Adjustable strap system and related devices and methods
AssigneeMeta Platforms Technologies, LLC
InventorsGlen Jason Tompkins, Boyd Drew Allin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosed strap adjustment device may include a pinion gear secured to an adjustment knob, a first rack secured to a first strap and engaged with the pinion gear, a second rack secured to a second strap and engaged with the pinion gear, a braking element disposed adjacent to an inner surface of a drum, a brake engagement element configured to press the at least one braking element toward the inner surface of the drum to maintain a length of the first strap and the second strap by engagement of the braking element against the inner surface of the drum, and a spiral spring configured to allow for an increase in a length of the first strap and the second strap when a tension force is applied to at least one of the first strap or the second strap.
Claims19
A strap adjustment device comprising:
- a pinion gear secured to an adjustment knob;
- a first rack secured to a first strap and engaged with the pinion gear;
- a second rack secured to a second strap and engaged with the pinion gear;
- at least one braking element disposed adjacent to an inner surface of a drum;
- a brake engagement element configured to press the at least one braking element toward the inner surface of the drum to maintain a length of the first strap and the second strap by engagement of the at least one braking element against the inner surface of the drum;
- and
- at least one spiral spring having a first end coupled to the pinion gear and a second end coupled to the brake engagement element to couple the pinion gear to the brake engagement element, wherein the at least one spiral spring provides a rotational spring force, such that the at least one spiral spring allows the first strap and the second strap to be let out by winding of the at least one spiral spring without disengagement of the brake engagement element from the inner surface of the drum upon application of a tension force in the first strap and the second strap by a user.
An adjustable strap system for a head-mounted display (HMD), comprising:
- a strap adjustment device that is configured to be disposed on a posterior region of a user's head;
- a first strap configured to extend from a first side of the HMD to a first side of the strap adjustment device;
- and
- a second strap configured to extend from a second, opposite side of the HMD to a second, opposite side of the strap adjustment device, wherein the strap adjustment device comprises:
- a pinion gear;
- a first rack secured to the first strap and engaged with the pinion gear;
- a second rack secured to the second strap and engaged with the pinion gear;
- at least one braking element disposed adjacent to an inner surface of a drum;
- an adjustment knob configured to adjust a length of at least one of the first strap or the second strap by disengaging the at least one braking element from the inner surface of the drum;
- and
- a biasing element that is positioned between the pinion gear and the at least one braking element and that is configured to allow for an increase in the length of at least one of the first strap or the second strap by allowing biased rotation of the pinion gear when a tension force is applied to at least one of the first strap or the second strap by a user without rotating the adjustment knob and without disengagement of the at least one braking element from the inner surface of the drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.