Eyewear supporting electrical components and apparatus therefor

• US 20090296044A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: C. Douglass Thomas, David Chao, Peter P. Tong, Thomas A. Howell
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass, Chao, David, Howell, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/158
• 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 2200/08 Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/143 having special ear pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Claims

1. Eyewear, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least first and second extended endpieces, and first and second temples, one of the first and second temples being provided on each side of said eyeglass frame, the first and second temples each having a forward end and a rearward end; and

a first electronic system partially or fully embedded in the first extended endpiece.

2. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein, the first extended end piece has a cavity for receiving a module, the module including at least the first electronic system and an output device.

3. Eyewear as recited in claim 2, wherein the module is provided in and attached to the cavity.

4. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said first electronic system comprises at least one integrated circuit device, and a display device and/or a user input device.

5. Eyewear as recited in claim 4, wherein, within the first extended endpiece has a cavity for receiving the first electronic system.

6. Eyewear as recited in claim 1,

wherein the forward end of the first temple couples to the first extended endpiece by a hinge, the hinge allows the first temple to pivot with respect to the first extended endpiece, and

wherein the hinge is set back from the first lens holder by the first extended endpiece.

7. Eyewear as recited in claim 6, wherein the hinge is set back from the first lens holder by about 1-5 centimeters.

8. Eyewear as recited in claim 1,

wherein said first electronic system comprises an integrated circuit, and

wherein the integrated circuit is mounted on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being embedded in the first extended endpiece.

9. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyeglass frame includes first and second lens holders and a bridge region connecting the first and second lens holders, and wherein said eyeglass frame further comprises an additional electronic device embedded in at least one of the first and second lens holders or the bridge region.

10. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyeglass frame further comprises an additional electronic device partially or fully embedded in said eyeglass frame.

11. Eyewear as recited in claim 10, wherein a wire interconnects the first electronic system to the additional electronic device, and

wherein a portion of the wire is internal to the at least one of the first and second lens holders.

12. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic system comprises one or more of a data storage device, a sun sensor, a pedometer, a wireless transceiver, a hearing enhancement device and a media player.

13. Eyewear as recited in claim 1, wherein said eyeglass frame further comprises an additional electronic device partially or fully embedded in the forward part of the first temple.

14. A method for providing removable temple parts for use with a pair of glasses, said method comprising:

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

coupling the selected at least one removable temple part to a corresponding part of at least one of the corresponding temples of a pair of glasses after the customer has selected the at least one temple part; and

providing the pair of glasses with the selected at least one removable temple part to the customer.

15. An apparatus for displaying eyewear products, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of connectors configured to receive corresponding connectors provided with the eyewear products to be displayed,

whereby the eyewear products can be coupled to said apparatus by way of the connectors.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the eyewear products include at least temple parts.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein at least a plurality of the eyewear products are temple parts, each temple part having at least one electrical component embedded therein, and

wherein the temple parts can couple to said apparatus by way of the connectors.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17,

wherein at least one of the electrical connectors is connected to an electrical component in said apparatus, and

wherein when a temple part is connected to the at least one of the electrical connectors, the electrical component in said apparatus is connected to the electrical component in the temple part to perform an electrical operation.