- Number
- 10357401
- Published
- 2019-07-23
- Filed
- 2016-09-30
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Hsu; Jonathan R., Putzeys; Philippe
- CPC
- A61F9/06; A42B3/085; G02B27/0176
- Verdict
- Medium Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Elastic tension changing headband (wearable AR headset).
Abstract
Embodiments provide a retention apparatus for a head-mounted device and a head-mounted apparatus including the retention apparatus and the head-mounted device. The retention apparatus includes left and right band portions arranged on respective sides of a user's head, which connect to the head-mounted device at one end, and include opposing free ends that are arrangeable toward a back side of the wearer's head. The retention apparatus includes left and right elastic straps and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is arrangeable at the back of the user's head and includes arms the telescope into and out of the adjustment mechanism. The elastic straps are attached to the left and right band portions at first ends and to respective arms of the adjustment mechanism at second ends. Adjustably moving the arms of the adjustment mechanism stretches or relaxes the elastic straps, adjusting tension of the retention apparatus.
Background
BACKGROUND(1) Virtual/augmented/mixed reality headsets typically include a housing, electronics, and display arranged in front of a user's eyes to display a computer-generated environment to the user. In many instances, the computer-generated environment is interactive, meaning that a view presented to the user changes as the user moves his head to look up, look down, look right, or look left, for example. Additionally, motion tracking (e.g., through exterior sensors and/or built in attitude sensors) can track translation of the user's head, such as the user raising his head (e.g., standing up), lowering his head (e.g., sitting down or squatting), or translating his head (e.g., walking). Many virtual reality applications take advantage of such head tracking to enable the user to control aspects of the application. However, such head movements create loads on the virtual reality headset.(2) To prevent the virtual reality headset from slipping or otherwise moving relative to the user's head as the user moves his head to interact with the computer generated environment, the virtual reality headset is sometimes secured to the user's head with semi-rigid, resilient band portions (e.g., plastic bands) that bend but do not appreciably stretch. For example, a virtual reality headset may have a first band portion extending from a left side of the virtual reality headset and a second band portion extending from a right side of the virtual reality headset. The first and second band port
Claims
1. A retention apparatus for supporting a head-mounted device, the retention apparatus comprising: a left band portion configured for arrangement along a left side of a wearer's head, wherein the left band portion comprises a resilient material, and wherein the left band portion includes a first device end configured for attachment to the head-mounted device and a first free end portion configured for arrangement toward a back side of the wearer's head; a right band portion configured for arrangement along a right side of the wearer's head, wherein the right band portion comprises the resilient material, and wherein the right band portion includes a second device end configured for attachment to the head-mounted device and a second free end portion configured for arrangement toward the back side of the wearer's head; an adjustment mechanism configured for arrangement at the back side of the wearer's head, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment housing, a first arm, and a second arm, and wherein the first arm and second arm are selectively adjustable into and out of the adjustment housing in a telescoping manner; a left elastic strap that includes a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end is directly connected to the left band portion, and wherein the second end is directly connected to the first arm of the adjustment mechanism; and a right elastic strap that includes a third end and an opposing fourth end, wherein the third end is directly connected to the right band portion, and wherein the fourth end is directly connected to the second arm of the adjustment mechanism, wherein selective adjustment of the first and second arms into the adjustment housing is configured to increase tension on the left and right elastic straps and thereby pull the first and second free end portions of the respective left and right band portions toward each other, and wherein selective adjustment of the first and second arms out of the adjustment housing is configured to decrease tension on the left and right elastic straps and thereby enable the first and second free end portions of the respective left and right band portions to move apart. |
9. A head-mounted apparatus, comprising: a face-mounted device configured for arrangement over at least a portion of a wearer's face; a left band portion configured for arrangement along a left side of the wearer's head, wherein the left band portion comprises a resilient material, and wherein the left band portion includes a first device end attached to a left side of the face-mounted device and a first free end portion that is positioned opposite the first device end and is configured for arrangement toward a back side of the wearer's head; a right band portion configured for arrangement along a right side of the wearer's head, wherein the right band portion comprises the resilient material, and wherein the right band portion includes a second device end attached to a right side of the face-mounted device and a second free end portion that is positioned opposite the second device end and is configured for arrangement toward the back side of the wearer's head; an adjustment mechanism configured for arrangement at the back side of the wearer's head, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment housing, a first arm, and a second arm, and wherein the first arm and second arm are selectively adjustable into and out of the adjustment housing in a telescoping manner; a left elastic strap that includes a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end is directly connected to the left band portion, and wherein the second end is directly connected to the first arm of the adjustment mechanism; and a right elastic strap that includes a third end and an opposing fourth end, wherein the third end is directly connected to the right band portion, and wherein the fourth end is directly connected to the second arm of the adjustment mechanism, wherein selective adjustment of the first and second arms into the adjustment housing is configured to increase tension on the left and right elastic straps and thereby pull the first and second free end portions of the respective left and right band portions toward each other, and wherein selective adjustment of the first and second arms out of the adjustment housing is configured to decrease tension on the left and right elastic straps and thereby enable the first and second free end portions of the respective left and right band portions to move apart. |
19. A head-mounted apparatus, comprising: a head band that includes a left band portion configured for arrangement along a left side of a wearer's head, a right band portion configured for arrangement along a right side of the wearer's head, and a forehead portion configured for arrangement along the wearer's forehead, wherein the head band comprises a resilient material, wherein the left band portion includes a first free end portion configured for arrangement toward a back side of the wearer's head, and wherein the right band portion includes a second free end portion configured for arrangement toward the back side of the wearer's head; a face-mounted device connected to the forehead portion of the head band and configured for arrangement over at least a portion of the wearer's face; an adjustment mechanism configured for arrangement at the back side of the wearer's head, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment housing, a first arm, and a second arm, and wherein the first arm and second arm are selectively adjustable into and out of the adjustment housing in a telescoping manner; a left elastic strap that includes a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end is directly connected to the left band portion, and wherein the second end is directly connected to the first arm of the adjustment mechanism; and a right elastic strap that includes a third end and an opposing fourth end, wherein the third end is directly connected to the right band portion, and wherein the fourth end is directly connected to the second arm of the adjustment mechanism, wherein selective adjustment of the first and second arms into the adjustment housing is configured to increase tension on the left and right elastic straps and thereby pull the first and second free end portions of the respective left and right band portions toward each other, and wherein selective adjustment of the first and second arms out of the adjustment housing is configured to decrease tension on the left and right elastic straps and thereby enable the first and second free end portions of the respective left and right band portions to move apart.