IP Library Granted Patent US 7,922,321
Granted Patent B2
US 7,922,321 · App. 11/183,269 · Granted Apr 12, 2011

Eyewear supporting after-market electrical components

Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,922,321
App. No.
11/183,269
Granted
Apr 12, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere.

Claims (45)

1. An eyewear frame, comprising:

a first temple having a first end and a second end, with the second end having a first temple arrangement that fits over at least a portion of the second end of the first temple;

a second temple having a first end and a second end, with the second end having a second temple arrangement that fits over at least a portion of the second end of the second temple;

an electronic device at least partially embedded in one of the temple arrangements; and

another electronic device physically separated from the first and second temple arrangements vet internal to said eyewear frame and operatively interconnected with the electronic device,

wherein the first temple arrangement is removable from the first temple, and the second temple arrangement is removable from the second temple, and wherein said eyewear frame remains usable as a frame of a pair of glasses by a user even after the first temple arrangement has been removed from the first temple and/or the second temple arrangement has been removed from the second temple.

2. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least while said eyewear frame is being worn, the first and second temple arrangements are not in physical contact with one another.

3. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the electronic device comprises a sensor, and

wherein the sensor is selected from the group of: a motion detector, a pressure detector, a radiation detector and a temperature sensor.

4. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the temple arrangement having the electronic device is designed so that it can be removed and re-attached from the corresponding temple by a person wearing said pair of glasses.

5. An eyewear frame as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device interacts with still another electronic device tethered to said pair of glasses.

6. A pair of glasses, comprising:

a pair of temples, each of the temples having a rearward portion that fits over an ear of a person when said pair of glasses is being worn by the person;

a temple arrangement removably attached to and over the rearward portion of one of the temples, wherein the temple arrangement includes at least one electronic device, the at least one electronic device being embedded in the temple arrangement; and

another electronic device physically separated from the temple arrangement yet embedded in said pair of glasses and operatively interconnected with the at least one electronic device.

7. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 5 , wherein the another electronic device is selected from the group of: a battery, a solar cell, a display, a controller, a memory device and a beeper.

8. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 6 , wherein the at least one electronic device comprises an integrated circuit.

9. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 6 ,

wherein the at least one electronic device comprises a sensor, and

wherein the sensor is selected from the group of: a motion detector, a pressure detector, a radiation detector and a temperature sensor.

10. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 6 , wherein the temple arrangement is designed so that it can be removed and re-attached from the corresponding temple by a person that can wear said pair of glasses.

11. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 6 , wherein said pair of glasses further comprises another temple arrangement attached to another of the temples.

12. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 6 , wherein the temple arrangement is a temple tip configured to secure the one of the temples.

13. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 6 , wherein said pair of glasses are selected from the list of sunglasses, fit-over glasses, prescription glasses, reading glasses and safety glasses.

14. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 6 , wherein the rearward portion of the one of the temples includes an angular bend, and

wherein the temple arrangement is attached to the one of the temples via the rearward portion and extends over the angular bend.

15. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 14 , wherein the temple arrangement has a shape, and wherein the shape of the temple arrangement conforms to or has a configuration similar to the rearward portion of the temple.

16. A pair of glasses, comprising:

a pair of temples, each of the temples having a rearward portion, with at least a portion of the rearward portion being configured to fit over an ear of a person when said pair of glasses is being worn by the person; and

a temple arrangement removably attached to and over the rearward portion of one of the temples, wherein the temple arrangement includes at least one electronic device, the at least one electronic device being embedded in the temple arrangement,

wherein the electronic device interacts with an integrated circuit at least partially embedded in said pair of glasses.

17. A pair of glasses, comprising:

a pair of temples, each of the temples having a rearward portion, with at least a portion of the rearward portion being configured to fit over an ear of a person when said pair of glasses is being worn by the person;

a temple arrangement removably attached to and over the rearward portion of one of the temples, wherein the temple arrangement includes at least one electronic device, the at least one electronic device being embedded in the temple arrangement; and

another electronic device embedded in the one of the temples having the temple arrangement attached thereto, the another electronic device being operatively interconnected with the at least one electronic device embedded in the temple arrangement.

18. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 17 , wherein at least one of the at least one electronic device or the another electronic device is a circuit board having at least one electronic device coupled thereto.

19. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 17 , wherein at least one of the at least one electronic device or the another electronic device is an integrated circuit device.

20. A pair of glasses, comprising:

a pair of temples, each of the temples having a rearward portion, with at least a portion of the rearward portion being configured to fit over an ear of a person when said pair of glasses is being worn by the person; and

a temple arrangement removably attached to and over the rearward portion of one of the temples, wherein the temple arrangement includes at least one electronic device, the at least one electronic device being embedded in the temple arrangement,

wherein the rearward portion of the one of the temples includes a first electrical connector,

wherein the temple arrangement includes a second electrical connector, and

wherein when the temple arrangement is attached to the rearward portion of the one of the temples, the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are electrically interconnected.

21. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 20 , further comprising another electronic device embedded in the one of the temples having the temple arrangement attached thereto, the another electronic device being operatively interconnected with the electronic device embedded in the temple arrangement via interconnection of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2014
From: TONG, PETER P.; THOMAS, C. DOUGLASS
To: SMART IGLASSES, LLC
Reel/Frame 032211/0330 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2014
From: IPVENTURE, INC.
To: TONG, PETER P.; THOMAS, C. DOUGLASS
Reel/Frame 032263/0874 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 13, 2014
From: SMART IGLASSES, LLC
To: INGENIOSPEC, LLC
Reel/Frame 032263/0912 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2011
From: HOWELL, THOMAS A.; CHAO, DAVID; THOMAS, C. DOUGLASS; TONG, PETER P.
To: IPVENTURE, INC.
Reel/Frame 026264/0550 →
Continuity (14)
Continuation In Part 10964011 · Oct 12, 2004
Provisional Application 60509631 · Oct 9, 2003
Provisional Application 60527565 · Dec 8, 2003
Provisional Application 60562798 · Apr 15, 2004
Provisional Application 60583169 · Jun 26, 2004
Provisional Application 60592045 · Jul 28, 2004
Provisional Application 60605191 · Aug 28, 2004
Provisional Application 60592045 · Jul 28, 2004
Provisional Application 60605191 · Aug 28, 2004
Provisional Application 60618107 · Oct 12, 2004
Provisional Application 60620238 · Oct 18, 2004
Provisional Application 60647836 · Jan 31, 2005
Provisional Application 60647826 · Jan 31, 2005
Related Publication 20050264752A1 · Dec 1, 2005