Amphibious personal audio system

• US 4,682,363 A
• Filed: 05/23/1985
• Issued: 07/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce Klenoff, Jerry Goldfarb
• Original Assignee: Bruce Klenoff, Jerry Goldfarb
• Inventors: Goldfarb, Jerry, Klenoff, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubinson, Gene Z.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/737,009
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/87, 381/88, 381/90, 381/67, 381/183, 381/187, 381/189, 179/156 R, 179/156 A, 179/146 E, 179/182 R, 179/184, 179/179, 367/131, 367/149, 455/89, 455/90, 455/348, 455/349, 455/350, 455/351, D14/36, 379/430
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1075 Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

An amphibious personal audio system is provided. The system includes a band for encircling a person'"'"'s end. An audio device is secured to the band for generating an audio signal. The audio device is hermetically sealed. Speakers are electrically coupled to the audio device for converting the audio signal to an audio sound. The speakers and the electrical coupling are hermetically sealed. Earpiece assemblies are acoustically coupled to the speakers for transmitting the sound to a person'"'"'s ears. The earpiece assemblies have an opening for transmission of sound to the user'"'"'s ear canal, the earpiece assembly being adapted to substantially hermetically seal the user'"'"'s ear canal around the opening.

Claims

1. An amphibious personal audio system, comprising:

band means for encircling a person head'"'"'s;

audio means secured to the band means for generating an audio signal, the audio means being hermetically sealed;

speaker means secured to the band means and means electrically coupling to the speaker means to the audio means for converting the audio signal to an audible sound, the speaker means and the electrical coupling means being hermeticaaly sealed; and

earpiece means acoustically coupled to the speaker means for transmitting the sound to the person'"'"'s ears, the earpiece means having an opening for transmission of sound to the user'"'"'s ear canal, the earpiece means being adapted to substantially hermetically seal around the user'"'"'s ear canal.

2. The audio system of claim 1 wherein the band means includes a strap having first and second free ends and connector means for releasably securing the first and second ends so as to encircle a person'"'"'s head.

3. The audio system of claim 2 wherein the strap is formed of a pliable and stretchable material.

4. The audio system of claim 2 wherein the connector means include hook and mesh connectors, the hook connectors being coupled to the first end of the strap and the mesh connectors being coupled to the second end of the strap.

5. The audio system of claim 1 wherein the audio means includes a radio receiver.

6. The audio system of claim 1 wherein the audio means includes a cassette player.

7. The audio system of claim 1 further comprising container means for hermetically sealing the audio means and speaker means.

8. The audio system of claim 7 wherein the container means includes two containers secured to the band means.

9. The audio system of claim 1 wherein the speaker means includes two speakers.

10. The audio system of claim 9 wherein the speakers are miniature diaphragm-type speakers.

11. The audio system of claim 8 wherein the speaker means includes two speakers.

12. The audio system of claim 11 wherein the first container holds the audio means and one of the speakers and the second container holds the second speaker.

13. The audio system of claim 1 further comprising power means for powering the audio means.

14. The audio system of claim 11 further comprising power means for powering the audio means.

15. The audio system of claim 14 wherein the first container holds the audio means and one of the speakers and the second container holds the second speaker and the power means.

16. The audio system of claim 15 wherein the power means includes dry cell batteries.

17. The audio system of claim 1 wherein the earpiece means includes hose means for forming a hermetic seal with the speaker means and ear canal means having an opening therein, coupled to the hose means, the ear canal means being adapted to be received within a person'"'"'s ear canal so as to substantially hermetically seal the user'"'"'s ear canal around the opening whereby a column of air is provided between the speaker means and the user'"'"'s ear through the hose means and the opening.

18. The audio system of claim 12 wherein the earpiece means includes hose means for forming a hermetic seal with the speaker means and ear canal means having an opening therein, coupled to the hose means, the ear canal means being adapted to be received within a person'"'"'s ear canal so as to substantially hermetically seal the user'"'"'s ear canal around the opening whereby a column of air is provided between the speaker means and the user'"'"'s ear through the hose means and the opening.

19. The audio system of claim 17 wherein the earpiece means includes two earpieces having hose means and ear canal means for transmitting sound to the user'"'"'s left and right ears.

20. The audio system of claim 18 wherein the earpiece means includes two earpieces having hose means and ear canal means for transmitting sound to the user'"'"'s left and right ears.