CN117981959A

CN117981959A - Fastening assembly comprising an actuator

Info

Publication number: CN117981959A
Application number: CN202211337387.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 高梦龙; 王玉燕; 闫宪伟; 赵飞; 莫越峰; 侯锐
Original assignee: Hand Held Products Inc
Current assignee: Hand Held Products Inc
Priority date: 2022-10-28
Filing date: 2022-10-28
Publication date: 2024-05-07
Also published as: US20240138546A1; EP4360498A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fastening assembly including an actuator. Various embodiments of fastening assemblies and wearable mounts, and methods, devices, components, and assemblies associated therewith, are provided. An example fastening assembly includes a trigger assembly having an actuator configured to be operated by a user and a housing including a housing connection portion. The housing may receive the actuator. The fastening assembly may further include a connector configured to engage the housing connection portion.

Description

Fastening assembly comprising an actuator

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fastening assembly including an actuator. Various apparatus, components, and methods are also provided. In some example embodiments, the fastening assemblies disclosed herein may be used to secure a wearable mount to a user.

Background

Various wearable devices may be frequently used by their users, including in industrial settings such as warehouse operations. Existing mounts for wearable devices may be difficult, inefficient, and time consuming to attach and remove, and may not provide precise positioning of the device or various accessories associated therewith. Such mounts may also lack adequate control over the user and/or the wearable device. The applicant has solved the problems associated with the attachment mechanisms by developing solutions implemented in the present disclosure, through the effort, creativity and innovation applied, which will be described in detail below.

Disclosure of Invention

Various embodiments of fastening assemblies and wearable mounts, and methods, devices, components, and assemblies associated therewith, are provided. In various embodiments, a fastening assembly may include a trigger assembly and a connector. The trigger assembly may include an actuator configured to be operated by a user and a housing including a housing connection portion, wherein the housing may be configured to receive the actuator. The connector may be configured to engage the housing connection portion.

In some embodiments, the at least one connector may include at least one raised surface defined by an inner surface of the at least one connector. The at least one raised surface of the at least one connector may be configured to engage with the housing connection portion. The housing connection portion may include at least one raised surface defined by an outer surface of the housing. In some embodiments, an innermost circumference of the at least one raised surface of the at least one connector may be smaller than an outermost circumference of the at least one raised surface of the housing. The housing connection portion may further include at least one raised surface defined by an outer surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the at least one raised surface of the housing connection portion may be disposed circumferentially around the housing.

In some embodiments, the actuator defines a button surface, and the button surface is configured to be actuated by a user. In some embodiments, the actuator may be configured to be disposed at least partially within a cavity of the housing. The actuator may also define a hook portion. The tab may be configured to engage an inwardly facing lip of the housing to retain the actuator. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the actuator may be configured to translate from a first position to a second position within the housing during actuation. In some embodiments, the actuator may include at least one electrical contact, and the at least one electrical contact is configured to close when actuated by a user.

In some embodiments, the connector may comprise a loop of material. The loop of material may be configured to be disposed circumferentially about the housing.

Various embodiments may include a wearable mount. The wearable mount may include at least one attachment strap, a fastening assembly, and a device mount. In some embodiments, the at least one attachment strap may include a first portion and a second portion. The fastening assembly may be configured to secure the at least one attachment strap to a user. The fastening assembly may include a trigger assembly and a connector. The trigger assembly may be connected to the first portion of the at least one attachment strap. The trigger assembly may include an actuator configured to be operated by a user and a housing including a housing connection portion configured to receive the actuator. The connector may be connected to the second portion of the at least one attachment strap and the connector may be configured to engage the housing connection portion to attach the first portion of the at least one attachment strap to the second portion of the at least one attachment strap. The device mount may be connected to the at least one attachment strap, and the device mount may be configured to engage a wearable device.

In some embodiments, the at least one attachment strap may include at least one electrical connection device. The at least one electrical connection device may be embedded within the at least one attachment strap and extend between the actuator and the device mount. In some embodiments, the at least one electrical connection device may include a wire configured to transmit one or more electrical signals from the device mount to the actuator and/or to transmit one or more electrical signals from the actuator to the device mount. In some embodiments, the at least one attachment strap may be configured to be secured around a user's hand and/or wrist. In some embodiments, the actuator may be configured to be positioned adjacent to a thumb of the user with the at least one attachment strap secured around the user's hand and/or wrist. In some embodiments, the wearable mount may be further configured to secure the wearable device to a user by connecting the wearable device to the device mount and connecting the at least one attachment strap to the user.

Various embodiments may include a method of attaching a wearable mount to a user. The wearable mount may include at least one attachment strap; a fastening assembly including a trigger assembly connected to the first portion of the at least one attachment strap, and including an actuator and a housing including a housing connection portion. The housing may be configured to receive the actuator. The fastening assembly may include a connector connected to the second portion of the at least one attachment strap. The wearable mount may also include a device mount connected to the at least one attachment strap. The method may include securing the at least one attachment strap to the user by engaging the connector with the housing connection portion to attach the first portion of the at least one attachment strap with the second portion of the at least one attachment strap. In some embodiments, the method may further include attaching a wearable device to the device mount to secure the wearable device to the user via the wearable mount.

