Harness Apparatus for Head-Mounted Display Devices

Abstract

A harness apparatus for use with a head-mounted display device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides a pair of display connector portions positioned on opposing left and right sides of the display device. A harness assembly provides at least one elongate primary head strap for engagement about a user’s head, with opposing terminal ends of the at least one primary head strap being positioned proximal a left temple and a right temple, respectively, of the user’s head, and providing a pair of strap connector portions configured for removable engagement with the pair of display connector portions. The harness assembly further provides a gasket extending between the strap connector portions and configured for being positionable in contact with a face of the user so as to be sandwiched between the display device and the user’s face when the display device is engaged with the harness assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A harness apparatus for use with a head-mounted display device and configured for removable engagement with a head of a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a pair of display connector portions positioned on opposing left and right sides of the display device, each of the display connector portions comprising: 
 a connector plate; 
 a bottom surface of the connector plate configured for engagement with a mount location on the corresponding left or right side of the display device; and 
 an opposing top surface of the connector plate providing a display connector mechanism configured as a slot; and 
   a harness assembly comprising: 
 an at least one elongate primary head strap extending in a substantially horizontal plane for engagement about the user’s head, with opposing terminal ends of the at least one primary head strap being positioned proximal a left temple and a right temple, respectively, of the user’s head; 
 a gasket sized for approximating the dimensions of a perimeter edge of a housing of the display device, the gasket configured for being positionable in contact with a face of the user so as to be sandwiched between the display device and the user’s face when the display device is engaged with the harness assembly; and 
 a pair of strap connector portions mounted on opposing lateral edges of the gasket and engaged with the terminal ends of the at least one primary head strap, each of the strap connector portions configured for being removably insertable within the slot of a corresponding one of the display connector mechanisms; 
   whereby, with the gasket positioned in contact with the user’s face, the primary head strap may be secured around the user’s head, thereby maintaining the positioning of the gasket relative to the user’s face, and allowing the display device to be quickly engaged and subsequently disengaged with the harness assembly via the corresponding display connector portions.   
     
     
         2 . The harness apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the strap connector portions provides a strap aperture sized and configured for allowing the corresponding terminal end of the at least one primary head strap to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The harness apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein engagement between each strap connector mechanism and the corresponding display connector mechanism is oriented at an engagement angle that is between approximately 0 degrees and approximately 90 degrees relative to the user’s face. 
     
     
         4 . The harness apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the engagement angle is approximately 90 degrees relative to the user’s face. 
     
     
         5 . The harness apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each display connector mechanism provides a lock configured for selectively preventing the strap connector mechanism from becoming unintentionally disengaged from the display connector mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The harness apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 each strap connector mechanism provides a pair of spaced apart connector tabs configured for selectively flexing inwardly toward one another as the connector tabs are inserted into the slot of the corresponding display connector mechanism; and   a terminal end of each connector tab is configured for indexing into a corresponding connector notch positioned within the slot of the display connector mechanism;   whereby, each strap connector mechanism is configured for moving between one of an engaged state – wherein the terminal ends of the connector tabs are indexed into the corresponding connector notches – and a disengaged state – wherein the terminal ends of the connector tabs are moved out of the corresponding connector notches, thereby allowing the strap connector mechanism to be disengaged from the display connector mechanism.   
     
     
         7 . The harness apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the lock of the display connector mechanism is a stop block slidably positioned within the slot and configured for selectively moving between one of a locked position – wherein the stop block is moved into a position substantially between the connector tabs, when the strap connector mechanism is in the engaged state, so as to physically prevent the connector tabs from flexing inwardly toward each other which, in turn, prevents the terminal ends of the connector tabs from moving out of the corresponding connector notches – and an unlocked position -wherein the stop block is moved into a position that no longer prevents the connector tabs from flexing inwardly toward each other which, in turn, allows the terminal ends of the connector tabs to selectively move out of the corresponding connector notches. 
     
     
         8 . The harness apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the stop block is mechanically biased into the locked position, such that as the connector tabs are inserted into the slot, the terminal ends of the connector tabs push the stop block into the unlocked position until the terminal ends index into the corresponding connector notches, at which point, the stop block automatically moves back into the locked position. 
     
     
         9 . The harness apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the stop block provides a block tab that is externally accessible through the display connector mechanism for manually moving the stop block between the locked position and unlocked position. 
     
     
         10 . The harness apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the slot of each display connector mechanism defines laterally opposing tracks;   each strap connector mechanism provides corresponding laterally opposing side rails sized and configured for riding within the tracks of the corresponding display connector mechanism when the strap connector mechanism is inserted into the slot; and   the lock of each display connector mechanism is a mechanically biased tongue, with an upper surface of the tongue providing a catch positioned and configured for hooking onto a downwardly extending lip of the strap connector mechanism;   whereby, each strap connector mechanism is configured for moving between one of an engaged state – wherein the catch of the tongue is hooked onto the lip of the strap connector mechanism – and a disengaged state – wherein the tongue is manually pressed so as to temporarily flex and move the catch away from the lip of the strap connector mechanism which, in turn, allows the strap connector mechanism to be disengaged from the display connector mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The harness apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the tongue is mechanically biased into the locked position, with a leading edge of the catch being angled away from the lip of the strap connector mechanism, such that as the strap connector mechanism is inserted into the slot, the lip of the strap connector mechanism slides along the leading edge of the catch and causes the tongue to flex downwardly until the lip passes completely over the catch, at which point the tongue automatically moves back into the locked position and causes the catch to hook onto the lip. 
     
