Systems and methods for removably coupling an electronic device to eyewear

• US 9,864,211 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2013
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Belbey, Jason, Moritz, Hans Karsten, Kim, Myong
• Primary Examiner(s): Lei, Jie
• Application Number:
  US13/767,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20130250232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 359 13, 359407, 359632, 351158, 351123, 35116901, 3511597, 35115973, 35115939, 351178, 2 61- 65, 2 13, 2422, 2426, 2444, 2448, 2450-452
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 Illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/02 Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/12 Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems and methods for removably coupling an electronic device to eyewear. In one aspect, an eyeglass is provided. The eyeglass includes an eyeglass frame adapted to be carried by a head of a wearer, at least a first lens, and at least a first lens support portion of the eyeglass frame configured to position the at least first lens in a path of a field of view of a wearer. The eyeglass further includes an attachment device that comprises a first connector and a second connector, where the first connector removably couples the attachment device to the eyeglass frame, and an electronic device, where the second connector removably couples the electronic device to the attachment device.

Claims

1. A dual attachment member configured to removably couple an electronic device to an eyewear having electronics, the eyewear configured to receive data from the electronic device, the dual attachment member comprising:

an attachment device configured to support the electronic device on the eyewear, the attachment device comprising;

a first connector configured to removably couple the attachment device to the eyewear, the first connector comprising an interlocking member configured to hold the first connector in place relative to the eyewear, the interlocking member comprising a first protrusion configured to be inserted into a cavity of the eyewear; and

a second connector configured to removably couple the attachment device to the electronic device, the second connector configured to inhibit rotation of the electronic device relative to the second connector;

wherein the attachment device coupled to the eyewear and the electronic device is configured to provide a data connection between the electronic device and the eyewear such that the electronic device can transmit data to the eyewear and the eyewear can receive data from the electronic device via the attachment device.

2. The combination of the dual attachment member of claim 1 and the eyewear.

3. The combination of the dual attachment member of claim 1 and the electronic device.

4. The dual attachment member of claim 1, wherein the attachment device further comprises circuitry extending between the first connector and the second connector.

5. The dual attachment member of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a remote device.

6. The dual attachment member of claim 1, wherein the eyewear comprises an audio device.

7. The dual attachment member of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an audio-video module.

8. The dual attachment member of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion is a tab configured to be inserted into the cavity of the eyewear.

9. The dual attachment member of claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises a keyed feature for coupling with a correspondingly keyed feature on the electronic device, wherein the keyed feature is configured to inhibit rotation of the electronic device relative to the second connector.

10. The dual attachment member of claim 9, wherein the attachment device further comprises a first portion and a second portion rotatably coupled via a hinge, the first portion comprising the interlocking member and the second portion comprising the keyed feature.

11. The dual attachment member of claim 1, wherein the interlocking member is non-circular.

12. A dual attachment member configured to removably couple an electronic device to a headwear apparatus, the headwear apparatus having one or more interlocking structures sized and shaped to interface with at least a portion of the dual attachment member, at least one of the interlocking structures comprising a cavity configured to receive a portion of the dual attachment member, the dual attachment member comprising:

an attachment device comprising a first connector configured to removably couple the attachment device to the headwear apparatus and a second connector configured to removably couple the attachment device to the electronic device, the first connector comprising;

a first plate configured to contact an inner surface of the headwear apparatus when the attachment device is removably coupled to the headwear apparatus, the first plate comprising one or more interlocking members, wherein;

the one or more interlocking members are configured to interface with the one or more interlocking structures of the headwear apparatus when the attachment device is attached to the headwear apparatus such that the attachment device is positioned at a pre-defined location on the headwear apparatus upon coupling the attachment device to the headwear apparatus; and

the one or more interlocking members comprise at least one protrusion configured to inhibit rotation of the first connector about an axis of rotation generally orthogonal to the inner surface, the protrusion being positioned on at least one of an anterior and a posterior end of the first plate; and

a second plate configured to contact an outer surface of the headwear apparatus when the attachment device is removably coupled to the headwear apparatus, the second plate comprising the second connector;

wherein a first end of the first plate is coupled to a first end of the second plate;

wherein the electronic device points in a pre-defined direction that is generally aligned with the path of the field of view of the wearer upon coupling the attachment device to the headwear apparatus and the electronic device.

