Apple Watch design wins patent on look and feel

C-Net News ^ | May 5, 2015 11:46 AM PDT | by Don Reisinger 2015

[GeronL]

bump

[Swordmaker]

Do you know anything about that rumored "hidden" and "undocumented" connector that lives where the wrist band connects to the body? The one that some band company claims they can charge the watch through?

Is that connector mentioned in the patent application?

Yes. It's a port for data connections intended for quickly programming the watch, testing for diagnosis of problems, but not designed for charging or power take off. The watch bands slide in from the side, so utilizing it as a connector with a band might be engineered around but it is not intended in Apple's design for that. I'm pretty sure Apple will not certify any peripheral for connection through that port.

It won't be listed in this design patent. It is in the utility patent.

[doorgunner69]

Not a surprise. If they anything that others can agree on, design interface is a huge strngth they have nailed and have for decades.

Like it or not, and I have never liked it.

[fireman15]

Our patent system has been completely corrupted. I can understand that Apple does not want knock-offs that are nearly indistinguishable from their watch, but the patent system was never intended to regulate fashion. As you said the watch looks very similar to many other watches that have been produced for decades.

[GeronL]

I can imagine patenting the technology thats in there, but the look and feel? especially when it doesn’t look any different in most respects is crazy

[Swordmaker]

Those radical innovators at Apple have done it again!

http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Wristwatch-Square-Digital-Watch/dp/B007VLJJOO

Not the same design at all. . . do you see a digital crown? A flush set button, rounded aluminum, steel, or gold case? No. Your example LED watch is plastic with four button controls, square, not rectangular, and has non-removable straps. Try understanding design patents, Fred.

[Swordmaker]

I am going to copyright the letter T!

Believe it or not, you actually can, so long as it is part of the design of a typeface you've completely created from scratch. You are allowed to copyright the alphanumeric letters and numbers, symbols, etc, and control the use, licensing, of all versions of those letters in that typeface. . . and sue people who use it without permission!

Check what Adobe charges for the use of their typeface libraries, the complete set is something like $650, and more, if you actually print a large print run of a book.

[FredZarguna]

I do: They’re bogus.

[GeronL]

That is pretty wild.

[Ethan Clive Osgoode]

Look and feel is for homos.

[Swordmaker]

Well they could patent the band charging system.

Of course my guess is only a guess. It might even be later on for a iphone-free capability to make phone calls without the iphone. Dunno.

They'd first have to license the watch band connection system from Apple. An Australian watch expert was commenting that he was absolutely floored that in the over 100 years of wristwatch history no one had come up with such an elegant interchangeable strap/watch and connection system as Apple's design for the watch industry to standardize on instead of the breakable spring pin system, which accounted for more lost watches than any other cause!

[FredZarguna]

Not just that, but a patent was intended to protect innovative ideas [this isn't one] and things which are not obvious [this is] or for which there is no prior art [because, duh, nobody has ever sold a square little watch before.]

The Framers of the Constitution are spinning in their graves like dervishes over the kinds of things that can now be copyrighted, trademarked, and patented. It's a disgrace, and Apple is one of the worst offenders on the planet.

[FredZarguna]

Yep.

[FredZarguna]

If by “wild,” you mean a total perversion of the intent of the idea of intellectual property, then yes.

[Swordmaker]

establish a large watch user base first. To get people used to it and then to push for it to be a standalone device.

They need a better battery life ability and that’s why I think that port is for being body powered one or more ways.

There's the reason for not having a wrist phone. Cellular phone use is a power eater! Samsung's Gear S does it now. . . and for the last six months and is not selling well. It still needs a Samsung Galaxy phone to pair to, but will connect without the phone. . . but it requires charging three to four times a day!

[Ethan Clive Osgoode]

An Australian watch expert was commenting that he was absolutely floored that in the over 100 years of wristwatch history no one had come up with such an elegant interchangeable strap/watch and connection system

Reminiscent of the stupid hype we heard regarding Apple's "innovative" magnetic connector which could be found on millions of rice cookers made in Asia.

[Swordmaker]

This is why the Framers did indeed intend such coverage. . .

Chinese Apple Watch Knock-Offs running simplified Android OS, offered for
shipment into U.S. for as low as $25 per unit in bulk

With a design patent, the FTC can interdict these frauds at customs.

[Secret Agent Man]

There’s some amazing battery technology at the nanoscale level that not only increases storage but rapid charging. They are probably banking on that being available not too long from now.

[Swordmaker]

Reminiscent of the stupid hype we heard regarding Apple's "innovative" magnetic connector which could be found on millions of rice cookers made in Asia.

Apple owns the patents on the magnetic power connector both here and in Europe, and in all Asian countries, Ethan, contrary to your claims. Where are the magnetic power connectors on any other make notebook computers preventing them from being pulled on the floor by the cable being tripped over?

[Secret Agent Man]

APPLE could patent the band charging system. Not sure why you thought I meant someone else.