Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Adaptive Hinge Technology for Wearable Devices

Publication ID: 24-11857038_0007_PTD
Published: October 27, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Adaptive Hinge Technology for Wearable Devices,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857038_0007_PTD, Published October 27, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857038_0007_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,038.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent for jewelry with hinge assembly addressed the need for secure and adjustable fitting in the jewelry industry. However, the potential applications of this technology extend far beyond jewelry. The present invention solves the problem of limited wearable device design by applying the core hinge technology to diverse fields such as medicine, athletics, and prosthetics.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce a novel application of the spring-biased hinge technology to diverse wearable devices, expanding the original patent's scope beyond jewelry. The inventive step lies in recognizing the versatility of the hinge design and adapting it to address specific challenges in various industries.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the invention could include adjustable tension springs, varying hinge geometries, and different materials for the band and hinge components. Variations could also include integrating sensors or other functional components into the wearable device.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The invention has significant commercial potential in the medical, athletic, and prosthetic industries, where secure and adjustable wearable devices are crucial. The market for wearable devices is rapidly growing, and this invention addresses specific pain points in these industries, offering a competitive advantage to manufacturers and users alike.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A44 A44C5/12

Field of Art

Wearable device design and mechanical engineering, focusing on articulating band structures with pivoting mechanisms, particularly for body-conforming devices

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A mechanical engineer or product designer with expertise in wearable technology, familiar with spring-loaded hinge mechanisms, materials science, and ergonomic design principles

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the core spring-biased hinge mechanism from the jewelry patent can be readily adapted to multiple wearable device contexts by applying standard engineering design transfer techniques. The fundamental mechanical principles of rotational coupling, spring-loaded positioning, and body-conforming bands are universally applicable across different technical domains. The variations represent predictable extensions of the original hinge assembly concept to solve similar fitting and attachment challenges in medical, athletic, and prosthetic applications.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Spring-biased hinge allowing rotational coupling between rigid portions of a band
PTD Variation
Applying the hinge mechanism to medical monitoring devices and prosthetic limb attachment
Obviousness Reasoning
Known technique of transferring mechanical design principles across related technical domains, with predictable results in achieving secure, adjustable body-conforming structures
Source Patent Element
Leaf spring configuration for maintaining closed position
PTD Variation
Integrating sensor components or functional elements within the hinge assembly
Obviousness Reasoning
Predictable design modification using known methods of embedding electronics in mechanical structures, representing a standard engineering approach to multifunctional device design
Source Patent Element
Band element adapted to extend about a portion of a wearer's body
PTD Variation
Expanding application from jewelry to medical devices, athletic performance trackers, and prosthetic systems
Obviousness Reasoning
Finite set of predictable applications for a body-conforming articulating band, representing obvious design extension based on functional requirements
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857038's teachings of a spring-biased hinge assembly for a wearable band, a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art would find the disclosed variations in medical, athletic, and prosthetic device applications to represent obvious modifications. The fundamental mechanical principles of rotational coupling, spring-loaded positioning, and body-conforming structures are directly transferable across technical domains, rendering subsequent claims involving similar hinge mechanisms obvious and unpatentable.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,038
TitleJewelry with hinge assembly
Assignee(s)David Yurman IP LLC