Apple could quickly introduce AI or other smartglasses in quick order to take on Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Yet we all know that it wouldn't be Apple to do so. Apple is known for looking at a new category of device in a holistic manner. Apple is maniacal at looking at a new device from every conceivable point of view and inventing new features that others couldn't be bothered with.

Today the U.S. Patent Office published four patent applications of Apple's that relate to a form of smartglasses and more specifically, to an adjustable securement arm system that provides users with a comfortable fit while keeping key components likes the glasses projectors and lenses in proper alignment. The system is to ensure that the glasses could remain firmly in place even when users are actively hiking or exercising.

In Apple's patent background they note that recent advances in portable computing have enabled head-mountable optical devices that provide augmented and virtual reality experiences to users. Various components of these devices, such as display screens, viewing frames, securement arms, speakers, batteries, and the like, operate together to provide an immersive and comfortable experience. However, the anatomy of each user's head is unique. One user's head can be larger than another's or can be a different shape. Other anatomical features, including relative positions of a user's nose, forehead, and ears, can vary widely as well. The anatomical variety of heads presents a challenge for head-mountable devices designed for comfort and reliability.

In some optical devices, for example, securement arms that extend along, or make contact with, opposing sides of a user's head can be used to secure the device to the user's head. However, the dimensions, angles, shape, and other physical characteristics of the arms that may be sufficient to comfortably and reliably secure the device to one user's head may not be sufficient to comfortably and reliably secure the device to another user's head.

Additionally, optical devices can be used in a variety of different settings and during a variety of different activities. These can range from lying down still in bed to mountain biking or hiking outdoors. Thus, even for a single user, the securement arms of a head-mountable device that are comfortable and sufficient for securing the device during one activity may not be as well suited for another activity.

Furthermore, head-mountable optical devices can include a number of electronic components configured to operate together to produce an altered or virtual reality experience to the user. Users often desire lightweight, compact devices that are comfortable, portable, long lasting, and easily handled. Thus, the physical configuration of these electronic components, including batteries, speakers, processors, and so forth, affects the quality of the user's experience.

Accordingly, what is needed in the art are head-mountable optical devices and systems providing users having a wide variety of anatomical features and who participate in a wide variety of activities with comfortable and reliable components.

Adjustable Securement Arm

Apple's patent application relates to head-mountable electronic devices such as smartglasses (AI, VR/AR). In at least one example, the glasses can include a viewing frame and a securement arm extending from the viewing frame.

Examples of the present disclosure can include a securement arm extending from the viewing frame, which can be fixed in position relative to the viewing frame or secured thereto. An optical electronic device can include two opposing securement arms that can apply pressure to or around a user's head to maintain the viewing frame resting on the user's nose and/or cheeks. In some examples, the securement arms can rest on top of the user's ears to assist in securing the head-mountable optical device to the head of the user.

The securement arm can include multiple portions and one or more electronic components used to operate the head-mountable electronic device. These components can include any components used by the head-mountable electronic device to produce a virtual or augmented reality experience.

For example, electronic components of the securement arm can include one or more speakers, processors, batteries, circuitry components including wires and circuit boards, or any other electronic components used in the head-mountable device to deliver augmented or virtual reality visuals, sounds, and other outputs.

Disposing various electronic components within the securement arm reduces weight and space needed for the viewing frame and lenses and/or display screens of the device. This redistributed weight can relieve pressure of sensitive features like the user's nose and cheeks to create a more comfortable experience. This weight distribution can also be used to balance weight from the front of the device (at the viewing frame) to the back of the device (at the distal ends of the securement arms), resulting in a more secure and comfortable experience.

In examples where the securement arm includes multiple portions, a first portion or proximal portion can include a first electronic device and a second portion or distal portion can include a second electronic device. The first portion can be attached and/or connected to the second portion with a connector. In at least one example, the first electronic device and the second electronic device can be electrically connected with an electrical wire or cable extending through the connector. The connection can be extendable to adjust the length of the securement arm. The electrical wire can extend through the connector and be disposed such that extending the connector does not affect the electrically connectivity of the first electrical component with the second electrical component.

Smartglasses are optical devices that could deliver virtual and augmented reality experiences, can be used in a variety of different settings and during a variety of activities. For example, a user may lie down on a sofa or a bed while watching a movie or playing a game with a head-mountable virtual reality device.

That same device can be used while exercising indoors on an exercise machine. Similarly, devices like augmented reality glasses can be used while being active outdoors, either while hiking, biking, or swimming.

The head measurements and anatomical features of each user vary such that a securement arm of the same length, shape, and curvature, may not be appropriate for every user. For example, some heads are rounder than others. Some heads are larger or smaller and the position of a user's nose relative to their eyes can vary. The position of a user's ears relative to their nose or forehead can vary from one user to another such that a set of securement arms that effectively secure a head-mountable device to one user may not effectively secure the same device to anther user.

In addition, manufacturing individualized arms for each unique customer can be burdensome and often economically unfeasible. The head-mountable electronic devices of the present disclosure include securement arms and components that can be altered and extended to accommodate each user and each activity.

The same user can adjust the securement arms of a device, for example, to extend and rest on the ears in a natural manner when using the head-mountable device for exercise or other active scenarios. The same user can readjust the securement arms for a more comfortable fit while using the head-mountable device for less active scenarios, including lying down, sitting, or walking. In addition, some head-mountable devices may be used by multiple people, including multiple people in a household or business office, with each person having a different head geometry. Securement arms for devices described herein can be customized for the same device to be comfortably and effectively used by each of the multiple individuals using the device.

In one example, the second portion can be extended and secured relative to the first portion of the securement arm to adjust the length of the securement arms. In one example, the second portion can be a distal portion and the first portion can be a proximal portion secured to the viewing frame. The distal portion can couple to the proximal portion by the extendable connector.

An electrical cable can extend through the connector to electrically connect components disposed in the distal portion to components disposed in the proximal portion. To accommodate the cable through an extending connector, the cable can be directed and/or disposed in a variety of ways. For example, the cable can be coiled when the securement arm is disposed in a contracted arrangement and protracted when the securement arm is in an extended arrangement. In this way, the securement arm can be adjusted and customized to each user or for a single user participating in different activities.

For full details, review Apple's patent application 20250060599.

Apple Inventors

• Alison Shutzberg: Product Design Engineer - Vision Products Group
• William Paul: Sensor System Architect

This is a major project at Apple. Three additional patents on this one aspect of future smartglasses are presented below for your to review.

• 20250060598
• 20250060600
• 20250060597

Below are a few of Apple's patents Figures from 2 out of the 3 additional patents linked to above.