Patent Publication Number: US-2016220001-A1

Title: Holders for a watch

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/110,409, entitled “Box for Holding a Watch,” filed on Jan. 30, 2015 by Adam Pluemer and Christopher Sontag, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/131,047, entitled “A Foam Holder for a Watch,” filed on Mar. 10, 2015 by Adam Pluemer and Christopher Sontag, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present invention are related to holders for holding a watch. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     The projection of new digital watches that have a high degree of functionality will present owners of fine watches with a quandary: whether to wear the high value fine watch or to wear the highly functional digital watch. The highly functional digital watch, for example the iWatch from Apple, is projected to have functionality similar to smart phones. Wearers of the highly function digital watches will enjoy the functionality of a smart phone on their wrist. 
     Therefore, there is a need to develop better holders for watches, and in particular better holders for watches to be used for storage or on wrist bands. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a box for storing a watch is provided. In some embodiments, the box includes a bottom; a top coupled to the bottom with a hinge; and a mount positioned in the bottom to receive a watch band for storage, the mount including an electromagnetic shielding plate. 
     In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a holder for holding a watch band is presented. An embodiment of a holder includes a first half; a second half; and a plate electromagnetically shielding the first half from the second half, wherein the first half and the second half are arranged to hold a watch band. 
     These and other embodiments are further discussed below with respect to the following figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a watch band according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate wearing the watch band illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate wearing the watch band illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  further illustrate the watch band. 
         FIGS. 5A through 5E  illustrate embodiments of a box for storing a smart watch. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate embodiments of a multi-box system for storing smart watches. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a watch being inserted into a box for storage. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate further box for storing a watch. 
         FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C  illustrate an embodiment of a watch band holder 
         FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D  illustrate embodiments of a holder with a watch band. 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate side views of embodiments of a holder with a wrist band. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an example of an electromagnetic shielding plate that can be used with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, specific details are set forth describing some embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that some embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. The specific embodiments disclosed herein are meant to be illustrative but not limiting. One skilled in the art may realize other elements that, although not specifically described here, are within the scope and the spirit of this disclosure. 
     This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate inventive aspects and embodiments should not be taken as limiting—the claims define the protected invention. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown or described in detail in order not to obscure the invention. 
     Additionally, the drawings are not to scale. Relative sizes of components are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the actual sizes that may occur in any actual embodiment of the invention. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements. 
     The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. And, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and the like specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups. Components described as coupled may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. 
     Elements and their associated aspects that are described in detail with reference to one embodiment may, whenever practical, be included in other embodiments in which they are not specifically shown or described. For example, if an element is described in detail with reference to one embodiment and is not described with reference to a second embodiment, the element may nevertheless be claimed as included in the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a watch band  100  according to some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , watch band  100  includes a first section  102  and a second section  104 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , watch band  100  couples a watch  106  with a watch  108  where first section  102  and second section  104  couple watch  106  and watch  108  into a single wearable watchband with two watches. Watch  106  and watch  108  can be any pair of watches. However, watch band  100  can be used to mount a decorative watch, watch  106 , with a highly functional smart digital watch, watch  108 . For example, for those that do not wish to abandon wearing of an expensive high-end watch but would also like the functionality of a smart digital watch, watch  106  can be a high end watch and watch  108  can be a smart digital watch. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , sections  102  and  104  can include connectors to mate with watches  106  and  108 . The example shown in  FIG. 1  is a standard pin type, or spring bar, connection so that section  102  couples to watch  106  with connector  112  and to watch  108  with connector  110  while section  104  couples to watch  106  with connector  116  and couples to watch  108  with connector  114 . As is further discussed below, other connections can be made. Further, in some embodiments section  102  and  104  can be formed in a single piece with a holder for watch  108  formed in the now single piece band. Additionally, in some embodiments a clasp may be formed in section  102  or section  104 . Band  100  can be formed of any material capable of holding watch  106  and watch  108 . For example, band  100  can be formed as an expansion bracelet, can be formed of leather, simulated hides, metal, precious metals, cloth, fabric, nylon, rubber plastic, composite materials or other material. Band  100  can be formed to various designs and patterns and can be formed of combinations of materials. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate on way of wearing band  100  while  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show another way of wearing band  100 .  FIGS. 4A and 4B  further illustrate band  100  with watches  106  and  108  in place. In some cases, users may have multiple ones of smart watches  108  or may need to store watch  108  when it is off band  100 . In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, storing a watch may be accomplished with a box. In some embodiments, a holder may hold the watch. In some embodiments, the holder may be mounted within the box. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate embodiments of a box  500  for storing a smart watch  108 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , box  500  includes a top cover  502  and a bottom  506 . In some embodiments top cover  502  and bottom  406  may be coupled with a hinge  504 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , a mount  508  is placed in the center of the bottom  506  to hold one or more watches. Mount  508  includes portions  514  that are shaped such that watch band  100 , along with watch  108  and watch  106 , are accommodated. In particular, portions  514  may be plastic or foam that snuggly hold watch band  100  within box  500 . Mount  508  can further include an electromagnetic shielding plate  512  in order to remove magnetic or electronic interference between watches  106  and  108  while they are housed within box  500 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates that a charger circuit  510  may be incorporated into mount  508  in order to charge a smart watch  108 . Charger circuit  510  may, for example, be a wireless charging unit that magnetically couples power to charge a batter within smart watch  108 . 
