Audiometric headset

• US 4,156,118 A
• Filed: 04/10/1978
• Issued: 05/22/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emmett B. Moorefield, Moorefield
• Original Assignee: Frances E. Hargrave
• Inventors: Hargrave, Frances E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooper, William C.
• Application Number:
  US05/894,659
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 179/182 R
• US Class Current: 381/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering

Abstract

An audiometric headset having a transducer mounting and sound insulation system which closely couples the transducer to the ear. The headset is comprised of a pair of domes having a soft foam liner and soft sponge sound-absorbent material surrounding a floating sound transducer mounted in an open side of the case. The sound transducer is mounted in a socket of a circular resilient hub supported on a resilient flange by a pair of resilient strips providing a semi-circular opening between the interior of the case and the exterior of the earpiece. The resilient flange provides a channel for mounting on a rim around the periphery of the opening in the dome or case. An ear cushion snap-locked into a channel surrounding the socket supporting the transducer closely couples the transducer to the ear. A resilient earmuff is mounted around the rim of the case opening and is filled with a sound-filtering soft material whereby the muff seals around the ear to eliminate external ambient noise.

Claims

1. An audiometric headset comprising:

a case having an open end;

a resilient sound-proofing material in said case;

a sound transducer;

mounting means mounting said transducer in the opening in said case;

said mounting means comprising;

resilient means having a flange with a channel engaging a peripheral rim of the opening in said case,

a hub having a socket for supporting said transducer,

spoke means attaching said hub to said resilient means,

a resilient ear cushion attached to said hub securing said transducer in said socket,

a resilient ear seal ring mounted on the rim of said case opening; and

clamping means clamping said ear seal ring and said resilient means on said rim.

2. The audiometric headset according to claim 1 wherein:

said ear cushion is removably secured to said hub whereby said ear cushion may be easily removed for repair or replacement of the transducer or cushion.

3. The audiometric headset according to claim 2 wherein:

said hub has a flange forming a channel around the transducer socket; and

said ear cushion has a flange fitting said channel whereby said cushion is secured to said hub by a snap lock of said cushion flange into said channel.

4. The audiometric headset according to claim 1 wherein:

said resilient ear seal has a flexible skirt forming an annular cavity; and

a resilient foam sound filtering means filling said cavity.

5. The audiometric headset according to claim 1 wherein:

said spoke means comprises a pair of elastic members flexibly supporting said hub and thereby forming a pair of semi-circular openings around said hub communicating with the interior of said cone;

whereby said transducer is supported in a substantially free-floating independence from said case.