HEADPHONES WITH EXPANDABLE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES

• US 20130003984A1
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GET Connected, LLC
• Original Assignee: MS Electronics LLC
• Inventors: Combest, Christopher, Belafonte, Stephen, Witham, Chris, Staley, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,774,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2811 for loudspeaker transducers

Abstract

A headphone set includes a head band and a pair of speaker assemblies supplied on opposite ends of the headband. Each of the speaker assemblies comprises an earphone speaker for reproducing sound to be directed toward one of the wearer'"'"'s ears, a relatively larger and more powerful broadcast speaker for reproducing sound to be broadcast in the vicinity of the headphone set; and an expandable speaker enclosure for supporting the earphone speaker and the broadcast speaker. Each speaker enclosure defines a sound chamber having an enclosed air volume for improving the acoustical characteristics of the headphone set and each speaker enclosure is shiftable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. When the speaker enclosures are shifted to their expanded configurations, the sound chambers have a relatively larger enclosed air volume. When they are shifted to their collapsed configurations relatively smaller enclosed air volumes. This permits the sound chamber to be selectively increased in size when the larger broadcast speakers are operated and to be returned to their smaller size when only the earphone speakers are operated.

Claims

1. A headphone set comprising:

a support band; and

a pair of speaker assemblies supported on opposite ends of the support band, each of the speaker assemblies comprising;

an earphone speaker for reproducing sound to be directed toward one of a wearer'"'"'s ears,

a broadcast speaker for reproducing sound to be broadcast in the vicinity of the headphone set; and

an expandable speaker enclosure for supporting the earphone speaker and the broadcast speaker, the speaker enclosure being shiftable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

2. The headphone set as set forth in claim 1, wherein each speaker enclosure defines a sound chamber having an enclosed air volume, wherein the sound chamber has a relatively larger enclosed air volume when the speaker enclosure is shifted to its expanded configuration and a relatively smaller enclosed air volume when the speaker enclosure is shifted to its collapsed configuration.

3. The headphone set as set forth in claim 1, wherein each speaker enclosure includes a first rigid portion for supporting its earphone speaker, a second rigid portion for supporting its broadcast speaker, and a relatively flexible side wall that connects the first and second rigid portions, wherein each speaker enclosure is shifted to its expanded configuration by separating its first and second rigid portions.

4. The headphone set as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a switch for selectively delivering power to the earphone speakers or the broadcast speakers.

5. The headphone set as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a latch positioned in each speaker enclosure for holding its speaker enclosure in its collapsed configuration and, when operated, for permitting its speaker enclosure to be shifted to its expanded configuration.

6. The headphone set as set forth in claim 5, wherein the latches are coupled with the switch to automatically deliver power to the broadcast speakers when the speaker enclosures are shifted to their expanded positions.

7. The headphone set as set forth in claim 6, wherein the latches and the switch automatically disconnect power to the broadcast speakers and deliver power to the earphone speakers when the speaker enclosures are shifted to their collapsed positions.

8. The headphone set as set forth in claim 1, the support band comprising a headband having a central head-engaging portion, a pair of opposed ends, and a pair of swivel joints mounted on the ends for pivotally mounting the speaker assemblies so they may be selectively swivelled between a first position in which the headphone set may be worn and a second position in which the headphone set may be placed on a table or other support surface with the speaker assemblies pointing upwardly.

9. A headphone set comprising:

a headband;

a pair of speaker assemblies supported on opposite ends of the headband, each of the speaker assemblies comprising;

an earphone speaker for reproducing sound to be directed toward one of a wearer'"'"'s ears,

a broadcast speaker for reproducing sound to be broadcast in the vicinity of the headphone set;

an expandable speaker enclosure for supporting the earphone speaker and the broadcast speaker, the speaker enclosure being shiftable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;

a latch for holding the speaker enclosure in its collapsed configuration and, when operated, for permitting the speaker enclosure to be shifted to its expanded configuration; and

a switch for selectively delivering power to the earphone speakers or the broadcast speakers, wherein the switch is operated by the latches to automatically deliver power to the broadcast speakers when the expandable enclosures are shifted to their expanded positions.

10. The headphone set as set forth in claim 9, wherein each speaker enclosure defines a sound chamber having an enclosed air volume, wherein the sound chamber has a relatively larger enclosed air volume when the speaker enclosure is shifted to its expanded configuration and a relatively smaller enclosed air volume when the speaker enclosure is shifted to its collapsed configuration.

11. The headphone set as set forth in claim 9, wherein each speaker enclosure includes a first rigid portion for supporting its earphone speaker, a second rigid portion for supporting its broadcast speaker, and a relatively flexible side wall that connects the first and second rigid portions, wherein each speaker enclosure is shifted to its expanded configuration by separating its first and second rigid portions.

12. The headphone set as set forth in claim 9, wherein the latches and the switch automatically disconnect power to the broadcast speakers and deliver power to the earphone speakers when the expandable enclosures are shifted to their collapsed positions.

13. The headphone set as set forth in claim 9, the headband comprising a central head-engaging portion, a pair of opposed ends, and a pair or swivel joints mounted on the ends for pivotally mounting the speaker assemblies so that the speaker assemblies may be selectively swivelled between a first position in which the headphone set maybe worn and a second position in which the headphone set may be placed on a table or other support surface with the speaker assemblies pointing upwardly.