     
         12 . The harness apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each strap connector mechanism provides a thumb tab for assisting with manually moving the strap connector mechanism between the engaged state and disengaged state. 
     
     
         13 . The harness apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an at least one further display connector portion positioned on a top surface of the display device; and   the harness assembly further comprising: 
 an at least one elongate secondary head strap positioned and configured for extending in a substantially vertical plane over a top of the user’s head, with a terminal end of the secondary head strap being positioned proximal a forehead of the user; and 
 an at least one strap connector portion configured for removable engagement with the at least one further display connector portion, each of the at least one strap connector portion engaged with a corresponding one of the terminal ends of the at least one secondary head strap. 
   
     
     
         14 . The harness apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein an opposing end of the at least one secondary head strap is engaged with the at least one primary head strap, at a location proximal a rear of the user’s head. 
     
     
         15 . The harness apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the harness assembly further comprises a headpiece sized and configured for being removably engaged with the user’s head, with each of the at least one primary head strap and at least one secondary head strap being engaged with the headpiece and configured for cooperating to securely engage the harness assembly with the user’s head. 
     
     
         16 . The harness apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one primary head strap cooperates with the headpiece to extend around the rear of the user’s head. 
     
     
         17 . The harness apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein an opposing end of the at least one secondary head strap is engaged with the headpiece. 
     
     
         18 . A combination harness apparatus and head-mounted display device configured for removable engagement with a head of a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a head-mounted display device;   a pair of display connector portions positioned on opposing left and right sides of the display device, each of the display connector portions comprising: 
 a connector plate; 
 a bottom surface of the connector plate configured for engagement with a mount location on the corresponding left or right side of the display device; and 
 an opposing top surface of the connector plate providing a display connector mechanism configured as a slot; and 
   a harness assembly comprising: 
 an at least one elongate primary head strap extending in a substantially horizontal plane for engagement about the user’s head, with opposing terminal ends of the at least one primary head strap being positioned proximal a left temple and a right temple, respectively, of the user’s head; 
 a gasket sized for approximating the dimensions of a perimeter edge of a housing of the display device, the gasket configured for being positionable in contact with a face of the user so as to be sandwiched between the display device and the user’s face when the display device is engaged with the harness assembly; and 
 a pair of strap connector portions mounted on opposing lateral edges of the gasket and engaged with the terminal ends of the at least one primary head strap, each of the strap connector portions configured for being removably insertable within the slot of a corresponding one of the display connector mechanisms; 
   whereby, with the gasket positioned in contact with the user’s face, the primary head strap may be secured around the user’s head, thereby maintaining the positioning of the gasket relative to the user’s face, and allowing the display device to be quickly engaged and subsequently disengaged with the harness assembly via the corresponding display connector portions.   
     
     
         19 . A harness apparatus for use with a head-mounted display device and configured for removable engagement with a head of a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a pair of display connector portions positioned on opposing left and right sides of the display device, each of the display connector portions comprising: 
 a connector plate; 
 a bottom surface of the connector plate configured for engagement with a mount location on the corresponding left or right side of the display device; and 
 an opposing top surface of the connector plate providing a display connector mechanism comprising: 
 a slot defining laterally opposing tracks; and 
 a mechanically biased tongue positioned substantially between the tracks, an upper surface of the tongue providing a catch; and 
 
   a harness assembly comprising: 
 an at least one elongate primary head strap extending in a substantially horizontal plane for engagement about the user’s head, with opposing terminal ends of the at least one primary head strap being positioned proximal a left temple and a right temple, respectively, of the user’s head; 
 a pair of strap connector portions engaged with a corresponding one of the terminal ends of the at least one primary head strap; 
 each of the strap connector portions providing a strap connector mechanism comprising: 
 a pair of laterally opposing side rails sized and configured for riding within the tracks of the slot of the corresponding display connector mechanism; and 
 a downwardly extending lip positioned substantially between the side rails and configured for selectively hooking onto the catch of the corresponding display connector mechanism; and 
 
 a gasket sized for approximating the dimensions of a perimeter edge of a housing of the display device, the gasket extending between the strap connector portions and configured for being positionable in contact with a face of the user so as to be sandwiched between the display device and the user’s face when the display device is engaged with the harness assembly; 
   whereby, with the gasket positioned in contact with the user’s face, the primary head strap may be secured around the user’s head, thereby maintaining the positioning of the gasket relative to the user’s face, and allowing the display device to be quickly engaged and subsequently disengaged with the harness assembly via the corresponding display connector portions.   
     
     
         20 . The harness apparatus of  claim 19 , whereby each strap connector mechanism is configured for moving between one of an engaged state – wherein the catch of the tongue is hooked onto the lip of the strap connector mechanism – and a disengaged state – wherein the tongue is manually pressed so as to temporarily flex and move the catch away from the lip of the strap connector mechanism which, in turn, allows the strap connector mechanism to be disengaged from the display connector mechanism.