Abstract:
A hands free wearable computer is provided. The hands free wearable computer includes an adjustable display tray, a split hands free two-hand foldable integrated input device that can be carried by gripping it, a video camera. The split hands free two-hand foldable integrated input device that can be carried can be used with the wearable computer as well as other non-wearable computer such as desktops, servers, laptops and entertainment devices such as game consoles, televisions. The hands free wearable computer with a hands free integrated input device is easy to wear and use while standing, sitting, laying down in a bed, walking, driving a car etc. while permitting a user&#39;s hands to become free to perform any other tasks that need to be attended to by the user&#39;s hands.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 60/713,925, filed Sep. 2, 2005. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of wearable computers. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing a hands free wearable computer and a grip and carry foldable hands free two-hand integrated input device that is easy to use and carry. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A need exists for wearable computers that are easy wear and use. The problems with wearable computers include: difficulty to put them on, difficulty to take them off, difficulty to use them in day to day usage situations such as sitting, standing, laying down in a bed, walking, shopping, driving in a car etc. A glaring difficulty in using wearable computers is the unusable input devices that provide the functionality provided by keyboards, mouse, game controllers, scroll wheels, remote controls etc. These input devices due to lack of space either eliminate some of the keys and functions or they make it very difficult to generate the input by requiring user to chord a combination of keys. For people that are familiar with a particular keyboard layout such as QWERTY or DVORAK, using chording keyboards is not an acceptable option. Another challenge with input devices with wearable computers is that the input devices sometimes are attached to the hands of the user in such a way that it is cumbersome to free the users hands to perform any task that requires free hands. This effectively limits the usefulness of hands. Also, the fact that the input device is tied to the hand reduces the degree of flexibility of the fingers to strike the keys vigorously leading to lack of force feedback and tactile sensation causing ergonomic discomfort, hardship in typing, reducing the speed of typing. In most computing devices used for entertainment and otherwise, it is desired by users to have their hands free so that users can do anything they want to do with their hands even during their sessions of use with their computers and entertainment devices. This is true with keyboards, mouse, remote controls, game controllers and such input devices that are traditionally used with computers and entertainment devices. Users desire a design of a wearable computer with a hands free integrated input device. Such a device would improve their ergonomic comfort in using the wearable computer as well as traditional computing and entertainment devices using the hands free input device. Even when a user is sitting in front of a computer, the user need not stay fixed in one posture in one direction, as the display direction changes along with the user as the user changes direction in their chair. This results in significant ergonomic comfort. Also, when the user attaches a video camera and a wired or wireless internet connection, they can use the apparatus as a video phone which does not limit their mobility as the camera is always pointed to the face of the person using better than any face tracking hardware that is helpless once the user turns their back to the camera. Another challenge with wearable computers has been that they are not easy to carry when they are not in use. Being able to carry the wearable computer either close to chest, as a shoulder bag or backpack depending on the convenient way to carry at any given point in time is of paramount significance to the users of wearable computers. It would also be desirable to use the same input device with any computer or an entertainment device that they want to use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A hands free wearable computer is provided. The hands free wearable computer includes an adjustable display tray, a split hands free two-hand foldable integrated input device that can be carried by gripping it, a video camera. The split hands free two-hand foldable integrated input device that can be carried includes a right hand foldable integrated input device that can be carried and a left hand foldable integrated input device that can be carried. The adjustable display tray comprises a container to hold a display device such as a tablet computer. The adjustable display tray is held to the body with a belt and suspender body harness. The split hands free two-hand foldable integrated input device has a length adjustable clip and a cord system. The length adjustable clip and cord system of each of the two split hands free two-hand foldable integrated input device is used to suspend the foldable integrated input device for each hand from each side of the belt that is used to carry the foldable integrated input device. The foldable integrated input device does not need to be worn or held to key in the input. The hands free wearable computer with a hands free integrated input device is easy to wear and use while standing, sitting, laying down in a bed, walking, driving a car etc. while permitting a user&#39;s hands to become free to perform any other tasks that need to be attended to by the user&#39;s hands. The integrated input device ensures that the same fingers that are used by users of QWERTY/DVORAK keyboards are used to strike the corresponding keys in the integrated input device, such as using the thumb to strike the space bar. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a hands free wearable computer without the grip and carry foldable hands free two-hand integrated input device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a display tray. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a display tray. