This was inspired by a conversation on the Waveform podcast that got me curious:
https://youtu.be/eNz6-B70WOs?t=795Apple is known for polish, but it takes time to get there. Their patents show the start of the ideas. Apple files some truly odd stuff pushing materials, ergonomics, energy, & motion-aligned UX.
These aren’t product promises. They’re more probes. Still fun to see what they’re investigating.
Why the weird patents?
- Explore an idea & stake defensible IP. Many never ship.
- Long timelines. Some ideas show up 5–10 years later.
- Apple touches everything: packaging, straps, peripherals, & UX. Research spans the whole experience.
The list — not that one
Engineered paper bags
More exciting than it sounds. A reinforced retail bag using white solid bleached sulfate paper with ≤60% post-consumer content. The handle geometry is designed to swoop a very specific way because, of course, Apple obsesses over that.
Why it matters: material-as-UX & sustainability as a first-class feature, plus the premium feel Apple chases.
Rounded pizza “containers”
Not quite “boxes.” A molded-fiber, hinged, vented, circular clamshell meant to keep crust crisp in transit. A very Apple take on cafeteria logistics.
Why it matters: research pointed at their own environment to make the in-house experience better.
Self-healing foldable cover layers
A flexible cover stack with a self-healing coating. Heat via transparent conductors accelerates scratch repair. Foldables can’t rely on Ceramic Shield/Gorilla Glass the same way because hinges exist.
Why it matters: fewer micro-scratches, better longevity, & a more premium feel versus competitors.
Keyless, haptic input deck
A configurable, force-sensitive surface you can turn into whatever: a normal keyboard, a musical keyboard, or an absurd macro deck. Per-key customization pairs with haptics & software to map it all.
Why it matters: a post-keyboard interface that becomes what you need in the moment. Imagine a laptop with a second layer that’s any macro layout you want. Incredibly cool.
Watch band with embedded batteries
Smartwatches tap out around a day. Traditional watches last months. This strap hides multiple sealed cells in an internal frame & routes power to the watch.
Why it matters: push toward true watch-like battery life without making the case giant like an Ultra.
Modular functional band links
Imagine bracelet links that hide electronics sensors, power, I/O chained electrically & mechanically. “Accessory as motherboard.”
Why it matters: upgrade the band without buying a new watch. Honestly feels un-Apple in modularity, which is why it’s interesting.
Electrochromic color-changing band
“Watch band with adjustable color.” Electrochromic filaments let the watch change band color & zones in software.
Why it matters: personalization on demand & ambient signaling. Subtle pulses for notifications, or getting redder as your heart rate climbs during a workout.
Watch band optics
Instead of a camera in the watch body of the watch, the optics live in the strap’s distal end. Bend to aim or swap bands. You add imaging only when you need it.
Why it matters: could allow smaller watch bodies. Tradeoffs on angle & privacy, but the idea is clever.
Shape-changing mouse
Apple’s track record with mice isn’t… beloved. This enclosure changes curvature/width to fit different grips & even convey UI state through form.
Why it matters: ergonomics & accessibility. Haptics you feel as shape, not just vibration.
Deployable-key mouse
A pop-out key acts like a pointing device in one mode & a key in another. Kind of a “Lenovo nipple,” Apple-ified.
Why it matters: space-saving, mode-switching hardware for compact setups.
Vehicle-synced immersive display
VR visuals synced to vehicle motion to reduce sensory conflict that leads to motion sickness. Part of the broader car division (Cancelled Project Titan), this likely led to Apple’s newer motion-sickness reduction features on iPhone & iPad.
Why it matters: motion-aligned UX. If you ride a lot & get motion sick, this is the kind of “invisible” win that keep you in the ecosystem.
Patterns I keep seeing
You can extrapolate some patterns from these. The fun part is how often “hardware” behaves like UI.
- Material = UI. Electrochromic bands can signal or personalize on the fly; haptic decks can replace a keyboard & morph into whatever you need; a shape-shifting mouse uses form to convey state. Materials communicate, not just decorate.
- Energy lives in accessories. Push batteries & circuitry into bands & links so the strap becomes a bus & a buffer. More runtime without ballooning the watch case; modular links let each segment be power, I/O, or sensors.
- Adaptive ergonomics. Hardware shapes to you, not the other way around. Think keyless haptic input, a mouse that changes curvature/width, or a deployable key that flips modes.
- Motion-aligned UX. Sync visuals to real-world movement to cut sensory conflict & help accessibility. Vehicle-aware VR & motion cues point to calmer computing on the move.
- End-to-end design. Packaging & peripherals are part of the experience. Paper bags & pizza “containers” get the same engineering attention as devices because touch, tactility, & logistics affect the brand.
- Software-defined hardware. Inputs & appearance become programmable surfaces. Global SKUs, on-the-fly layouts, & context-specific modes are baked into the physical layer.
Net effect: odd filings map the constraints Apple expects durability for foldables, energy density in wearables, ergonomics that adapt, & motion-aware comfort.
My take
Honestly, these are incredibly fun to dig through. It’s fascinating to see inside a company like Apple & the kinds of problems they’re quietly exploring.
It gives you a sense of Apple’s direction; they’re thinking in flexible materials that act like UI, accessories that double as batteries, hardware that adapts to people instead of the other way around, & motion-aware experiences that smooth out the edges between physical & digital.
These patents are like getting an early idea roadmap. Most of these ideas won’t ship exactly as written, but bits & pieces will quietly surface over the next 5–10 years.
Sources
- US20160264304A1 — Bag (Apple)
- US20120024859A1 — Container (Apple)
- US11444268B2 — Electronic devices with flexible display cover layers (Apple)
- US20170315622A1 — Configurable force-sensitive input structure (Apple)
- US10795451B2 — Configurable force-sensitive input structure (Apple, granted)
- US10849392B1 — Wrist band having electrochemical cells (Apple)
- US9553625B2 — Modular functional band links for wearable devices (Apple)
- US11586153B1 — Watch band with adjustable color (Apple)
- US10331083B1 — Watch band with optical sensor (Apple)
- US10592008B1 — Mouse having a shape-changing enclosure (Apple)
- US11275451B2 — Mouse with deployable key device (Apple)
- US20180089901A1 — Immersive virtual display (Apple)
Thanks for reading!
Feel free to share this blog or reach out to me on LinkedIn.