Adjustable bands for head-mounted displays and related systems and devices

Abstract

The disclosed head cradle may include a flexible portion that is configured to conform to an occipital region of a user's head and a base portion comprising at least one mounting element that is configured to secure the head cradle to a head strap for supporting a head-mounted display, a first biasing element secured to a first side of the flexible portion, and a second biasing element secured to a second, opposite side of the flexible portion, wherein the first and second biasing elements are configured to allow the flexible portion to conform to the occipital region of the user's head when a force substantially normal to the user's head is applied to the base portion. Various other devices, methods, and systems are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable band for a head-mounted display (HMD), comprising:
 a tensioning device configured to adjust a tension in the adjustable band, the tensioning device comprising a housing and a tension-adjustment knob;   a first strap extending from a first side of the tensioning device;   a second strap extending from a second, opposite side of the tensioning device; and   a battery compartment within the housing of the tensioning device, wherein the battery compartment is configured to hold a battery for providing power to the HMD.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable band of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first strap is configured to extend from the first side of the tensioning device to a first side of the HMD; and   the second strap is configured to extend from the second, opposite side of the tensioning device to a second, opposite side of the HMD.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable band of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning device is configured to increase a tension in the first strap and the second strap upon rotation of the tension-adjustment knob in a first rotational direction and to decrease a tension in the first strap and the second strap upon rotation of the tension-adjustment knob in a second, opposite rotational direction. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable band of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible portion that is configured to conform to an occipital region of a user's head when the HMD is donned by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable band of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible portion is coupled to and supported by the housing of the tensioning device. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable band of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible portion is coupled to the housing of the tensioning device via:
 a base portion secured to the housing of the tensioning device; and   at least one insert secured to the flexible portion and coupled to the base portion.   
     
     
         7 . The adjustable band of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one insert is coupled to the base portion with at least one respective biasing element. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable band of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one respective biasing element comprises at least one of:
 a leaf spring;   a quarter elliptic spring;   a simple beam spring;   a cantilever spring;   a plate spring;   a torsion spring;   a compression spring; or   a spiral spring.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable band of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible portion comprises a polyurethane material. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable band of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible portion has a loop shape. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable band of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one battery within the battery compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable band of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one battery comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable band of  claim 11 , further comprising a battery cable extending along the first strap or the second strap, the battery cable configured to supply power to the HMD from the battery. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable band of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first strap comprises a first fastener configured to detachably secure the first strap to the HMD; and   the second strap comprises a second fastener configured to detachably secure the second strap to the HMD.   
     
     
         15 . A head-mounted display assembly, comprising:
 a head-mounted display (HMD) including one or more electronic displays; and   an adjustable strap for supporting the HMD on a user's head, the adjustable strap comprising:
 a first strap for supporting the HMD on a first side of the user's head; 
 a second strap for supporting the HMD on a second side of the user's head; 
 a tensioning device configured to adjust a tension in the first strap and the second strap, the tensioning device comprising a housing; and 
 a battery compartment within the housing of the tensioning device, wherein the battery compartment is configured to hold a battery for providing power to the HMD. 
   
     
     
         16 . The head-mounted display of  claim 15 , wherein the tensioning device comprises a tension-adjustment knob for adjusting the tension in the first strap and the second strap. 
     
     
         17 . The head-mounted display of  claim 15 , further comprising a head cradle coupled to the housing of the tensioning device. 
     
     
         18 . The head-mounted display of  claim 17 , wherein the head cradle comprises:
 a flexible portion configured to rest against a rear portion of the user's head; and   a base portion securing the flexible portion to the housing of the tensioning device.   
     
     
         19 . The head-mounted display of  claim 18 , wherein the base portion is coupled to the flexible portion via a rigid insert secured to the flexible portion. 
     
     
         20 . An adjustable band for a head-mounted display, comprising:
 a flexible portion that is configured to conform to a rear portion of a user's head when the HMD is donned by the user;   a base portion coupled to and supporting the flexible portion;   a tensioning device secured to the base portion, the tensioning device comprising a tension-adjustment knob and a housing;   a first strap extending from a first side of the tensioning device;   a second strap extending from a second, opposite side of the tensioning device; and   a battery compartment within the housing of the tensioning device.