Eyewear supporting after-market electrical components

• US 20050264752A1
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass, Chao, David, Howell, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/41
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/001 specially adapted for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for or not fully classifiable according to technical characteristics, e.g. therapeutic glasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/14 Side-members

Abstract

Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere.

Claims

1. A pair of glasses comprising:

a first lens holder for receiving a first lens, the first lens holder having a first side and a second side;

a second lens holder for receiving a second lens, the second lens holder having a first side and a second side;

a bridge element coupling the first side of the first lens holder to the second side of the second lens holder;

a first temple having a first end and a second end, with the first end pivotally secured to the second side of the first lens holder through a first joint, and with the second end having a first temple arrangement;

a second temple having a first end and a second end, with the first end pivotally secured to the first side of the second lens holder through a second joint, and with the second end having a second temple arrangement; and

an electrical component at least partially embedded in one of the temple arrangements.

2. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, further comprising another electrical component physically separated from the first and second temple arrangements and operatively interconnected with the electrical component.

3. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical component is selected from the group of:

an electrical connector, an electrical switch, a power source, a speaker, a frequency receiver, a frequency transmitter, a RFID tag, a sensor and a hearing enhancement device.

4. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein the electrical component is a sensor, and

wherein the sensor is selected from the group of:

a motion detector, a pressure detector, a radiation detector and a temperature sensor.

5. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the temple arrangement having the electrical component is designed so that it can be removed and re-attached from the corresponding temple by a person wearing said pair of glasses.

6. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical component interacts with another electrical component at least partially embedded in or tethered to the glasses.

10. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 6 wherein the electrical component is selected from the group of:

an electrical connector, an electrical switch, a power source, a speaker, a frequency receiver, a frequency transmitter, a RFID tag, a hearing enhancement device and a sensor.

7. A pair of glasses comprising:

a first lens holder for receiving a first lens, the first lens holder having a first side and a second side;

a second lens holder for receiving a second lens, the second lens holder having a first side and a second side;

a bridge element coupling the first side of the first lens holder to the second side of the second lens holder;

a first temple having a first end and a second end, with the first end pivotally secured to the second side of the first lens holder through a first joint;

a first temple adapter coupled to the first temple, the first temple adapter including at least a first electrical component; and

a second temple having a first end and a second end, with the first end pivotally secured to the first side of the second lens holder through a second joint.

8. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 7, wherein the first electrical component is at least partially embedded in the first temple adapter.

9. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 8, wherein said pair of glasses further comprises:

a second temple adapter coupled to the second temple, the second temple adapter including at least a second electrical component, and the second electrical component being at least partially embedded in the second temple adapter.

11. A temple adapter, comprising:

a support arm having a first end and a second end;

an attachment member connected to a first end of said support arm; and

at least one electrical component provided proximate to the second end of said support arm.

12. A temple adapter as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one electrical component is a speaker.

13. A temple adapter as recited in claim 12, wherein said temple adapter further comprising an ear bud positioned proximate to the second end of said support arm.

14. A temple adapter as recited in claim 13, wherein said ear bud includes said speaker.

15. A temple adapter as recited in claim 13, wherein said ear bud operatively couples to said speaker by a tube.

16. A temple adapter as recited in claim 11,

wherein said at least one electrical component includes at least a speaker, and

wherein said temple adapter further comprises:

a microphone; and

a cord including at least one wire for providing audio signals to said speaker and at least one wire for carrying audio pickup signals from said microphone.

17. A temple adapter as recited in claim 11, wherein said temple adapter attaches to a pair of eyeglasses, and

wherein said attachment member attaches to a temple of the pair of eyeglasses.

18. A temple adapter as recited in claim 11, wherein said temple adapter further comprises a connector.

19. A temple adapter as recited in claim 18, wherein said temple adapter attaches to a pair of eyeglasses having a pair of temples, and

wherein said connector is placed proximate to an end of at least one of the temples.

20. A method for providing temple arrangements and/or temple adapters for use with a pair of glasses, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of temple arrangements or temple adapters for a customer to select at least one temple arrangement or temple adapter, with each of the temple arrangements or temple adapters having one or more electrical components at least partially embedded therein, and with at least certain of the temple arrangements or temple adapters providing different electrical capabilities;

coupling the selected at least one temple arrangement or temple adapter to at least one of the corresponding temples of a pair of glasses after the customer has selected the at least one temple arrangement or temple adapter; and

providing the pair of glasses with the selected at least one temple arrangement or temple adapter to the customer.