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view from right side of a right hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a right hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of display tray with the grip and carry foldable hands free-integrated input devices secured to the display tray. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view from right side of a right hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device that is folded. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view from left side of a right hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a person wearing a hands free wearable computer using while standing. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a person wearing a hands free wearable computer using while standing. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a person carrying a hands free wearable computer close to their chest. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a person carrying a hands free wearable computer like a shoulder bag. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a person carrying a hands free wearable computer like a backpack. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a front view of a car steering wheel with a stand for integrated input device on top of the wheel. 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a man with the suspender of the hands free wearable computer attached to a chair hook. 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a back view of a man wearing an alternate embodiment of the hands free wearable computer that can be carried only close to wearer&#39;s chest. 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view from right side of a right hand grip and carry hands free integrated input device an alternate embodiment of the input device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process steps and/or structures have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
         [0023]    Referring  FIG. 1  is a front view of a hands free wearable computer without the grip and carry foldable hands free two-hand integrated input device. Reference numeral  108  is the display tray that holds a permanently fixed display device referenced by reference numeral  110 . The display tray  108  is connected to a belt shown by reference numeral  102 . The belt shown by reference numeral  102  is part of a belt and suspender body harness. A sliding lengthwise loop that slides around the belt referenced by numeral  104  is used to slide the display to any part of the belt. The sliding length wise loop that slides around the belt has a cloth handle referenced by reference numeral  106 . The length wise loop is attached to the bottom middle of the display tray. A small rope referenced by numeral  112  is used to adjust the distance of the display from the wearer&#39;s body. Two cloth snaps are used to secure the two bottom ends to the belt when the wearer is wearing the hands free wearable computer for use and not to carry it as a shoulder bag or a back pack. The small rope referenced by numeral  112  starts from the front of the person and it then goes behind the back of the person below the right arm and comes over the left shoulder from behind to go through a one eyed pulley system to eventually pass through a small rope clip referenced by numeral  120  sewn on the suspender referenced by numeral  116 . The suspender referenced by numeral  120  is securely sewn to the belt in the front and the back side. A large rope referenced by numeral  114  is also attached to the top right corner of the display tray and goes behind the back from underneath the wearers right arm and comes over the left shoulder from behind. This large rope is used to carry the wearable computer like a backpack. 
         [0024]    Referring  FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the display tray. It also shows the flaps attached to the display tray referenced by numeral  200 . The flaps are used to secure the grip and carry foldable hands free two-hand integrated input device. 
         [0025]    Referring  FIG. 3  is a top view of display tray. Velcro™ referenced by numeral  300  are the place holders for securing the grip and carry foldable hands free two-hand integrated input device to the display tray. Flaps  300  are bendable to close both the front of the display tray when the display is not in use and on the back of the display tray when the display is in use. A video camera  304  is secured on the middle top of the display tray that enables this wearable computer to be an ideal video phone device that is wearable and carryable. Several cloth loops  306  are affixed to the right and left side of the display tray frame to facilitate the securing of a loose display. Additional Velcro™  308  is used to secure other peripherals that could be worn such as audio head sets to the bendable flaps of the display tray. 
         [0026]    Referring  FIG. 4  is a perspective view from right side of a right hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device. QWERY/DVARAK keys for each hand  400  are laid out on the bottom surface of the hands free integrated input device.  402  scroll wheel is used for controlling the wireless enables embedded input device computer as well as the destination display device. Several additional keys  404  such as remote control keys, function keys etc are laid out on the side surface of the integrated input device. A game controller tab  406  is fixed to the edge of the lining for gripping the integrated input device.  408  is a chamber for batteries and other components for the hands free integrated input device. A space bar key  410  is laid out on the lining to help the user strike the space bar key with the thumb as the users are experienced to do. Mouse buttons  412  are laid out underneath the lining so that the user that grips the integrated input device can curl their finger to click the mouse buttons for single and double clicking. A cord and clip system  414  to secure the integrated input device to the belt and the wearer when the wearer is walking is provided. USB port  416  is provided for connecting to display devices that are not wireless enabled. It could be any other alternative to USB. 
