Eyeglass with MP3 player

• US 7,219,994 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Jannard, James H., Julian, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang; Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US11/284,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20060072067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 351/156, 351/157, 351/155, 351/158, 351/41, 245/2, 381/187, 381/183, 445/351, 445/350, 704/225, 704/270, 704/200, 704/2
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 3/003 Arrangements for fitting and securing to the head in the position of use

Abstract

Disclosed is an eyewear retention system, which may include any of a variety of electronics, including telecommunications receivers, transmitters, electronic storage devices, and head-up display driving circuitry.

Claims

1. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass, comprising:

an eyeglass frame;

at least one lens supported by the eyeglass frame in an orientation such that the at least one lens is in the path of the wearer'"'"'s field of view;

an MP3 format memory device supported by the eyeglass frame;

a power supply, supported by the eyeglass frame;

at least a first earphone, the earphone being connected to the eyeglass frame so as to allow the earphone to be directed toward at least a first ear of a user when the user wears the eyeglass with the at least one lens in the path of the wearer'"'"'s field of view; and

retrieval circuitry configured to retrieve music from the MP3 format memory and to play the music through the first earphone.

2. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the MP3 format memory and the retrieval circuitry are disposed in the eyeglass frame.

3. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the retrieval circuitry is configured to play music retrieved from the MP3 format memory device through the first earphone.

4. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the eyeglass frame includes a nose bridge portion, the MP3 format memory device, the retrieval circuitry, and the first earphone being disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion.

5. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the eyeglass frame includes a nose bridge portion, the MP3 format memory device, the first earphone, and the power supply being disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion so as to provide a better balanced distribution of weight over a wearer'"'"'s head.

6. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 5, further comprising a second earphone supported by a second earphone support, the second earphone and the second earphone support being disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion.

7. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1 additionally comprising at least a second lens, the eyeglass frame being configured to position the second lens in the wearer'"'"'s field of view.

8. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1 additionally comprising at least a second earphone and a second earphone support extending downwardly from the eyeglass frame and being configured to allow the second earphone to be directed toward the ear of the wearer when the wearer wears the eyeglass frame on the wearer'"'"'s head with the first lens disposed within the wearer'"'"'s field of view.

9. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1 additionally

10. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the eyeglass frame is adapted to be carried by the head of a wearer.

11. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the eyeglass frame is adapted to extend over the top of the wearer'"'"'s head when worn. frame is adapted to extend over the top of the wearer'"'"'s head when worn. comprising at least a first earphone support configured to support the first earphone in an orientation in which the first earphone is facing toward the ear of a wearer when the at least one lens is disposed in the field of view of the wearer.

12. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass, comprising:

an eyeglass frame;

at least a first lens;

at least a first lens support portion of the frame being configured to position the first lens in the path of the wearer'"'"'s field of view;

means for storing music in an MP3 format supported by the eyeglass frame;

a power supply, supported by the eyeglass frame;

at least a first earphone connected to the eyeglass frame so as to allow the first earphone to be directed toward a first ear of the wearer with the first lens disposed in the field of view of the wearer; and

means for retrieving music from the means for storing and for playing the music through the first earphone.

13. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 12, further comprising means for evenly distributing a weight of the means for storing, means for retrieving, and first earphone over a wearer'"'"'s head.

14. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 13, wherein the means for evenly distributing comprises means for distributing the weight of the means for storing, means for retrieving, and first earphone over a top of the wearer'"'"'s head.

15. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the eyeglass frame is adapted to be carried by the head of a wearer.

16. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the eyeglass frame is adapted to extend over the top of the wearer'"'"'s head when worn.

17. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass, comprising:

at least a first lens;

an eyeglass frame including a forward portion, the forward portion being configured to position the first lens in the path of the wearer'"'"'s field of view;

an MP3 format memory supported by the eyeglass frame;

a power supply supported by the eyeglass frame;

at least a first earphone;

at least a first earphone support extending from the eyeglass frame and configured to allow the first earphone to be directed toward a first ear of the wearer; and

retrieval circuitry configured to retrieve music from the MP3 format memory.

18. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the frame further comprises first and second support members extending rearwardly from the forward portion such that portions of each of the first and second support members are disposed above at least portions of a wearer'"'"'s left and right ears when wearing the eyeglass, wherein the MP3 format memory is supported directly by at least one of the first and second support members.

19. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the MP3 format memory and the retrieval circuitry are disposed inside the eyeglass frame.

20. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the retrieval circuitry is configured to play music retrieved from the MP3 format memory through the first earphone.

21. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the forward portion of the eyeglass frame includes a nose bridge portion, the MP3 format memory, the retrieval circuitry, and the first earphone being disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion.

22. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 21, further comprising a second earphone supported by a second earphone support, the second earphone and the second earphone support being disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion, and wherein the second earphone support is configured to allow the second earphone to be directed toward the ear of the wearer when the wearer wears the eyeglass on a head of the wearer with the first lens positioned in the wearer'"'"'s field of view.

23. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the forward portion of the eyeglass frame includes a nose bridge portion, the MP3 format memory, the first earphone, and the power supply being disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion so as to provide a better balanced distribution of weight over a wearer'"'"'s head.

24. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the eyeglass frame is adapted to be carried by the head of a wearer.

25. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the eyeglass frame is adapted to extend over the top of the wearer'"'"'s head when worn.

29. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 20, wherein the eyeglass frame is adapted to be carried by the head of a wearer.

30. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 20, wherein the eyeglass frame is adapted to extend over the top of the wearer'"'"'s head when worn.

26. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass, comprising:

at least a first lens;

an eyeglass frame;

a first lens support, supported by the eyeglass frame and configured to hold the first lens in the path of the wearer'"'"'s field of view;

means for storing music in an MP3 format supported by the eyeglass frame;

a power supply, supported by the eyeglass frame;

at least a first earphone;

at least a first earphone support extending from the eyeglass frame, the first earphone being connected to the first earphone support, wherein the first earphone support is configured to allow the first earphone to be directed towards a first ear of the wearer; and

means for retrieving music from the means for storing.

27. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 26, further comprising means for evenly distributing a weight of the means for storing, means for retrieving, first earphone support, and first earphone over a wearer'"'"'s head.

28. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 27, wherein the means for evenly distributing comprises means for distributing the weight of the means for storing, means for retrieving, first earphone support, and first earphone over a top of the wearer'"'"'s head.