Articulating components for a head-mounted display

• US 10,393,312 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2016
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RealWear, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RealWear, Inc.
• Inventors: Pombo, Stephen A., Hines, George Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Balaoing, Ariel A
• Application Number:
  US15/390,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20180180218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2057 for tilting and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/06 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils

Abstract

A device wearable upon a head of a user with an adjustable assembly is provided. The device may comprise a first assembly including a wearable portion, an arm having a first end portion and a second end portion positioned at an end of the arm opposite to the first end portion, and a first connector connected between the first assembly and the first end portion of the arm, the first connector including a detent assembly configured to releasably hold the arm in an in-use position at a first distance from the head of the user and in a stand-by position at a second distance greater than the first distance. The device may further include a second connector connected to the second end portion of the arm, and an output display connected to the second connector.

Claims

1. A device wearable upon a head of a user, the device comprising:

a first assembly including a wearable portion;

an arm having a first end portion connected to the first assembly and a second end portion positioned at an end of the arm opposite to the first end portion;

an output display;

a connector connected to the second end portion of the arm and to the output display, the connector including;

a spherical extension,

a spherical bearing sized and dimensioned to mateably receive at least a portion of the spherical extension,

one of the spherical extension and the spherical bearing being connected to the second end portion of the arm, and

the other of the spherical extension and the spherical bearing being connected to the output display,

wherein the spherical extension and the spherical bearing provide a pivotal connection through which at least one cable passes to the output display, and

wherein movement of the spherical extension within the spherical bearing enables positioning of the output display with respect to a visual field of the user when the device is worn; and

an adjustable ring axially aligned with the spherical extension such that it circumscribes at least a portion of the spherical extension, wherein the adjustable ring, when rotated, increases or decreases friction between the spherical extension and the spherical bearing by adjusting a pressure applied to the spherical bearing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the spherical extension is receivable within the spherical bearing by an interference fit.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the spherical extension is a first spherical extension, and wherein the first spherical extension is connected to a bar, the bar connected to a second spherical extension, the second spherical extension received within a second spherical bearing.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the spherical extension includes a gap, whereby a diameter of the spherical extension can be changed as the spherical extension is inserted into the spherical bearing, the spherical extension thereafter resiliently expanding within the spherical bearing to resiliently engage the spherical bearing.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the spherical extension includes a channel through which the at least one cable is passed.

6. A device wearable upon a head of a user, comprising:

a first assembly including a wearable portion;

an arm having a first end portion connected to the first assembly and a second end portion positioned at an end of the arm opposite to the first end portion;

an output display; and

a connector connected to the second end portion of the arm and the output display, the connector including;

a spherical extension,

a spherical bearing sized and dimensioned to mateably receive a portion of the spherical extension,

wherein one of the spherical extension and the spherical bearing is connected to the connector,

wherein the other of the spherical extension and the spherical bearing is connected to the output display, and

wherein the spherical extension and the spherical bearing provide a pivotal connection;

a compression ring that circumscribes the spherical extension;

a threaded collar that circumscribes the spherical extension; and

a threaded ring that circumscribes the spherical extension and is threaded onto the threaded collar, the threaded ring adjustable to bear against the compression ring to provide adjustable frictional engagement between the spherical extension and the spherical bearing.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein an axis of each of the compression ring, the threaded collar, and the threaded ring is aligned with an axis of the spherical extension.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising a cable that passes through the spherical extension to the output display, wherein the cable is adapted to provide at least one of signal and power to the output display.