Patent Publication Number: US-2017367423-A1

Title: Headband for virtual reality goggles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims benefit of and priority to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/353,678 entitled HEADBAND FOR VIRTUAL REALITY GOGGLES filed Jun. 23, 2016 and Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/381,133 entitled HEADBAND FOR VIRTUAL REALITY GOGGLES filed Aug. 30, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a headband for use in supporting virtual reality goggles on the head of a user. 
     Related Art 
     Virtual reality (VR) experiences are becoming more and more popular. A key feature of VR is the VR goggles that are used to immerse the user visually into a virtual world. In order to maintain this presence in the virtual world, it is important that the VR goggles remain in place on the user&#39;s head and properly aligned with the user&#39;s eyes while at the same time fit comfortably such that they are not a distraction to the user. A secure fit is important to secure the VR goggles as the user moves around, or as the user is moved by conveyance. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a headband for safely and comfortably securing VR goggles to a user&#39;s head. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a headband for securing VR goggles to a user&#39;s head in a secure and comfortable manner. The headband is preferably adjustable in size to accommodate a wide variety of users with different head sizes. In addition, the headband preferably includes cushioning or padding to provide for comfort. In addition, at least one pivot point is preferably provided such that the goggles can be pivoted up and away from the user&#39;s eyes while the headband remains on the user&#39;s head. Finally, the headband preferably also includes an adjustable, locking chin strap to secure the headband to the user&#39;s head. 
     A headband in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a rear element extending from one side of a user&#39;s head to the opposite side thereof, a top element extending from one side of the rear element to the opposite side of the rear element and extending over a top of the user&#39;s head, an adjustment element connected to the rear element such that manipulation of the adjustment element adjusts a length of the rear element and a goggle fastening device pivotally connected to the rear element and connectable to the VR goggles such that the VR goggles are pivotable relative to the rear element. 
     A headband in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a rear element extending from one side of a user&#39;s head to the opposite side thereof, a top element extending over a top of the user&#39;s head from one side of the rear element to the opposite side of the rear element, an adjustment element connected to the rear element such that manipulation of the adjustment element adjusts a length of the rear element and a goggle fastening device connected to the rear element and connectable to the VR goggles. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described in greater detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a headband in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention on a user&#39;s head; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a rear and side perspective view of the headband of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front and side perspective view of the headband of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates another front and side perspective view of the headband of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the headband of  FIG. 1  with the VR goggles attached thereto pivoted up and above the user&#39;s eyes; 
         FIG. 6  front and side perspective view the headband of  FIG. 1  on a user with a chin strap in a loose or open position; 
         FIG. 7  front and side perspective view the headband of  FIG. 1  with a chin strap in a locked position under the user&#39;s chin to hold the headband in place; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a headband in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention on a user&#39;s head; 
         FIG. 9  is a more detailed view of a fastening portion of the headband of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a more detailed view of an attachment bracket suitable for use with the fastening portion of the headband of the  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , for example, a headband  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure preferably includes a rear element  12  that extends around a back of the user&#39;s head. A top element  14  extends upward from a side of the rear element  12  and over the user&#39;s head to connect to the other side of the rear element. That is, the top element  14  extends over the user&#39;s head and connects the two opposing sides of the rear element  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the rear element  12  includes an adjustment element  16  used to adjust the size of the rear element to accommodate heads of different sizes. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment element  16  is a rotatable knob as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , for example, however, any suitable adjustment element may be used. Rotating the knob  16  adjusts the size of the rear element  12  to accommodate heads of different sizes. Using the knob  16  is convenient since the user can adjust the size of the headband  10  using one hand while the headband  10  is in place on the user&#39;s head and thus the size can be easily customized for each individual user. In an embodiment, the rear element  12  includes a comfort panel  18  along the inner surface thereof in the area where the rear of the user&#39;s head contacts the rear element  12 . This panel  18  allows for a snug and comfortable fit. The panel  18 , however, need not be used. If desired, the top element  14  may include an adjustment mechanism  17  (see  FIG. 2 , for example) to change the size thereof and accommodate different head sizes. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the rear element  12  and the top element  14  are preferably made of hard plastic such that the headband  10  is durable and easy to clean and sanitize. A goggle fastening element  20  is preferably provided on a front portion of each side of the rear element  12  and connects to the VR goggles G. In an embodiment, each goggle fastening element  20  includes a D-ring  22  that is pivotably secured to the front portion of the rear element  12 . A resilient element  24 , preferably an elastic band, connects the VR goggles G to the D-ring  22 . In a preferred embodiment, the D-ring  22  is pivotably secured to the front portion of the rear element  12  via a pivot element  26 . In  FIG. 1 , the pivot element  26  is a bolt; however, the pivot element is not limited to a bolt and any suitable pivot element maybe used including but not limited to a screw, screw and nut or screw, nut and washer combination, etc.  