HEADWEAR MOUNTED HEADPHONE CARRIER

• US 20090180658A1
• Filed: 01/13/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terry L. Dolberg
• Original Assignee: Terry L. Dolberg
• Inventors: DOLBERG, TERRY L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,189,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/376
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• 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 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A headphone carrying device comprises a thin, flexible strip of material which supports the wires for conventional ear bud style headphones. The strip can be quickly and easily inserted inside a cap or hat, between the body and headband of the hat or cap. The device is fully hidden from view when the hat or cap is worn and maintains the wires adjacent the back of the person'"'"'s head, without the wires hanging or dangling loosely. Alternatively, the device can be attached to the back of a bike helmet or other headgear using adhesive, Velcro fasteners, or other connectors. The device is lightweight, fits all sizes of hats, caps and headgear, and does not interfere with the normal wearing of the hat, cap or headgear.

Claims

1. A device for holding headphones in a hat, the hat having a body with a perimeter headband, the device comprising:

a flexible member having opposite ends;

the member having slots for receiving and retaining wires of the headphones; and

the ends of the member being adapted to fit between the headband and the body of the hat so as to support the headphones on the hat.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the member is a piece of thin, plastic material.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the member is an elongated, flat strip.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the member has upper and lower edges, with a central portion and a pair of notches formed in the lower edge on each side of the central portion whereby the opposite ends are between the headband and the hat body and the central portion is forward of the headband, with the notches extending over the headband.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the member is reversibly mounted on the headband.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the central portion has a hole through which a headphone wire is threadable.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein the upper edge includes a recess through which hair extends.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the member is fully hidden within the hat when the hat is worn.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the slots reside above the headband when the member is installed on the hat.

10. In combination, headphones and a device for mounting the headphones onto a headgear, comprising:

an elongated strip having opposite ends and being mountable to the headgear so as to extend substantially horizontally adjacent the back of a person'"'"'s head when the headgear is worn; and

the headphones having wires extending between a pair of ear pieces, with the wires removably secured to the strip.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the strip is mounted on the interior of the headgear.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein the strip is mounted on the exterior of the headgear.

13. The combination of claim 10 wherein the headgear includes a body and a perimeter headband, and the strip is mounted between the body and the headband.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the wires extend along the strip above the headband.

15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the strip includes opposite ends, a central portion, and notches on each side of the central portion, with the ends of the strip are mountable between the headband and the body, the central portion is forward of the headband, and the notches receive the headband.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the strip has an upper edge with a recess for receiving a ponytail of the person wearing the headgear.

17. The combination of claim 10 wherein the strip is hidden inside the headgear.

18. The combination of claim 10 wherein the strip has slots for receiving the wires.

19. The combination of claim 10 wherein the strip is a piece of thin, flexible material.

20. The combination of claim 10 wherein the headphones include a jack on one end of the wires, and the strip includes a hole through which the one end is threaded.