Mounting device couplable to a human head

• US 9,503,555 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Tricoukes, Nicole, Riechel, Patrick, Roslak, Tom, Schlieffers, Jorg
• Primary Examiner(s): SKURDAL, COREY NELSON
• Application Number:
  US12/603,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20110089207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,589 Days
• Field of Search: 224/181, 220/913, 345/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast

Abstract

A clamping apparatus for a head-mounted display device is provided. The clamping apparatus comprises a pivot portion at a rear of the clamping apparatus, the pivot portion adapted to rotate in a rotation plane, a first side portion coupled to and extending in a forward direction from the pivot portion, a second side portion coupled to and extending in the forward direction from the pivot portion, wherein the pivot portion is adapted to adjust the first and second side portions through the rotation plane to a first position and maintain the first position until later adjusted, and a display device assembly coupled to the first side portion, the display device assembly extending in the forward direction from the first side portion.

Claims

1. A clamping apparatus for a head-mounted display device, the clamping apparatus comprising:

a pivot portion comprising a continuous surface having a first end, a second end, and a pivot point at a rear of the clamping apparatus, the pivot portion configured to rotate around the pivot point in a vertical plane;

a first side portion coupled to the first end of the continuous surface of the pivot portion and extending in a forward direction from the pivot portion;

a second side portion coupled to the second end of the continuous surface of the pivot portion and extending in the forward direction from the pivot portion, wherein the pivot portion is configured to rotate the first and second side portions relative to each other around the pivot point through the vertical plane to provide a clamping force to adjust a position of the first side portion and the second side portion from a first position to a second position, and wherein the pivot portion has a predetermined stiffness to retain the first and second side portions in the first portion and in the second position; and

a display device assembly coupled to the first side portion, the display device assembly extending in the forward direction from the first side portion.

2. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device assembly comprises a forward projection member and an optical display, the forward projection member coupling the optical display to the first side portion.

3. The clamping apparatus of claim 2, wherein the forward projection member is configured to adjust a position of the optical display relative to the first side portion.

4. The clamping apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second side portions comprises a processing device configured to control the optical display to produce a visual image.

5. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further wherein a support member is coupled to the first side portion and the second side portion such that the support member is positioned across a top of a head of a user wearing the head mounted display, and the support member comprises a stabilization strap coupled to the first and second side portions.

6. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pivot portion comprises a hinge member configured to rest at a rear of a user'"'"'s head and the first and second side portions are adapted to contact the rear of the user'"'"'s head.

7. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side portion comprises a forward extension member configured to extend forward from the first side portion and to extend above an ear of a user.

8. The clamping apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first side portion further comprises an audio device coupled to the forward extension member, the audio device configured to be positioned adjacent to the ear of the user.

9. A hand mounted wearable computing apparatus comprising:

a hinge member comprising a continuous surface having a first end, a second end, and a pivot point;

a first gripping member coupled to the first end of the continuous surface of the hinge member and extending forward from the hinge member, and comprising a processing device;

a second gripping member coupled to the second end of the continuous surface of the hinge member and extending forward from the hinge member, the hinge member configured to rotate the first and second gripping members relative to each other around the pivot point through a vertical plane to provide a clamping force to adjust a position of the first gripping member and the second gripping member from a first position to a second position and, the hinge member having a predetermined stiffness to retain the first gripping member and the second gripping member in the first position and in the second position.

10. The head mounted wearable computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clamping force is about eight pounds.

11. The head mounted wearable computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein a support member is coupled to the first gripping member and the second gripping member such that the support member is positioned across a top of a head of a user wearing the head mounted wearable computing apparatus, and the support member comprises a support strap coupled to the first and second gripping members.

12. The head mounted wearable computing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a wireless antenna coupled to the processing device.

13. The head mounted wearable computing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a display assembly, the display assembly comprising:

a positioning member coupled to the first gripping member and extending forward from the first gripping member; and

a display device coupled to the positioning member, the display device adapted to display a visual image to a user.

14. The head mounted wearable computing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the positioning member comprises a flexible member adapted to adjust a position of the display device relative to the first gripping member.

15. The head mounted wearable computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first gripping member comprises a high-friction surface.

16. The head mounted wearable computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wearable computing apparatus is configured to rest against a user'"'"'s head below a rear portion of a safety hat worn on the user'"'"'s head.

17. A head-mounting apparatus comprising:

a first side portion having a first front end and a first rear end, the first front end positioned in a forward direction from the first rear end;

a second side portion having a second front end and a second rear end, the second front end positioned in the forward direction from the second rear end; and

a pivot member comprising a continuous surface including a pivot point having a nominal stiffness, the pivot member coupled to the first rear end and the second rear end and configured to provide a clamping force for adjusting a position of the first side portion and the second side portion by rotating the first side portion and the second side portion relative to each other around the pivot point about a vertical axis to adjust a position of the first side portion and the second side portion from a first position to a second position, and wherein the pivot member has a predetermined stiffness to retain the first side portion and the second side portion in the first position and in the second position.

18. The head-mounted display apparatus of claim 17, wherein a support member is coupled to the first side portion and second side portion such that the support member is positioned across a top of a head of a user wearing the head mounted apparatus, and wherein the support member comprises a support strap coupled to the first and second side portions.

19. The head-mounted display apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a display screen coupled to the first front.