US 12,085,763 B2
Optical bridge
Timothy Fuller, Pinehurst, NC (US); and Kyle Winger, Fayetteville, NC (US)
Assigned to AETHER OPTICS, LLC, Pinehurst, NC (US)
Filed by AETHER OPTICS, LLC, Pinehurst, NC (US)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/718,682.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/258,119, filed on Apr. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0326445 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 6/35 (2006.01); G02B 7/00 (2021.01); G02B 7/12 (2021.01); G02B 23/12 (2006.01); G02B 23/18 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3504 (2013.01) [G02B 6/358 (2013.01); G02B 6/3582 (2013.01)] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical bridge, comprising:
(i) a bridge body configured to be mounted directly or indirectly onto a head-worn device;
(ii) at least one rail operatively engaged with the bridge body, the at least one rail having a first end and a second end;
(iii) a first stopblock located at or proximate to the first end; and
(iv) a second stopblock located at or proximate to the second end; wherein the at least one rail has a first side portion located between the first stopblock and the bridge body and a second side portion located between the second stopblock and the bridge body;
(v) a first adapter pod slidably mounted on the first side portion of the at least one rail and configured to engage a first optical device, a second adapter pod slidably mounted on the second side portion of the at least one rail and configured to engage the first optical device, a second optical device, or both;
(vi) the first adapter pod comprises a first position-securing device configured to releasably engage the at least one rail to secure the first adaptor pod at a desired position along the first side portion of the at least one rail, and the second adapter pod comprises a second position-securing device configured to releasably engage the at least one rail to secure the second adaptor pod at a desired position along the second side portion of the at least one rail;
(vii) the first position-securing device and the second position-securing device each comprise (a) an engaged state wherein the respective adapter pod is releasably secured at the desired position along the respective side portion of the at least one rail, and (b) an unengaged state wherein the respective adapter pod is free to slide along the respective side portion of the at least one rail; and
(viii) the first position-securing device, the second position-securing device, or both comprise a user engageable button including or operably coupled to a rail-engaging surface and a body portion, wherein the user engageable button has (a) a depressed state corresponding to the unengaged state, and (b) a relaxed state corresponding to the engaged state.