Magnetic temple hinge for eyewear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12197044-B2
Application number	US-202117397673-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2021
Priority date	Dec 5, 2017
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

Eyewear includes a frame configured to support an optical element and a temple pivotably connected to one side of the frame by a hinge. The temple is movable with respect to the frame between folded and unfolded configurations. A first permanent magnet is either disposed on or at least partially embedded within the frame at a location adjacent the hinge. A second permanent magnet (or ferromagnetic member) is either disposed on or at least partially embedded within the temple at a location adjacent the hinge. The permanent magnets are attracted to each other such that magnetic attraction retains the temple in the unfolded configuration when the temple is moved into the unfolded configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Eyewear comprising:
a frame configured to support an optical element,
a temple pivotably connected to one side of the frame by a hinge, the temple being movable with respect to the frame between folded and unfolded configurations,
a permanent magnet either disposed on or at least partially embedded within the frame at a location adjacent the hinge, and
a ferromagnetic malleable core wire at least partially embedded within the temple and including a first portion that extends nearly an entire length of the temple and a second portion that is positioned adjacent the hinge and adjacent the permanent magnet when the temple is in the unfolded configuration, the second portion extending nearly an entire height of the temple and greater than a height of the first portion and extending above and below the first portion, wherein at least the second portion of the core wire is attracted to the permanent magnet such that magnetic attraction retains the temple in the unfolded configuration when the temple is moved into the unfolded configuration.

2. The eyewear of claim 1 , further comprising a second temple pivotably connected to an opposite side of the frame by a second hinge, and a second permanent magnet either disposed on or at least partially embedded within the frame at a location adjacent the second hinge.

3. The eyewear of claim 2 , further comprising a second ferromagnetic malleable core wire at least partially embedded within the second temple and including a third portion that extends nearly an entire length of the second temple and a fourth portion that is positioned adjacent the second hinge and adjacent the second permanent magnet when the second temple is in the unfolded configuration, the fourth portion extending nearly an entire height of the second temple and greater than a height of the third portion and extending above and below the third portion, wherein the second permanent magnet and the fourth portion of the second core wire are attracted to each other so as to retain the second temple in the unfolded configuration when the second temple is moved to the unfolded configuration.

4. An eyewear case adapted to contain the eyewear of claim 2 , comprising third and fourth permanent magnets configured to connect to the permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet, respectively, when the eyewear is in the folded configuration within the case.

5. The eyewear of claim 1 , further comprising a power connector at least partially embedded within the frame and positioned adjacent the permanent magnet for supplying power to electronic components associated with the eyewear.

6. The eyewear of claim 5 , wherein the power connector is configured to connect to a power plug for supplying power to the eyewear.

7. The eyewear of claim 5 , further comprising a camera mounted to the frame and connected to the power connector.

8. The eyewear of claim 7 , further comprising a battery, a wireless transceiver, data storage means, and a processor at least partially embedded within the frame and connected to the camera.

9. The eyewear of claim 5 , further comprising a second permanent magnet positioned adjacent the power connector.

10. The eyewear of claim 9 , wherein the permanent magnet is positioned directly above the power connector and the second permanent magnet is positioned directly below the power connector.

11. The eyewear of claim 9 , wherein the permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet have respective magnetic surfaces that are exposed on and flush with a surface of the frame facing the temple in the unfolded configuration.

12. The eyewear of claim 9 , wherein the permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet are adapted for connection to magnets on a power cord in the folded configuration.

13. The eyewear of claim 9 , wherein the permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet are adapted for connection to third and fourth permanent magnets on an eyewear storage case in the folded configuration.

14. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the ferromagnetic malleable core wire is made of a magnetic grade of stainless steel.

15. Eyewear comprising:
a frame configured to support an optical element,
a temple pivotably connected to one side of the frame by a hinge, the temple being movable with respect to the frame between folded and unfolded configurations,
a ferromagnetic material either disposed on or at least partially embedded within the frame at a location adjacent the hinge, and
a ferromagnetic malleable core wire at least partially embedded within the temple and including a first portion that extends nearly an entire length of the temple and a second portion that is positioned adjacent the hinge and adjacent the ferromagnetic material when the temple is in the unfolded configuration, the second portion extending nearly an entire height of the temple and greater than a height of the first portion and extending above and below the first portion, wherein at least the second portion of the core wire is attracted to the ferromagnetic material such that magnetic attraction retains the temple in the unfolded configuration when the temple is moved into the unfolded configuration.

16. The eyewear of claim 15 , further comprising a second temple pivotably connected to an opposite side of the frame by a second hinge, and a second ferromagnetic material either disposed on or at least partially embedded within the frame at a location adjacent the second hinge.

17. The eyewear of claim 16 , further comprising a second ferromagnetic malleable core wire at least partially embedded within the second temple and including a third portion that extends nearly an entire length of the second temple and a fourth portion that is positioned adjacent the second hinge and adjacent the second ferromagnetic material when the second temple is in the unfolded configuration, the fourth portion extending nearly an entire height of the second temple and greater than a height of the third portion and extending above and below the third portion, wherein the second ferromagnetic material and the fourth portion of the second core wire are attracted to each other so as to retain the second temple in the unfolded configuration when the second temple is moved to the unfolded configuration.

18. The eyewear of claim 15 , further comprising a power connector at least partially embedded within the frame and positioned adjacent the ferromagnetic material for supplying power to electronic components associated with the eyewear.

19. The eyewear of claim 18 , further comprising a second ferromagnetic material positioned adjacent the power connector, wherein the ferromagnetic material is positioned directly above the power connector and the second ferromagnetic material is positioned directly below the power connector.

20. The eyewear of claim 19 , wherein the ferromagnetic material and the second ferromagnetic material are adapted for connection to at least one of magnets on a power cord or first and second permanent magnets on an eyewear storage case in the folded configuration.

Assignees

• Castaneda Julio Cesar
• Thompson Samuel Bryson
• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Castañeda Julio Cesar
• Thompson Samuel Bryson

Classifications

• G02C7/083

  Electrooptic lenses · CPC title

• G02C11/10 Primary

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title

• A45C11/04

  Spectacle cases; Pince-nez cases · CPC title

• G02C2200/02

  Magnetic means · CPC title

• G02C5/18

  reinforced · CPC title