Some Apple Vision Pro customers have complained about the headset being uncomfortable over longer periods time. Apple, according to Mark Gurman, "... is changing the default band for Vision Pro demos at Apple stores from the Solo Loop to the Dual Loop (which many people find far more comfortable)." I wonder if Apple will make this switch in box as well."

Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to possible new headband systems that will allow a user to adjust both the magnitude, location, and direction of forces applied to the face of the user.

Examples of adjustment mechanisms described herein allow a user to control the tilt of the head-mountable device relative to a head securement element, as well as the tightness of the head securement element. Accordingly, the user can select a fit that distributes forces widely, maximizes comfort, allows the user to enjoy the head-mountable device for longer durations of time.

To maximize comfort experienced by the user, a head-mountable device can provide one or more different types of adjustment capabilities. Such adjustments can help the forces be distributed evenly across the face. For example, rather than allowing excessive forces to weigh on the cheeks and/or nose of the user, adjustments can be made to distribute forces along the forehead of the user and/or other regions. Such adjustment capabilities can help distribute forces and accommodate variations in facial features (e.g., face plane slope, forehead size, eye location) across different users.

In Apple's patent FIG. 3 below, as one example, the head securement element #200 can include a pad #210. The support strap #240 and/or the tilt strap #260 can extend over the pad. As such, the pad can provide a protective layer between the straps and the head of the user. The pad can provide at least some support to retain their HMD module #110 on the head of the user.

Nonetheless, the pad can have a different composition and/or structure than either of the straps. The pad can be stretchable to comfortably provide tension about the head of the user. For example, the pad can stretch and/or bend with greater ease than the support strap #240 and/or the tilt strap #260. By further example, the support strap and/or the tilt strap can provide minimal or no elongation in response to tension.  The pad can be substantially flexible, bendable, and/or stretchable. The arms #190 and the pad #210 can be coupled together by one or more of various mechanisms. For example, mechanisms such as fused materials, weaves, knits, braids, overmolding, co-molding, adhesive, and/or combinations thereof can be included to couple and/or secure the arms and the pad together.

For full details of each arrangement and concept of various new head straps, review granted patent 12019248.