Modular stereo headphones

• US 4,499,593 A
• Filed: 07/25/1983
• Issued: 02/12/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary W. Antle
• Original Assignee: Gary W. Antle
• Inventors: Antle, Gary W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/516,745
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 381/25, 179/156 R, 179/156 A, 179/178, 339/182 R, 339/183, 339/176 M, 339/91 R, 339/154 R, 339/154 A
• US Class Current: 381/378
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• 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 1/1066 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 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

Replaceable snap-together wires, headphones, headband and plug comprise a modular stereo headphone apparatus. Sealed headphones are provided with walled receptacles to receive mating removable clips secured to the ends of connecting wires. Each clip is molded to the wire insulation and around the wire ends which protrude slightly beyond the clip. Each clip is provided with a protruding movable lever arm with an indent for mating with a protrusion inside a receptacle shaped to fit the clip. Wires from the sound system within each headphone protrude through each receptacle wall to mate in proper polarity with wires in the inserted clip. A flexible headband is provided along its length with either a groove or tabs to receive a headphone connecting wire removably secured to the headband. At each headband end a sleeve receives a protrusion from one headphone adjustably secured to the headband with a spring-loaded pin in the sleeve engaging notches in the headphone protrusion. A male plug for the sound system has an adapter with one or two receptacles for receiving one or two clip ended wires from one or two headphone sets.

Claims

1. A modular stero headphone apparatus comprising:

a tensioned headband comprising an arcuate member to fit over the top of a wearer'"'"'s head provided along the length of the headband with a means for removably receiving a length of wire, and at each end of the headband a means for adjustably and removably receiving a headphone;

a headphone adjustably and removably attached to each end of the headband, a first of which headphones is provided with a first receptacle shaped for removably receiving a polarity correct clip wired to a sound transmitting source and a second receptacle shaped for removably receiving a polarity correct clip wired to a second headphone, which second headphone is provided with a single receptacle for removably receiving a polarity correct clip wired to the first headphone and each headphone is provided with a protrusion to fit adjustably and removably into an end of the headband;

a first wire component comprising a signal transmitting conducting wire for each of the two headphones and two grounding wires all within an insulating covering, and at a first end of the first wire component a polarity correct clip which plugs removably into a male connector plug to a sound transmitting source, and at a second end of the first wire component a polarity correct clip which plugs removably into the first receptacle of the first headphone;

a second wire component removably secured to the headband, which second wire component comprises a single signal transmitting conducting wire and a single ground wire within an insulating covering, and at a first end of the second wire component a polarity correct clip which plugs removably into the second receptacle of the first headphone and at a second end of the second wire component a polarity correct clip which plugs removably into the receptacle in the second headphone;

wherein each polarity correct clip comprises a molded body enclosing wires exposed at an end face of the clip and extending eccentrically from the clip body a movable latching means, and each receptacle is provided with a matching removably interlocking latch and each receptacle is provided with wires from sound components to contact the matching clip wires and each receptacle is shaped to receive each clip in only one orientation thereby assuring correct polarity, and wherein each clip is secured to the insulation so that the clip absorbs any tension put on the wire component and the wire contacts are not stressed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the headband further comprises an elongated pair of spaced ridges along the top of the headband which ridges removably secure the second wire component therebetween by a tight friction fit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the male connector plug comprises a plug body housing connecting wires and, on one side of the plug body, a protruding metal male connector shaft for insertion into a female receiving opening in the sound transmitting source and, on the other side of the plug body, a receptacle shaped to receive removably a polarity correct clip therein for making an electrical connection between the male connector plug and the clip.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising between the male connector plug and the clip at the first end of the first wire component a multiple clip adapter for two clips comprising a removable polarity correct clip, on one side of the adapter, for insertion into the receptacle in the male connector plug and, on the other side of the adapter, two receptacles each shaped for removably receiving a polarity correct clip thereby servicing two sets of headphone apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the male connector plug comprises a plug body housing connecting wires and, on one side of the plug body, a protruding metal male connector shaft for insertion into a female receiving opening in the sound transmitting source and, on the other side of the plug body, two spaced apart receptacles each for removably receiving a polarity correct clip therein for making an electrical connection between the male connector plug and the clip, thereby servicing two sets of headphone apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the headband means for adjustably and removably receiving a headphone comprises a sleeve at an end of the headband, which sleeve is pierced by a spring-loaded pin removably penetrating the sleeve and the headphone protrusion comprises a rigid bar secured to the headphone and extending therefrom, which bar is provided along an edge with spaced notches and which bar fits slidably within the sleeve with the pin contacting the notches to control the amount of advancement of the bar within the sleeve.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each headphone comprises a sealed body with the receptacles walled interiorly to maintain the seal so that only the wires from the sound components within the headphone protrude through the receptacle walls to contact the aligned wires in the clip.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the headband means for removably securing the second wire component comprises alternately facing tabs spaced along the length of the headband for removably engaging the second wire component snaked through the series of tabs.