Wrist strap

A wrist strap which comprises a first portion defining a first end of the wrist strap, and a second portion defining a second end of the wrist strap. The wrist strap further comprises an aperture located in the first portion, through which the second end of the strap is passable to define an overlapping region in which a part of the first portion and the second portion of the wrist strap overlap. A first L-shaped peg is located in one portion of the first and second portions, and a first hole in the strap located in the other portion of the first and second portions. A second L-shaped peg is located in the other portion of the first and second portions, and a second hole in the strap located in the one portion.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a wrist strap, in particular a wrist strap which is secured to a user's wrist via the use of a peg which fits in a corresponding hole located on the wrist strap.

An example of such a wrist strap is that disclosed in WO 2017/037238.

One disadvantage with the wrist straps disclosed in WO 2017/037238 is that they are unsuitable for use in applications, such as in amusement parks, where the strap is liable to get caught on an object whilst the strap is on a user's wrist. In such situations, the wrist strap remains secured around the user's wrist, risking injury to the user.

Another disadvantage with such wrist straps is that it can be difficult to line up all of the pegs from the strap, at any given time, with the corresponding holes located on the strap.

The present invention aims to resolve the above-identified problems associated with existing wrist straps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wrist strap comprising a first portion defining a first end of the wrist strap, and a second portion defining a second end of the wrist strap, the wrist strap further comprising:an aperture located in the first portion, through which the second end of the strap is passable to define an overlapping region in which a part of the first portion and the second portion of the wrist strap overlap;a first L-shaped peg located in one portion of the first and second portions, and a first hole in the strap located in the other portion of the first and second portions;wherein the first L-shaped peg and the first hole are located in the overlapping region once the second end of the strap is passed through the aperture, such that the first L-shaped peg is engageable with the first hole;wherein the first L-shaped peg is shaped such that when engaged in the first hole, the end of the first L-shaped peg extends in a direction away from the end of the strap located in the other portion.

By virtue of the L-shaped peg extending in use in a direction away from the end of the strap located in the other portion, in the event of the strap being caught on an object, and a predetermined pulling force thus being exerted on the wrist strap, the L-shaped peg will slide out of the hole in which it is engaged, thus allowing the two portions of the wrist strap to separate from each other.

The wrist strap may further comprise:a second L-shaped peg located in the other portion of the first and second portions, and a second hole in the strap located in the one portion;wherein the second L-shaped peg and the second hole are located in the overlapping region once the second end of the strap is passed through the aperture, such that the second L-shaped peg is engageable with the second hole;wherein the second L-shaped peg is shaped such that when engaged in the second hole, the end of the second L-shaped peg extends in a direction away from the end of the strap located in the one portion.

With the provision of the second L-shaped peg, this allows the wrist strap to be better secured to a user's wrist, whilst at the same time still allowing the two portions of the wrist strap to separate from each other in the event of it being caught on an object.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wrist strap comprising a first portion defining a first end of the wrist strap, and a second portion defining a second end of the wrist strap, the wrist strap further comprising:an aperture located in the first portion, through which the second end of the strap is passable to define an overlapping region in which a part of the first portion and the second portion of the wrist strap overlap;a first peg located in the first portion, and a first plurality of holes in the second portion;a second peg located in the second portion, and a second plurality of holes located in the first portion;wherein once the second end of the strap is passed through the aperture, the first peg and a hole from the first plurality of holes are located in the overlapping region, such that the first peg is engageable with the hole from the first plurality of holes;wherein once the second end of the strap is passed through the aperture, the second peg and a hole from the second plurality of holes are located in the overlapping region such that the second peg is engageable with the hole from the second plurality of holes;wherein the spacing between the holes in the first plurality of holes is different than the spacing between the holes in the second plurality of holes.

By virtue of the spacing between the holes in the first plurality of holes being different than the spacing between the holes in the second plurality of holes, this allows each plurality of holes to better align and engage with its associated peg when the wrist strap is in use on a user's wrist.

Depending on how the second end is passed through the aperture, the spacing between the holes in the first plurality of holes may be greater than, or less than, the spacing between the holes in the second plurality of holes.

