Eyewear supporting after-market electrical components

• US 7,581,833 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Howell, Thomas A., Chao, David, Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US11/580,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20070046887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/111, 351/121, 351/158, 381/309, 381/310, 381/327, 381/330, 381/381, 381/FOR.135, 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.6
• US Class Current: 351/121
• 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

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.

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 secured to the second side of the first lens holder; and

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

wherein the first temple is a multi-part temple having a first part and a second part, with the first part closer to the corresponding lens holder than the second part, the second part of the first temple being removably coupled to the first part of the first temple,

wherein at least one electrical component is at least partially embedded in the second part of the first temple, and

wherein at least one other electrical component is at least partially embedded in the first part of the first temple and operatively interconnected with the electrical component that is at least partially embedded in the second part of the first temple to perform an electrical function.

2. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the first part of the first temple includes a plurality of the other electrical components that are operatively Interconnected with the electrical component that is at least partially embedded in the second part of the first temple.

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

a data storage device, a battery, a sensor, a pedometer, a hearing enhancement device and a media player.

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 second part of the first temple is designed so that it can be removed or attached to the first part of the first temple by a wearer of said pair of glasses.

6. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical component comprises an electronic device, and wherein the other electrical component comprises an electronic device.

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

wherein the pair of glasses further comprises a connector, the connector supporting mechanical and electrical coupling between the first part and the second part of the first temple, and

wherein the second part of me first temple is configured to be removably coupled to the first part of the first temple using the connector.

8. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 7, wherein when the second part of the first temple is removably coupled to the first part of the first temple using the connector, the other electrical component at least partially embedded in the first part of the first temple is electrically interconnected with the electrical component that is at least partially embedded in the second part of the first temple.

9. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 8, wherein the connector is a USB connector.

10. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 7, wherein the connector is integral with the second part of the first temple, and a counterpart connector is integral with the first part of the first temple.

11. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the second part of the first temple comprises:

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 attached electrical component provided proximate to the second end of said support arm.

12. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one attached electrical component is a speaker.

13. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 12, wherein the second part of the first temple further comprises an ear bud positioned proximate to the second end of said support arm.

14. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said pair of glasses further comprises:

a first hinge pivotally coupling the first part of the first temple to the first lens ho1der; and

a second hinge pivotally coupling the second temple to the second lens holder,

wherein a first end of the first part of the first temple couples to but does not include the first hinge, and a second end of the first part of the first temple couples to the second part of the first temple.

15. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 14, wherein both the first part and the second pert of the first temple are both positioned before the first hinge.

16. An eyeglass frame, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having at least first and second temples, one on each side of the eyeglass frame, the first temple having a forward part that removably couples to a rearward part; and

a first electronic device partially or fully embedded in the rearward part of the first temple,

wherein said eyeglass frame further comprises a second electronic device partially or fully embedded in the forward part of the first temple,

wherein the rearward part and the forward part of the first temple are interconnected by a connector, and

wherein, when the rearward part and the forward part of the first temple are interconnected, the first electronic device and the second electronic device are electrically interconnected by way of the connector.

17. An eyeglass frame as recited in claim 16, wherein the first electronic device is selected from the group of:

a data storage device, a sun sensor, a pedometer, a hearing enhancement device and a media player.

18. An eyeglass frame as recited in claim 16, wherein the connector is a USB connector.

19. An eyeglass frame as recited in claim 16, wherein, when the rearward part and the forward part of the first temple are interconnected, the first electronic device and the second electronic device are electrically interconnected and cooperate to provide a consumer electronic device with the eyeglass frame.