Apple Watch Series Could Get Futuristic Band Based On New Patent

Future Apple Watches may come with a new kind of watchband that can be precisely adjusted to the smartwatch owner's preferred tightness in the future. The technology was described in a new patent granted to the Cupertino tech giant.

Watchbands work to keep watches securely wrapped to their users' wrist. One caveat about traditional watchbands is that they have predetermined holes or grooves that make adjusting them limited. They can be tighter or looser than the user prefers at times. The user, however, cannot do anything about that. He is limited to the number of punched holes in the band.

The user can poke a hole in the watchband, but doing this might damage it, decreasing its lifespan. The buckles used in traditional watchbands can also cause wear and tear over time because the band is forced to bend or fold when inserted in the buckle. But Apple has thought of a solution to this problem and patented the technology for it.

According to a new patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, future Apple Watch bands can be secured using a next-generation “watchband connector” that doesn't need punched holes. This new connector will allow users to adjust to their preferred fit – down to the exact tightness that they want.

The technology, invented by Apple's Tatsuya Sano, uses “clamp pads” to secure the Apple Watch.

There are two such pads inside the connector; one of them located at the upper part of the connector body, and the other located at the lower part. The pads are connected to springs that allow them to move as needed, i.e., when the user is adjusting the watchband length.

The watchbands will feature guide rails comprised of upper and lower guide grooves. The pads will securely lock the watchband in place by attaching to the guide rails. The mechanism allows users to adjust watchband tightness to their desired length as well.

Patent illustrations show that the watchband connector will be attached to one half of the watchband. It will not look like a traditional buckle. It will also avoid bending or folding the watchband, helping to prolong its lifespan.