Band employing bistable magnetic actuator with hands free actuation

Abstract

A band configured to wrap around and be secured to an object includes at least three members pivotably connected to one another so as to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position, the first member including an outwardly disposed face defining an imaginary plane and each of the second and third members including an actuator prong that extends outwardly beyond the imaginary plane when in the open position and that is retracted to no longer extend outwardly beyond the imaginary plane when in the closed position. Movement of the object into contact with the first member so as to exert actuation forces toward the outwardly disposed face when the actuator prongs are in contact with a surface causes the second and third members to move from the open position to the closed position due to forces created between the actuator prongs and the surface.

1 . A band configured to wrap around and be secured to an object, said band comprising:
 a first member having first and second ends;   a second member pivotably connected to the first member at the first end thereof;   wherein the first and second members are pivotable with respect to each other between an open position and a closed position;   wherein one of the second member and the first member comprises a first permanent magnet disposed adjacent the first end of the first member and the other of the second member and the first member comprises a second permanent magnet or a first ferrous material disposed adjacent the first end of the first member;   wherein the first and second members are configured such that when the first and second members are pivoted with respect to each other past a threshold position toward the closed position, the first and second members are biased toward the closed position by forces created between the first magnet and the second magnet or the first ferrous material, and when the first and second members are pivoted with respect to each other past the threshold position toward the open position, the first and second members are biased toward the open position by forces created between the first magnet and the second magnet or the first ferrous material.   
     
     
         2 . The band of  claim 1  further comprising a third member pivotably connected to the first member at the second end thereof,
 wherein the first and third members are pivotable with respect to each other between an open position and a closed position, 
 wherein one of the third member and the first member comprises a third permanent magnet disposed adjacent the second end of the first member and the other of the third member and the first member comprises a fourth permanent magnet or a second ferrous material disposed adjacent the second end of the first member, and 
 wherein the first and third members are configured such that when the first and third members are pivoted with respect to each other past a threshold position toward the closed position, the first and third members are biased toward the closed position by forces created between the third magnet and the fourth magnet or the second ferrous material, and when the first and third members are pivoted with respect to each other past the threshold position toward the open position, the first and third members are biased toward the open position by forces created between the third magnet and the fourth magnet or the second ferrous material. 
 
     
     
         3 . The band of  claim 2 , wherein the second and third members are pivotably connected to the first member at opposite ends thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The band of  claim 3 , wherein the first member comprises a watch body, wherein the second member comprises a first watch strap, and wherein the third member comprises a second watch strap, whereby the band comprises a watch. 
     
     
         5 . The band of  claim 2  further comprising a closure affixing the second member and the third member together when the second and third members are in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The band of  claim 5 , wherein the closure comprises a magnetic closure. 
     
     
         7 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the second member comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         8 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the second member comprises a plurality of links. 
     
     
         9 . The band of  claim 8 , wherein at least some of the plurality of links comprise bistable compliant links. 
     
     
         10 . The band of  claim 8 , wherein at least some of the plurality of links comprise passive links. 
     
     
         11 . The band of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of links comprise a combination of bistable compliant links and passive links. 
     
     
         12 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the open position and the closed position comprise stable positions such that the open position and the closed position are maintained without external forces being applied thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The band of  claim 12 , wherein rotational positions of the first and second members with respect to each other between the open position and the closed position comprise unstable positions so as to require external forces to be applied in order to maintain rotational positions of the first and second members with respect to each other between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The band of  claim 1 :
 wherein the first member comprises a first planar surface and a second planar surface at a first end thereof, the first and second planar surfaces defining an angle therebetween;   wherein the second member comprises a planar surface; and   wherein the planar surface of the second member abuts the first planar surface of the first member when in the open position and the planar surface of the second member abuts the second planar surface of the first member when in the closed position.   
     
     
         15 . The band of  claim 14 , wherein the angle between the first and second planar surfaces of the first member is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The band of  claim 1  further comprising a pivot element configured to allow the first and second members to pivot with respect to one another, while preventing the first and second members from separating. 
     
     
         17 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the band defines an article of jewelry or a watch. 
     
     
         18 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the band defines a medical article selected from the group consisting of a medical instrument holder, a cuff attachment for scrubs, a compression bandage, a blood pressure cuff, and a cuff for affixing cold or heat wraps. 
     
     
         19 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the band defines a safety tether for a gaming device. 
     
     
         20 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the band is incorporated into a flexible mobile communications device adapted to wrap around a body part.