Apple has been on a roll of late working on a series of new ways to secure HMDs and Smartglasses to a user's head so that they could be used in the office, in sports and social activities. In this latest patent, Apple reveals work on 'forward arm joints' and flexible members using elastically deformable materials.

In their patent background, Apple notes that recent advances in portable computing have enabled head-mountable devices, or electronic devices that are worn on a user's head, which provide augmented and virtual reality experiences to users. Various component of these devices, such as display screens, viewing frames, securement arms, speakers, batteries, and other components, operate together to provide an immersive and comfortable experience. The various electronic components can require various arrangements relative to other features of the head mountable devices, limiting the possible configurations of the components of the device.

Further, the anatomy of each user's head is unique. One user's head can be larger than another user's head, or one head can be a different shape. Other anatomical features, including relative positions of a user's nose, forehead, and ears, can vary widely between users as well. The anatomical variety of heads presents a challenge for head-mountable devices designed for comfort and reliability.

In some head-mountable 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, positions, and other physical characteristics of the arms that can 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, head-mountable devices can be used in a variety of different settings and during a variety of different activities, as well as in a variety of different orientations. For example, a user can use the head-mountable devices during formal or public settings such as work or during social engagements, or for private use at home. However, existing head mountable devices are often bulky or aesthetically displeasing. The bulky nature of the devices can limit the environments or activities that a user can acceptably use the device. Further, poor aesthetics of existing devices can discourage widespread use in public or social settings.

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

Smartglasses with Forward Arm Joint

Apple's patent relates to head-mountable electronic devices having securement arms. In at least one example, a head-mountable device can include a viewing or display frame and a securement arm extending from the viewing frame. An electronic component housing can be coupled to or extend from the viewing frame.

Examples of head-mountable electronic devices can include AI, virtual reality or augmented reality devices that include an optical component. In the case of augmented reality devices, optical eyeglasses or frames can be worn on the head of a user such that optical windows, which can include transparent windows, lenses, or displays, can be positioned in front of the user's eyes. In another example, a virtual reality device can be worn on the head of a user such that a display screen is positioned in front of the user's eyes. The viewing frame can include a housing or other structural components supporting the optical components, for example lenses or screens, or various electronic components.

The optical electronic device can include 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 can include one or more projectors, waveguides, 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. The various electronic components can be disposed within the electronic component housing. In some examples, the various electronic components can be disposed with in or attached to one or more of the display frame, the electronic component housing, or the securement arm.

In some examples, the electronic components can be positioned or require a defined relationship relative to another component of the head-mountable electronic device. For example, the electronic components can include a projector and/or a waveguide. The projector or waveguide can be calibrated to generate an image size or quality corresponding to a distance or orientation between the projector and the windows of the display frame. Accordingly, the projector can be attached or positioned to limit movement relative to the lenses during use. In some examples, electrical components such as a speaker, can similarly require a defined position relative to another component of the head mountable device or the user's head.

Head-mountable electronic devices, such as head-mountable optical devices, smartglasses, and so forth, which can 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 can utilize head mountable devices during work or formal events.

In other examples, a user can use head mountable devices during physical activities whether indoors, such as at a gym, or outdoors during activities like hiking, biking, or running. The devices of the present disclosure include components, such as securement arms, which can be adapted to comfortably secure head-mountable devices to the user during the various activities in which the user participates. Further, the components can be structured to be aesthetically appealing or acceptable for the variety of activities engaged in by a user.

In addition, the head measurements and anatomical features of each user can vary such that a securement arm of the same fixed length or shape and orientation 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 an arrangement of securement arms that effectively secure a head-mountable device to one user do not effectively secure the same device to another user. To accommodate the various head shapes and sizes of the users, the head mountable device can include adjustably positionable components, such as the securement arms.

The head mountable devices can include two or more securement arms. The securement arms can be coupled to the viewing frame or electronics housing. For example, the securement arms can be coupled at or adjacent the viewing frame. The securement arms can extend distally relative to the viewing frame.

In some examples, the securement arms can rotatably couple to the electronics housing, such as at a joint or pivot. In one example, the securement arms are rotatably coupled to a proximal portion of the electronics housing adjacent the viewing frame. In other examples, the securement arms can rotatably couple to a distal portion of the electronics housing. The rotation of the securement arms about the joint or pivot can allow a user to adjust the head mountable device to fit the width or size of their head. The adjustability of the securement arms can allow the same size of a head mountable device to be used by a variety of users having differently sized heads or facial features.

In some examples, the head mountable device can include a flexible or biasing member. The flexible member can assist in positioning the securement arm or creating the appearance of a continuous securement arm. The flexible member can be an elastically deformable material or component. For example, the flexible member can be a torsional spring or a cantilever feature to bias the securement arm inward. When the head mountable device is worn by a user, biasing the securement arms inward can assist in compressing the securement arms against a user's head to provide a more secure fit. The flexible member can be positioned or arranged on the interior of the hinge segment or electronics housing, or between components.

Apple has been on a roll of late working on a series of new ways to secure HMDs and Smartglasses to a user's head so that they could be used in the office, in sports and social activities. In this latest patent, Apple reveals work on 'forward arm joints' and flexible members using elastically deformable materials.

For full details, review Apple's patent application20250085555. 

Apple Inventors

• Paul Williams: Optical Operations Engineer
• Alison Shutzberg: Product Design Engineer

The European Patent Office published another HMD patent titled Head-Mounted Display and Facial Interface"  under number EP4521211 that you could review here.