Eyewear having selectively exposable feature

• US 9,952,452 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanover, Matthew, Huang, Qiaokun, Meisenholder, David, Morris, Lauryn
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Darryl J
• Application Number:
  US15/339,526
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 351158, 351111, 351140
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/22 Hinges pivotal connection in general F16C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods for wearable devices such as eyewear are described. According to one embodiment, the wearable device includes a body, electronics, and a connector. The body is configured to hold one or more optical elements, the body being disposable between a collapsed condition and a wearable condition in which the device is wearable by a user to hold the one or more optical elements within user view. The electronics are carried by the body. The connector is configured to enable establishment of an electrical and/or electronic connection with the electronics via the connector, the connector being housed by the body such that the connector is substantially obscured from view when the body is in the wearable condition, and such that the connector is exposed for connective access when the body is in the collapsed condition.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising:

a body configured to hold one or more optical elements, the body being disposable between a collapsed condition and a wearable condition in which the device is wearable by a user to hold the one or more optical elements within user view, wherein the body comprises;

a frame that holds the one or more optical elements, and

a pair of temples mounted to the frame at respective articulated joints, the temples being hingedly moveable relative to the frame to dispose the device between the collapsed condition and the wearable condition,

electronics carried by the body;

an onboard battery carried by the body and coupled to the electronics for powering the electronics when the body is in the wearable condition, at least; and

a connector that is configured to enable establishment of an electrical charging connection between the onboard battery and an external charging device, the connector being housed by the body such that the connector is substantially obscured from view when the body is in the wearable condition, and such that the connector is exposed for connective access by the external charging device when the body is in the collapsed condition, wherein the connector is located at the articulated joint between one of the temples and the frame.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the connector is housed by the frame.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the connector is additionally configured automatically to establish, when the body is disposed to the wearable condition, an electrical connection that connects the onboard battery to one or more components of the electronics across a corresponding one of the articulated joints.

4. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the external charging device comprises a case for the eyewear device, the case comprising:

a portable case body defining a storage space for holding the wearable device when the body is in the collapsed condition;

an power supply arrangement carried by the case body; and

a connection port located in the storage space and coupled to the power supply arrangement, the connection port being configured for electrical coupling to the connector of the wearable device when the wearable device is received in the storage space, thereby to enable charging of the onboard battery of the wearable device by the power supply arrangement.

5. The wearable device of claim 4, wherein the connection port of the case includes one of a magnetic element or ferrous element for co-operation with the connector of the wearable device to facilitate connective location of the wearable device connector relative to the connection port of the case.

6. The wearable device of claim 4, wherein the power supply arrangement of the case includes an external power connector for connection to a power supply external to both the case and the eyewear device.

7. The wearable device of claim 6, wherein the external power connector comprises a charging port that is similar in connective configuration to the charging connector of the wearable device.

8. The wearable device of claim 7, further comprising a charging cable having a connector that is compatible both with the charging port of the case and with the charging connector of the wearable device.

9. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of temples carries the onboard battery, and wherein the frame includes a second connector configured to contact and establish an electrical connection with the connector located at the at least one of the pair of temples when the body is in the wearable condition.

10. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein the second connector is configured for coupling to the external charging device.

11. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the body includes one of a magnetic element or ferrous element for co-operation with the external charging device to facilitate connective location of the connector relative to the external charging device.

12. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the electronics comprise at least one of:

a circuit coupled to the battery and configured to deliver a charge to and from the battery;

a computer; and

one or more of a camera, a microphone, a sensor, a display device, an indicator, a memory, an actuator, and a wireless module in communication with the computer.