Eyewear having selectively exposable feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11973292-B2
Application number	US-202318107355-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2023
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods for wearable devices such as eyewear are described. According to one embodiment, the wearable device includes a body, electronics, and a connector. The body is configured to hold one or more optical elements, the body being disposable between a collapsed condition and a wearable condition in which the device is wearable by a user to hold the one or more optical elements within user view. The electronics are carried by the body. The connector is configured to enable establishment of an electrical and/or electronic connection with the electronics via the connector, the connector being housed by the body such that the connector is substantially obscured from view when the body is in the wearable condition, and such that the connector is exposed for connective access when the body is in the collapsed condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
coupling a charging circuit of a portable case via a connector to an external power source;
retaining an eyewear device within the portable case; and
coupling a connection port at a joint between a temple and frame of the eyewear device with the connector to charge a battery of the eyewear device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising folding the temple of the eyewear device to expose the connection port for coupling with the connector.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable case includes a battery.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a connection port of the portable case that is similar configured to couple to the connection port of the eyewear device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured to additionally establish a data connection with the eyewear device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein coupling the connector with the connection port of the eyewear device is facilitated with a magnetic element.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic element is configured for co-operation with the connection port of the eyewear device to facilitate connective location of the connection port relative to the connector.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic element is mounted on one of the portable case and the eyewear device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connector is located within a cavity of the portable case that is configured to receive the eyewear device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connector is part of a charging cable.

11. A system comprising:
eyewear comprising a frame and a temple, the eyewear configured to carry electronics including a first means for electrical connection between the electronics carried by the frame and a first battery carried by the temple; and
a means for receiving the frame and the temple therein, the means for receiving including a second means for electrical connection configured to couple to the first means for electrical connection of the eyewear, wherein the means for receiving is configured to charge the electronics carried by the eyewear including the first battery.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first means for electrical connection is covered by one of the temple or the frame when the temple is in a first wearable position relative to the frame and is exposed when the temple is in a second folded position.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a charging cable configured to electrically couple with either the first means for electrical connection or the second means for electrical connection.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein one of the first means for electrical connection or the second means for electrical connection includes a magnetic element to facilitate connective location of the second means for electrical connection relative to the first means for electrical connection.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the means for receiving includes a second battery configured for charging the first battery.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the means for receiving is configured to receive the temple when the temple is in a folded position that exposes the first means for electrical connection of the eyewear for coupling with the second means for electrical connection.

17. A device for recharging onboard electronics of an eyewear device comprising:
a battery;
a charging circuit including a first means for electrical connection; and
a case body configured to receive the eyewear device therein, wherein the case body is configured such that when the eyewear device is received by case body, a second means for electrical connection between the onboard electronics carried by a frame and a battery carried by a temple of the eyewear device is coupled to the first means for electrical connection, wherein the battery and charging circuit are configured to charge the onboard electronics carried by the eyewear device.

18. The device of claim 17 , further comprising a charging cable configured to electrically couple with either the first means for electrical connection or the second means for electrical connection of the eyewear device.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein one of the first means for electrical connection or the second means for electrical connection of the eyewear device includes a magnetic element to facilitate connective location of the second means for electrical connection relative to first means for electrical connection.

20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the case body is configured to receive the eyewear device when the temple of the eyewear device is in a folded position relative to a frame thereof, wherein the folded position exposes the second means for electrical connection of the eyewear device for coupling with the first means for electrical connection.

Assignees

• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Hanover Matthew
• Huang Qiaokun
• Meisenholder David
• Morris Lauryn

Classifications

• H01R13/6205 Primary

  Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet · CPC title

• G02C5/146

  having special front end · CPC title

• G02C5/22

  Hinges (pivotal connection in general F16C11/00) · CPC title

• G02C11/10 Primary

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title

• G02C2200/02

  Magnetic means · CPC title