Wristband for wearable devices and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

In one aspect, a wristband for wearable devices is presented. A wristband may have a first band having a first proximal end couplable to a wearable device and a first distal end extending away from the wearable device. A wristband may have a second band having a second proximal end formed as part of a portion of the first distal end of the first band and a second distal end couplable to a locking element configured to secure the wearable device to a portion of a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wristband for wearable devices, comprising: 
 a first band having a first proximal end couplable to a wearable device and a first distal end extending away from the wearable device; and   a second band having a second proximal end formed as a portion of the first distal end of the first band and a second distal end couplable to a locking element configured to secure the wearable device to a portion of a user.   
     
     
         2 . The wristband of  claim 1 , wherein the second proximal end is formed as part of the first distal end through a process of overmolding. 
     
     
         3 . The wristband of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the first band comprises a stimulating element configured to emit a stimulation waveform. 
     
     
         4 . The wristband of  claim 3 , wherein the stimulating element comprises one or more of a vibratory element, heating element, electrical element, and ultrasonic element. 
     
     
         5 . The wristband of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is a hook and loop structure. 
     
     
         6 . The wristband of  claim 1 , wherein the second proximal end is overlaid onto sacrificial geometry of the first distal end. 
     
     
         7 . The wristband of  claim 1 , wherein a tensile strength of the first and second band is at least 50 MPa. 
     
     
         8 . The wristband of  claim 1 , wherein the second distal end retains an original visual element prior to a manufacturing process combining the first and second band. 
     
     
         9 . The wristband of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is interwoven with a molding material. 
     
     
         10 . The wristband of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the first proximal end is absent demarcation from a top surface of the first distal end.  
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a wristband for wearable devices, comprising: 
 positioning a second proximal end of a second band at least partially onto a top surface of a first distal end of a first band in a mold cavity of a band mold;   injecting a molding material into the mold cavity;   allowing the molding material to cure, thereby materially integrating the second band at least partially into the first band.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising aligning a mold core with the mold cavity through alignment pins. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising directing a flow of the molding material around a portion of the second band via a flow director. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising directing a flow of the molding material around a portion of the second band via a flow guide. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising applying a vacuum within the mold to hold the second band at least partially on top the top surface of the first distal end of the first band. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising securing the second band to the first band through sacrificial geometry incorporated into the first band. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sacrificial geometry is positioned at the first distal end of the first band. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first band is absent any demarcation from the second band. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first band is couplable to a wearable device at a first proximal end. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising aligning a mold core with the mold cavity through a set of magnets.