13. The combination of the dual attachment member of claim 12 and the headwear apparatus.

14. The combination of the dual attachment member of claim 12 and the electronic device.

15. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein the electronic device is configured to capture images in the line of sight of the wearer.

16. The dual attachment member of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is a camera comprising a battery, memory, and a microphone.

17. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein the attachment device is configured to provide at least one of an electrical connection or a data connection between the electronic device and the headwear apparatus.

18. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein a second end of the first plate is removably coupled to a second end of the second plate.

19. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein the second connector comprises a magnet.

20. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein the attachment device comprises a hinge, wherein the first end of the first plate is coupled to the first end of the second plate via the hinge.

21. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein the protrusion comprises a first lip configured to contact a third surface of the headwear apparatus and a second lip configured to contact a fourth surface of the headwear apparatus when the attachment device is removably coupled to the headwear apparatus, the third and fourth surfaces being generally orthogonal to the first surface.

22. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein the dual attachment member comprises a connector assembly comprising a first connector configured to couple the connector assembly to the electronic device and a second connector, wherein the second connector of the connector assembly is configured to cooperate with the second connector of the attachment device to removably couple the connector assembly to the attachment device.

23. The dual attachment member of claim 22, wherein the first connector of the connector assembly is configured to removably couple the connector assembly to the electronic device.

24. The dual attachment member of claim 22, wherein the second connector of the connector assembly comprises indentations to inhibit rotation of the connector assembly when removably coupled to the second connector of the attachment device.

25. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein the headwear apparatus is an eyeglass frame.

26. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein:

at least one of the interlocking structures of the headwear apparatus is a cavity; and

at least one of the interlocking members of the first plate is a tab configured to be inserted into the cavity upon coupling the attachment device to the headwear apparatus;

the tab is configured to be inserted into the cavity.

27. The dual attachment member of claim 12, wherein:

at least one of the interlocking structures of the headwear apparatus is an indentation; and

at least one of the interlocking members of the first plate is a complementary indentation having a size and shape configured to rest against the indentation of the headwear apparatus upon coupling the attachment device to the headwear apparatus.

28. A dual attachment member configured to removably couple an electronic device to an eyewear having electronics, the eyewear configured to receive data from the electronic device, the dual attachment member comprising:

an attachment device configured to support the electronic device on the eyewear, the attachment device comprising;

a first portion comprising a first connector configured to removably couple the attachment device to the eyewear, the first connector comprising a first interlocking member configured to be inserted into a cavity of the eyewear to hold the first connector in place relative to the eyewear, wherein the interlocking member and cavity are configured to interface to inhibit rotation of the interlocking member relative to the eyewear; and

a second portion comprising a second connector configured to removably couple the attachment device to the electronic device, the second connector comprising a keyed feature for coupling with a correspondingly keyed feature on the electronic device, wherein the keyed features of the second connector and the electronic device are configured to interface to inhibit rotation of the electronic device relative to the keyed feature;

a hinge configured to allow the first portion and the second portion of the attachment device to be rotated relative to each other;

wherein the attachment device coupled to the eyewear and the electronic device is configured to provide a data connection between the electronic device and the eyewear such that the electronic device can transmit data to the eyewear and the eyewear can receive data from the electronic device via the attachment device.

29. The dual attachment member of claim 28, wherein the interlocking member comprises a first protrusion configured to be inserted into the cavity of the eyewear.

30. The dual attachment member of claim 28, wherein:

the keyed feature of the second connector comprises a housing with at least one indentation; and

the keyed feature of the electronic device comprises a second coupling comprising one or more complementary indentations, the second coupling sized and shaped to mechanically lock into place in the housing.