Eyewear having removable temples that support electrical components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11733549-B2
Application number	US-202217737866-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2022
Priority date	Oct 11, 2005
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear, such as within an extended endpiece or a removable temple (or temple part). The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An eyewear frame, comprising:
a front section coupled to first and second endpieces, the first and second endpieces being provided at opposite sides of the front section of the eyewear frame, the first endpiece being adjacent a first side of the front section, and the second endpiece being adjacent a second side of the front section;
first and second temples, the first and second temples being provided at opposite sides of the front section of the eyewear frame, the first temple being adjacent the first side of the front section and coupled to the first endpiece, and the second temple being adjacent the second side of the front section and coupled to the second endpiece; and
first electronic circuitry provided internal to the first temple of the eyewear frame,
wherein the first endpiece includes a first endpiece connector, and a forward portion of the first temple includes a first temple connector,
wherein the first temple is removably coupled to the first endpiece by interconnecting the first temple connector with the first endpiece connector,
wherein interconnection of the first temple connector with the first endpiece connector provides at least a portion of an electrical connection between the first electronic circuitry internal to the first temple with at least one electrical component in another portion of the eyewear frame besides the first temple, and
wherein the first temple is configured to be swappable with another temple having a forward portion including another temple connector, the another temple connector being the same as the first temple connector, and
wherein at least one functional capability supported by the another temple and/or an ornamental appearance of the another temple is at least partially different than that of the first temple.

2. An eyewear frame, comprising:
a front section coupled to first and second endpieces, the first and second endpieces being provided at opposite sides of the front section of the eyewear frame, the first endpiece being adjacent a first side of the front section, and the second endpiece being adjacent a second side of the front section;
first and second temples, the first and second temples being provided at opposite sides of the front section of the eyewear frame, the first temple being adjacent the first side of the front section and coupled to the first endpiece, and the second temple being adjacent the second side of the front section and coupled to the second endpiece; and
first electronic circuitry provided internal to the first temple of the eyewear frame,
wherein the first endpiece includes a first endpiece connector, and a forward portion of the first temple includes a first temple connector,
wherein the first temple is removably coupled to the first endpiece by interconnecting the first temple connector with the first endpiece connector,
wherein interconnection of the first temple connector with the first endpiece connector provides at least a portion of an electrical connection between the first electronic circuitry internal to the first temple with at least one electrical component in another portion of the eyewear frame besides the first temple, and
wherein one or more functional capabilities of the eyewear frame are configured to be changed by swapping the first temple for another temple having at least another electronic circuitry provided internal to the another temple, at least a portion of the another electronic circuitry supporting at least one different functional capability than those one or more functionality capabilities supported by the first electronic circuitry, and the another temple having a forward portion including another temple connector, the another temple connector being the same as the first temple connector.

3. An eyewear frame, comprising:
a front section coupled to first and second endpieces, the first and second endpieces being provided at opposite sides of the front section of the eyewear frame, the first endpiece being adjacent a first side of the front section, and the second endpiece being adjacent a second side of the front section;
first and second temples, the first and second temples being provided at opposite sides of the front section of the eyewear frame, the first temple being adjacent the first side of the front section and coupled to the first endpiece, and the second temple being adjacent the second side of the front section and coupled to the second endpiece; and
first electronic circuitry provided internal to the first temple of the eyewear frame,
wherein the first endpiece includes a first endpiece connector, and a forward portion of the first temple includes a first temple connector,
wherein the first temple is removably coupled to the first endpiece by interconnecting the first temple connector with the first endpiece connector,
wherein interconnection of the first temple connector with the first endpiece connector provides at least a portion of an electrical connection between the first electronic circuitry internal to the first temple with at least one electrical component in another portion of the eyewear frame besides the first temple, and
wherein an ornamental appearance of at least a portion of the eyewear frame is configured to be changed by swapping the first temple having a first ornamental appearance for another temple having another ornamental appearance, at least a portion of the ornamental appearance of the another temple being different than the first ornamental appearance of the first temple, and the another temple having a forward portion including another temple connector, the another temple connector being the same as the first temple connector.

4. A pair of glasses, comprising:
a front structure including at least one lens holder for securing at least one lens, the front structure having a first side and a second side;
a first temple having a first end and a second end, with the first end physically coupled to the first side of the front structure; and
a second temple having a first end and a second end, with the first end physically coupled to the second side of the front structure,
wherein the first temple is a multi-part temple having a first part and a second part, with the first part closer to the front structure than the second part, the second part of the first temple being removably coupled to the first part of the first temple, and
wherein at least one electronic component is at least partially embedded in the second part of the first temple.

5. An eyewear frame, comprising:
a front section coupled to first and second endpieces, the first and second endpieces being provided at opposite sides of the front section of the eyewear frame, the first endpiece being adjacent a first side of the front section, and the second endpiece being adjacent a second side of the front section;
first and second temples, the first and second temples being provided at opposite sides of the front section of the eyewear frame, the first temple being adjacent the first side of the front section and coupled to the first endpiece, and the second temple being adjacent the second side of the front section and coupled to the second endpiece; and
first electronic circuitry provided internal to the first temple of the eyewear frame,
wherein the first temple is mechanically, yet removably, coupled to the first endpiece,
wherein the first temple is configured to mechanically, yet removably, couple to the first endpiece so as to provide at least a portion of an electrical connection between the first electronic circuitry internal to the first temple with at least one electrical component in another portion of the eyewear frame besides the first temple, and
wherein one or more functional capabilities of the eyewear frame are configured to be changed by swapping

Assignees

• Ingeniospec Llc

Inventors

• Howell Thomas A
• Chao David
• Thomas C Douglass
• Tong Peter P

Classifications

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• G02C11/10 Primary

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title

• G02C5/143 Primary

  having special ear pieces · CPC title

• G02C5/146

  having special front end · CPC title

• G02C11/06

  Hearing aids (construction of electric hearing aids H04R25/00) · CPC title