         [0027]    Referring  FIG. 5  is a perspective view from right side of a right hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device. Wrist pad  502  is used to support the wrists. A lining  500  is at the top of the wrist pad going along the contours of the integrated input device is used to grip the integrated input device. An optical mouse  504  is used to generate the mouse input. A chamber  506  is provided to encase a wireless enabled embedded input device computer. 
         [0028]    Referring  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of display tray with the grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input devices secured to the display tray. Right hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device  602  and left hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device  604  can be secured to the flaps. 
         [0029]    Referring  FIG. 7  is a perspective view from right side of a right hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device that is folded. When folded the hands free integrated input device reduces significantly in size. 
         [0030]    Referring  FIG. 8  is a perspective view from left side of a right hand grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device. The back surface of the grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device contains a Velcro™  800  patch for securing the integrated input device to the flaps of the display tray. The game controller tab  804  can be seen at the edge of the wrist pad. Lcd display  802  that shows the display devices in the wireless and wired neighborhood to permit the wearer to switch controlling different display devices using the grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device. 
         [0031]    Referring  FIG. 9  is a front view of a person wearing a hands free wearable computer using while standing. It can be seen that the wearer has hands available to perform other tasks besides operating the grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device. 
         [0032]    Referring  FIG. 10  is a side view of a person wearing a hands free wearable computer using while standing. Here to is a picture of how a user can comfortably use the hands free wearable computer. 
         [0033]    Referring  FIG. 11  is a side view of a person carrying a hands free wearable computer close to their chest. When a user is not using the hands free wearable computer they can carry it on their person in one of three ways as convenient. The user may also choose to set the hands free wearable computer very easily by just releasing the belt buckle and taking the hands free wearable computer off with less difficulty than taking a shirt off. On of the ways the user can carry the wearable computer is by securing the grip and carry foldable hands free integrated input device to the flaps and closing the flaps over the display, and then release the small rope clip and pull the small rope to bring the display tray close to the chest of the user and then tighten the small rope clip. Once the display tray is pulled to a users chest the user can then walk about as they please. 
         [0034]    Referring  FIG. 12  is a side view of a person carrying a hands free wearable computer like a shoulder bag. The wearer can also carry the hands free wearable computer as they would carry a shoulder bag. They can loosen small rope clip and release the small rope until the secured and closed display tray is hanging below the belt. At this point the user can release the two cloth snaps if they are being used, and then using the cloth handle move the display tray to the right side of the person along the belt. Once the display tray is to the side, a person can walk about as they would if they were carrying a shoulder bag. 
         [0035]    Referring  FIG. 13  is a side view of a person carrying a hands free wearable computer like a backpack. Instead of just stopping at moving the display tray to the right side of the person along the belt, a user can continue to move it all the way to the back of their person and then pull the large rope down lifting the display tray behind the person. They can then secure the large rope to the belt and walk about as though they were carrying a backpack. 
         [0036]    Referring  FIG. 14  is a front view of a car steering wheel with a stand  1400  for integrated input device on top of the wheel. On the rear occasion when a user wants to use the hands free wearable computer in a car, a stand is provided just above the steering wheel to fix the hands free integrated input device to the stand. The user can enter input when the users hands are aligned with the hands free integrated input device, and take their hands off to operate the steering wheel and other controls whenever they need to. In future, it is desirable to place all the controls in a car to be operated with the hands free integrated input device. 
         [0037]    Referring  FIG. 15  is a side view of a man with the suspender of the hands free wearable computer attached to a chair hook. When sitting on a chair it might at times be convenient to let the chair support the display tray instead of the wearer&#39;s shoulder and body. A pair of chair hooks  1500  are provided to hook the back side ropes on the right side and the left side to the chair hooks. 
         [0038]    Referring  FIG. 16  is a back view of a man wearing an alternate embodiment of the hands free wearable computer that can be carried only close to wearer&#39;s chest. If a wearer needs a counterbalancing weight to help with the balance, it can be added to the back of the wearer to this alternate embodiment. A small PDA could be the display in the display tray. 
         [0039]    Referring  FIG. 17  is a perspective view from right side of a right hand grip and carry hands free integrated input device an alternate embodiment of the input device. The alternate embodiment does not include the side surface. 
         [0040]    While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, there are alterations, modifications, permutations, and substitute equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and substitute equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.