The above summary is provided merely to summarize some example embodiments to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the present disclosure. It will thus be appreciated that the above-described embodiments are merely examples and should not be construed as narrowing the scope or spirit of the present invention in any way. It should be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses many potential embodiments in addition to those outlined herein, some of which will be further described below.

Drawings

The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and, therefore, do not limit the scope of the disclosure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and are intended to be used in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.

Fig. 1A illustrates an example top view of an example wearable band with a device mount and trigger assembly, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 1B illustrates an example view of a base portion of a trigger assembly having one or more electrical connection devices according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2A illustrates a side view of an example wearable device engaged with a wearable mount according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2B illustrates a top view of an example wearable device secured with a wearable mount, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 3A illustrates a perspective view of an example fastening assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3B illustrates a perspective view of the example fastening assembly of fig. 3A with the connector and housing connection engaged, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4A illustrates a top view of an example wearable mount with a fastening assembly, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4B illustrates a top view of the wearable mount of fig. 4A with the connector and housing connection engaged, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5A illustrates a top view of an example wearable mount having at least one wearable band, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5B illustrates a top view of the wearable mount of fig. 5A with the connector and housing connection engaged, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6A illustrates a perspective view of an example trigger assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6B illustrates a perspective view of an example connector according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6C illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an example trigger assembly with an actuator, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 6D illustrates a perspective view of an example base portion of a trigger assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7A illustrates a perspective view of an example trigger assembly attached with an example attachment strap, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7B illustrates a perspective view of an example connector attached with an example attachment strap, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an example wearable mount according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9A illustrates a perspective view of an example housing configured to engage with an example connector, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 9B illustrates a perspective view of an example housing engaged with an example connector, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 10A illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an example trigger assembly engaged with an example connector, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 10B illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an example trigger assembly according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11 illustrates a perspective view of an example wearable mount secured to a user's limb, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Some embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some embodiments of the invention are shown. Throughout the drawings, reference numerals refer to like elements unless otherwise specified. The various embodiments of the invention may be embodied in different forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

As used herein, terms such as "front," "rear," "top," and the like are used in the examples provided below for illustrative purposes to describe the relative position of certain components or portions of components with respect to one another, but should not be construed as requiring absolute orientation with respect to the earth. As used herein, the term "or" is used in an alternative and in a combined sense, unless otherwise indicated. The term "along" and like terms refer to near or on a surface or other reference location, but need not necessarily be directly on an edge or other reference location. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "approximately," "generally," and "substantially" refer to within manufacturing and/or engineering tolerances of the corresponding materials and/or elements. The use of such terms includes the particular values recited, and is intended to allow independent claims to claim the particular values recited, and is not intended to limit the scope of the particular values or the claims including such particular values. Thus, the use of any such preceding term or similar interchangeable terms should not be taken to limit the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components; it does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the phrases "in one embodiment," "according to one embodiment," "in some embodiments," and the like generally refer to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase may be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included within more than one embodiment of the disclosure, such that the phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. As used herein, the terms "example," exemplary, "and the like are used to" serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment, aspect, or design described herein as "example" or "example" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments, aspects, or designs. Rather, use of the terms "example," "instance," and the like are intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion.

As used herein, the term "battery-powered" is intended to mean a device capable of engaging a battery to receive power in at least some instances. The term "battery-powered" is intended to be construed as inclusive and includes devices capable of engaging a battery in at least some instances as well as devices capable of being plugged into a non-battery power source.

The attached drawings are provided to illustrate some examples of the described invention. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the described embodiments of the present disclosure or the appended claims. Aspects of the example embodiments are described below for illustration with reference to example applications. It should be understood that the specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding of example embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the example embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details and/or with other methods.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a fastening assembly. The fastening assembly may be part of a wearable mount that can be engaged and disengaged with a user to allow universal and ergonomic operation. In some embodiments, the wearable device may be attached to a user via a wearable mount using a fastening assembly according to various embodiments herein. Various apparatus and methods are also provided. In some example embodiments, the fastening assemblies disclosed herein may be used to secure a wearable mount to a user.

