Apple has been granted a patent (number US 12066861 B1) for a “Nosepiece for Head-Mountable Device” — namely, the Apple Vision Pro.
About the patent
The patent is designed to help address one of the main complaints of the spatial computer: that it’s uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. It relates generally to head-mountable devices, and, more particularly, to head-mountable devices with a nosepiece for resting on a nose of a user.
Since a head-mountable device can contact a nose of a user, in addition to other areas of the user’s head, what’s needed is a way to maximize the fit and comfort on the user, so that usage of the device for extended durations isn’t difficult for the user.
In the patent Apple notes that, due to variations in nose features across different users, a given head-mountable device may require adjustment to accommodate different users. For example, different users can have noses with different depths, widths, and lengths. Accordingly, a nosepiece of a particular shape may have a different effect and/or fit on different users.
In particular, the distribution of forces may be uneven and/or focused on a small area, such as the bridge on the top of the nose. A greater proportion of the weight can be distributed, for example, to the sides of the nose so that the user does not fatigue for use of the head-mountable device.
Apple wants a nosepiece for the Vision Pro to provide a proper fit to ensure alignment of the head-mountable device with the head of the user, including the eyes for observation of the display elements of the head-mountable device. The tech giant also wants the nosepiece to facilitate sealing so that light from an external environment does not enter into the region between the display elements and the eyes of the user.
Overall, the Apple patent involves a spatial computer that distributes weight and/or other forces across wide areas of a nose. The device can include a nosepiece that distributes forces away from a top of the nose to the sides of the nose. The nose contact elements of such nosepieces can be slideably and/or rotationally biased to apply forces to the sides of the nose when the head-mountable device is worn by a user.
Apple says that such distribution allows forces to be spread across a greater area. This improves overall comfort, positioning, and light sealing of the head-mountable device.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A head-mountable device can include a nosepiece that distributes forces away from a top of the nose to the sides of the nose. The nose contact elements of such nosepieces can be slideably and/or rotationally biased to apply forces to the sides of the nose when the head-mountable device is worn by a user. Such distribution allows forces to be spread across a greater area, which improves overall comfort, positioning, and light sealing of the head-mountable device.”
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