       FIGS. 5C and 5D  illustrate box  500  without inclusion of watch band  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 5C and 5D , portions  514  can be mounted on a pedestal  520 , which may also be separated by plate  512 , in order to raise watch band  100  within box  500  in order to keep watches  106  and  108  from contacting the bottom surface of box  500 . As shown in  FIG. 5D , charger circuit  510  can be coupled to power cord  516 , which may supply power, for example, for an external power supply (e.g., a wall socket, battery unit, or other device).  FIG. 5E  illustrates a cut-away to illustrate watch band  100  mounted on portions  514  on pedestal  520 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a configuration of a number of boxes  500  arranged in a container  602 . Any number of boxes  500  can be included in container  602 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , three boxes are included in container  602 . In some embodiments, individual covers  502  can be included with each individual bottom  506  in container  602 . In some embodiments, container  602  may include one cover that covers all of the individual boxes  500 .  FIG. 6B  illustrates that each of the boxes included in container  602  may include a charging circuit  510  in order to charge smart watch  108 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrates insertion of a watch band  100  into box  500 .  FIG. 7A  illustrates a frontal view while  FIG. 7B  illustrates a side view of box  500  while watch band  100  is being inserted. As illustrated, watch band  100  with watches  106  and  108  can be positioned over mount  508  and slipped over mount  508  to be held within each box  500 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a power cable  516  used with box  500 . Power cable  516  includes a grounding wire that can be electrically coupled to plate  512  within box  500  in order to ground plate  512  to an external circuit, for example the circuitry driving charger  510 . As such, plate  512  can provide better shielding between watches  106  and  108  and charger  510  and watch  106 . With a grounding wire in place. In some embodiments without charging circuit  510 , a grounding wire may still be used to better shield watches  106  from watch  108 . 
       FIG. 9A  illustrates an embodiment of a holder  900  for holding a watch band  100 . Holder  900  may be mount  508  as described above in box  500 . Alternatively, holder  900  may provide a holder for a watch band  100  independent of box  500 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9A , holder  900  includes a first half  902  and a second half  904 . If holder  900  is being used in box  500 , first half  902  and second half  904  correspond with portions  514 . First half  902  and second half  904  are appropriately sized and shaped to hold firmly a watch band such as dual watch band  102 . First half  902  and second half  904  can be separated by an electromagnetic shielding plate  906 , which can substantially electrically isolate watch  108  from watch  106  in watch band  100 . Electromagnetic shielding plate  906  corresponds with shielding plate  512  of mount  508 . In some embodiments, plate  906  may be grounded in order to provide better shielding between watches mounted on a watch band  100 . 
     In some embodiments, first half  902  includes a flattened portion  908  on which a watch mount for a watch band such as watch band  100  can sit. Second half  904  includes a flat portion  910  on which another watch mount on a watch band can sit.  FIG. 9B  illustrates a planar view of holder  900  as shown in  FIG. 9A .  FIG. 9C  illustrates an embodiment of holder  900  where a charger  914  is imbedded into portion  904  in place of flat portion  910 . Charger  914  itself provides a flat on which a watch mount for a watch band can sit. Further, plate  906  and charger  914  may share a ground connection. Charger  914  may be, for example, a wireless power charger that magnetically couples power into smart watch  108  in order that a corresponding receiver circuit in smart watch  108  can charge its internal battery. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate embodiments of mount  900  with a watch band  100  attached. As shown in  FIG. 10A , watch  106  on watch band  100  aligns with flat portion  908  while watch  108  aligns with flat portion  912 .  FIG. 10B  illustrates another view of mount  900  as shown in  FIG. 10A . As shown in  FIG. 10C , in embodiments that include charger  914 , watch  108  aligns with charger  914 .  FIG. 10D  illustrates another view of the embodiment of holder  900  shown in  FIG. 10C .  FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate a side view of holder  900  with watch band  100 .  FIG. 11B  illustrates an embodiment with charger  914 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an example of shielding plate  906 . There are two basic methods for shielding against low to medium frequency magnetic sources, such as those used in wireless charging systems. One method is by diversion of the magnetic flux with high permeability materials and the generation of opposing flux. Using a ferromagnetic material with sufficient thickness and a permeability μ&gt;&gt;μ 0 , where μ 0  is the magnetic permeability of free space. In some cases, a conductive plate such as a copper plate can generate magnetic fields opposition that of a magnetic field source, thereby canceling the magnetic field source. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 12 , electromagnetic shielding plate  906  can include a thick ferromagnetic plate  1208  with permeability much greater than the permeability of free space (μ&gt;&gt;μ 0 ) and a copper plate  1204 . Ferromagnetic (ferrite) plate  1208  and conducting plate  1204  (e.g., copper) can be separated by an insulator  1206 . Electromagnetic shielding plate  1206  may further be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB)  1202  that provides mechanical stability. conducting plate  1204  and ferromagnetic plate  1208  provide electromagnetic shielding between electronic devices mounted on either side. In some embodiments, multiple layers of copper plate or ferrite materials may be used. 
     In the preceding specification, various embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set for in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.