Wearable devices, such as bar code scanners, mobile phones, wearable computers, other battery powered devices, or the like, may be actuated by a user to perform one or more functions. Actuation of the wearable device may be performed on the device itself (e.g., via a physical button or touch screen interface) or via a remote control mechanism. In some cases, for example, the wearable device may require actuation to scan one or more objects in a material handling occasion. In some cases, the trigger may be disposed in an inconvenient location, requiring the user to use both hands to operate the wearable device and/or twist one hand to operate the wearable device in a non-ergonomic manner.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fastening assembly including a trigger assembly associated therewith, wherein the trigger assembly is at least partially included in the fastening assembly. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a trigger assembly includes a housing that receives an actuator therein for actuating a wearable device. The trigger assembly may also be configured to engage a connector that is part of the fastening assembly. Various embodiments of the present disclosure may additionally or alternatively allow for easier attachment of the wearable device to the user using the fastening assembly. Various embodiments of the fastening assemblies disclosed herein may be used to secure at least one wearable band to a user, for example, by engaging a trigger assembly with a connector to join portions of one or more attachment bands.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may allow for secure engagement of a wearable mount to a user and for easy use of an actuator (e.g., a trigger for a wearable device) by a user. In some embodiments, the fastening assembly may include a trigger assembly having an actuator and a housing including a housing connection portion. The housing connection portion may include at least one raised surface on an outer surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the trigger assembly may be attached to or otherwise part of the first portion of the at least one attachment strap. The fastening assembly may also include a connector. The connector may be attached to or otherwise part of the second connection portion. The connector may be configured to securely engage with the housing connection portion to connect the first and second portions of the at least one attachment strap (e.g., around the wrist and/or hand of the user).

In some embodiments, the housing is configured to at least partially receive the actuator. The actuator may be disposed at least partially within the cavity of the housing, and the actuator may be configured to translate within the housing in response to user actuation. In some embodiments, the actuator may complete a circuit to trigger the wearable device when the user actuates the actuator. In operation, the actuator may be disposed adjacent to a thumb of a user when the first portion and the second portion of the at least one attachment strap are connected by the fastening assembly.

In some embodiments, the housing connection portion is engageable with the connector. For example, the connector may be configured to vertically engage with the housing connection portion relative to the housing connection portion (e.g., by placing the connector around the housing connection portion). Although described as vertical movement, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the direction of movement may be oriented relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the actuator may be at least partially disposed within the housing such that the connector may be placed over at least a portion of the actuator while engaged with the housing connection portion.

In various embodiments, the housing connection portion may include at least one raised surface on the housing that may be configured to engage the connector. In some embodiments, at least one raised surface of the housing connection portion may be disposed about a circumference of an outer surface of the housing (e.g., a snap ring). In some embodiments, the connector may include at least one raised surface configured to engage the housing. For example, the connector may include at least one raised surface disposed circumferentially about an inner surface of the connector. In various embodiments, the at least one raised surface of the connector may be configured to securely engage with the at least one raised surface of the housing connection portion. For example, in various embodiments, the connector may be translated into engagement with the housing connection portion to secure the connector and the housing together by circumferentially disposing at least one raised surface of the connector around the housing and translating the connector until the at least one raised surface of the connector snaps past the at least one raised surface of the housing connector portion.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a method for securing a wearable mount to a user, which may be configured to retain a wearable device on the user. Various embodiments of the present disclosure may relate to securing at least one attachment strap to one or more components of a fastening assembly.

Fig. 1-11 illustrate views of example wearable mounts and fastening assemblies (e.g., wearable mount 100 and fastening assembly including actuator 111 and housing 112) and portions thereof, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. 1A shows a top view of an example wearable mount 100, in the example embodiment shown, the wearable mount 100 includes a fastening assembly including an actuator 111 and a housing 112, a wearable band 110, a device mount 200, an electrical connection device 130 (e.g., a wire), and associated circuitry for transmitting signals to the wearable device (e.g., pins 210A and 210B extending from a PCB in the device mount 200). The wearable mount 100 in the illustrated embodiment includes a fastening assembly that includes a trigger assembly 109 that includes an actuator 111 and a housing 112. The actuator 111 may be at least partially configured to be disposed within the housing 112. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the top surface of the actuator 111 is shown protruding from the top edge of the housing 112, while some or all of the remainder of the example actuator (including but not limited to electrical connections, switching elements, and physical structures) may be disposed below the top edge of the housing 112. The illustrated embodiment shows the unactuated position of the illustrated actuator 111, and in the actuated position, the top surface of the actuator 111 may be depressed below the top edge of the housing 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the top surface of the actuator 111 is oblong in shape, which is configured to be actuated by a user's thumb. As shown and described with respect to fig. 11, when engaged with a user's hand, the wearable mount 100 is configured to position the actuator 111 between the user's thumb and the side of the user's index finger and/or the curved portion of the hand for effective actuation by the user pressing the thumb into the actuator. For example, when attached to a user's hand and/or wrist, the actuator 111 may be disposed adjacent to the last knuckle (e.g., interphalangeal joint) and/or distal phalanges of the thumb.

