Head-mountable device with protective liner
Inventors
Wang, Paul X. • Franklin, Jeremy C. • Rockwell, Michael J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12474736-B1
Publication Date
2025-11-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A head-mountable device can include exchangeable components that can be selected by a user. Such components can include face and head engaging components to secure the head-mountable device on the face and head of the user. Liners can be provided to isolate the components from external and/or environmental influences until removed by a user upon selection of a given set of components. The liners can provide a contact surface that is similar to a contact surface of the component itself. As such, the user can try the component with an authentic experience prior to selection.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a head-mountable device that includes a frame and an engaging component configured to contact a user, such as a face engager or a head engager. A face engager or head engager includes an inner layer of a fabric material and a face/head engager pattern on a portion of the engaging component body.
A removably covering liner is configured in a first configuration with respect to the engaging component and includes a liner body and a liner inner layer over the engaging component inner layer. The liner further includes a liner pattern on a portion of the liner body where the portion of the liner body is of a transparent material to provide a view to the portion of the engaging component body, and the liner pattern overlaps the engaging component pattern to block a view thereof through the transparent material.
In a second configuration of the liner with respect to the engaging component, the transparent material provides an indication of misalignment of the liner pattern with respect to the engaging component pattern. The disclosed structure supports exchangeable face/head engaging components and removable protective liners that isolate the engaging components from external/environmental influences during trial use, while optionally providing a view to displays through transparent liner portions/channels.
The device architecture also includes coupling and coupling interfaces for removably engaging the engaging components and liners, and includes head-mountable electronics such as cameras, displays, sensors, microphone, speakers, communications circuitry, processor, and memory.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims identified are 1, 9, and 13, each centered on a head-mountable device with a releasably engageable face engager or head engager, a removable liner with transparent material and overlapping patterns, and a second liner configuration that provides an indication of misalignment between the liner pattern and the face/head engaging pattern. Across the three independent claims, the main inventive features are the transparent liner portion that provides a view while the liner pattern blocks the view, and the misalignment indication when the liner is reconfigured.
Misalignment-indicating transparent liner with overlapping patterns
A head-mountable device includes a liner removably covering the face engager inner layer and, in a first configuration, the liner portion of transparent material provides a view to the portion of the face engager body while the liner pattern overlaps the face engager pattern to block a view thereof through the transparent material, wherein in a second configuration the transparent material provides an indication of misalignment of the liner pattern with respect to the face engager pattern.
Removable liner covering a fabric inner layer on a head engager with misalignment indication
A head-mountable device includes a head engager comprising a head engager inner layer including a fabric material and a head engager pattern, and a liner removably covering the head engager inner layer and including a liner pattern on a portion of the liner body that is of a transparent material to provide a view to the portion of the head engager body while the liner pattern overlaps the head engager pattern to block a view thereof through the transparent material, wherein in a second configuration the transparent material provides an indication of misalignment of the liner pattern with respect to the head engager pattern.
Transparent liner on a releasably engageable face engager with indication of misalignment
A head-mountable device includes a face engager configured to releasably engage the frame and provide a view to the frame, with a face engager pattern, and a liner in a first configuration with respect to the face engager where the liner includes a transparent portion providing a view to the portion of the face engager body while the liner pattern overlaps the face engager pattern to block a view thereof through the transparent material, wherein in a second configuration of the liner with respect to the face engager the transparent material provides an indication of misalignment of the liner pattern with respect to the face engager pattern.
All independent claims share the same core inventive concept: a removable liner with a transparent material portion and a liner pattern that overlaps an underlying face/head engaging pattern to block view in a first configuration, and that provides an indication of misalignment between the liner pattern and the face/head engaging pattern in a second configuration.
Stated Advantages
Protective liners that isolate the face/head engaging components from external/environmental influences during trial use.
Preserve a user trial experience by optionally allowing a view to displays through transparent liner portions/channels.
Provide an indication of misalignment of the liner pattern with respect to the face/head engager pattern in a second configuration.
Documented Applications
Use of a head-mountable device in trial use, with removable protective liners isolating face/head engaging components from external/environmental influences while preserving a user trial experience.
Viewing displays through transparent liner portions/channels while using the head-mountable device.
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