This invention relates to a mounting apparatus for a wearable device, a mounting apparatus kit comprising at least one such mounting apparatus and wearable device, and a mounting apparatus assembly.

Wearable devices can be used by users to collect information on their activity and thereby allow their fitness activities to be tracked, e.g. by software running on a remote server. Other wearable devices might instead perform motion capture, or be for decorative purposes. They may also have a security function, e.g. by including a GPS module to allow the location and movements of a child to be tracked, or by permitting the tracking of garments in a store as an anti-theft measure.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting apparatus for a wearable device having a first mounting surface and a plurality of second opposed mounting surfaces, the mounting apparatus including a mounting body having a planar base from which protrudes a plurality of mutually opposed mounting legs, the planar base defining a first abutment surface which in-use cooperates with a first mounting surface of a wearable device and each mounting leg defining a second abutment surface which in-use cooperates with a respective second mounting surface of the wearable device, each second abutment surface being spaced from the first abutment surface to define a retention gap having a predetermined length, the predetermined length of each retention gap exceeding the spacing between each second opposed mounting surface and the first mounting surface of the wearable device by a predetermined amount.

Having the length of each retention gap exceed the spacing between each second opposed mounting surface and the first mounting surface of a wearable device by a predetermined amount is advantageous since as well as ensuring, in use, a secure snap-fit coupling of the mounting apparatus and wearable device directly to one another (which would be solely achieved if the length of each retention gap was merely the same as the spacing between each second opposed mounting surface and the first mounting surface), the mounting apparatus is also able to accommodate, in use, the imposition of a flexible substrate, e.g. a textile, item of clothing or apparel, other garment, bed cloth or bag, between it and a corresponding wearable device.

Such features therefore permit the ready and straightforward fastening of a wearable device to such a textile, item of clothing or apparel, etc. Moreover, the mounting apparatus of the invention is beneficiaiiy able to accommodate such a flexible substrate in a manner that continues to ensure a secure snap-fit coupling of the mounting apparatus and wearable device to one another without damaging, e.g. by piercing, or otherwise compromising the integrity of the flexible substrate, or reducing the durability of the flexible substrate.

Such accommodation, while continuing to ensure secure snap-fit coupling, allows, e.g. a user of a wearable device, to readily and selectively fasten, in a non-permanent manner, such a wearable device to a flexible substrate, e.g. an item of their clothing or apparel and not have the wearable device move around on the flexible substrate.

Additionally, appropriately selecting the predetermined amount by which the length of each retention gap exceeds the spacing between each second opposed mounting surface and the first mounting surface of a wearable device desirably permits the mounting apparatus to accommodate flexible substrates having a variety of thicknesses, while nevertheless continuing to ensure the aforementioned secure snap- fit coupling of the mounting apparatus and wearable device to one another, and thus the ready and selective fastening of a wearable device to such differing thickness of flexible substrate.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention each mounting leg includes a rebate formation which defines the mounting leg's second abutment surface. The inclusion of respective rebate formations provides the required second abutment surface in a manner that can be readily manufactured, e.g. by injection moulding, but which also has a necessary degree of structural integrity to ensure each second abutment surface is resilient enough to cooperate with the first abutment surface to ensure the necessary secure snap-fit coupling.

Preferably the planar base additionally defines an engagement surface lying opposite the first abutment surface, the engagement surface including an adhesive portion.

The inclusion of such an adhesive portion, which preferably is safe for direct contact with a user's skin, advantageously increases the stability of the mounting apparatus of the invention by temporarily latching onto a user's skin to reduce any undesired movement of the mounting apparatus relative to the user, and thereby permit the correct positioning of the mounting apparatus relative to a respective flexible substrate, e.g. an item of the user's clothing or apparel, even when the flexible substrate is loosely arranged relative to the user, e.g. even when the flexible substrate is a loosely fitting item of clothing or apparel.

The planar base may have a curved cross-sectional profile.

Including a planar base that has a curved cross-sectional profile beneficially allows the planar base to sit comfortably against curved regions of a user's body, as well as helping to ensure a desired degree surface contact between the mounting apparatus and a user's body, so that a suitable amount of frictional or adhesive engagement can arise between the mounting apparatus and the user's body to prevent or at least resist relative movement between the two.

Optionally the mounting apparatus has an even number of mounting legs protruding from the planar base thereof, the even number of mounting legs being arranged in one or more respective opposed pairs.