With continued reference to fig. 1A, the wearable mount 100 may include a device mount 200, wherein the device mount 200 may be configured to secure a wearable device (e.g., a battery-powered electronic device) to the wearable mount 100, for example, via the illustrated snap elements. The device mount 200 may also include at least two pins 210A and 210B (collectively, "210"), wherein the at least two pins 210 may be configured to electrically connect with the wearable device to enable the actuator 111 to trigger the wearable device (e.g., via the electrical connection device 130, such as a wire). In some embodiments, at least two pins 210 may be disposed parallel to one another on a surface of the device mount 200. In some embodiments, pins 210 may be disposed opposite one another on a surface of device mount 200. Any configuration of device mount 200 with electrical contacts in any location may be used with the various embodiments herein. In various embodiments, at least one electrical connection device 130 may be configured to couple with a pin 210 of a mount and extend into a base portion 113 of a trigger assembly (shown in fig. 1B) to connect with a corresponding component therein. For example, as shown in fig. 1B, at least one electrical connection 130 is shown in the form of a wire extending into the base portion 113 of the trigger assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, one or more electrical connection devices 130 may be disposed below an uppermost surface of at least one wearable band 110 (e.g., a wire fed between two layers of fabric within the wearable band). In various embodiments, the at least one electrical connection device 130 may be configured to extend into the base portion 113 of the trigger assembly. The one or more electrical connections 130 may be configured to transmit electrical signals from the trigger assembly to the device mount 200, and vice versa (e.g., to complete signal circuits that begin and end at the wearable device). In various embodiments, the at least one electrical connection device 130 may be configured to transmit one or more electrical signals from the trigger assembly to one or both of the at least two pins 210.

In various embodiments, as shown in fig. 2A-2B, the wearable mount 100 may be configured to receive the wearable device 300 via the device mount 200 and facilitate securing the wearable device to a user. In various embodiments, the device mount 200 may be configured to secure the wearable device 300 to the wearable mount 100. In various embodiments, the wearable device 300 may be configured to attach to the device mount 200 such that the wearable device 300 may be disposed at the distal end of the user's limb 400 with the wearable mount attached to the user's limb (e.g., around the user's hand and/or wrist).

In one or more example embodiments, as shown in fig. 2B, the wearable device 300 may include a reading element (e.g., a signal receiver and/or an imaging device) configured to read one or more signals and/or decodable indicia from an adjacent device and/or surface, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In some example embodiments, the wearable device 300 may be configured to securely engage with the mount such that the reading element of the wearable device 300 may face outward from the user (e.g., toward the user's fingertip) with the wearable mount 100 secured to the user's limb 400. In some example embodiments, the wearable device 300, when engaged with the device mount 200, may be configured to transmit one or more electrical signals from the wearable device 300 to the trigger assembly 109, and the trigger assembly may be configured to close one or more electrical circuits and may transmit one or more electrical signals back to the wearable device upon actuation thereof. In some example embodiments, the wearable device 300 may be configured to perform one or more functions (e.g., capturing images or recording data and/or signals) in response to receiving one or more electrical signals via the trigger assembly 109.

In various embodiments, the fastening assembly may include a trigger assembly 109 and a connector 121, the connector 121 configured to engage at least a portion of the trigger assembly. In some embodiments, the trigger assembly may be disposed on a first portion of the at least one wearable band and the connector may be disposed on a second portion of the at least one wearable band such that the first and second portions are joined by attaching the connector and the trigger assembly. Turning to fig. 3A-3B, the second portion 120 may be configured to engage with the first portion 108, and each portion 108, 120 may be part of at least one attachment strap 110 (e.g., at least one attachment strap may include one or more sections of material such that the first and second portions may be opposite sides of the same piece of material or two separate pieces of material joined at opposite ends via additional connector (s)).

In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 108 includes a trigger assembly 109, the trigger assembly 109 further including a housing 112 and an actuator 109. In various embodiments, as shown in fig. 3A, the second portion 120 may be configured with at least one connector 121, and the connector 121 may be configured to engage with at least one corresponding housing 112. For example, in various examples, as shown in fig. 3B, at least one connector 121 may be configured to securely engage with at least one housing connection portion (e.g., raised surface 114 shown in fig. 6A) to form a snap-fit connection therebetween. For example, at least one housing connection portion (housing 112 and/or raised surface 114 shown in fig. 6A, 6C, 7A, 9A-11) may include at least one raised surface 114, and connector 121 may be disposed on the at least one raised surface 114. In various embodiments, at least one raised surface 122 (shown in fig. 6B) of connector 121 may be configured to engage at least one raised surface 114 of housing 112.

Referring to fig. 4A-4B, an embodiment of a wearable mount 100 is shown in which at least one wearable band 110 includes a wristband 125 and a finger strap 124. Finger band 124 includes a first portion 108 and a second portion 120. The illustrated wristband 125 may be wrapped around a user's wrist to secure the base of the wearable mount 100 to the user's arm, and the illustrated finger strap 124 may be wrapped around a user's index finger for actuation by the user's thumb. In some embodiments, the finger strap 124 may be configured to be incorporated into the wristband 125 across the palm side of at least one wearable strap (e.g., the finger loop is the same piece of material), where the wristband may be secured to the wearable mount via one or more additional connection points on the wearable mount. In such embodiments, at least one wearable band 110 may have two pieces, a back of the hand piece and a palm band piece. In some embodiments, the section of material comprising the first portion 108 may additionally comprise a device mount (shown in fig. 2A-2B) to allow for a wired electrical connection to the wearable device 300. In various embodiments, the second portion 120 of the at least one wearable band 110 may include a connector 121 (e.g., a snap ring), wherein the connector 121 may be configured to engage the housing 112 of the trigger assembly 109 (e.g., a corresponding snap ring) by fitting over the housing and sliding down around the housing and/or the actuator 111 for engagement. In one or more example embodiments, at least one wearable band 110 may be configured to attach the wearable mount 100 to a user 400 (shown in fig. 2B). In various embodiments, as shown in fig. 4B, the connector 121 may be configured to engage with the trigger assembly 109, and this engagement may securely engage the wearable mount to the user. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one wearable band 110 may include one or more of a non-elastic material, an elastic material (including a portion of an elastic material), an absorbent material, and/or a breathable material. In one or more example embodiments, at least one wearable band 110 may be configured to engage with one or more additional portions of the wearable mount.

