same angle, and the same angle is about equal to the predetermined rotation angle. 
     
     
         4 . The watch of  claim 2 , wherein the locking features include a release button adjacent to the connection interface of the puck. 
     
     
         5 . The watch of  claim 4 , wherein the release button is biased by a spring element towards an extended position, so that the release button is configured to automatically move from a depressed position within the puck to the extended position when the watchband is disengaged. 
     
     
         6 . The watch of  claim 2 , further comprising a spring element disposed within the connection interface, the spring element being configured to push the end of the watchband away from the puck, so that the puck teeth apply a continual force against watchband teeth. 
     
     
         7 . The watch of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined rotation angle is between about 5° and about 20°. 
     
     
         8 . The watch of  claim 1 , wherein the puck has smartwatch features including a display, sensors, and a battery. 
     
     
         9 . A watchband, comprising:
 a flexible member configured to be mounted onto a wrist of a user, the flexible member having an end that has a concave curved shape; and   a plurality of locking features at the end of the flexible member, the plurality of locking features being configured to rotationally and translationally fix the watchband to a watch puck, the plurality of locking features configured to be engaged with corresponding locking features of the puck when the watchband is translated relative to the puck and rotated about a central axis of the puck by a predetermined rotation angle.   
     
     
         10 . The watchband of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of locking features include a plurality of watchband teeth that are configured to be engaged with a corresponding plurality of puck teeth, thereby preventing the watchband teeth from translating away from the puck. 
     
     
         11 . The watchband of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of locking features include a release button adjacent to a connection interface of the puck, the release button being configured to abut a side surface of the end of the watchband, such that the release button prevents the end of the watchband from rotating relative to the puck. 
     
     
         12 . The watchband of  claim 11 , wherein in an engaged configuration the end of the watchband is rotationally locked relative to the puck by interference between the side surface of the end of the watchband and a side surface of the release button, and in which the end of the watchband is translationally locked relative to the puck by interference between the watchband teeth and corresponding ones of the puck teeth. 
     
     
         13 . The watchband of  claim 11 , wherein the release button is biased by a spring element towards an extended position in which the release button abuts the side surface of the end of the watchband, so that the release button is configured to automatically move from a depressed position to the extended position when the end of the watchband is moved off of the release button. 
     
     
         14 . The watchband of  claim 10 , further comprising a spring element disposed within the connection interface, the spring element being configured to push the end of the watchband away from the puck, so that the watchband teeth apply a continual force against the puck teeth. 
     
     
         15 . The watchband of  claim 9 , wherein the end is a first end, the watchband further includes a first connection interface and a second end that has a concave curved shape and a second connection interface that has a convex curved shape, and the second connection interface is configured to be removably coupled to the second end of the watchband. 
     
     
         16 . The watchband of  claim 9 . wherein the predetermined rotation angle is between about 5° and about 20°.