Pneumatically controlled haptic mechanisms with curling internal structures for haptic feedback
US10540870B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 8, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 8, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63F13/285
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An apparatus for creating haptic stimulations is provided. The apparatus includes pod(s) coupled to a garment, each pod including: (i) an internal structure including an arrangement of a plurality of protrusions and (ii) an airtight bladder surrounding the internal structure, wherein the bladder is pneumatically coupled to a pneumatic device that is configured to control a pressurized state of the bladder. The internal structure in each pod is configured to: (i) when the respective bladder of the respective pod is in a first pressurized state, have a first degree of flexibility; and (ii) when the respective bladder is in a second pressurized state different from the first pressurized state: curve, at least partially, in a predetermined direction, and have a second degree of flexibility less than the first degree of flexibility, thereby providing a haptic stimulation to a wearer when the respective bladder is in the second pressurized state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.