Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to new support structures for Apple rings/finger devices, Apple Watch and future HMDs using ribbed structures and hinges. Apple notes that in some situations, straps/bands may be insufficiently durable, may not be visually appealing, or may be insufficiently adjustable to provide a user with desired functionality.

Hinged Wearable Electronic Devices

Apple’s granted patent covers electronic devices that may have rigid members such as links in a strap that are joined by rotating joints. The joints may include spring-loaded joints such as joints that include torsion springs, may include friction hinges, and may include freely rotating hinges.

Straps may be used to form watch bracelets, straps for head mounted devices, and straps for other electronic equipment such as a ring or finger device. In some configurations, circuitry can be included in the rigid members that form a strap. This circuitry may include, for example, sensors, control circuitry for gathering user input from the sensors, wireless circuitry for receiving information from remote equipment, and haptic output devices that the control circuitry can use to provide a user with haptic output based on user input from a sensor, information received from wireless communications circuitry, and/or other information.

In a head mounted device, straps may be folded for storage within an interior region in the body of the head mounted device. The strap coupled to a wristwatch may have portions that fold to hide displays or other components mounted on the strap. A strap with two parallel strap portions or other strap may be configured to serve as a support for a cellular telephone or other device with a display. A strap can also be configured to tilt a display that is coupled to the strap to a desired viewing angle relative to a user's wrist.

An electronic device may have a pair of support structures with ribs or other members that are joined by a friction hinge. Sensors, haptic output devices, and other components may be mounted to the support structures. Elastomeric material may be molded over the ribs. Freely rotating joints may be used to support the ribs while allowing the support structures to twist along their lengths.

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 below is a perspective view of an illustrative hinged wearable device to be worn on a user’s finger as illustrated in FIG. 5; FIG. 10 is a side view of an illustrative hinged wearable device such as Apple Watch with rigid rib members that is being worn on a user's wrist.

Apple’s patent FIG. 14 is a side view of an illustrative wearable device in which members are coupled at joints such as joints with friction hinges and/or torsion springs; FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an illustrative device with a pair of parallel independently adjustable hinged strap portions; FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the illustrative device of FIG. 21 in an arrangement in which one of the hinged strap portions has been configured to form a stand for an iPhone.   

Further to Apple’s FIG. 22, Apple notes that an iPhone may be mounted to a first strap portion formed from members #40B while a second parallel strap portion formed from members #40A is used to hold Apple Watch on a user's wrist. This allows a user to view the iPhone’s display #26′ while it sits on Apple Watch on the user’s wrist hands free.

Apple’s patent FIG. 23 above is a perspective view of an illustrative head mounted device with hinged straps; FIG. 24 is a side view of an illustrative head mounted device showing how hinged straps may be stowed within the housing of a main unit of the device.

In respect to the new Apple Watch band, Apple notes that Apple Watch may have deformable members such as members #40. The members may be formed from deformable metal encapsulated in a soft elastomer (e.g., silicone) and/or other plastic and may be coupled to main unit #10.

For full details and patent claims, review Apple's patent application 20230384840 that was published by USPTO today and originally filed for by Apple on August 8, 2023.