CONNECTORS FOR ATTACHING ONE OR MORE WEARABLE DEVICES TO EYEWEAR

• US 20180116384A1
• Filed: 12/15/2017
• Published: 05/03/2018
• 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:
  US15/843,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20180116384A1
• 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 configured for attaching an item to eyewear may include a base having an adapter and a retainer, the adapter configured to detachably couple the base to the item using a magnet, ferromagnetic material, or a combination thereof, and an elastic member coupled to the retainer, the elastic member including a first loop portion adjacent a first end of the retainer, a second loop portion adjacent a second end of the retainer, and a tab connected to least one of the first loop portion and the second loop portion.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a base including an adapter and a retainer, wherein the adapter is configured to detachably couple the base to an item using a magnet, ferromagnetic material, or a combination thereof,

an elastic member coupled to the retainer, the elastic member comprising a first loop portion adjacent a first end of the retainer, a second loop portion adjacent a second end of the retainer, and a tab connected to least one of the first loop portion and the second loop portion; and

wherein the connector assembly is configured for attaching the item to eyewear.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is movably connected to the base such that, responsive to a force pulling the first loop portion, the second loop portion changes in size.

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

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is removably coupled to the retainer.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is round-shaped when detached from the base.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is oval-shaped when detached from the base.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is movably received within a cavity defined by the retainer.

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

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereby the tab extends away from an aperture of the elastic member.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the tab is a first tab, the elastic member comprising a second tab.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the first tab, the second tab, or both comprise a size indicator.

12. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the tab is a first tab connected to the first loop portion, the elastic member further comprising a second tab connected to the second loop portion, and wherein the first and second tabs are configured to extend in a direction parallel to a length of the base when the connector assembly is coupled to the portion of the eyewear frame.

13. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the tab is a first tab connected to the first loop portion, the elastic member further comprising a second tab connected to the second loop portion, and wherein the first and second tabs are configured to extend in a direction normal to a length of the base when the connector assembly is coupled to the portion of the eyewear frame.

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

15. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnet, ferromagnetic material, or the combination thereof is arranged within a cavity of the adapter.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the adapter defines a cavity configured to receive a male feature of the item, wherein the cavity is configured to allow the male feature to be positioned in any of a plurality of positions along a length of the cavity and to restrict movement of the male feature along a width of the cavity.

17. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein a first magnetic material is located within a cavity defined by the adapter, and a second magnetic material is located on or within a base of the item, and wherein the item is configured to magnetically attach to the first magnetic material.

18. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to magnetically attract a male feature of the item, the male feature comprising a magnetic member or a ferromagnetic material.

19. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter is formed from a plastic material at least partially overmolded.

20. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector assembly is configured to detachably couple to a plurality of differently shaped eyewear.

21. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector assembly is configured to detachably couple to a plurality of differently sized eyewear.

22. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion, each configured to receive a respective first and second portion of the elastic member at least partially and movably therein.

23. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion are parallel to one another.

24. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion each define a channel.

25. The connector assembly of claim 24, wherein the channels extend between opposite ends of the retainer.

26. The connector assembly of claim 24, wherein the channels have a circular cross-section.

27. A connector assembly kit including the connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a first elastic member removably coupled to the retainer, the connector assembly kit further comprising a second elastic member having a different size than the first elastic member, the second elastic member configured to removably couple to the base for use in place of the first elastic member.

28. A connector assembly system including the connector assembly of claim 1 and the item.

29. The connector assembly system of claim 28, wherein the item is an electronic wearable device.

30. The connector assembly system of claim 28, wherein the item is one of a name tag, a sign, a display, a reflector, an augmented reality device, a virtual reality device, a mixed reality device, a light, a laser, a vibrator, a buzzer, a speaker, a camera, an image capture device, an IR detector, a radiation detector, an activity tracker, a Bluetooth module, a WiFi module, a transceiver, a communication device, a computer, a display, a fitness tracker, a flash, an image sensor, a microphone, a watch, an accelerometer, a tilt switch, a micro-gyroscope, a pedometer, an alert device, an audio device, a sensor an acoustic sensor, an air pressure sensor, an air quality sensor, an altimeter, a bio sensor, a CO sensor, a CO₂ sensor, an electro-mechanical sensor, an EMG sensor, a GPS sensor, a gyroscope, a humidity sensor, an infrared sensor, a light sensor, a mechanical sensor, an odor sensor, an oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, a pulse rate sensor, a radiation sensor, a spectrometer, sweat sensor, a temperature sensor, a UV sensor, a sensor capable of measuring a base solution, a neutral solution, or an acidic solution, or a combination thereof.