Referring to fig. 5A-5B, an embodiment of a wearable mount 100 is shown with an internally visible electrical connection 131 and an internally visible electrical connector device 130 (e.g., a wire) to a trigger assembly 109. In some embodiments, the at least one wearable band 110 includes a first band including the first portion 108 and a second band including the second portion 120. In some embodiments, the first portion 108 and the second portion 109 are part of the same strip material (e.g., connected at opposite ends outside the page) to form a single strip 110. In various embodiments, the first portion 108 and the second portion 120 may be configured to engage via the connector 121 and the housing 112 and/or via one or more additional connectors (e.g., snap-fit connectors 128). In the illustrated embodiment, with the trigger assembly 109 and connector 121 engaged and the further connector 128 engaged, the one or more straps 110 may define a thumb hole 129 through which a user's thumb may extend to actuate the actuator 111. In various embodiments, the first portion 108 may be a first strap and the second portion 109 may be a second strap. The first and second straps may be configured to be joined together via a variety of fastening means (e.g., hook and loop fasteners, etc.). The fastening means may be provided opposite the fastening assembly (e.g. a slot shown on the left in fig. 4B through which the strap may be inserted, for example, to pass through the slot and fasten to itself). In various embodiments, the first portion 108 and the second portion 109 may be a single strap, and the single strap may be configured to be coupled with the fastening assembly along only the sides.

In various embodiments, the trigger assembly 109 can include one or more electrical connectors 131 (e.g., pins, metal contacts, or the like). In some embodiments, the actuator 111 may be configured to electrically connect one or more electrical connections 131 upon actuation to close one or more electrical circuits and transmit signals from the trigger to the device mount. In various embodiments, one or more electrical connections 131 of the trigger assembly may be configured to be disposed within the trigger assembly housing 112. In some embodiments, one or more electrical connectors 131 of the trigger assembly may be parallel to one another.

With further reference to fig. 5B, in various embodiments, the wearable mount 100 may further include one or more electrical connection devices 130 (e.g., wires) configured to engage with one or more electrical connectors 131 of the trigger assembly and one or more pins 210 (shown in fig. 1A) of the device mount 200. In various embodiments, the one or more electrical connection devices 130 may be configured to transmit one or more electrical signals from the device mount 200 to the trigger assembly 109 and/or from the trigger assembly 109 back to the device mount 200. In various embodiments, a user may depress the actuator 111, and the actuator 111 may be configured to close one or more electrical circuits (e.g., by connecting the two electrical connections 131 shown in fig. 5A-5B) to transmit one or more electrical signals. In one or more embodiments, the closure of the one or more electrical circuits can be configured to transmit one or more electrical signals from the one or more electrical connections 131 of the actuator 111 to the one or more mount pins 210 (shown in fig. 1A) of the device mount 200. The electrical signal indicative of the actuator being actuated may be configured to cause the wearable device 300 to complete an action (e.g., capture an image, etc.).

Referring to fig. 6A, 6C, 6D, and 7A, in various embodiments, an example trigger assembly 109 is shown in accordance with various embodiments described herein. In various embodiments, the trigger assembly 109 can include at least one actuator 111 and at least one housing 112, and the housing 112 can include at least one base portion 113 and/or at least one raised surface 114. In various embodiments, the fastening assembly may include a trigger assembly 109 and a connector 121 (e.g., connector 121 shown in fig. 6B and 7B). In some embodiments, the housing 112 may define a housing connection portion to which the connector 121 is configured to engage. For example, the raised surface 114 may define a housing connection portion.

The trigger assembly 109 shown in fig. 6A, 6C, 7A includes a housing 112, the housing 112 having a raised surface 114 (e.g., a circumferential protrusion) defined by an outer surface of the housing 112 and facing outwardly for engagement with a connector 121. In various embodiments, at least one raised surface 114 of the housing 112 may be configured to engage with a connector 121, the connector 121 being associated with the second portion 120. In some example embodiments, the at least one raised surface 114 of the housing 112 may be disposed at least partially around an outer surface of the housing 112. In various embodiments, at least one raised surface 114 may be defined around some or all of the circumference of the outer surface of the housing 112. The circumference of the outermost surface of the housing 112 at the raised surface 114 may be greater than the innermost circumference of the connector 121 along its inner surface to facilitate engagement. In some embodiments, the connector 121 may be configured to snap onto the raised surface 114 to interlock the connector with the housing 112. In some embodiments, the raised surface 114 may be defined at a predetermined distance above the base portion 113. In some embodiments, the raised surface 114 may be defined along a top edge of the housing 112. Then, a connector 121 (e.g., connector 121 shown in fig. 6B and 7B) may be disposed over the housing 112 such that an inner surface of the connector engages the raised surface 114 of the housing to form a snap-fit connection that holds the first and second portions together.

