ADJUSTABLE MECHANISM FOR IMPROVING HEADSET COMFORT

• US 20080175406A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dale Trenton Smith
• Original Assignee: Dale Trenton Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Dale Trenton
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/87
• 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 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A headphone, headset, or ear protector incorporating adjustable clamping pressure and providing configurable distribution of headband pressure. In one embodiment, the headphones, headsets, or ear protectors include a headband or neckband and at least one earcup coupled to the headband or neckband. The headphone, headset, or ear protector further includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the headband or neckband and the at least one earcup that provides continuously variable adjustment of clamping pressure provided by the at least one earcup to the head of a user. In another embodiment, the headphone, headset, or ear protector include a headband or neckband, a first earcup coupled to the headband or neckband and a second earcup coupled to the headband or neckband. The headphone, headset, or ear protector further include an adjustment mechanism coupled to the headband or neckband and the first and second earcups that adjusts clamping pressure provided by the first and second earcups to the head of a user and a single control configured to control the adjustment mechanism. In other embodiments, the headphone, headset, or ear protector allows a user to maintain correct left/right stereo imaging while allowing the user to choose which side is placed over the right or left ear.

Claims

1. An adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector comprising:

a rigid headband or neckband of at least 3″

length in its longest direction;

at least one swing arm coupled to the headband or neckband;

at least one earcup coupled to the swing arm; and

an adjustment mechanism coupled to the headband or neckband and the at least one swing arm configured to provide continuously variable adjustment of clamping pressure provided by the at least one swing arm and earcup to the head of a user.

2. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism is operable while a user is wearing the adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector.

3. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a pressure indicator configured to indicate clamping pressure provided by the at least one earcup.

4. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a torsion spring and wherein moving one side of the torsion spring at least partially causes the continuously variable adjustment of clamping pressure provided by the at least one earcup be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

5. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 4, wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises one or more cables coupled to the torsion spring and wherein the one or more cables are configured to pull on the torsion spring to move the one side of the torsion spring.

6. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 4, wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises one or more shafts coupled to the torsion spring and wherein the one or more shafts are configured to push on the torsion spring to move the one side of the torsion spring.

7. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 4, wherein the torsion spring applies inward rotational force to the swing arm that causes the swing arm to pivot on the same axis that the torsion spring rotates on.

8. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a force control mechanism configured to convert force of less than ten pounds provided by a user into a force of at least ten pounds applied close to a pivot point of the at least one earcup or to the pivot point of the swing arm.

9. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 8, wherein the force control mechanism comprises one of one or more threaded screws, one or more shafts, one or more gears, or one or more levers.

10. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second earcup coupled to the headband or neckband and the adjustment mechanism, the second earcup being coupled to the headband or neckband on a side opposite the at least one earcup, the adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector further comprising:

a single user activated control configured to cause the adjustment mechanism to adjust the clamping pressure provided by the first and second earcups to the head of a user at both sides of the headband or neckband.

11. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 10, wherein the user activated control comprises one of a knob, a lever, or an element configured to push or pull.

12. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 1 configured to provide adjustable clamping pressure of 8 oz or less to 16 oz or more across a range of head widths from less than 145 mm to greater than 160 mm.

13. An adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector comprising:

a rigid headband or neckband;

a first earcup;

a second earcup;

a first swing arm configured to couple the headband or neckband to the first earcup;

a second swing arm configured to couple the headband or neckband to the second earcup;

an adjustment mechanism coupled to the first and second earcups configured to adjust clamping pressure provided by the first and second earcups to the head of a user; and

a single control configured to control the adjustment mechanism.

14. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 13, wherein the single control is operable while a user is wearing the adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector.

15. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a pressure indicator configured to indicate clamping pressure provided by the first and second earcups.

16. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 13, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a first torsion spring coupled to the first earcup and a second torsion spring coupled to the second earcup and wherein changing a reference position of the first and second torsion springs at least partially causes adjustment of clamping pressure provided by the first and second earcups, the reference position being the side of the torsion springs that does not move when the swing arms move.

17. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 16, wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises one or more cables coupled to the first and second torsion springs and wherein the one or more cables are configured to pull on the first and second torsion springs to change the reference positions of the first and second torsion springs.

18. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 16, wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises one or more shafts coupled to the first and second torsion springs and wherein the one or more shafts are configured to push on the first and second torsion springs to change the reference positions of the first and second torsion springs.

19. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 16, wherein the first torsion spring applies inward rotational force to the first swing arm that causes the first swing arm to pivot on the same axis that the first torsion spring rotates on and wherein the second torsion spring applies inward rotational force to the second swing arm that causes the second swing arm to pivot on the same axis that the second torsion spring rotates on.

20. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 13, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a force control mechanism configured to convert force of less than ten pounds provided by a user into a force of at least ten pounds applied close to a pivot point of the at least one earcup or to the pivot point of the first or second swing arm.

21. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 20, wherein the force control mechanism comprises one of one or more threaded screws, one or more shafts, one or more gears, or one or more levers.

22. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 13, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to provide continuously variable adjustment of clamping pressure provided by the first and second earcups.

23. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 13, wherein the single control comprises one of a knob, a lever, or an element configured to push or pull.

