Bi-directionally operable, toolessly changeable, strap for a wearable display

Abstract

Watchmakers have maintained a tidy, fiddling, monopoly on changing watch straps for a century even as customers have increasingly sought and asked for more readily-replaceable options, to let their expensive centerpiece display (whether mechanical or electronic) to be attached by fashion-responsive, inexpensive straps. This invention is of a strap for a variety of displays or equipment worn on the user's wrist, limb, or body that is simpler to manufacture, sturdier, easy to use, and yet readily replaceable without any tool. This invention enables the strap itself to become a separable element for differing needs including those suitable for changing seasons, special events or situations, purely of fashion, or simply for expressing personal taste, feeling, preference, or opinion.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A strap for a wearable display for a device for a person using said device and display, said wearable display having on opposing sides both first and second attachment loops, said strap further comprising:
 a leading end;   an affixation means located on one side of the strap any of at, in, along, or close to the leading end;   connecting material joining the leading end to the trailing end;   
       all of which may be drawn through both first and second attachment loops; and,
 at least one affixation zone located along the connecting material on the same side of the strap as the affixation means, to which the affixation means can be attached so as to releasably bind the strap to itself; 
 a trailing end; and, 
 a terminating stopper at the terminus of the trailing end which will fit any of at or onto, but not through, the first attachment loop. 
 
     
     
         2 . A strap as described in  claim 1  wherein the connecting material is of a flexible material allowing it to bend, twist, and curve but not to stretch under normal operating tension. 
     
     
         3 . A strap as described in  claim 1  further comprising a shank joining the terminating stopper with the trailing end, wherein the shank:
 is larger than and encompasses the entirety of, but also is sturdier and less flexible than, the connecting material 
 is small enough to fit through the first attachment loop. 
 
     
     
         4 . A strap as described in  claim 3 , wherein the terminating stopper further:
 both is in the shape of, but slightly larger than, the empty space forming the interior void of the first attachment loop;   prevents the strap from being drawn, pulled, or sliding entirely through the first attachment loop by physically jamming into, interlocking with, and not being able to pass through the empty space forming the interior void of the attachment loop; and,   has a flat surface on its distal end.   
     
     
         5 . A strap as described in  claim 4 , wherein the terminating stopper further:
 has a side silhouette comparable to any of an ogee and cyma reversa, being of an ‘S’ shape;   uses the concave portion, where it joins the shank, to allow the shank to slip into the empty space in the attachment loop; and,   uses the convex portion to ensure that the terminating stopper will not slip through the attachment loop.   
     
     
         6 . A strap as described in  claim 5 , wherein the terminating stopper has a slightly larger but similar shape to that of the interior void of the first attachment loop to effect the closest functional fit between the two which does not allow the terminating stopper to be drawn through the first attachment loop, but which does allow the shank to be drawn through the first attachment loop. 
     
     
         7 . A strap as described in  claim 1  wherein the connecting material is of a breathing material allowing it pass sweat and other fluid under normal operating tension. 
     
     
         8 . A strap as described in  claim 1 , wherein the affixation means and affixation zone are respectively formed by paired areas which are complementarily differentiated and matching and thus form a releasable and reusable connector, comprising any of the following set:
 a pair of differentiated-but-complementarily-matching, patches, one of hooks and a second of loops, which pair of patches when joined form a binding set comprised of indeterminated-linkages between specific hooks and loops with a frequency of total matchings sufficient to join the patch of hooks to and with the patch of loops;   a buckle and holes;   a snap and cups;   a button and holes;   a pin and butterfly clutch; and,   a spring-mounted-clasp-and-clutch.   
     
     
         9 . A strap as described in  claim 1  wherein the connecting material, but not the affixation means or affixation zone, has any of the following incorporated into its length and breadth:
 voids to allow the passage of sweat and other fluids; 
 a graphic or design viewable from the exterior surface of the strap when fastened to itself; and, 
 additional material to absorb sweat and other fluids and wick them away from the surface between the strap and the skin of the user. 
 
     
     
         10 . A strap as described in  claim 1 , further comprised a first and second complementary half, each half further comprising a leading end and terminating end, each terminating end further comprising a shank and terminating stopper, wherein:
 said first half has an affixation means specifically designed to fit through the casing's first attachment loop;   said second half has an affixation means specifically designed to fit through the casing's second attachment loop; and,   said affixation means is specifically designed for and to be joined to the affixation zone;   
       such that when both the first and second complementary halves are fed through the respective attachment loops and pulled together the first half's affixation means is attached together and with the second half's affixation zone at that point where the terminating stoppers are each and both drawn to and against the respective attachment loops, securely holding the display to the user. 
     
     
         11 . At least one strap for a wearable display for a device for a person using said device and display, said wearable display incorporating at least a first and second, offset, attachment loops, said strap having a width and thickness that can be drawn through each of the first and second attachment loops and further comprising:
 a leading end having a width and thickness that can be drawn through each of the pair of contoured attachment loops;   an affixation means located any of at, in, along, or close to the leading end and also having a width and thickness that can be drawn through each of the first and second attachment loops;   a trailing end;   connecting material of a flexible material allowing it to bend, twist, and curve but not to stretch under normal operating tension and having a width and thickness that can be drawn through each of the first and second attachment loops, joining the leading end and trailing end;   at least one affixation zone located along the connecting material on the same side of the strap as the affixation means, to which the affixation means can be attached so as to releasably bind the strap to itself;   a terminating stopper at the terminus of the trailing end shaped such that said terminating stopper will fit any of at or onto, but not through, the first attachment loop when the strap is drawn by the leading end through that first attachment loop, by physically jamming into, interlocking with, and not being able to pass through the empty space forming the interior void of the first attachment loop, and having a flat surface on its distal end; and,   a shank joining the trailing end to the terminating stopper, said shank further:
 shaped so as to slip into the empty space forming the interior void of the first attachment loop; and, 
 larger than and encompassing the entirety of the connecting material at the trailing end; but also, 
 sturdier and less flexible than the connecting material.