Headphones

• US 10,178,463 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Smiechowski, Christina J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ojo, Oyesola C
• Application Number:
  US15/247,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20170257695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A pair of headphones including an adjustable headphone band. The headphone band can include an inner member and an outer member. The headphones can further include a braking mechanism disposed between the inner member and the outer member, and an earcup attachment feature. In some embodiments, the braking mechanism can include a brake pad and a brake pad cover.

Claims

1. A pair of headphones, comprising:

a headphone band having an outer member and an inner member cooperating to define an interior channel;

an earcup;

an earcup attachment feature having a first end coupled to the earcup and a second end having an aperture formed therethrough and disposed within the interior channel; and

a brake pad mechanism extending through the aperture and compressed between the inner member and outer member, the brake pad mechanism having a first surface contacting the inner member and a second surface contacting the outer member,

wherein the brake pad mechanism resists movement of the earcup attachment feature along the interior channel by generating friction between both the inner member and the first surface and the outer member and the second surface.

2. The pair of headphones of claim 1 wherein the brake pad mechanism comprises a compressible brake pad and brake pad cover.

3. The pair of headphones of claim 1 wherein a coefficient of friction between the first surface of the brake pad mechanism and the outer member is greater than a coefficient of friction between the second surface of the brake pad mechanism and the inner member.

4. The pair of headphones of claim 2 wherein the compression of the brake pad mechanism varies as the brake pad mechanism travels along the interior channel.

5. The pair of headphones of claim 2 wherein the brake pad cover includes a ridge area that defines a pocket.

6. The pair of headphones of claim 5 wherein the brake pad is positioned within the pocket.

7. The pair of headphones of claim 2 wherein the brake pad cover has a curved bottom surface.

8. The pair of headphones of claim 1 wherein the earcup attachment feature further includes a leg that extends between the first end and the second end.

9. The pair of headphones of claim 1 wherein the earcup attachment feature is a first earcup attachment feature disposed at a first end of the headphone band and the pair of headphones further comprises a second earcup attachment feature disposed at a second end of the headphone band.

10. The pair of headphones of claim 1 wherein the interior channel has a variable thickness and wherein the brake pad mechanism includes a compressible block of material that expands or contracts to maintain friction along the length of the interior channel.

11. The pair of headphones of claim 2 wherein the brake pad cover comprises polyoxymethylene (POM).

12. The pair of headphones of claim 2 wherein the compressible brake pad comprises silicone.

13. The pair of headphones of claim 1 wherein the earcup attachment feature is formed using a progressive die.

14. The pair of headphones of claim 1 wherein the earcup attachment feature comprises stamped sheet metal.

15. The pair headphones of claim 1 wherein the inner member comprises a carrier and a support structure.

16. The pair of headphones of claim 15 wherein the carrier of the inner member is formed using a double shot insert molding process.

17. The pair of headphones of claim 1 wherein the carrier of the inner member is seamless on a cosmetic surface.

18. The pair of headphones of claim 1 wherein the brake pad mechanism generates more friction with the outer member than with the inner member.

19. A pair of headphones, comprising:

a headphone band having an outer member and an inner member cooperating to define an interior channel;

a brake pad mechanism disposed between the inner member and the outer member, the brake mechanism comprising;

a first friction interface contacting the inner member; and

a second friction interface contacting the outer member;

wherein the first friction interface generates friction with the inner member and the second friction interface generates friction with the outer member when the brake pad mechanism travels along the interior channel.

20. The pair of headphones of claim 19, further comprising:

an earpiece enclosing a speaker; and

an earpiece attachment feature having a first end coupled to the earpiece and a second end disposed within the interior channel,

wherein the brake pad mechanism is coupled to the second end of the earpiece attachment feature.

21. The pair of headphones of claim 20, wherein the first friction interface is a surface of a brake pad and the second friction interface is a surface of a brake pad cover.