Eyewear having linkage assembly between a temple and a frame

• US 9,482,883 B1
• Filed: 04/15/2015
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Meisenholder, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Huy K
• Application Number:
  US14/687,362
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 351/111, 351/119, 351/121, 351/153, 351/158, 162/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G02C 5/2272 Hinges without well-defined pivot axis
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods for wearable devices such as eyewear are described. According to one embodiment, the wearable device can include a frame, a temple, electronics, and a linkage assembly. The frame can have two opposing connection portions and the temple can be adapted to selectively interface with one of the two connection portions. The electronics can be mounted to at least one of the temple and the frame. The linkage assembly can be pivotally coupled at a first end portion to the temple and pivotally coupled at a second end portion to the one of the two connection portions. The linkage assembly can be configured for movement of the temple between a wearable position and a folded position.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising:

a frame having two opposing connection portions;

a temple adapted to selectively interface with one of the two connection portions;

electronics carried by at least one of the temple and the frame; and

a linkage assembly pivotally coupled at a first end portion to the temple and pivotally coupled at a second end portion to the one of the two connection portions, the linkage assembly configured for movement with the temple between a wearable position and a folded position.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly is disposed between the interfacing temple and frame when in the wearable position and is disposed substantially orthogonal to and offset from the one of the two connection portions when in a fully folded position.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the electronics include a first connector configured to be selectively coupled to and decoupled from an external source, the first connector housed in at least one of the frame and temple, and wherein in the first position the first connector is covered by the temple and in the second position the first connector is exposed for coupling to the external source.

4. The wearable device of claim 3, wherein the first connector includes a magnet, the magnet facilitating coupling of the external source to the connector.

5. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a multi-member linkage including:

a first member pivotally coupled to the frame at a first location and pivotally coupled to the temple at a second location; and

a second member pivotally coupled to the frame at a third location and pivotally coupled to the temple at a fourth location, wherein a length of the second member exceeds a length of the first member.

6. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein an amount of pivotal movement of the first member differs from an amount of pivotal movement of the second member with movement of the temple between a first wearable position and a second folded position.

7. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein the first location, the second location, the third location, and the fourth location comprise pin connections.

8. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein the first member and the second member share at least one common pin connection to the frame.

9. The wearable device of claim 8, wherein the at least one common pin is offset in the one connection portion so as to be disposed adjacent an interior face interfacing portion of the frame.

10. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein the first member is received in a first recess of the temple and the second member is received in a second recess of the temple, and wherein a first wall of the first recess acts as a stop for the first member when the temple is in the first position and a second wall of the first recess acts as a stop for the first member when the temple is in the second position.

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

a battery configured to operationally store charge;

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

a computer;

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.

12. A wearable device comprising:

electronics;

a frame having two opposing connection portions, at least one of the connection portions housing a first connector for the electronics mounted to the frame;

a temple adapted to selectively interface with one of the two connection portions; and

a linkage assembly comprising;

a first member pivotally coupled to the frame at a first location and pivotally coupled to the temple at a second location,

a second member pivotally coupled to the frame at a third location and pivotally coupled to the temple at a fourth location,

wherein the linkage system moves with the temple between a wearable position in which the first connector is covered by the temple and a folded position in which the first connector is exposed for coupling to an external source.

13. The wearable device of claim 12, wherein a length of the second member exceeds a length of the first member and the second member, and wherein

an amount of pivotal movement of the first member differs from an amount of pivotal movement of the second member with movement of the temple between the first position and the second position.

14. The wearable device of claim 12, wherein the external source is at least one of a power source, a data source, a source of both power and data for the electronics of the frame.

15. The wearable device of claim 12, wherein the first member and the second member share at least one common pin connection to the frame.

16. The wearable device of claim 15, wherein the at least one common pin is offset in the one connection portion so as to be disposed adjacent an interior face interfacing portion of the frame.

17. The wearable device of claim 12, wherein the first member is received in a first recess of the temple and the second member is received in a second recess of the temple, and wherein a first wall of the first recess acts as a stop for the first member when the temple is in the wearable position and a second wall of the first recess acts as a stop for the first member when the temple is in the folded position.

18. A system comprising:

a frame having two opposing connection portions;

a temple adapted to selectively interface with one of the two connection portions;

a linkage assembly adapted to couple the temple to the frame at the one of the two connection portions;

a port exposed by when the temple is folded and covered when the temple is worn, wherein the port is configured to connect to electronics carried by one or more of the temple and frame, the electronics including;

a battery configured to operationally store charge,

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

a first connector that is configured to be selectively coupled to and decoupled from an external source,

a computer,

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.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a case adapted to receive the frame and the temple therein with the temple disposed in a folded position relative to the frame, the case including a second connector configured to couple to the first connector of at least one of the temple or frame, the case configured to house a battery that powers the electronics.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising

a cable configured to couple to the first connector of at least one of the temple or frame when the linkage disposes the temple in a folded position, wherein the cable is adapted to couple with an external source of power, data, or power and data for the electronics.