In various embodiments, the base portion 113 of the trigger assembly may be configured to define a lower edge of the fastening assembly and may be configured to abut a portion of the connector 121. In one or more embodiments, the base portion 113 can be configured to prevent further translation of the connector 121 on the housing 112 and, in cooperation with the raised surface 114 and the housing and the elliptical shape of the connector, maintain the connector 121 and the housing 112 in a fixed or substantially fixed relationship to one another when engaged. In various embodiments, the base portion 113 of the trigger assembly may be configured to engage with one or more wearable bands 110 (e.g., via fasteners extending through the openings, as shown in fig. 6D and 9B), wherein the base portion 113 may secure the trigger assembly to at least one wearable band 110.

With further reference to fig. 6A and 7A, in various embodiments, the fastening assembly may include a trigger assembly 109, and the trigger assembly may include an actuator 111 and a housing 112. In various embodiments, the actuator 111 may be configured to be disposed at least partially within a cavity of the housing 112. In some example embodiments, at least a portion of the actuator 111 may be configured to translate at least partially within the housing 112 of the fastening assembly between a first position and a second position (e.g., an unactuated position and an actuated position). In various embodiments, the uppermost edge of the actuator 111 may be configured to be disposed above the uppermost edge of the housing 112, at least in the unactuated position. In various embodiments, at least in the actuated position, the uppermost surface of the actuator 111 may be disposed parallel to the uppermost edge of the housing 112 or below the uppermost edge of the housing 112. In various other embodiments, the uppermost edge of the actuator 111 may be configured to be disposed above the uppermost edge of the housing 112 in the actuated position as well as the unactuated position.

Referring to fig. 6B and 7B, an embodiment of a connector 121 associated with the second portion 120 of the at least one wearable band 110 is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector 121 may include at least one raised surface 122 disposed along an inner surface of the connector (e.g., within an opening of the connector configured to be disposed over a portion of the housing). In one or more example embodiments, at least one raised surface 122 of the connector may be oriented toward the center of the connector (e.g., in a direction opposite raised surface 114 of housing 112). The convex surface 122 of the connector may be defined partially or completely around the circumference of the inner surface of the connector 121. In various embodiments, the inner surface of the connector 121 at the raised surface 122 may define a circumference that is smaller than the circumference of the outer surface of the housing 112 at the raised surface 114 of the housing. In some embodiments, for a given vertical cross-section, the diameter of the inner surface of the connector 121 between opposite sides at the raised surface 122 may be smaller than the diameter of the outer surface of the housing 112 between opposite sides at the raised surface 114 of the housing. In some embodiments, the raised surface 122 may be broken or otherwise define a discontinuous portion 122A, which discontinuous portion 122A may allow at least a portion of the raised surface to stretch or deflect to facilitate snapping around the raised surface 114 of the housing 112. In some embodiments, the connector 121 may include a top piece, a bottom piece, and/or a ring, wherein the ring may be configured to engage with the raised surface 114 of the housing during connection. For example, referring to fig. 6B and 7B, the connector may be attached to the loop of material at the second portion 120 by sandwiching opposing halves having raised surfaces 114 and base portions 113, respectively. In some embodiments, the inner raised surface 122 may be a separate ring configured to be inserted into a channel within the connector 121. Fig. 8 illustrates an example wearable mount 100 and a device mount 200 with engaged fastening assemblies according to various embodiments discussed herein.

In various embodiments, the at least one raised surface 122 of the connector may be configured to engage with the at least one raised surface 114 (e.g., snap over one another via the raised surfaces to interlock the housing 112 and the connector 121). In various embodiments, when the connector 121 is engaged with the housing 112, the at least one raised surface 122 of the connector 121 may be disposed below the at least one raised surface 114 of the housing 112. In one or more example embodiments, the secure engagement of the at least one raised surface 122 of the connector and the at least one raised surface 114 of the housing may be configured to securely engage the wearable mount 100 to the user 400 via the at least one wearable band 110.

