The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 50 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover a new Apple Watch band patent that using a dial mechanism to tighten or loosen the band on the user's wrist. While Apple claims the new band is for a watch or health device, the fact is Apple Watch is in fact both. Beyond providing a user with maximum comfort control, Apple states that "a user may be able to operate one or more health monitoring applications or functions for a longer period of time."

Apple further notes that "a user may want a slightly tighter fit when exercising so a health sensor (e.g., heart rate monitor) can operate more effectively. However, at other times of the day the user may want a looser fit. Several techniques are disclosed for performing incremental adjustments.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below shows a plan view of Apple Watch coupled to a band; FIG. 2 shows one example of an attachment mechanism and an incremental adjustment mechanism for a wearable band; FIG. 3 shows the band sub-segments at a first position (loose); FIG. 4 shows the band sub-segments at a second position (tight);

Apple's patent FIG. 5 below shows one example of an incremental adjustment mechanism that is suitable for use in the incremental adjustment mechanism shown in FIGS. 2-4; FIG. 6 shows one example of a gear assembly that is suitable for use in the incremental adjustment mechanism shown in FIG. 5.

In respect to FIG. 5, Apple adds that "In one non-limiting example, the two band sub-segments each include a toothed edge. The toothed edges are positioned opposite one another. A rotatable gear is positioned between the two toothed edges. A dial is attached to the gear and a user turns the dial to incrementally adjust the tightness of the band when the wearable band is attached to the body part of the user. As one example, the user can rotate the dial in a clockwise direction to loosen the tightness of the wearable band, or the user can rotate the dial in a counter-clockwise direction to increase the tightness of the wearable band around the body part.

Apple's patent FIG. 7 above shows another example of an attachment mechanism and an incremental adjustment mechanism for a wearable band; FIG. 8 shows the clasp in a closed position with the incremental adjustment mechanism at a first position;

Apple's granted patent 10,463,120 was originally filed in Q3 2016 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.