CONNECTORS FOR ATTACHING ONE OR MORE WEARABLE DEVICES TO EYEWEAR

• US 20180042369A1
• Filed: 08/09/2017
• Published: 02/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Dannhardt, Walter, Clompus, Richard, Kokonaski, William, Fehr, Jean-Noel, Bauer, Stefan, Gupta, Amitava
• Application Number:
  US15/672,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20180042369A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 13/0005 characterised by their material A44B13/0052 and A44B13/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0533 Cameras, e.g. reflex, digital, video camera
• 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: F16B 2/22 of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material F16B2/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/02 Ornaments, e.g. exchangeable
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means

Abstract

A connector assembly comprising a base having an adapter and a retainer, the adapter configured to reversibly couple to a wearable device using a magnet, ferromagnetic material, or combinations thereof; an elastic member partially positioned within the retainer, the elastic member having a first loop portion adjacent a first end of the retainer and a second loop portion adjacent a second end of the retainer; and wherein the elastic member is configured to stretchably move with respect to the base such that, responsive to a force pulling the first loop portion over a portion of an eyewear frame, the second loop portion changes in size.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a base having an adapter and a retainer, the adapter configured to reversibly couple to a wearable device using a magnet, ferromagnetic material, or combinations thereof;

an elastic member partially positioned within the retainer, the elastic member having a first loop portion adjacent a first end of the retainer and a second loop portion adjacent a second end of the retainer; and

wherein the elastic member is configured to stretchably move with respect to the base such that, responsive to a force pulling the first loop portion over a portion of an eyewear frame, the second loop portion changes in size.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein a feature incorporated within the connector assembly for preventing the elastic member from being pulled completely out of the retainer when stretching one loop of the elastic member over a portion of an eyewear frame

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereby the wearable device is electronic.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereby the wearable device is one of a name tag, sign, display, reflector, augmented reality device, virtual reality device, mixed reality device, light, laser, vibrator, buzzer, speaker, camera, image capture device, IR detector, radiation detector, activity tracker, Bluetooth, WiFi, transceiver, communication component, computer, display, fitness tracker, flash, image sensor, microphone, sensor, watch, accelerometer, tilt switch, acoustic sensor, air pressure sensor, air quality sensor, altimeter, bio sensor, CO sensor, CO2 sensor, electro-mechanical sensor, an EMG sensor, GPS sensor, gyroscope;

humidity sensor, infrared sensor, light sensor, mechanical sensor, micro-gyroscope, odor sensor, oxygen sensor, pedometer, pressure sensor, pulse rate sensor, radiation sensor, spectrometer, sweat sensor, temperature sensor, tilt switch, UV sensor, a sensor capable of measuring a base solution, neutral solution, or acidic solution, or combinations thereof.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereby the connector assembly is capable of sliding forward and backward along a length of the portion of the eyewear frame.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter has a cavity configured to reversibly couple with a male feature of the wearable device;

wherein the cavity has a length configured to allow for the male feature of the wearable device to slide forward and backward within the cavity; and

wherein the cavity has a width that is 2 mm or less wider than a width of the male feature of the wearable device.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the length of the cavity is 2 mm or less longer than a length of the male feature of the wearable device.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereby the connector assembly is configured to reversibly couple to a plurality of different shaped eyewear.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereby the connector assembly is configured to reversibly couple to a plurality of different sized eyewear

10. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereby the elastic member is of a round shape when not positioned within the base.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereby the elastic member has one tab.

12. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereby a cross-section of a core of the elastic member is oval or round shaped.

13. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein in a first position the first loop portion is larger than the second loop portion, and the second loop portion contacts the second end of the retainer;

wherein in a second position the second loop portion is larger than the first loop portion, and the first loop portion is configured to reversibly couple to the portion of the eyewear frame;

wherein in a third position the first loop portion and the second loop portion are configured to reversibly couple to the portion of the eyewear frame; and

the elastic member is configured to stretchably move with respect to the base when transitioned from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the third position.

14. The assembly of claim 1, the retainer further comprising an upper chamber generally parallel to a lower chamber and the elastic member stretchably moves within the upper chamber and the lower chamber when transitioned from the first position to the second position and the second position to the third position.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the upper chamber and the lower chamber extend between the first end and the second end of the retainer.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the retainer further comprises a barrier that separates the upper chamber and the lower chamber between the first end and the second end.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the upper chamber and the lower chamber each have a circular cross section.

18. The assembly of claim 1, the elastic member further comprising a first tab adjacent the first loop portion and a second tab adjacent the second loop portion.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the third positon, the first tab and the second tab are generally normal to the upper chamber and the lower chamber.

20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the third positon, the first tab and the second tab are generally parallel to the upper chamber and the lower chamber.

21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the first tab, the second tab, or both comprise a size indicator.

22. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises a nano-material, plastic, rubber material, or combinations thereof

23. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the eyewear frame is an eyewear temple.

24. The assembly of claim 1, the adapter further comprising a lateral surface and an aperture formed in the lateral surface, a magnetic member, and a cavity formed within the adapter extending from the aperture to the magnetic member, the adapter configured to reversibly couple the assembly to the electronic wearable device.

25. The assembly of claim 24, further comprising a visible display member having a visible member and a protrusion extending from the visible member in a medial direction, the protrusion complementary shaped to the cavity of the adapter and positioned within the cavity of the adapter.

26. The connector assembly of claim 25, wherein the protrusion of the visible display member is a ferromagnetic material.

27. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the adapter is formed from an at least partial overmold of the magnetic member.

28. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic wearable device comprises an image capture device, light, camera, sensor, UV sensor, alert device, pedometer, communication device, audio device, or combinations thereof.

29. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is oval shaped when not positioned within the base.

30. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising multiple elastic members.

31. A method of installing a universal connector on eyewear comprising:

manipulating a first loop of an elastic member of a universal connector about a portion of eyewear;

manipulating a second loop of the elastic member about the portion of eyewear; and

positioning the universal connector on the eyewear.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein manipulating the first loop further comprises:

grasping the first loop of the elastic member; and

pulling the first loop in an anterior direction and adjusting a position of the elastic member with respect to the universal connector.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein manipulating the first loop further comprises stretching the first loop in the anterior direction and tightening the second loop of the elastic member about a posterior end of the universal connector.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein manipulating the second loop further comprises:

releasing the first loop;

grasping the second loop of the elastic member;

pulling the second loop in a posterior direction and adjusting the position of the elastic member with respect to the universal connector; and

stretching the second loop in the posterior direction and tightening the first loop about the portion of eyewear.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein positioning the universal connector comprises releasing the second loop and tightening the second loop about the portion of eyewear.

36. A universal connector kit for eyewear comprising:

a retainer configured to retain a portion of an elastic member in an assembled position;

an adapter configured to reversibly couple to an electronic wearable device and configured to reversibly couple with the retainer in the assembled position;

at least three elastic members having different lengths;

wherein in the assembled position, each of the at least three elastic members form two loops configured to be positioned about the temple of an eyewear.

37. The kit of claim 36, further comprising a visible display member configured to reversibly couple with the adapter.