Apparatus

• US 20050111174A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adwalker Public Limited Company
• Original Assignee: Adwalker Public Limited Company
• Inventors: Jordan, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,265,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.30
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/02 by a carrier person or animal
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/026 Advertising carried by a person, e.g. carried on the shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for supporting a mobile electronic display system. The mobile electronic display system includes a display element (11) and a power source (12). In use a wearable computer (4) controls operation of the display element (11). The apparatus (1) comprises a relatively rigid support frame (8), a relatively soft cushion member (9), and a cover (10) for the support frame (8). The support frame (8) is suitable for being worn by a person to support the mobile electronic display system. The support frame (8) comprises a front support frame part (13) located at the front of the wearer, a rear support frame part (14) located at the rear of the wearer, a first bearing member (15) extending over a first shoulder of the wearer, and a second bearing member (16) extending over a second shoulder of the wearer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a mobile electronic display system, the apparatus comprising:

a support frame suitable for being worn by a person to support a mobile electronic display system;

the support frame comprising a front support frame part configured to be located at the front of a person wearing the support frame, and a rear support frame part configured to be located at the rear of a person wearing the support frame.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front support frame part is configured to extend substantially across the chest of a person wearing the support frame.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rear support frame part is configured to extend substantially across the back of a person wearing the support frame.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front and/or rear support frame part is configured to be located below the head of a person wearing the support frame.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support frame comprises at least one bearing member configured to extend over a shoulder of a person wearing the support frame between the front support frame part and the rear support frame part.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the support frame comprises a first bearing member configured to extend over a first shoulder and a second bearing member configured to extend over a second shoulder of a person wearing the support frame.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the front support frame part and the rear support frame part are supported by the at least one bearing member.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the front support frame part and the rear support frame part hang from at least one bearing member.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the support frame is substantially “

U”

-shaped in side-view.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front support frame part is substantially fixed relative to the rear support frame part.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the support frame is substantially rigid.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support frame comprises a display holder for releasably holding a display element of a mobile electronic display system.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the display holder comprises a first holder part detachably coupled to a second holder part.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the display holder defines a reception space between the first holder part and the second holder part for removably receiving a display element.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the display holder comprises a window for displaying a display element held in the display holder.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the window is configured to face substantially away from a person wearing the support frame.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the front support frame part comprises the display holder.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support frame comprises a power source holder for holding a power source of a mobile electronic display system.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the power source holder is configured to releasably hold a power source.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the power source holder comprises a first holder part movably coupled to a second holder part.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first holder part is movable relative to the second holder part between a holding configuration and a replacing configuration.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the first holder part is hingeable relative to the second holder part between the holding configuration and the replacing configuration.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein in the holding configuration the power source holder defines a reception space between the first holder part and the second holder part for removably receiving a power source.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the rear support frame part comprises the power source holder.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a support element protruding from the support frame inwardly towards a person wearing the support frame to engage against the person.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein the support element is supported by the rear support frame part.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the support element is configured to engage against the lower spine of a person wearing the support frame.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the support element comprises a lumbar support element.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein the apparatus comprises at least one urging member to urge the support element into engagement against a person wearing the support frame.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the urging member comprises a tensionable member for pulling the support element into engagement against a person wearing the support frame.

31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein the tensionable member extends between the front support frame part and the rear support frame part.

32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein the tensionable member is configured to extend along a side of a person wearing the support frame.

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein the apparatus comprises a first tensionable member configured to extend along a first side and a second tensionable member configured to extend along a second side of a person wearing the support frame.

34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein the tensionable member comprises a release element to facilitate release of tension in the tensionable member.

35. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a cushion member extending over at least part of a surface of the support frame.

36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35 wherein the cushion member comprises the support element.

37. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a cover for the support frame.

38. An apparatus as claimed in claim 37 wherein the cover encloses the support frame.

39. An apparatus as claimed in claim 37 wherein the cover comprises one or more openings to facilitate access to one or more components of a mobile electronic display system beneath the cover.