Arranging one or more pairs of mounting legs in such a manner means that the or each said opposed pair of mounting legs can cooperate with one another to ensure, in use, the secure snap-fit coupling of the mounting apparatus and a wearable device with one another independently of the operation of any other opposed pair of mounting legs.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting apparatus kit comprising at least one mounting apparatus as described hereinabove and at least one corresponding wearable device having a first mounting surface and a plurality of second opposed mounting surfaces, the first mounting surface of the or each wearable device being co-operable with the first abutment surface of a corresponding mounting apparatus and the second mounting surfaces of the or each wearable device being co- operable with the second abutment surfaces of the said corresponding mounting apparatus whereby the or each wearable device is selectively couplable in snap-fit engagement with the said corresponding mounting apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting apparatus assembly comprising a mounting apparatus as described hereinabove and a wearable device having a first mounting surface and a plurality of second opposed mounting surfaces, the first mounting surface cooperating with the first abutment surface of the mounting apparatus and the second mounting surfaces of the wearable device cooperating with the second abutment surfaces of the mounting apparatus to couple the wearabie device in snap-fit engagement with the mounting apparatus.

The mounting apparatus kit and the mounting apparatus assembly of the invention each shares the benefits of the corresponding features of the mounting apparatus of the invention.

Preferably the mounting apparatus assembly further includes a flexible substrate interposed between the mounting apparatus and the wearable device.

Such an arrangement desirably provides a user with a wearable device securely fastened to a chosen flexible substrate.

It will be appreciated that the use of the terms "first" and "second", and the like, in this patent specification is merely intended to help distinguish between similar features, and is not intended to indicate the relative importance of one feature over another feature, unless otherwise specified.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, and the claims and/or the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, ail embodiments and all features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

There now follows a brief description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the following figures in which:

Figure 1(a) shows a schematic exploded view of a mounting apparatus assembly according to the invention and including a mounting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1(b) shows a schematic view of the mounting apparatus assembly shown in Figure 1(a) in use;

Figures 2(a) to 2(c) show respective cross-sectional views through the mounting apparatus assembly shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b) in different use cases; Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show a schematic view of a mounting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a mounting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a mounting apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

A mounting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention is designated generally by reference numeral 10, as shown in Figure 1(a).

The mounting apparatus 10 includes a mounting body 12 that has a planar base 14 from which protrudes three mutually opposed mounting legs 16, although other embodiments (see below) may include fewer than or more than three opposed mounting legs.

The mounting body 12 can be formed from a relatively hard material but may be or include a softer material so as to be more comfortable is placed against a user's skin.

In any event, the mounting body 12, or at least the mutually opposed mounting legs 16 thereof, is formed from a resiliently deformable material, i.e. a material which is able to change shape upon the application of a force but which substantially returns to its original shape when the force is removed, such as a plastics material.

The mounting body 12 can also vary in size and shape depending on the nature of the circumstances in which the mounting apparatus 10 is to be used.

Returning to the embodiment shown, the planar base 14 defines a first abutment surface 18 and each mounting leg 16 defines a second abutment surface 20. More particularly, as probably best shown in Figures 2(a) to 2(c), each mounting leg 16 includes a rebate formation 22 that defines the said second abutment surface 20.

As also shown in Figures 2(a) to 2(c), the planar base 14 has a substantially straight cross-sectional profile, although other embodiments (see below) may have a different shaped cross-sectional profile.

Each second abutment surface 20 is spaced from the first abutment surface 18 to define a respective retention gap 24, i.e. the space between each second abutment surface 20 and the first abutment surface 18 defines an individual retention gap 24 ₁ , 24 ₂ , 24 ₃ . The individual retention gaps 24 ₁ , 24 ₂ , 24 ₃ all have the same predetermined length L ₁ , e.g. as measured perpendicularly to the first abutment surface 18.

In use the mounting apparatus 10 is intended to cooperate with a wearable device 30. Preferably the wearable device 30 has first mounting surface 32, which may take the form of a planar face thereof, as well as at least the same number of second opposed mounting surfaces 34 as the mounting apparatus 10 has mounting legs 16.

The exemplary wearable device 30 shown includes six opposed mounting surfaces 34 which lie opposite the first mounting surface 32. Each opposed mounting surface 34 takes the form of a chamfered face, although this need not necessarily be the case. In the particular example shown, the wearable device 30 includes a first set of first mounting surface 32 and corresponding second opposed mounting surfaces 34, as well as a second set of mirror-image first mounting surface 32' and corresponding second opposed mounting surfaces 34', although again this need not necessarily be the case.

Each second opposed mounting surface 34 of the wearable device 30 is spaced from the first mounting surface 32 by the same second length L ₂ , e.g. as measured perpendicularly to the first mounting surface 32.

