CES 2019 will open January 8 – 11, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada, bringing to the world’s eyes gadgets and technology from startups all over the globe. Wearable tech has always been one of the more popular offerings at CES. This year, we spotlight one of the patents behind Orii, the ring smartphone device from Origami Labs, a Hong Kong-based startup. Orii was recently shown at the SF Disrupt conference in San Francisco in September 2018, and will probably make an appearance at CES. One of the patents behind the smart ring technology is U.S. Patent No. 9,860,622 B2 (‘622), issued on January 2, 2018, nearly a full year before this year’s CES, and entitled “Wrist and Finger Communication Device.” The ‘622 patent was a continuation of an earlier-filed PCT application which was filed on July 7, 2016, and published as WO/2017/005199 A1 (‘199) on January 12, 2017. The inventors are to co-founders, Kevin Johan Wong, its CEO, and Marcus Leung-Shea, its COO.
Figure 8 illustrates the Orii smart ring technology.
The single claim is independent claim 1, which recites a wrist communications device that communicates with a ring speaker that is then held to the ear via two fingers so the user can hear voice communications being transmitted. The wrist device also acts as a display interface and vibrating notifier.
The Cooperative Patent Classifications are H04R (louspeakers, microphones, gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers, deaf-aid sets, public address systems); and G06F (electric digital data processing).
In addition, ORII™ is a pending stylized trademark application before the USPTO in two International Classes: Class 9, for “Electronic aural, haptic and optical communications instruments and components, namely, aural, haptic and optical transmitters; computers; downloadable computer and mobile software for managing electronic aural, haptic and optical communications instruments and components; headphones; earphones; remote controls for aural, haptic and optical transmitters,” and Class 10, for “Therapeutic and assistive devices adapted for the disabled, namely, a voice interface device to assist individuals in issuing commands to electronic devices such as computers, laptops and mobile phones.”
Origami Labs should not be confused with Origami, Inc., the cashless fintech startup based in Tokyo, Japan.
CES always brings out fascinating new consumer tech. If you have any questions on the patenting process, please contact Yonaxis for more information.