An Apple patent filing describes a two-axis hinge mechanism that could make its way to Apple’s smart glasses

Apple’s alleged smart glasses could be a few years away, but it appears the company is working on hardware that could be found in its next-generation wearables. According to a patent application published by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Apple has designed a hinge mechanism that could be part of the company’s augmented reality (AR) glasses. Earlier this year, Apple launched the Vision Pro in the US as its first wearable spatial computer, and future models are expected to resemble regular glasses.

Apple patent application for two-axis hinge mechanism

In a patent application published by the US Patent Office last week, Apple explains the use of a two-axis hinge on a pair of glasses. The document describes the hinge’s ability to be used to open the arm in three states — open (nominal), folded, and hyperextended.

Images showing dual-axis hinges on smart glasses
Photo credit: US Patent Office/ Apple

Apple says a hinge with “multiple axes of rotation of different parts” would allow the arm of the AR glasses to move between different stable positions. The hinge design would also allow the smart glasses to “apply clamping force to a wide range of heads.”

Another advantage of using a two-axis hinge mechanism is the possibility of equipping the hinge with a cable that would connect the components in the arm and the frame of the smart glasses. The redesigned hinge will also allow components to remain secure, according to the company’s patent document.

Apple ‘Eyewear’ references in patent application

The patent document contains multiple references to ‘glasses’, suggesting the company is developing the technology to eventually launch its own pair of smart glasses. Previous reports have tried to predict a switch from a mixed reality headset (Apple Vision Pro) to something more modern.

Last month, it was reported that the iPhone maker plans to launch a foldable iPhone and AR glasses in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Apple isn’t the only company reportedly working on smart glasses. Asus, Meta, Samsung and Lenovo are some of the company’s rivals that are also working on similar technology.