Eyeglasses with electronic components

• US 8,473,004 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Warren, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J
• Application Number:
  US13/220,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20110310345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/41.2, 455/344, 455/575.6, 351/41, 351/111, 351/123, 351/118, 351/119, 351/158
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 20/00 Wristbands or headbands, e.g. for absorbing sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/245 Means for mounting audio or communication systems
• 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: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A microphone, transmitter, speaker, receiver, and power source, all mounted to an eyeglasses frame, for sending and receiving signals wirelessly to and from a remote cell phone or other electronic device. The microphone and the transmitter can be mounted to extension arms that can be extended, pivoted, or otherwise moved to a position for use, and then moved to a stored position when not in use. Alternatively, the microphone, transmitter, speaker, receiver, and power source, can be mounted onto a clip-on or other attachment member that mounts onto a conventional eyeglasses frame, or to a hat or other article worn on the head.

Claims

1. An electronically enabled eyewear, comprising:

an eyeglass frame, comprising;

a lens holder configured to support at least one lens in a line of sight of a wearer when a wearer wears the eyeglass frame;

a first support arm extending rearwardly from a forward portion of the frame; and

a second support arm extending rearwardly from the forward portion of the eyeglass frame;

an electronic component coupled to the eyeglass frame, the electronic component configured to enable communication with the wearer when the eyeglass frame is worn; and

an extension arm attached to the eyeglass frame, the extension arm comprising a first end region and a second end region,

wherein the extension arm is attached to the eyeglass frame at a pivot located at the first end region,

wherein the extension arm is attached to the electronic component at the second end region, and

wherein the extension arm is configured to rotate about the pivot from a first position in which the extension arm is in contact along its length with a longitudinal axis of the first support arm to a second position in which the extension arm is inclined at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first support arm.

2. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 1, wherein the electronic component comprises a microphone, the microphone being positionable with the extension arm at a position near a mouth of the wearer when the wearer wears the eyeglass frame.

3. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 1, wherein the extension arm is configured to retract into the eyeglass frame.

4. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 1, wherein the extension arm is attached to the first support arm at the first end region.

5. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 1, wherein the extension arm comprises a telescoping arm.

6. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter supported by the frame and configured to transmit signals to a wireless device.

7. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver supported by the frame and configured to receive signals from a wireless device.

8. The eyeglass for audio communication of claim 1, wherein the electronic component comprises a speaker.

9. The eyeglass for audio communication of claim 8, wherein the speaker is pivotably attached to the extension arm.

10. The eyeglass for audio communication of claim 8, wherein the extension arm comprises a plurality of segments.

11. An electronically enabled eyewear, comprising:

an eyeglass frame comprising;

a lens holder configured to support at least one lens in a line of sight of a wearer when a wearer wears the eyeglass frame;

a first support arm extending rearwardly from a forward portion of the frame; and

a second support arm extending rearwardly from the forward portion of the eyeglass frame;

an electronic component coupled to the eyeglass frame, the electronic component configured to enable communication with the wearer when the eyeglass frame is worn; and

a movable extension arm attached to the eyeglass frame, the movable extension arm comprising first and second end regions,

wherein the movable extension arm is attached to the eyeglass frame at the first end region,

wherein the movable extension arm is attached to the electronic component at the second end region, and

wherein the movable extension arm is configured to rotate in a lateral direction away from the eyeglass frame from a first position in which an outside surface along a length of the movable extension arm contacts the eyeglass frame.

12. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 11, wherein the electronic component comprises a microphone, the microphone being positionable with the movable extension arm at a position near a mouth of the wearer when the wearer wears the eyeglass frame.

13. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 11, wherein the movable extension arm is configured to retract into the eyeglass frame.

14. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 11, wherein the movable extension arm is attached to the lens holder at the first end region.

15. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 11, wherein the movable extension arm comprises a telescoping arm.

16. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 11, further comprising a wireless transmitter supported by the frame and configured to transmit signals to a wireless device.

17. The electronically enabled eyewear of claim 11, further comprising a wireless receiver supported by the frame and configured to receive signals from a wireless device.

18. The eyeglass for audio communication of claim 11, wherein the electronic component comprises a speaker.

19. The eyeglass for audio communication of claim 18, wherein the speaker is pivotably attached to the movable extension arm.

20. The eyeglass for audio communication of claim 18, wherein the movable extension arm comprises a plurality of segments.