Voice tube assemblies for post-auricle headsets

• US 4,617,431 A
• Filed: 12/02/1983
• Issued: 10/14/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Harris, Robert L., Scott, Charles G.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schroeder, L. C.
• Application Number:
  US06/557,432
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 179/156 A, 179/149, 179/152, 179/107 H, 181/20, 181/21, 181/22, 381/91, 381/69
• US Class Current: 381/344
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast

Abstract

A new voice tube assembly for post-auricle headsets is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, first and second curved, rigid tubular sections are employed to connect a flexible main voice tube section with the top of a post-auricle capsule containing a microphone and a receiver. The curved, rigid tubing sections are rotatable to maximize positional flexibility. In a second aspect of the invention, a shaping wire is included throughout a substantial portion of the length of the main voice tube section. The shaping wire is employed in order to permit the use of thinner and lighter material for the main voice tube section, and to facilitate shaping of the main voice tube section to the geometry of the wearer'"'"'s face and locating of the open end of the main voice tube section adjacent the wearer'"'"'s mouth.

Claims

1. A voice tube assembly for a communications headset including a post-auricle capsule, comprising

(a) a first curved, relatively rigid tubing section, adapted for connection and rotation relative to said post-auricle capsule;

(b) a second curved, relatively rigid tubing section rotatably connected to said first tubing section;

said first tubing section being adapted to hang over a wearer'"'"'s ear and said first and second tubing sections being adjustable to substantially conform to a wearer'"'"'s head and ear and adapted to convey voice signals into said capsule.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a main voice tube section connected to said second curved tubing section and having substantially more flexibility than said first and second curved tubing sections, the distal end of said main voice tube section being locatable adjacent the wearer'"'"'s mouth.

3. The headset of claim 1, wherein said voice tube assembly further includes a microphone mounted at the end of said assembly away from said capsule, and a lead wire within said assembly from said microphone to said capsule.

4. The headset of claim 2, further comprising a shaping wire located within said main voice tube section and extending along a substantial portion thereof, for shaping said main voice tube portion to the geometry of the wearer'"'"'s face and for positioning the distal end of said main voice tube section adjacent the wearer'"'"'s mouth by bending said shaping wire and said main voice tube section.

5. The headset of claim 4, wherein said voice tube assembly further includes a microphone mounted at the end of said assembly away from said capsule, and a lead wire within said assembly from said microphone to said capsule.