Eyewear having selectively exposable feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12424788-B2
Application number	US-202418616922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2024
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

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 to a connector that is configured to be selectively coupled to and decoupled from an external power source;
folding a temple of an eyewear device to expose a connection port;
retaining the eyewear device within a portable case that includes a battery, the charging circuit and the connector; and
coupling the connection port of the eyewear device with the connector at the connection port.

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

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a connection port of the portable case that is similar in connective configuration to the connection port of the eyewear device.

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

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

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the magnetic element is mounted on one of the portable case and the eyewear device.

7. 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.

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

9. A system comprising:
an eyewear having electronics including a first connection port and a first battery; and
a means for charging the first battery of the eyewear using the first connection port, wherein the first connection port is covered by one of a temple or a frame of the eyewear 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.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the means for charging the first battery is a second battery of a case configured to receive the eyewear therein.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the case includes a second connection port configured to couple to the first connection port of the eyewear.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the means for charging the first battery is additionally compatible to electronically couple with the case using the second connection port.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising means to facilitate connective location of the second connection port relative to the first connection port.

14. A system comprising:
an eyewear having electronics including a first connection port and a first battery;
a first means for charging the first battery of the eyewear using the first connection port; and
a second means for charging the first battery of the eyewear using the first connection port, wherein the second means for charging the first battery is compatible to electronically couple with either the eyewear using the first connection port or the first means ease-using a second connection port.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first means for charging the first battery is a second battery of a case configured to receive the eyewear therein.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the case includes the second connection port configured to couple to the first connection port of the eyewear.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising means to facilitate connective location of the second connection port relative to the first connection port.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first connection port is covered by one of a temple or a frame of the eyewear 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.

Assignees

• Snap Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G02C2200/02

  Magnetic means · 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

• H01R13/6205 Primary

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