Patents by Inventor Caitlin M. MCLAIN

Caitlin M. MCLAIN has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11944167
    Abstract: A wristband can comfortably secure an electronic device, such as a wristwatch or fitness/health tracking device, to a wrist of a user. The wristband can include a number of magnets that allow the wristband to be magnetically coupled to itself when folded over or when separate band portions are overlapping. The magnets can include a polymer mixed with a magnetic material to provide magnetic properties and flexibility. The magnets can be joined together by a continuous support structure that extends through opposing pairs of the magnets. The support structure can provide substantial and ability as well as tensile strength. The magnets and the support structure can be surrounded by a flexible cover to protect the components within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zaki Moustafa, Qigen Ji, Caitlin M. McLain, Clayton J. McCoy, Hao Zhu, Hsiang Hung Chen, Stephen E. Dey, Fernando F. Cunha
  • Publication number: 20230078725
    Abstract: A wristband can comfortably secure an electronic device, such as a wristwatch or fitness/health tracking device, to a wrist of a user. The wristband can include a number of magnets that allow the wristband to be magnetically coupled to itself when folded over or when separate band portions are overlapping. The magnets can include a polymer mixed with a magnetic material to provide magnetic properties and flexibility. The magnets can be joined together by a continuous support structure that extends through opposing pairs of the magnets. The support structure can provide substantial and ability as well as tensile strength. The magnets and the support structure can be surrounded by a flexible cover to protect the components within.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Zaki MOUSTAFA, Qigen JI, Caitlin M. MCLAIN, Clayton J. MCCOY, Hao ZHU, Hsiang Hung CHEN, Stephen E. DEY, Fernando F. CUNHA
  • Patent number: 11553766
    Abstract: A wristband can comfortably secure an electronic device, such as a wristwatch or fitness/health tracking device, to a wrist of a user. The wristband can include a number of magnets that allow the wristband to be magnetically coupled to itself when folded over or when separate band portions are overlapping. The magnets can include a polymer mixed with a magnetic material to provide magnetic properties and flexibility. The magnets can be joined together by a continuous support structure that extends through opposing pairs of the magnets. The support structure can provide substantial and ability as well as tensile strength. The magnets and the support structure can be surrounded by a flexible cover to protect the components within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zaki Moustafa, Qigen Ji, Caitlin M. McLain, Clayton J. McCoy, Hao Zhu, Hsiang Hung Chen, Stephen E. Dey, Fernando F. Cunha
  • Patent number: 11513556
    Abstract: An accessory device for a portable electronic device is described. The accessory device includes a front cover connected to a back cover. The front cover includes multiple segments rotatable with respect to each other. The segments include magnets that allow the segments, through magnetic coupling, to couple with another segment or with the portable electronic device. When the front cover engages the back cover, a user may remove, or pull away, a segment from the back cover, causing the remaining segments to sequentially fall away from the back cover. In some instances, when the front cover at least partially engages the back cover, one of the segments includes magnets designed to couple with magnets in the back cover, but not with magnets in another segment. The accessory device may further include an opening that receives a camera assembly of the portable electronic device and forms a mechanical interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Stryker, Caitlin M. Mclain, Travis C. Pedley, Nicholas A. Treadwell, Hao Zhu, Yang Zhou
  • Publication number: 20220317798
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a user input device that forms a cover for an electronic device. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a computing system having a segmented cover and a portable electronic device coupled to the segmented cover. The segmented cover may define an attachment panel and an input panel. The portable electronic device may be coupled to the segmented cover. The input panel may be configured to be placed over a device display of the portable electronic device. The input panel may include an accessory display and a touch-sensitive layer coupled to the accessory display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: James A. Stryker, Terrence L. Van Ausdall, Jason S. Keats, David F. Mallard, Yujia Zhang, Caitlin M. McLain, Johan Lyon, Elizabeth C. Schanne, Larry Olmstead, Seulbi Kim
  • Patent number: 11216031
    Abstract: An accessory device for a portable electronic device is described. The accessory device includes a front cover connected to a back cover. The front cover includes multiple segments rotatable with respect to each other. The segments include magnets that allow the segments, through magnetic coupling, to couple with another segment or with the portable electronic device. When the front cover engages the back cover, a user may remove, or pull away, a segment from the back cover, causing the remaining segments to sequentially fall away from the back cover. In some instances, when the front cover at least partially engages the back cover, one of the segments includes magnets designed to couple with magnets in the back cover, but not with magnets in another segment. The accessory device may further include an opening that receives a camera assembly of the portable electronic device and forms a mechanical interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Stryker, Caitlin M. Mclain, Travis C. Pedley, Nicholas A. Treadwell, Hao Zhu, Yang Zhou
  • Publication number: 20200367613
    Abstract: A wristband can comfortably secure an electronic device, such as a wristwatch or fitness/health tracking device, to a wrist of a user. The wristband can include a number of magnets that allow the wristband to be magnetically coupled to itself when folded over or when separate band portions are overlapping. The magnets can include a polymer mixed with a magnetic material to provide magnetic properties and flexibility. The magnets can be joined together by a continuous support structure that extends through opposing pairs of the magnets. The support structure can provide substantial and ability as well as tensile strength. The magnets and the support structure can be surrounded by a flexible cover to protect the components within.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Zaki MOUSTAFA, Qigen JI, Caitlin M. MCLAIN, Clayton J MCCOY, Hao ZHU, Hsiang Hung CHEN, Stephen E. DEY, Fernando F. CUNHA
  • Publication number: 20200081489
    Abstract: An accessory device for a portable electronic device is described. The accessory device includes a front cover connected to a back cover. The front cover includes multiple segments rotatable with respect to each other. The segments include magnets that allow the segments, through magnetic coupling, to couple with another segment or with the portable electronic device. When the front cover engages the back cover, a user may remove, or pull away, a segment from the back cover, causing the remaining segments to sequentially fall away from the back cover. In some instances, when the front cover at least partially engages the back cover, one of the segments includes magnets designed to couple with magnets in the back cover, but not with magnets in another segment. The accessory device may further include an opening that receives a camera assembly of the portable electronic device and forms a mechanical interlock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: James A. STRYKER, Caitlin M. MCLAIN, Travis C. PEDLEY, Nicholas A. TREADWELL, Hao ZHU, Yang ZHOU