Samsung's patent and trademark filings are showing possible smartwatch designs, which feature a flexible screens that curves round the wrist along with other parts made of metal and synthetic materials. Other documents reveal that the company has registered the names Samsung Gear in South Korea and Samsung Galaxy Gear in the US.

Canalys has predicted that sales of smartwatches will "explode" from 330,000 units shipped last year to more than five million in 2014.

Potential features of a smartwatch could include applications that would allow users to see who were calling their phones from their wrists or reading Twitter and Facebook messages.



Samsung has filed patents for three slightly different smartwatch designs with the the South Korea patent office. The patents indicate that Samsung is looking at creating a curved bendable screen that covers about half of the device. At one end of the display is a small panel with a back arrow and home keys similar in design to those found on its original Galaxy S Android handset.

The drawings also show a physical power button and speaker, and the accompanying descriptions note that the screen can be attached to different straps to accommodate customers' varying wrist sizes.

The devices should provide access to the internet, make and receive phone calls, emails and texts; and store personal information.

Samsung's next scheduled press event is at the IFA consumer tech show in Berlin on 4 September, where the company could showcase a smartwatch device, along with new mobiles.