Ear-hang type headset

• US 5,210,792 A
• Filed: 07/29/1991
• Issued: 05/11/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kajihara, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US07/736,776
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 379/430, 379/428, 379/431, 381/68.5, 381/68.7, 381/69, 381/183, 381/187
• US Class Current: 379/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/19 Arrangements of transmitters, receivers, or complete sets to prevent eavesdropping, to attenuate local noise or to prevent undesired transmission; Mouthpieces or receivers specially adapted therefor circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping H04M1/68; telephone cabinets E04H1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• 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 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears

Abstract

An ear-hang type headset includes a microphone is attached at the forward end of a microphone arm, and a microphone arm base which is connected with the other end of the microphone arm. An ear hanger formed in a shape conformable to the outer periphery of the pinna and an earphone formed in a shape receivable in the concha and having a receiver unit are connected with the microphone arm base. The ear hanger and the earphone are made to be rotatable with respect to the microphone arm base so that the earphone and the ear hanger are to be set to the concha and the outer periphery of the pinna, respectively. It is therefore possible to set the device on both right and left ears by rotating the ear hanger and the earphone with respect to the microphone arm base as well as to cope with the differences among individuals in ear shape and the like.

Claims

1. An ear-hang type headset comprising:

(a) a microphone case having a microphone supported therein;

(b) a microphone arm having a first end and a second end, said microphone case being disposed at said first end;

(c) an ear hanger formed in a shape engageable with an outer periphery of a pinna of a an ear of a user of the headset;

(d) an earphone formed in a shape receivable in a concha of the ear of the user and having a receiver unit supported therein;

(e) a microphone arm base connected to said second end of said microphone arm;

(f) a first rotation mechanism interconnecting said ear hanger with said microphone arm base to enable said ear hanger to rotate about a first axis with respect to said microphone arm base; and

(g) a second rotation mechanism interconnecting said earphone with said microphone arm base to enable said earphone to rotate with respect to said microphone arm base about a second axis which is approximately perpendicular to said first axis, whereby said ear hanger and said earphone are adapted to hold the pinna of the ear of the user therebetween.

2. An ear-hang type headset according to claim 1, wherein the earphone can be rotated about said second axis at least for 180°

with respect to the microphone arm base by means of the second rotation mechanism so that the headset can be set on both right and left ears.

3. An ear-hang type headset according to claim 1, wherein the microphone arm is made of a material which can be bent.

4. An ear-hang type headset comprising:

(a) a microphone case having a microphone supported therein;

(b) a microphone arm having a first end and a second end, said microphone case being disposed at said first end;

(c) an ear hanger formed in a shape engageable with an outer periphery of a pinna of an ear of a user of the headset;

(d) an earphone formed in a shape receivable in a concha of the ear of the user and having a receiver unit supported therein;

(e) a microphone arm base connected to said second end of said microphone arm;

(f) a first rotation mechanism interconnecting said ear hanger with said microphone arm base to enable said ear hanger to rotate about a first axis with respect to said microphone arm base;

(g) a second rotation mechanism interconnecting said earphone with said microphone arm base to enable said earphone to rotate with respect to said microphone arm base about a second axis which is approximately perpendicular to said first axis, whereby said ear hanger and said earphone are adapted to hold the pinna of the ear of the user therebetween;

(h) an elastic member disposed in a predetermined portion of said ear hanger; and

(i) a projecting member supported through said elastic member at said predetermined portion of said ear hanger so as to project beyond an outer surface of said ear hanger toward the pinna of the ear of the user to a variable extent in accordance with movement of said projecting member in concert with said elastic member in a direction generally orthogonal to said outer surface.

5. An ear-hang type headset according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member is made of urethane foam rubber.

6. An ear-hang type headset according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member is a coiled spring.

7. An ear-hang type headset according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring.