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MetaGranted patentAR, VR & displaysInterest 6/10

Meta patents pulley system to auto-adjust VR headset straps

Meta has patented a design for virtual reality headsets that uses a pulley-like mechanism to adjust the tightness of side straps. The system uses a cable and spooling parts to change the strap length, allowing the headset to fit different head sizes more easily.

Why it mattersThis design could make it faster and easier for users to get a comfortable fit without manually tightening multiple straps.

In the filing’s own words

Systems and methods are provided for a head-wearable device. The head-wearable device can include a display, a retractable side strap, and a housing. The housing includes an anchor point, an adjustment mechanism configured to change an exposed length of the retractable side strap, and a cable. The cable includes a first end and a second end coupled the cable-spooling portion of the adjustment mechanism and an intermediary portion of the cable that travels around the anchor point and is coupled to the retractable side strap. The cable is maintained at a predetermined tension by at least the adjustment mechanism or the anchor point. When the adjustment mechanism is adjusted, the cable winds/unwinds around the first or second cable-spooling portion of the adjustment mechanism, adjusting the exposed length of the retractable side strap to accommodate for different head sizes for users of the head-wearable device.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A head-wearable device, comprising: a display; a retractable side strap coupled with the display, the retractable side strap including a housing comprising: an anchor point; an adjustment mechanism configured to be adjusted to change an exposed length of the retractable side strap that is outside of the housing; a cable including: a first end coupled to a first cable-spooling portion of the adjustment mechanism, an intermediary portion of the cable that travels around the anchor point and is coupled with a portion of the retractable side strap, and a second end coupled to a second cable-spooling portion of the adjustment mechanism, wherein the intermediary portion of the cable includes a first windable segment extending from the first end of the cable and a second windable segment extending from the second end of the cable, and actuation of the adjustment mechanism results in winding or unwinding of at least a portion of each of the first windable segment and the second windable segment; wherein at least one of the adjustment mechanism and the anchor point maintain the cable at a predetermined tension, such that, when the adjustment mechanism is adjusted, the adjustment mechanism (i) winds the cable around the first cable-spooling portion of the adjustment mechanism or the second cable-spooling portion of the adjustment mechanism, and (ii) adjusts the exposed length of the retractable side strap to allow the head-wearable device to accommodate respective head sizes for a plurality of users of the head-wearable device.

Facts

Company
Meta (Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC)
Official title
Pulley-based adjustable strap design for virtual-reality headset
Patent number
US12743127B2
Application number
18583730
Filed
Feb 21, 2024
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
20

Classified under

G06F 1/163 Physics & computingF16M 13/04 Mechanical engineeringG02B 27/0176 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.