24. The adjustable headset, headphone or hearing protector in accordance with claim 13 configured to provide adjustable clamping pressure of 8 oz or less to 16 oz or more across a range of head widths form less than 145 mm to greater than 160 mm.

25. A headband or neckband for a headphone, headset, or hearing protector, the headband or neckband including one or more rows and one or more columns configured for receiving one or more cushions, a method for selecting the size of the one or more cushions to be installed in one or more rows and columns, the method comprising:

an act placing the head contour plate on a user'"'"'s head and applying pressure to form the head contour plate to the shape of the head;

an act of placing the head contour plate under the headband or neckband; and

an act of identifying locations where cushions of various sizes are to be placed based on the shape of the head contour plate.

26. The method in accordance with claim 25 further comprising:

an act of attaching the various cushions to the headband or neckband, wherein a combination of different sized cushions are used to evenly distribute weight on the user'"'"'s head.

27. The method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the head contour plate is comprised of a metal sheet similar in size to the headband.

28. The method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the act of applying pressure to the head contour plate is performed by a user'"'"'s hand.

29. The method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the user'"'"'s hand applies more than 3 pounds of force to the head contour plate.

30. The method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the headset, headphone, or hearing protector includes an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust clamping pressure provided by first and second earcups of the headset, headphone, or hearing protector.

31. A headset, headphone or hearing protector comprising:

a headband or neckband;

an earcup; and

a stirrup configured to couple the earcup to the headband or neckband, wherein the stirrup includes a plurality of multiple mounting positions for mounting the stirrup to the headband or neckband at two or more angles.

32. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 31, wherein the multiple mounting positions allow for adjusting the headband or neckband to sit further forward of backward on a user'"'"'s head without changing the angle at which the earcup sits on the user'"'"'s head.

33. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 31, wherein the plurality of multiple mounting positions comprise mounting holes located at the apex of the stirrup.

34. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 31, wherein a mounting position is configured to cause the headband or neckband to sit 10 degrees back on the users head.

35. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 31, wherein a mounting position is configured to cause the headband or neckband to sit 0 degrees back on the users head.

36. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 31, wherein a mounting position is configured to cause the headband or neckband to sit 10 degrees forward on the users head.

37. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 31, wherein the earcup is a first earcup and the stirrup is a first stirrup, the headset, headphone, or hearing protector further comprising:

a second earcup; and

a second stirrup configured to couple the second earcup to the headband or neckband, wherein the second stirrup includes a plurality of multiple mounting positions for mounting the second stirrup to the headband or neckband at two or more angles such that headband or neckband may be adjusted to sit further forward or further backward on a user'"'"'s head without changing the angle at which the first and second earcups sit on the user'"'"'s head.

38. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 37, wherein the headset, headphone, or hearing protector includes an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust clamping pressure provided by first and second earcups of the headset, headphone, or hearing protector.

39. A headset, headphone or hearing protector comprising:

a headband or neckband;

a first earcup including a first speaker;

a second earcup including a second speaker;

a first audio input;

a second audio input; and

one or more switches for selecting whether the first speaker is driven by the first or second audio input and whether second speaker is driven by the audio input not selected to drive the first audio input.

40. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 39, wherein the first and second audio inputs are stereo audio inputs and wherein the one or more switches is a double-pole, double-throw switch configured in a first configuration to connect the first stereo audio input to the first speaker and to connect the second stereo audio input to the second speaker and configured in a second configuration to connect the first stereo audio input to the second speaker and to connect the second stereo audio input to the first speaker.

41. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 39, wherein the one or more switches are two single-pole, double-throw switches configured in a first configuration to connect the first audio input to the first speaker and to connect the second audio input to the second speaker, configured in a second configuration to connect the first audio input to the second speaker and to connect the second audio input to the first speaker, configured in a third configuration to connect the first and second speakers to the first audio input, and configured in a fourth configuration to connect the first and second speakers to the second audio input, wherein the third and fourth configurations allow for the use of mono audio inputs.

42. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 39 further comprising:

a first stirrup configured to couple the first earcup to the headband or neckband;

a second stirrup configured to couple the second earcup to the headband or neckband; and

wherein the first and second stirrups include a plurality of multiple mounting positions for mounting the first and second stirrups to the headband or neckband at two or more angles.

43. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 42, wherein the plurality of multiple mounting positions allow for adjusting the headband or neckband to sit further forward of backward on a user'"'"'s head without changing the angle at which the first and second earcups sit on the user'"'"'s head.

44. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 42, wherein the plurality of multiple mounting positions of the first and second stirrups comprise three mounting holes located at the apex of the first and second stirrups.

45. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 42, wherein a first mounting position of the first and second stirrups is configured to cause the headband or neckband to sit 10 degrees back on the users head.

46. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 42, wherein a second mounting position of the first and second stirrups is configured to cause the headband or neckband to sit 0 degrees back on the users head.

47. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 42, wherein a third mounting position of the first and second stirrups is configured to cause the headband or neckband to sit 10 degrees forward on the users head.

48. The headset, headphone, or hearing protector in accordance with claim 39, wherein the headset, headphone, or hearing protector includes an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust clamping pressure provided by first and second earcups of the headset, headphone, or hearing protector.