Hyperextending hinge for wearable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12372807-B2
Application number	US-202318399378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2023
Priority date	Feb 18, 2020
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

Eyewear having a frame, a hinge, and a hyperextendable temple. An extender is coupled to the hinge and the temple, and the extender extends with respect to the hinge allowing hyperextension of the temple with respect to the frame. The extender may include a bushing and a spring that allows the temple hyperextension, and which also creates a bias force to urge the temple against a user's head during use.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An eyewear, comprising:
a frame;
an optical member supported by the frame;
a temple;
a hinge coupled between the frame and the temple, the hinge configured to allow rotation of the temple with respect to the frame;
an extender configured to allow the temple to extend to a hyperextended position with respect to the frame;
a protrusion extending from the frame, wherein the protrusion is configured to create a camming action and create a gap between the temple and the frame in the hyperextended position, wherein the camming action creates the gap only in the hyperextended position; and
wherein the temple includes an electrical conductor extending within the temple, the electrical conductor having a service loop configured to allow the electrical conductor to extend when the temple is extended and maintaining an electrical connection across the hinge in all positions.

2. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the extender comprises an extension member coupled to the hinge, wherein the temple is configured to extend along the extension member when extended to the hyperextended position.

3. The eyewear of claim 2 , wherein the extension member comprises an elongated member.

4. The eyewear of claim 2 , further comprising a limit member configured to limit a travel distance of the temple along the extension member.

5. The eyewear of claim 4 , wherein the limit member comprises a shoulder on the extension member.

6. The eyewear of claim 1 , further comprising a recess commensurate in shape and size with the protrusion and configured to receive the protrusion when the temple is in an open position, wherein the protrusion is configured to slide against the recess to create the camming action.

7. The eyewear of claim 6 , wherein the protrusion is configured to be removed from the recess when the temple extends to a hyperextended position.

8. An eyewear, comprising:
a frame;
an optical member supported by the frame;
a temple;
a hinge coupled between the frame and the temple, the hinge configured to allow rotation of the temple with respect to the frame;
a protrusion extending from the frame, wherein the protrusion is configured to create a camming action and create a gap between the temple and the frame;
an extender configured to allow the temple to extend to a hyperextended position with respect to the frame, wherein the extender comprises a slidable bushing encompassed by the temple, the bushing encompassing a spring; and
wherein the temple includes an electrical conductor extending within the temple, the electrical conductor having a service loop configured to allow the electrical conductor to extend when the temple is extended and maintaining an electrical connection across the hinge in all positions.

9. The eyewear of claim 8 , wherein the extender comprises an extension member coupled to the hinge, wherein the temple is configured to extend along the extension member when extended to the hyperextended position, wherein the bushing is configured to extend about the extension member.

10. The eyewear of claim 8 , wherein the spring is configured to enable the temple to radially extend from the hinge and also create a bias force to retract the temple toward the hinge.

11. The eyewear of claim 8 , wherein the spring is configured to compress against the bushing when the bushing is extended from the hinge, and create a bias force configured to retract the temple toward the hinge.

12. The eyewear of claim 8 , further comprising a recess commensurate in shape and size with the protrusion and configured to receive the protrusion when the temple is in an open position, and wherein the protrusion is configured to slide against the recess to create the camming action.

13. The eyewear of claim 12 , wherein the temple comprises a temple surface, wherein the temple surface is positioned between the frame and the temple, wherein the temple surface comprises the recess.

14. An eyewear, comprising:
a frame;
an optical member supported by the frame;
a temple;
a hinge coupled between the frame and the temple, the hinge configured to allow rotation of the temple with respect to the frame;
an extender coupled to the hinge and configured to allow the temple to radially extend away from the hinge;
a protrusion extending from a midsection of a surface of the frame having edges and disposed between the frame and the temple, wherein a cross section of the protrusion is round, wherein the protrusion is configured to create a camming action, and wherein the protrusion is spaced from each of the edges of the surface; and
wherein the temple includes an electrical conductor extending within the temple, the electrical conductor having a service loop configured to allow the electrical conductor to extend when the temple is extended and maintaining an electrical connection across the hinge in all positions.

15. The eyewear of claim 14 , wherein the extender comprises a longitudinally extending member extending away from the hinge.

16. The eyewear of claim 15 , further comprising a bushing slidably coupled to the longitudinally extending member and a spring coupled to the bushing.

17. The eyewear of claim 16 , wherein the spring is configured to enable the temple to radially extend from the hinge, and also create a bias force to retract the temple toward the hinge.

18. The eyewear of claim 16 , wherein the spring is configured to compress against the bushing when the bushing is extended from the hinge, and create a bias force configured to retract the temple toward the hinge.

19. The eyewear of claim 14 , further comprising a recess commensurate in shape and size with the protrusion and configured to receive the protrusion when the temple is in an open position, and wherein the protrusion is configured to slide against the recess to create the camming action.

20. The eyewear of claim 19 , wherein the temple comprises a temple surface, wherein the temple surface is positioned between the frame and the temple, wherein the temple surface comprises the recess.

Assignees

• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Ryner Michael
• Steger Stephen

Classifications

• G02B2027/0178

  Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C) · CPC title

• G02B27/0176

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G02C5/20

  adjustable, e.g. telescopic · CPC title

• G02C5/14

  Side-members · CPC title

• G02C5/22 Primary

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