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Apple granted five patents covering the overall design of the Apple Watch

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As spotted by Patently Apple, Apple was today granted five patents covering the form factor and overall design of the Apple Watch. The patent images show the near-invisible bezel, Digital Crown, contacts button, rear sensors and strap attachment slots.

The company was last month granted patents on three of its watch bands – the Sport Band, Classic Buckle and Link Bracelet – and we’re likely to see many more watch-related patents granted in the coming months … 

Apple last year filed a patent application that builds on the watch’s Force Touch feature, a flexible display deforming to provide tactile feedback, while a separate patent application for the Force Touch used in the latest MacBook trackpad covers similar ideas.

While Apple has obviously patented the watch’s overall design and its own bands, the company opened a new ‘Made for Apple Watch’ program for creating accessories including third-party bands for the Apple Watch.

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Comments

  1. dksmidtx - 9 years ago

    It used to be said that a DA could indict a ham sandwich if they wanted to – is the modern patent system the same? Patenting the watch band slot? Really? As for the crown – do I now have to quit wearing my Seiko Solar which also has a mechanical crown?

    • shareef777 - 9 years ago

      While I agree with you regarding the crown, the band slot is unique and deserves to be patented.

    • Mosha - 9 years ago

      Why would someone come after you for wearing or using a patent infringing product?

    • jrox16 - 9 years ago

      Yes really… people spend lots of time and thousands to millions of dollars developing designs. Why shouldn’t it be patentable?? Do you have any idea how many prototypes are typically involved in designing a new product, and how long that process takes and how much that costs? A LOT. So then after all that work, you can have a company like Samsung or other just copy the design in a couple weeks? It takes months to years to develop a new idea, but weeks to copy it. I don’t see why people can’t understand this basic concept. They patented the digital crown so that Samsung doesn’t rip off the idea. It has nothing to do with the crown on your standard watch. If you really want to make intelligent comments, perhaps you should read the actual patent and what it covers, and brush up on patent law too. Without these patents, innovation would stop because no one will want to invest millions into new product development knowing someone else can just rip them off.

      • mytawalbeh - 9 years ago

        Well said. Agree on every single word mentioned.!

    • Atlas (@Metascover) - 9 years ago

      Learn how patents work. Your Seiko solar has one kind of mechanical crown. Apple patented one specific design of crown.

  2. chrisl84 - 9 years ago

    The strap attachment slot patent is a big one for Apple.

  3. 89p13 - 9 years ago

    I would love to know what Apple’s IP portfolio is worth. Probably more than most countries GDP!

    • You might want to check your “facts” before stating something.

      If you pay close attention the band of the other brand needs to be slided in a groove which it can only leave sideways, the Apple Watch…. works differently.

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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