APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ALTERING THE APPEARANCE OF WEARABLE DEVICES

• US 20160212515A1
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taction Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taction Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Biggs, Silmon James
• Granted Patent: US 9,936,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/28 Transducer mountings or enclosures modified by provision of mechanical or acoustic impedances, e.g. resonator, damping means combinations of transducers with horns, i.e. front-loaded horns H04R1/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2420/01 Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for altering the appearance of wearable device are disclosed. The apparatus may statically or dynamically alter the appearance of the wearable.

Claims

7. A wearable device, comprising:

an ear cup housing;

a cover; and

a mechanical coupling for removably attaching the cover to the ear cup housing, the mechanical coupling comprising at least one of;

a snap fit coupling comprising;

a twist-lock fit coupling;

a screw-on coupling, comprising complementary helical threads provided on each of the ear cup housing and the cover;

metal snaps;

a hook and loop fastener; and

one or more magnets.

1. A wearable device, comprising:

an ear cup; and

one or more visual features that displays a representation of one of an intensity of sound in the ear cup and a vibration of the ear cup;

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the one or more visual features comprise a mass-spring system that amplifies motion of the ear cup.

3. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the mass-spring system comprises:

at least one flexure mechanically coupled to the ear cup housing; and

at least one mass suspended from each of the at least one flexure.

4. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein spring constants of the at least one flexure are chosen to establish resonant one or more resonant frequencies of the mass-spring system in the 15-200 Hz range.

5. The wearable device of claim 3, the mass-spring system further comprising:

a base member from which the flexures are suspended; and

a vibration indicator movably coupled to the base member for displaying the amplified motion of the ear cup.

6. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the at least one mass comprises at least one of:

a plate with optical features that amplify the movement of the ear cup;

a transparent oscillating plate with Moiré

patterns and a second plate fixed to ear cup;

an oscillating plate with lenticular printing; and

an oscillating plate with diffraction pattern producing varying colors.

8. The wearable device of claim 7, the cover comprising:

a pocket for receiving a decorative image.

9. The wearable device of claim 7, the ear cup comprising:

at least one electrical contact, each of the at least one electrical contact providing at least one of power and an electrical signal to complementary electrical contacts on the cover.

10. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein the with

10-1. The wearable device of claim 9, the cover comprising:

a gauge coupled to the complementary electrical contacts that indicates headphone power and or ear cup motion.

11. A wearable device, comprising:

an ear cup; and

at least one digital display provided on a surface of the ear cup.

12. The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the digital display comprises at least one of an LED, LCD, OLED, Plasma, Electrophoretic Ink display.

13. The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the display is be powered by the same power supply that drives the headphones.

14. The wearable device of claim 11, further comprising:

a transceiver, wherein the digital display is configured to be programmed via a communications path established between the transceiver and a computing device.