US 11921355

Summary of U.S. Patent No. 11,921,355

Title: Head-worn personal audio apparatus supporting enhanced hearing support

Assignee: Ingeniospec LLC

Inventors: Thomas A. Howell, David Chao, C. Douglass Thomas, Peter P. Tong

Filing Date: May 8, 2023

Issue Date: March 5, 2024

Abstract:
The patent describes a head-worn personal audio apparatus, such as eyeglasses, that incorporates electronic components to provide enhanced hearing support. The apparatus can include features like audio output, communication capabilities, and health or fitness monitoring. The electronic components can be integrated into the temples or temple tips of the eyeglasses, or tethered to the device. The invention aims to provide these functionalities in a discreet and aesthetically pleasing manner, without significantly compromising the design of the eyewear.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

U.S. Patent No. 11,921,355 contains several independent claims, which define the core of the invention. In essence, they protect different aspects of a head-worn device with integrated electronics. A plain-language summary of these claims is as follows:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a pair of glasses with a frame, lenses, and at least one temple. The key feature is a "temple arrangement" attached to the temple, which contains at least one electrical component. This arrangement could be a temple tip, a cover that slides over the temple, or a "fit-over" piece that attaches to the temple. This allows for the addition of electronic features to standard eyeglasses.

• Claim 11: This claim focuses on a "temple adapter" that can be attached to the temple of a pair of glasses. The adapter includes at least one electrical component. This is a modular approach, allowing users to add or change the electronic functionality of their eyewear.

• Claim 20: This claim describes a method of providing a customer with eyewear that has electronic capabilities. The method involves offering a variety of "temple arrangements" or "temple adapters" with different electronic features. The customer can then select and attach their desired module to the eyewear. This essentially outlines a business model for customizable smart glasses.

Litigation and Legal Status:

As of April 26, 2026, there is no public record of litigation specifically involving U.S. Patent No. 11,921,355 in the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) dockets for 2026. However, the assignee, Ingeniospec LLC, has been actively involved in patent litigation concerning related technologies.

Ingeniospec LLC has filed complaints against major technology companies such as Apple, ByteDance, HTC, Meta, and Samsung, asserting other patents from its portfolio related to electronic eyewear, augmented/virtual reality headsets, and earbuds. These legal actions suggest a broad strategy by Ingeniospec to enforce its intellectual property in the wearables market. It is worth noting that some of these disputes have resulted in settlements.

The legal status of this patent is currently active. However, it's important to note that the validity of related patents in Ingeniospec's portfolio has been challenged. For instance, U.S. Patent 10,310,296, which is also owned by Ingeniospec and relates to eyeglasses with electronic components, has faced an "ex parte" reexamination by the USPTO. This indicates that the novelty and non-obviousness of the claimed inventions are under scrutiny.

It should be noted that information on ongoing litigation can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, it is recommended to consult the official dockets of the relevant courts.