Referring to fig. 6B, in some embodiments, the connector may include a retaining hoop 123 formed around its outer surface. The retaining collar 123 may include two raised surfaces with a channel therebetween, as shown in fig. 6B. Referring to fig. 7B, in various embodiments, the connector 121 may be configured to engage the second portion 120 of the at least one wearable band 110 by inserting the connector 121 into a loop of material of the second portion 120. The loop of material at the second portion 120 may define a circumference that is less than the outermost circumference of the connector (e.g., along the raised surface) and greater than or equal to the outer circumference of the connector within the channel of the retaining hoop 123. In such an embodiment, the connector 121 may be secured to the second portion 120 via a raised surface of the collar 123. In one or more example embodiments, an uppermost surface of the connector 121 may be disposed above the second portion 120 of the at least one wearable band 110, and a lowermost surface of the connector 121 may be disposed below the second portion 120 of the at least one wearable band 110. In various embodiments, connector 121 may be configured as two or more pieces alone and/or connected with other portions of second portion 120. For example, the connector 121 may include a top connector device and a bottom connector device. In one or more embodiments, the connector 121 can be configured as a single three-piece or more and/or connected with the second portion 120, wherein the connector 121 can include a top connector device, an intermediate spring ring, and a bottom connector device. In various embodiments, the top connector may be configured to connect with the bottom connector, wherein the connection may secure the two pieces to the second portion 120.

Referring to fig. 6C and 10A-10B, cross-sectional views of an actuator 111 that may be used in one or more example embodiments are shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 111 may further comprise at least one protrusion 141 and/or at least one switching element 142 and/or at least one electrical device connector 132. In various embodiments, at least one protrusion 141 and/or at least one switching element 142 may be disposed within at least a portion of the actuator 111 and/or the housing 112. The at least one switching element 142 may define an electrical contact. The tab 141 may be disposed on an underside of the actuatable portion of the actuator 111 (e.g., an underside of the button surface) such that, upon actuation by a user, the tab 141 may be configured to translate downwardly from the unactuated position toward the actuated position. With the tab 141 moved toward the actuated position, the tab 141 may be configured to engage and depress a switching element 142 disposed on at least one electrical device connector 132 (e.g., a printed circuit board configured to form or otherwise connect to the electrical connector(s) 131, the electrical connector(s) 131 may engage the electrical connector device 130) to complete an electrical circuit (e.g., close an electrical circuit) as described herein. In some embodiments, the actuator 111 may be spring loaded such that in the event that the user ceases to depress the actuator, the switching element 142, the tab 141, and/or a dedicated spring may return the switching element 142 to the unactuated position. In the event that the tab 141 moves to the unactuated position, the tab 141 may be configured to release the switching element 142 or otherwise interrupt (e.g., open) the circuit, as described herein. In some embodiments, the trigger assembly may alternatively complete the circuit when the actuator is in the unactuated position and open the circuit when the actuator is moved to the actuated position without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the switching element 142 may comprise a rigid material (e.g., stainless steel, rigid plastic, rigid silicon, etc.). In some embodiments, the switching element 142 may comprise a dome-shaped sheet. The dome-shaped sheet material may be made of metal (e.g., stainless steel), plastic, and/or silicon material.

Referring to fig. 6C, the actuator 111 may include a hooked portion 144 along an outer surface of its actuatable portion. The hook portions 144 may be configured to engage corresponding inwardly facing lips 145 of the housing 112 to prevent the actuator from being completely disengaged from the housing.

In various embodiments, the at least one electrical device connector 132 may be configured to receive or otherwise engage the at least one electrical connection device 130. In some embodiments, an electrical connector 131 (e.g., a pin) may extend from an underside of the electrical connector device (e.g., below the printed circuit board) and may be connected to the electrical connection device 130 (e.g., soldered to a wire to electrically connect the trigger assembly 109 to the device mount 200 and thereby to the wearable device 300).

Referring to fig. 6D, an example perspective view of an example base portion 113 of the trigger assembly 109 is shown. In one or more example embodiments, the base portion 113 may further include one or more recesses 115A and 115B (collectively, "115") configured to receive one or more fasteners (e.g., studs, pins, screws, rivets, clips, or the like, such as the fastener 116 shown in fig. 1B and 9B). As shown in fig. 9B, the fastener 116 may engage the at least one wearable band 110 and/or the base portion 113 to secure the trigger assembly 109 to the at least one band. In one or more example embodiments, the base portion 113 may also be configured to receive at least one electrical connection device 130 and/or an electrical device connector 132 to facilitate operation of the trigger assembly 109. The base portion 113 may be formed from the same piece of material as the remainder of the housing 112, or the base portion 113 may define a second component attached to the housing and/or the belt 110.

Referring to fig. 9A-10B, an embodiment of a fastening assembly is shown in which the connector 121 comprises a loop of material integrally formed with the second portion 120 of at least one wearable band 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the raised portion 114 of the housing 112 extends wider than in embodiments having snap connectors with corresponding raised portions 122 (e.g., as shown in fig. 6B and 7B), such that the raised portion 114 and base portion 113 of the housing 112 operate similarly to the channel 123 described with respect to fig. 6B by retaining a loop of material of the connector 121 therebetween. During operation, a user may loop the material of the connector 121 over the housing 112 to secure the first and second portions of the at least one wearable band 110. In some embodiments, the loop of material of the connector 121 may include an elastic material, a partially elastic material, or a non-elastic material.

