On Thursday, the U.S. Patent Office published a patent application of Apple's that relate possible future smartglasses with the ability to connect accessories to the frames of the glasses including some form of audio devices, a tether to keep your glasses from falling while playing sports and so forth.

A head-mountable device can be worn by a user to display visual information within the field of view of the user. The head-mountable device can be used as a virtual reality (VR) system, an augmented reality (AR) system, and/or a mixed reality (MR) system. A user may observe outputs provided by the head-mountable device, such as visual information provided on a display. The display can optionally allow a user to observe an environment outside of the head-mountable device. Other outputs provided by the head-mountable device can include audio output and/or haptic feedback. A user may further interact with the head-mountable device by providing inputs for processing by one or more components of the head-mountable device. For example, the user can provide tactile inputs, voice commands, and other inputs while the device is mounted to the user's head.

Smartglasses can't provide every component that might provide a desired function. For example, different users may have different preferences regarding the components and functions that are provided by a given head-mountable device. Some users may desire certain capabilities, such as high-resolution display and long battery life, while other users may desire other capabilities, such as smaller form factor.

Furthermore, a given user may desire different functions at different times. For example, a given user may desire high-resolution display at home and long battery life when outside the home.

Given the diversity of desired components and functions, it would be beneficial to allow a user to modify components and functions of a head-mountable device to customize the user experience according to the user's desires. Head-mountable devices of the present disclosure facilitate customization, adaptability, and modification by a user according to the user's desires.

Head-mountable devices can include connection mechanisms that provide adjustable and exchangeable connections with other devices to enhance performance of the head-mountable device. Such connections can provide both mechanical engagement and operable communication between the connected devices. Arms, earpieces, accessory devices, and/or other external devices can be easily connected to provide different components and functions at different times as desired.

Accordingly, a main portion of the head-mountable device need not include permanent components that provide every function that will later be desired by the user. Instead, the head-mountable device can have expanded and customizable capabilities by the use of one or more arms, earpieces, accessory devices like a tether or added battery, and/or other external devices.

Apple's patent FIGS. 1 and 2 below, include a frame #20 can be supported on a user's head with the arms #70 and/or earpieces #80. The arms can wrap or extend along opposing sides of a user's head, for example from a location of the temple portions #60. The arms can connect to earpieces for wrapping around or otherwise engaging a user's ears.

It will be appreciated that other configurations can be applied for securing the head-mountable device to a user's head. For example, one or more bands, straps, belts, caps, hats, or other components can be used in addition to or in place of the illustrated components of the head-mountable device. By further example, an arm and/or earpiece can extend about a user's head to both sides of the frame.

the accessory device #100 can include a pair of end portions that are connected to each other by a tether #120. Optionally, the accessory device can include one or more accessory circuits #150 that provide functions to the head-mountable device when connected thereto.

the accessory device can have sufficient length to drop below the user's head, such as to the back of the user's neck. In such an arrangement, the head-mountable device can be taken off of the face of the user and a tether of the accessory device can wrap around the neck of the user and retain the head-mountable device 10 when the user intentionally or inadvertently releases it.

Apple's patent FIG. 3 above illustrates a top view of a head-mountable device connected by an accessory device to an external device; In FIG. 4, the arms and earpieces of a head-mountable device can transition between different configurations. As shown in FIG. 4, the arms #70 and the earpieces #80 can, together, pivot about a hinge #44 through which they are connected to the frame #20.

As shown in FIG. 8, different earpieces can be exchanged with each other at different times to assemble a different head-mountable device. Different earpieces can provide a variety of different components and functions to achieve the results that are desired by a user.

As shown in FIG. 8, the earpieces can be removed by detachment from the arms.

A couple of Apple's inventors include: Brian S. Lau: Product Design Engineer (Vision Group) and Cameron Harder: Product Design Manager at Apple (Vision Group). Apple's patent was made public on November 28, 2024.