Detachable audio system for head-mounted displays

A detachable audio system coupleable to a strap, comprising:

• a first mounting plate assembly having a first plate portion attachable to the strap, first and second electrical contacts spaced apart from each other and connected to the first plate portion, and a first threaded attachment member connected to the first plate portion and spaced apart from the first and second electrical contacts;
• a second mounting plate assembly having a second plate portion removably connectable to the first mounting plate assembly with at least a portion of the strap therebetween, the second mounting plate assembly having an outer plate structure with a receiving area, a non-conductive insert in the receiving area, a second threaded attachment member projecting from the outer plate structure through the non-conductive insert, wherein the second threaded attachment member is configured to screw together and threadably mate with the first threaded attachment member to mechanically hold the first and second mounting plate assemblies together on the strap, first and second spring-biased electrical connectors at least partially captured between the non-conductive insert and the outer plate structure with contact tips protruding through the insert and positioned to engage the first and second electrical contacts when the first and second threaded attachment members are in threaded engagement, the second mounting plate assembly having a flex circuit connected to the insert in operative engagement with the spring-biased electrical connectors, and having a flexible strain relief member attached to the outer plate structure, the flexible strain relief member having an internal channel with a first end adjacent to the flex circuit and a second end spaced apart from the flex circuit;
• an electrically conductive line extending through the internal channel and connected at a proximal portion to the flex circuit;
• and
• a speaker assembly attached to a distal portion of the electrically conductive line;
• wherein the ear bud assembly, the electrically conductive line and second mounting plate assembly are detachable from the strap as a unit upon unscrewing the first and second threaded attachment members.

A head-mounted display assembly, comprising:

• a head mounted display;
• a strap assembly with opposing first and second side strap portions connected to the head-mounted display, the first and second side strap portions, each containing electronic circuitry coupled to the head-mounted display;
• and
• first and second audio systems operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry, each of the first and second audio systems being detachably connected to a respective one of the first and second side strap portions, each of the first and second audio systems, comprising:
• a first mounting plate assembly having a first plate portion attachable to the side strap portion, first and second electrical contacts connected to the first plate portion and spaced apart from each other, and a first threaded attachment member connected to the first plate portion and spaced apart from the first and second electrical contacts;
• a second mounting plate assembly having a second plate portion removably connectable to the first mounting plate assembly with the side strap portion therebetween, a second threaded attachment member projecting from the second plate portion and being configured to threadably mate with the first threaded attachment member to mechanically hold the first and second mounting plate assemblies together on the side strap portion, first and second electrical connectors connected to the second plate portion and positioned to engage the first and second electrical contacts when the first and second threaded attachment members are in threaded engagement;
• and
• a speaker assembly coupled to the second mounting plate assembly, wherein the speaker assembly and the second mounting plate assembly are detachable from the side strap portion as a unit.