In this wrist strap, the first peg may be L-shaped, such that when engaged in a hole from the first plurality of holes, the end of the first L-shaped peg extends in a direction away from the second end of the strap.

The second peg may be L-shaped, such that when engaged in a hole from the second plurality of holes, the end of the second L-shaped peg extends in a direction away from the first end of the strap.

With the provision of such L-shaped pegs, this allows the two portions of the wrist strap to separate from each other in the event of the wrist strap being caught on an object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the Figures, there is shown a wrist strap10for attaching around a user's wrist. The wrist strap10comprises a first portion12defining a first end14of the strap, and a second portion16defining a second end18of the strap. The middle20of the strap preferably defines a space22for receiving an electronic device or a watch face.

The first and second portions12;16of the wrist strap10may be a continuous piece of material as shown in the Figures, or may be separated into smaller pieces, such as two separate pieces of material which connect either side of the electronic device/watch face positioned at the middle20of the wrist strap10.

Distributed along the length of the first portion12of the wrist strap10is a plurality of holes24, which are regularly spaced apart from each other. The spacing between the holes, measured between the centres of two neighbouring holes, is defined as a primary spacing D1(as shown inFIG. 2). In one particular embodiment, the primary spacing may be 6 mm.

The first portion12of the wrist strap10also comprises an aperture28, which is proximal the first end14, through which the second portion16of the wrist strap10is passable as will be described. The aperture28is located in a first rigid member30which is associated with the first portion12.

As shown inFIG. 1A, the first rigid member30defines an inside surface30A, which is operable to face towards the user's wrist in use of the wrist strap10, and a corresponding outside surface30B which is operable to face away from the user's wrist.

Associated with the first portion12is an L-shaped peg32. As shown in the Figures, the L-shaped peg32comprises a body34which extends substantially perpendicularly from the inside surface30A of the first rigid member30; and comprises an arm36which extends from the body34, in a single direction, towards the first end14.

Distributed along the length of the second portion16of the wrist strap10is a plurality of holes40, which are regularly spaced apart from each other. The spacing between the holes, measured between the centres of two neighbouring holes, defines a secondary spacing D2(as shown inFIG. 2), which is ideally greater than then primary spacing D1from the plurality of holes24in the first portion12. In one particular embodiment, the secondary spacing D2may be 6.5 mm.

Proximal the second end18is a second rigid member44, associated with the second portion16, which defines an inside surface44A operable to face in a direction towards the user's wrist in use of the wrist strap10, and a corresponding outside surface44B which is configured to face away from the user's wrist.

Associated with the second portion16is an L-shaped peg46. The L-shaped peg46comprises a body48which extends substantially perpendicularly from the inside surface44A of the first rigid member44; and comprises an arm50which extends from the body48, in a single direction, towards the second end18.

Operation of the wrist strap10is best described with reference toFIG. 3. To secure the wrist strap10around a user's wrist, the second end18of the strap is passed through the aperture28on the first portion12, such that the second L-shaped peg46from the second portion16is engageable with a hole H1from the plurality of holes24in the first portion12of the strap10.

As shown inFIG. 3, the second end18of the wrist strap10is specifically passed from the inside surface30A of the first rigid member30, through the aperture28, and out past the outside surface30B of the first rigid member30. Once passed through the aperture28, the second portion16of the wrist strap extends around the outside of the first portion12of the wrist strap, such that the second L-shaped peg46is engageable in a hole H1from the plurality of holes24in the first portion12by being inserted from the outside face to the inside face of the hole H1.

Once the second L-shaped peg46from the second portion16of the wrist strap has been engaged in the hole H1from the first portion12of the wrist strap, the first L-shaped peg32on the first portion12of the wrist strap is engaged with a hole H2from the plurality of holes40in the second portion16of the strap10. As noted inFIG. 3, the first L-shaped peg32engages the hole H2by being inserted from the outside face to the inside face of the hole H2.