FIG. 1  illustrates the bolt  26  passing through an opening in the front portion of the rear element  12  and illustrates additional openings  26   b  and  26   c  in the rear element that may also accommodate the pivot element  26 . These additional openings  26   b ,  26   c  provide additional flexibility in sizing the headband  10 . In addition, while  FIG. 1  illustrates a D-ring  22 , any suitable fastening element or bracket may be used to engage the resilient element  24 . The pivoting element  26  allows the goggles G to move from an operable position in front of the user&#39;s eyes, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , for example, to a second position, illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for example, where the goggles are raised above the user&#39;s eyes such that the user can take a break from the VR world without removing the headband  10 . It is preferred that resilient element  24  be used to secure the goggles G to the D-ring  22  such that the goggles are held tightly to the user&#39;s face when in use, but can be pulled slightly away from the face of the user to allow for the pivoting discussed above without injuring or causing the user discomfort, however, the headband  10  need not include the resilient element and any other suitable connection between the D Ring and the goggle may be used. While  FIGS. 1 and 3-7  show one side of the headband  10 , the opposite side thereof has corresponding structure that operates in substantially the same way. The rear element  12  of the headband  10  preferably is substantially U-shaped such that it wraps around the head of the user from one side to the opposite side thereof. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the headband  10  also includes a chin strap  30 . In an embodiment, the chin strap  30  includes two flexible elements  30   a ,  30   b  (see  FIGS. 2-4 and 6-7 , for example), each of which is connected at one end thereof to the rear element  12 , with one of the elements connected on each side of the rear element. A lock element  32  is provided on the opposite ends of the elements  30   a ,  30   b , respectively. The lock element  32  is selectively movable along the length of the elements  30   a ,  30   b  to move the chin strap  30  between an open position in which the headband  10  is easily put on by the user, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , for example, and a closed position, illustrated in  FIG. 7 , for example, in which the chin strap  30  holds the headband tightly to the user&#39;s head. The lock element  32  may be released by the user to allow movement of the lock element along the elements  30   a ,  30   b  to allow loosening of the chin strap  30  for removal or comfort, by activating a release trigger  32   a , or triggers (See  FIG. 3 or 6 , for example). Any suitable release mechanism may be used.  FIG. 6  illustrates a user engaging the lock element  32  to release it such that it is movable along the elements  30   a ,  30   b  of the chin strap  30 . The lock element  32  is preferably biased in a locked state in which it will not move relative to the elements  30   a ,  30   b  such as it is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . As noted above, the ability to secure the headband  10  to the user&#39;s head securely using the chin strap  30  is important as it lowers the chances that the headband  10  and VR goggles G will become significantly misaligned with the user. 
     The headband  10  of the present application is preferably suitable for use with a wide variety of VR goggles. The headband  10  of the present application allows a user to comfortably wear and adjust VR goggles and can be easily adjusted in size to accommodate a wide variety of users. The headband  10  is made of a durable plastic and is securely fastened to the user&#39;s head for use. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of a headband  110  suitable for use with a variety of VR goggles. The headband  110  is similar in structure to the headband  10  discussed above and the same reference numerals will be used to refer to common elements thereof. The headband  110  preferably includes a rear element  12  that extends around a back of the user&#39;s head and a top element  14  that extends upward from a side of the rear element  12  and over the user&#39;s head to connect to the rear element on the opposite side thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the rear element  12  includes adjustment element  16  used to adjust the length of the rear element to accommodate heads of different sizes. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment element  16  is a rotatable knob as can be seen in  FIG. 8 , for example. Rotating the knob  16  adjusts the length of the rear element  12  to accommodate heads of different sizes. Using the knob  16  is convenient since the user can adjust the size of the headband  10  using one hand while the headband  10  is in place on the user&#39;s head. If desired, any other suitable adjustment element may be used. In an embodiment, the rear element  12  of the headband  110  includes comfort panel  18  along the inner surface thereof in the area where the rear of the user&#39;s head contacts the rear element  12  in substantially the same manner as in  FIGS. 2-4 , for example. This panel  18  allows for a snug and comfortable fit, however, is not necessary. If desired, the top element  14  may include an adjustment mechanism  17  to change the size thereof and accommodate different head sizes. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the rear element  12  and the top element  14  are made of hard plastic such that the headband  10  is durable and easy to clean and sanitize. A goggle fastening portion  12   a  of the rear element  12  extends forward on each side of the rear element and connects to the VR goggles G. In particular, as can be seen in  FIG. 8 , for example, the fastening portion  12   a  extends forward from the area where the top element  14  joins with the rear element  12 . The fastening portion  12   a  preferably includes an attachment element  220  positioned at a front end thereof. This attachment element  220  connects to the goggles G. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the attachment element  220  includes two screws S 1 , S 2  that pass through openings in the fastening portion  12   a  and the goggles G. While the attachment element  220  is illustrated as including screws S 1 , S 2  in  FIG. 8 , any suitable attachment element may be used. The headband  110  also includes the chin strap  30  and the two elements  30   a ,  30   b  thereof as well as the lock element  32  discussed above.  FIG. 9  is a more detailed view of the fastening portion  12   a  of the rear element  12 . It is noted that the rear element  12  is not limited to the specific dimensions illustrated.  FIG. 10  illustrates a more detailed view of attachment bracket  230  that is also secured to the goggles G and through which the screws S 1 , S 2  pass. While  FIGS. 8-10  show one side of the headband  10 , the opposite side thereof has corresponding structure that operates in substantially the same way. The rear element  12  of the headband  10  preferably is substantially U-shaped such that it wraps around the head of the user from one side to the opposite side thereof to include two opposite fastening portions  12   a  on opposite ends of the U-shape. As illustrated, the headband  110  preferably includes a chin strap  30  and lock mechanism  32  substantially the same as that described above with reference to the headband  10 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein.