Magnetic attachment mechanism for electronic wearable device

• US 10,481,417 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Kokonaski, William, Clompus, Richard, Dannhardt, Walter, Pinazza, Massimo, Dalla Longa, Claudio, Trajkovska-Broach, Anita
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung X
• Application Number:
  US15/842,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20180129078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 351158, 351 41
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/008 Spectacles frames characterized by their material, material structure and material properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/14 Side-members
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/22 Hinges pivotal connection in general F16C11/00

Abstract

An electronic wearable device may include a device body including at least one electronic component, the device body having an attachment side configured to movably attach the electronic wearable device directly to an eyewear temple by magnetic attraction between the electronic wearable device and the eyewear temple, wherein a first magnet or ferromagnetic material is located on or within the electronic wearable device and a second magnet or ferromagnetic material is located within or on the eyewear temple, wherein the device body is positionable at a first position along a length of the eyewear temple and in a second position along the length of the eyewear temple while remaining attached to the eyewear temple, and wherein the first magnet or ferromagnetic material does not contact a surface of the second magnet or ferromagnetic material.

Claims

1. An electronic wearable device comprising:

a device body including at least one electronic component, the device body having an attachment side configured to movably attach the electronic wearable device directly to an eyewear temple by magnetic attraction between the electronic wearable device and the eyewear temple, wherein a first magnet or ferromagnetic material is located on or within the electronic wearable device and a second magnet or ferromagnetic material is located within or on the eyewear temple, and wherein the device body is positionable at a first position along a length of the eyewear temple and in a second position along the length of the eyewear temple while remaining attached to the eyewear temple; and

wherein the first magnet or ferromagnetic material does not contact a surface of the second magnet or ferromagnetic material.

2. The electronic wearable device of claim 1, wherein the device body includes a protrusion extending from the attachment side for movably coupling the device body to the eyewear temple, and wherein the magnet is arranged proximate the protrusion such that an outermost lateral surface of the magnet is medially positioned relative to an outermost surface of the protrusion.

3. The electronic wearable device of claim 2, wherein the magnet is an elongate magnet having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and wherein the protrusion comprises a plurality of bumps extending from the attachment side of the device body, each of the plurality of bumps positioned proximate one of the first or second longitudinal ends of the magnet.

4. The electronic wearable device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of bumps comprise a softer material than the magnet, the surface of the eyewear temple, or both.

5. The electronic wearable device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of bumps are made of a polymer.

6. The electronic wearable device of claim 3, wherein the bumps are coated with a polymer.

7. The electronic wearable device of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is configured for a cooperating fit with an eyewear track.

8. The electronic wearable device of claim 7, wherein the protrusion or an outermost surface of the protrusion is made of a material which has a hardness equal to or less than a hardness of a coating of the track.

9. The electronic wearable device of claim 7, wherein the protrusion is configured to be received in the eyewear temple track such that the protrusion is restricted from movement laterally to the length of the track.

10. The electronic wearable device of claim 7, wherein the attachment side is configured such that the magnet does not contact any surface of the eyewear track when the electronic wearable device is coupled to the eyewear via the track.

11. An eyewear system comprising the electronic wearable device of claim 7 and an eyewear including the eyewear temple, wherein the eyewear temple includes an insert, and wherein a base of the track is defined, at least in part, by the insert.

12. The eyewear system of claim 11, wherein the insert is made of a ferromagnetic material.

13. The eyewear system of claim 12, wherein the insert is coated by a non-ferromagnetic material.

14. The eyewear system of claim 11, wherein the insert is coated by a ferromagnetic material.

15. The eyewear system of claim 11, wherein a width of the track does not exceed 3.0 mm, wherein a depth of the track does not exceed 2.0 mm, or both.

16. The electronic wearable device of claim 1, wherein the magnet is recessed below a surface of the attachment side.

17. The electronic wearable device of claim 1, wherein the device body defines a cavity on the attachment side and wherein the magnet is positioned in the cavity such that it is below a surface of the attachment side, and wherein an outermost lateral side of the magnet is exposed through an opening of the cavity.

18. The electronic wearable device of claim 1, wherein the magnet is embedded below a surface of the attachment side.

19. The electronic wearable device of claim 1, wherein the electronic wearable device is a camera, an image capture device, a light, a sensor, an augmented reality device, a virtual reality device, or a mixed reality device.

20. The electronic wearable device of claim 1, wherein the electronic wearable device is removably attachable to any of a plurality of different types of wearable articles other than eyewear.

21. A system comprising the electronic wearable device of claim of claim 20 and a wearable article selected from the group of a hat, a facemask, a necklace, a ring, a helmet, a wearable article other than eyewear, and an accessory.