Following the engagement of the two L-shaped pegs32;46in their respective holes H2;H1, a part of the first portion12and the second portion16of the wrist strap10overlap to create an overlapping region50in the wrist strap10, wherein the two L-shaped pegs32;46and their respective holes H2;H1are located in the overlapping region50.

When the two L-shaped pegs32;46are engaged in their respective holes H2;H1, the end/arm36of the first L-shaped peg32extends in a sole direction away from the second end18of the wrist strap, and the end/arm50of the second L-shaped peg46extends in a sole direction away from the first end14of the wrist strap. In this way, in the event of the wrist strap being caught on an object, and a large pulling force being exerted on the wrist strap, the L-shaped pegs32;46will slide out of the holes H2;H1in which they are engaged, thus allowing the two portions12;16of the wrist strap10to separate from each other.

With reference toFIG. 3, it can be seen that once the second portion16has passed through the aperture28, the second portion16must travel a larger distance than the first portion12for a given angular movement. This is because the second portion16in this region is located on top of the first portion12, such that there is a greater radial distance in this region between the second portion16and the user wrist, than the first portion12and the user's wrist.

To account for this difference in radial distance, and the fact that the second portion16must travel a larger distance than the first portion12for a given angular movement in this region, the secondary spacing D2in the plurality of holes40(from the second portion16) is preferably greater than then primary spacing D1from the plurality of holes24(in the first portion12). In this way, when the user wishes to tighten/loosen the second L-shaped peg46by a predetermined number of holes on the first portion12, the wrist strap ensures that the first L-shaped peg32is also tightened/loosened by the same number of holes on the second portion16, as opposed to being slightly off alignment in the case of the primary spacing D1being the same as the secondary spacing D2.

As described herein, the aperture28and L-shaped pegs32;46have been described as being located on the first and second rigid members30;44. It will be appreciated however, that any of the aperture28and/or L-shaped pegs32;46could instead be attached to, and/or embedded directly into, the first and second portions12;16. In this case, either or both of the first and second rigid members may be dispensed with.

A particular application for the wrist strap described herein is in amusement parks, theme parks, and water parks, which incorporate smart-queuing. In such applications, the wrist strap may comprise an electronic device with a user interface, wherein the electronic device is operable to inform the wearer of the wrist strap when to precede to a predetermined ride in the park. In situations where the user then catches the wrist strap whilst on a ride in the park, the two portions of the wrist strap then separate from each other, thus allowing the wrist strap to fall away from the user's wrist.

Noting the above applications, it is apparent that the wrist strap10is suited for use by a wide variety of different users, and potentially a different user each time the wrist strap10is worn. This suitability stems from the wrist strap being adjustable in use without the need for any deconstruction of the wrist strap, such as via the introduction of spacer/link portions in the wrist strap. Instead, to adjust the length of the wrist strap10during use, a user simply disengages each L-shaped peg32;46from the hole H2;H1from the plurality of holes40;24in which it is engaged, tightens/loosens the amount of the second portion16passed through the aperture28as required, and then re-engages each L shaped peg32;46in a different hole H2;H1from the plurality of holes40;24.

In applications where the separation of the two portions of the wrist strap is not required in the case of the wrist strap being caught on an object, it will be appreciated that the L-shaped pegs32;46could instead have any other shape, such as a mushroom-shape as shown in the pegs from WO 2017/037238.

In relation to the first and second pegs32;46described herein, it will be appreciated that the wrist strap10could work with only one of these pegs32;46. In this case, only one set of the plurality of holes24;40would be required on the wrist strap10, the set of holes being located on the opposite portion of the wrist strap to the portion of the wrist strap having the peg.

It will also be appreciated that the second portion16could instead pass from the outside surface30B of the first rigid member30, through the aperture28, and out past the inside surface30A of the first rigid member30. In this way, once passed through the aperture28, the second portion16of the wrist strap would extend around the inside of the first portion12of the wrist strap. In this configuration, the arms34;48from the first and second L-shaped pegs32;46would be configured to face outwards in a direction away from the user's wrist. The secondary spacing D2in the plurality of holes40in this configuration would then preferably be less than, as opposed to greater than, the primary spacing D1from the plurality of holes24in the first portion12.