Case with torsion spring over-center mechanism

• US 10,397,683 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: LeBlanc, Jason J., Panecki, Lee M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US15/273,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20170094381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 381370, 381374
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/24 Etuis for purposes not covered by a single one of groups A45C11/02 - A45C11/22, A45C11/26, A45C11/32 - A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/005 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1069 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/026 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/16 hinged for upward or downward movement cigar or cigarette receptacles A24F15/00; suitcases, ètuis A45C; casings for cosmetic substances with hinged covers A45D40/22; toolboxes B25H3/02; hinges of door or similar type E05D ; boxes for switchboards with hinged covers H02B1/066
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/83 Use of a magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 : Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 : Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 : Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1075 : Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2826 : for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2857 : for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 : for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/105 : Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 : Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 : Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 : Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 : Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 : Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/025 : Magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/06 : Loudspeakers

Abstract

A case for a listening device includes a housing and a lid attached to the housing with a pivotable joint allowing the lid to rotate between a closed position and an open position. An over center mechanism for the lid includes a torsion spring that impels the lid to either the open or the closed position.

Claims

1. A case for an in-ear hearing device, the case comprising:

a housing having a cavity to receive the in-ear hearing device;

an electrical connector configured to couple to the in-ear hearing device;

a lid attached to the housing with a pivotable joint allowing the lid to rotate between a closed position where the lid is aligned over the cavity and an open position where the lid is angularly displaced allowing the in-ear hearing device to be removed from the cavity; and

an over-center mechanism for the lid including an extension attached to the lid and disposed on an opposite side of the pivotable joint from the lid, wherein the extension is in contact with an arm that resists the lid rotating from the open position to the closed position until the lid is moved past an over-center position when the lid is then impelled to the closed position, and wherein the arm resists the lid rotating from the closed position to the open position until the lid is moved past the over-center position when the lid is then impelled to the open position.

2. The case of claim 1 further comprising a spring configured to apply a force against the arm that forces the arm in contact with the extension.

3. The case of claim 1 wherein the extension rotates about a first pivot and the arm rotates about a second pivot and wherein the extension is in sliding contact with the arm to cause the resisting and the impelling.

4. The case of claim 1 wherein the arm includes a first end attached to an arm pivot and a second end opposite the first end.

5. The case of claim 4 wherein the arm includes first and second surfaces arranged opposite each other and extending between the first and second ends.

6. The case of claim 5 wherein the extension is positioned to be in sliding contact with first surface as the lid is transitioned between the open position to the closed position.

7. The case of claim 6 wherein the extension is oriented perpendicular to the first surface when the lid is at the over-center position.

8. The case of claim 5 wherein the extension includes a rounded contact end that is in sliding contact with the first surface of the arm when the lid is transitioned between the open and closed positions.

9. A case for an in-ear hearing device, the case comprising:

a housing having a cavity to receive the in-ear hearing device and a receiving opening that communicates with the receiving opening;

a lid secured to housing with a first pivotable joint, the lid being operable between an open position in which the receiving opening is exposed and a closed position in which the lid covers the receiving opening; and

a spring loaded over-center mechanism for the lid including;

an extension coupled to the lid and having a rounded contact portion at a distal end;

an arm coupled to the housing by a second pivotable joint, the arm extending between a first end attached to the second pivotable joint and a second end, opposite the first end, the arm having first and second surfaces extending between the first and second ends; and

a torsion spring formed around the second pivotable joint such that it applies a torque to the arm forcing the arm against the rounded contact portion of the extension;

wherein the over-center mechanism resists the lid rotating from the open position to the closed position until the lid is moved past an over-center position when the lid is then impelled to the closed position, and wherein the over-center mechanism resists the lid rotating from the closed position to the open position until the lid is moved past the over-center position when the lid is then impelled to the open position.

10. The case of claim 9 wherein the extension and arm are configured such that the extension is in sliding contact with a first portion of the first surface proximate the first end when the lid is between the open position and the over-center position.

11. The case of claim 9 wherein the extension and arm are configured such that the distal end of the extension is oriented perpendicular to the first surface when the lid is at the over-center position.

12. The case of claim 9 wherein the extension and arm are configured such that the extension is in sliding contact with a second portion of the first surface proximate the second end when the lid is between the closed position and the over-center position.

13. The case of claim 9 wherein the extension has a rounded portion at the distal end that is in sliding contact with the arm when the lid is transitioned between the open and closed positions.

14. The case of claim 9 wherein the torsion spring is preloaded against a spring stop that is attached to the housing.

15. The case of claim 9 wherein the cavity is formed to receive a pair of earbuds.

16. The case of claim 15 wherein the case includes charging circuitry configured to charge the pair of earbuds.

17. The case of claim 15 wherein the case includes a sensor configured to detect if the lid is in the open position or the closed position.

18. A case for a pair of earbuds, the case comprising:

a housing having a first receiving cavity sized and shaped to receive a first earbud in the pair of earbuds and a second cavity sized and shaped to receive a second earbud in the pair of earbuds;

a lid secured to housing with a first pivotable joint, the lid being operable between an open position in which the first and second cavities are exposed and a closed position in which the lid covers the first and second cavities;

a spring-loaded over-center mechanism coupled to the lid and configured to resist the lid rotating from the open position to the closed position until the lid is moved past an over-center position when the lid is then impelled to the closed position and to resist the lid rotating from the closed position to the open position until the lid is moved past the over-center position when the lid is then impelled to the open position, the spring-loaded over-center mechanism comprising;

an extension coupled to the lid and having a rounded contact portion at a distal end;

an arm coupled to the housing by a second pivotable joint, the arm extending between a first end attached to the second pivotable joint and a second end, opposite the first end, the arm having first and second surfaces extending between the first and second ends; and

a torsion spring formed around the second pivotable joint such that it applies a torque to the arm forcing the arm against the rounded contact portion of the extension; and

charging circuitry configured to charge the first earbud when the first earbud is received within the first cavity and charge the second earbud when the second earbud is received within the second cavity.

19. The case of claim 18 wherein the torsion spring is preloaded against a spring stop that is attached to the housing.