Adjustable force temple arms for head mounted wearable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12578592-B2
Application number	US-202318188902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2023
Priority date	Apr 4, 2022
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

Systems and methods for adjusting a level of force exerted by the temple arm portions of a frame of a head mounted wearable device are provided. Hinge mechanisms that provide for the rotatable coupling of a temple arm portion to a rim portion of a frame of the head mounted wearable device, or glasses, may include a rotation mechanism that facilitates rotation of the temple arm portion relative to the rim portion, and a biasing mechanism that can be adjusted to apply a desired level of lateral force to a head of a user wearing the glasses. The hinge mechanisms may allow for adjustments to biasing rates and/or pre-load levels and/or amounts of temple arm portion rotation prior to engagement to adjust the applied force to desired levels and maintain user comfort.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A head mounted wearable device, comprising:
a frame, including:
a front frame portion;
an arm portion coupled to the front frame portion; and
a hinge mechanism rotatably coupling the arm portion to the front frame portion, the hinge mechanism including:
a rotation mechanism coupled between the front frame portion and the arm portion to rotatably couple the arm portion to the front frame portion of the frame;
a biasing mechanism coupled to the rotation mechanism and configured to exert a biasing force in response to rotation of the arm portion; and
an adjustment mechanism coupled to at least one of the rotation mechanism or the biasing mechanism and configured to provide for adjustment of at least one of:
a biasing force exerted by the biasing mechanism; or
a point of engagement of the biasing mechanism during rotation of the arm portion;

wherein the hinge mechanism includes a friction element configured to output a damping force in response to rotation of the arm portion relative to the front frame portion.

2 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the rotation mechanism includes a hinge coupled between the front frame portion and the arm portion; the biasing mechanism includes a spring; and the adjustment mechanism includes a collar that is movable along the arm portion and configured to move in first direction along the arm portion to increase a biasing force exerted by the spring and to move in a second, opposite direction along the arm portion to reduce the biasing force exerted by the spring.

3 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 2 , wherein the collar is movable to a plurality of positions along the arm portion, so as to selectively contact a corresponding portion of an end portion of the spring in response to rotation of the arm portion.

4 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 2 , wherein the collar includes a contact portion configured to selectively contact an end portion of the spring as the arm portion rotates relative to the front frame portion to selectively engage the end portion of the spring.

5 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 2 , wherein spring is a leaf spring and a second end portion of the leaf spring is movable relative to a first end portion of the leaf spring.

6 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the rotation mechanism includes a hinge coupled between the front frame portion and the arm portion; the biasing mechanism includes:
a shaft coupled to the hinge; and
a compression spring coupled on a first portion of the shaft; and
the adjustment mechanism includes:
a collar movably engaged with a second portion of the shaft and configured to move in first direction to increase a biasing force exerted by the compression spring, and to move in a second direction to reduce the biasing force exerted by the compression spring.

7 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 6 , further comprising a flange coupled to the arm portion, at a position corresponding to an end portion of the first portion of the shaft, wherein the compression spring is coupled on the first portion of the shaft between the flange and the collar.

8 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 7 , wherein a first end portion of the compression spring abuts the flange, and a second end portion of the compression spring abuts the collar.

9 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 7 , wherein, when the arm portion is in a first angular position, the biasing mechanism is in an at rest state and the compression spring is spaced apart from at least one of the flange and the collar.

10 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 9 , wherein when the arm portion is in a second angular position, the biasing mechanism is in an engaged state and a first end portion of the compression spring abuts the flange, a second end portion of the compression spring abuts the collar, and the compression spring is compressed between the flange and the collar, wherein the biasing mechanism does not exert a biasing force on the arm portion when the arm portion is moved between the first angular position and the second angular position.

11 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the compression spring is a variable rate coil spring.

12 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 6 , wherein an engagement point of the biasing mechanism is adjustable based on a position of the collar on the second portion of the shaft.

13 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism, the biasing mechanism, the adjustment mechanism, and the friction element are incorporated into a bushing coupled between the front frame portion and the arm portion, the bushing including:
a first ring defining an outer surface of the bushing; a second ring concentrically arranged within the first ring; an elastomer biasing member positioned in a space between the first ring and the second ring; a pin concentrically arranged within the second ring; and an arm extending radially outward from an end portion of the second ring.

14 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 13 , wherein the elastomer biasing member is configured to exert a biasing force on the first ring and the second ring in response to rotation of the arm portion relative to the front frame portion of the frame.

15 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 13 , wherein, in response to rotation of the arm portion relative to the front frame portion, an elastomer material of the elastomer biasing member is in a shear state that exerts corresponding shear forces on the first ring and the second ring.

16 . The head mounted wearable device of claim 13 , further comprising a stopping mechanism provided in the front frame portion, wherein the arm is configured to selectively engage the stopping mechanism during rotation of the arm portion, and corresponding rotation of the bushing, to selectively restrict rotation of the arm portion relative to the front frame portion.

17 . A hinge mechanism, comprising:
a rotation mechanism coupled between a front frame portion and an arm portion of a frame; a biasing mechanism coupled to the rotation mechanism and configured to exert a biasing force in response to rotation of the arm portion; and an adjustment mechanism coupled to at least one of the rotation mechanism or the biasing mechanism and configured to provide for adjustment of:
a biasing force exerted by the biasing mechanism;
a point of engagement of the biasing mechanism during rotation of the arm portion relative to the front frame portion; and
a friction element configured to output a damping force in response to rotation of the arm portion relative to the front frame portion.

18 . The hinge mechanism of claim 17 , wherein:
the rotation mechanism includes a hinge coupled between the front frame portion and the arm portion; the biasing mechanism includes a spring; and the adjustment mechanism includes a collar that is movable along the arm portion, and configured to move in first direction along the arm portion to increase a biasing force exerted by the spring and to move in a second, opposite direction along the arm portion to reduce the biasing force exerted by the spring.

19 . The hinge mechanism of claim 17 , wherein:
the rotation mechanism includes a hinge coupled between the front frame portion and the arm portion; the biasing mechanism includes:
a shaft coupled to the hinge; and
a compression spring coupled on a first port

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Adema Daniel

Classifications

• G02B27/0149

  characterised by mechanical features (G02B27/0176 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B2027/0178

  Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C) · CPC title

• G02C5/2236

  comprising a sliding hinge member and a coil spring · CPC title

• G02C2200/30

  Piston · CPC title

• G02C11/10

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title