Turning to fig. 11, another embodiment of a fastening assembly is shown wherein the connector 121 includes a fastener (e.g., a hook and/or loop fastener, and/or the like) disposed on an underside of the connector and configured to engage a corresponding fastener on the housing connection portion (e.g., an upward facing hook and/or loop fastener on the base portion 113). In such embodiments, the connector 121 may be disposed about the housing 112 with the actuator disposed at least partially within the cavity of the housing in a manner similar to other embodiments discussed herein. In such embodiments, the housing 112 may define the housing connection portion via hook and loop fasteners. For example, the arrangement shown in fig. 5A and 5B may be substantially identical where the connector 121 and the housing 112 each include a fastener (e.g., the connector may include a downwardly facing hook and/or loop fastener, and the housing connection portion may include an upwardly facing hook and/or loop fastener, such as formed on the base portion).

In various embodiments, methods of attaching a wearable mount to a user and/or attaching a wearable device to a wearable mount may be provided. An example method of attaching a wearable mount to a user may include securing at least one attachment strap to a user by engaging a connector with a housing connection portion to attach a first portion of the at least one attachment strap with a second portion of the at least one attachment strap. In some embodiments, the method may further include attaching the wearable device to the device mount to secure the wearable device to the user via the wearable mount. In various embodiments, the fastening assembly may be configured to secure the at least one attachment strap to a user and thereby secure the device mount and the wearable device to the user.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, while the foregoing description and associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated in accordance with the present disclosure, as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. A fastening assembly, comprising:

A trigger assembly, the trigger assembly comprising:

an actuator configured to be operated by a user;

a housing comprising a housing connection portion, wherein the housing is configured to receive the actuator; and

A connector configured to engage the housing connection portion.

2. The fastening assembly of claim 1, the at least one connector comprising at least one raised surface defined by an inner surface of the at least one connector.

3. The fastening assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one raised surface of the at least one connector is configured to engage with the housing connection portion.

4. A fastening assembly according to claim 3, wherein the housing connection portion comprises at least one raised surface defined by an outer surface of the housing, wherein an innermost circumference of the at least one raised surface of the at least one connector is smaller than an outermost circumference of the at least one raised surface of the housing.

5. The fastening assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing connection portion further comprises:

At least one raised surface defined by an outer surface of the housing.

6. The fastening assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one raised surface of the housing attachment portion is disposed circumferentially about the housing.

7. The fastening assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator defines a button surface, wherein the button surface is configured to be actuated by a user.

8. The fastening assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to be at least partially disposed within a cavity of the housing.

9. The fastening assembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator further defines a hook portion, wherein the tab is configured to engage an inwardly facing lip of the housing to retain the actuator.

10. The fastening assembly of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the actuator is configured to translate within the housing from a first position to a second position during actuation.

11. The fastening assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:

at least one electrical contact, wherein the at least one electrical contact is configured to close upon actuation by a user.

12. The fastening assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a loop of material, wherein the loop of material is configured to be disposed circumferentially around the housing.

13. A wearable mount, comprising:

At least one attachment strap comprising a first portion and a second portion;

A fastening assembly configured to secure the at least one attachment strap to a user, the fastening assembly comprising:

a trigger assembly connected to the first portion of the at least one attachment strap, the trigger assembly comprising:

an actuator configured to be operated by a user;

A housing comprising a housing connection portion, wherein the housing is configured to receive the actuator;

A connector connected to the second portion of the at least one attachment strap, the connector configured to engage the housing connection portion to attach the first portion of the at least one attachment strap to the second portion of the at least one attachment strap; and

A device mount connected to the at least one attachment strap, wherein the device mount is configured to engage a wearable device.

14. The wearable mount of claim 13, wherein the at least one attachment strap further comprises:

At least one electrical connection device, wherein the at least one electrical connection device is embedded within the at least one attachment strap and extends between the actuator and the device mount.

15. The wearable mount of claim 14, wherein the at least one electrical connection device comprises a wire configured to transmit one or more electrical signals from the device mount to the actuator and/or one or more electrical signals from the actuator to the device mount.

16. The wearable mount of claim 13, wherein the at least one attachment strap is configured to be secured around a user's hand and/or wrist.

17. The wearable mount of claim 16, wherein the actuator is configured to be positioned adjacent to a thumb of a user with the at least one attachment strap secured around the user's hand and/or wrist.

18. The wearable mount of claim 13, wherein the wearable mount is further configured to secure the wearable device to a user by connecting the wearable device to the device mount and connecting the at least one attachment strap to the user.

19. A method of attaching a wearable mount to a user, the wearable mount comprising at least one attachment strap; a fastening assembly comprising a trigger assembly connected to a first portion of the at least one attachment strap, the trigger assembly comprising an actuator and a housing comprising a housing connection portion, wherein the housing is configured to receive the actuator; the fastening assembly further includes a connector connected to the second portion of the at least one attachment strap; the wearable mount further comprises a device mount connected to the at least one attachment strap; the method comprises the following steps:

the at least one attachment strap is secured to the user by engaging the connector with the housing connection portion to attach the first portion of the at least one attachment strap with the second portion of the at least one attachment strap.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising attaching a wearable device to the device mount to secure the wearable device to the user via the wearable mount.