40. An apparatus as claimed in claim 39 wherein the opening is selectively closable.

41. An apparatus as claimed in claim 40 wherein the cover comprises a flap for extending over the opening to selectively close the opening.

42. An apparatus as claimed in claim 37 wherein the cover comprises one or more windows for displaying one or more components of a mobile electronic display system beneath the cover.

43. A mobile display comprising:

an apparatus as claimed in claim 1;

and

an electronic display system.

44. A display as claimed in claim 43 wherein the electronic display system comprises a display element.

45. An display as claimed in claim 44 wherein the display element comprises a screen for displaying a visual image.

46. A display as claimed in claim 45 wherein the screen is daylight-viewable.

47. A display as claimed in claim 45 wherein the screen brightness output is at least 1000 nits.

48. A display as claimed in claim 47 wherein the screen brightness output is approximately 1500 nits.

49. A display as claimed in claim 44 wherein the display element comprises a tablet personal computer.

50. An display as claimed in claim 43 wherein the electronic display system comprises a power source.

51. A display as claimed in claim 43 wherein the display comprises a source of visual images.

52. A display as claimed in claim 43 wherein the display comprises a wearable computer for controlling the electronic display system.

53. A display as claimed in claim 52 wherein the wearable computer is configured to facilitate wireless communication between the wearable computer and a communications device remote from the wearable computer.

54. A display as claimed in claim 52 wherein the display comprises a belt for supporting the wearable computer, the belt being suitable to be worn by a person wearing the support frame.

55. A display as claimed in claim 43 wherein the display comprises a user interface for information input/output between a user and a wearable computer.

56. A display as claimed in claim 55 wherein the user interface comprises a printing device, and/or a scanning device, and/or an audio recording device, and/or an audio transmitting device, and/or a touch screen interface.

57. A display as claimed in claim 55 wherein the display comprises a belt for supporting the user interface, the belt being suitable to be worn by a person wearing the support frame.

58. A garment suitable for being worn by a person supporting a wearable computer, the garment comprising an accommodating part for accommodating at least one component part of the wearable computer.

59. A garment as claimed in claim 58 wherein the accommodating part comprises an opening through the garment.

60. A garment as claimed in claim 59 wherein the opening is provided in the form of a cut-away section of the garment.

61. A garment as claimed in claim 59 wherein the opening is provided adjacent an end of the garment.

62. A garment as claimed in claim 58 wherein the accommodating part is provided at a side of the garment.

63. A garment as claimed in claim 62 wherein the garment comprises a first accommodating part at a first side of the garment and a second accommodating part at a second side of the garment.

64. A garment as claimed in claim 62 wherein the accommodating part is configured to be located substantially at a hip of a person wearing the garment.

65. A garment as claimed in claim 58 wherein the garment comprises at least one holder.

66. A garment as claimed in claim 65 wherein the holder comprises a pocket.

67. A mobile display comprising:

an electronic display element; and

an apparatus suitable for being worn by a person to support the display element;

the display element being movable relative to the apparatus between a display configuration and an interface configuration.

68. A system as claimed in claim 67 wherein the display element is hingeable between the display configuration and the interface configuration.

69. A system as claimed in claim 67 wherein the system comprises a user interface for information input/output between a user and the display element.

70. A system as claimed in claim 69 wherein the user interface is accessible in the interface configuration.

71. A system as claimed in claim 69 wherein the user interface is inaccessible in the display configuration.

72. A system as claimed in claim 69 wherein the support element has a front side for displaying and a rear side, and the user interface is provided at the rear side of the display element.

73. A system as claimed in claim 67 wherein in the display configuration, the display element is substantially parallel to a wearer.

74. A system as claimed in claim 73 wherein in the display configuration, the front side of the display element faces substantially away from a wearer.

75. A system as claimed in claim 67 wherein in the interface configuration, the display element is substantially perpendicular to a wearer.

76. A system as claimed in claim 75 wherein in the interface configuration, the rear side of the display element faces substantially towards the head of a wearer.