Returning to the first mounting apparatus 10, the predetermined length of each retention gap L ₁ exceeds the spacing L ₂ between each second opposed mounting surface 34 and the first mounting surface 32 by a predetermined amount.

In use, the first abutment surface 18 of the mounting apparatus 10 cooperates with the first mounting surface 32 of the wearable device 30 and, after resilient deformation of one or more mounting legs 16, each second abutment surface 20 cooperates with a corresponding second opposed mounting surface 34 to selectively couple the wearable device 30 and the mounting apparatus 10 to one another in snap-fit engagement, e.g. as shown in Figure 2(a).

However, having the length L ₁ of each retention gap 24 exceed the spacing L ₂ between each second opposed mounting surface 34 and the first mounting surface 32 by a predetermined amount additionally provides the option of accommodating a flexible substrate 36, e.g. a textile, item of clothing or apparel etc, between the mounting apparatus 10 and the wearable device 30, i.e. as shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b). Moreover, appropriately selecting the predetermined amount by which the length L ₁ of the retention gap 24 exceeds the spacing L ₂ between each second opposed mounting surface 34 and the first mounting surface 32 of the wearable device 30 permits the accommodation of a first flexible substrate 36 having a first thickness ti or a second flexible substrate 38 having a second thickness 12 greater than the first thickness t ₁ , while continuing to couple the wearable device 30 and the mounting apparatus 10 with one another in snap-fit engagement, i.e. as shown in Figures 2(b) and 2(c).

The predetermined amount by which the length Li of the retention gap 24 exceeds the spacing L ₂ between each second opposed mounting surface 34 and the first mounting surface 32 preferably is a fixed amount, such as 1mm or less. A preferred fixed amount is between 0.3mm and 0.8mm, and more preferably still between 0.4mm and 0.6mm.

The predetermined amount may also be a proportion of the spacing L ₂ between each second opposed mounting surface 34 and the first mounting surface 32 of the wearable device 30, such as less than 7.5%, or between 4% and 6%, and preferably around 5% of such spacing L ₂ .

Meanwhile it follows that the arrangement shown in Figures 1(a), 1(b), and 2(b) constitutes a first mounting apparatus assembly 50 according to an embodiment of the invention, while the arrangement shown in Figure 2(c) constitutes a second mounting apparatus assembly 60 according to a further embodiment of the invention.

A mounting apparatus 70 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in Figures 3(a) and 3(b).

The second mounting apparatus 70 is very similar to the first mounting apparatus 10, and like features share the same reference numerals.

In that regard the planar base 14 of the mounting body 12 of the second mounting apparatus 70 similarly additionally defines an engagement surface 72 that lies opposite to the first abutment surface 18. However, the second mounting apparatus 70 differs from the first mounting apparatus 10 in that the engagement surface 72 includes an adhesive portion 72.

A mounting apparatus 80 according to a third embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in Figure 4. The fourth mounting apparatus 80 is again very similar to the first mounting apparatus 10, and like features share the same reference numerals. However, the fourth mounting apparatus 80 differs from the first mounting apparatus 10 in that the planar base 14 of the mounting body 12 has a curved cross-sectional shape, as shown. This allows the mounting body 12 to fit closely and comfortably against a user's skin 82.

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a mounting apparatus 90 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

The fourth mounting apparatus 90 shares a number of features with each of the aforementioned mounting apparatuses 10; 70; 80 and these share the same reference numerals, but it differs from all of them by having an even number, and more particularly four, mounting legs 16, each of which includes a rebate formation 22 that defines a respective second abutment surface 20.

Two of the mounting legs 16 are arranged opposite one another to define a first opposed pair 92, and the other two mounting legs 16 are similarly arranged opposite one another to define a second opposed pair 94.

In use the fourth mounting apparatus 90 is intended to cooperate with a second wearable device 100 which is similar to the wearable device 30 described above. The second wearable device 100 similarly has first mounting surface in the form of a planar face thereof (neither shown), but it has four second opposed mounting surfaces 34 to correspond to the four mounting legs 16 of the fourth mounting apparatus 90. Each such opposed mounting surface 34 agam takes the form of a chamfered face, although this need not necessarily be the case.

The second wearable device 100 also similarly includes a first set of first mounting surface and corresponding second opposed mounting surfaces 34, as well as a second set of mirror-image first mounting surface 32' and corresponding second opposed mounting surfaces 34', although again this need not necessarily be the case.

In addition to the foregoing, a mounting apparatus kit according to a still further embodiment of the invention includes at least one mounting apparatus 10; 70; 80; 90 as described hereinabove, together with at least one corresponding wearable device 30; 100 as similarly described above.