Headset with adjustable earhook

• US 5,757,944 A
• Filed: 10/29/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Jensen, Finn, McGugan, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/741,397
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 381/25, 381/68, 381/68.6, 381/68.7, 381/69, 381/72, 381/74, 381/183, 381/187, 381/205, 181/128, 181/129, 181/130, 181/135, 379/430, 379/433
• US Class Current: 381/385
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• 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 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A telephone headset apparatus is disclosed. This headset apparatus includes a body having a microphone at one end and a transducer at the opposite end, an earhook, for attaching the apparatus to the ear of the operator, and a mechanism, contained within the body in a movable engagement, for holding the earhook in a frictional engagement that allows for movement of the earhook, with three degrees of freedom. The mechanism is located at a point within the body where upon adjustment of the earhook by the operator (i.e., rotated, tilted, pivoted) the headset apparatus remains properly balanced and within the sound envelope of an operator, for uninterrupted operation.

Claims

1. A telephone headset comprising:

a body having oppositely disposed first and second ends;

a longitudinal axis extending along the body from the first end to the second end;

a microphone being connected to the body at the first end, and a transducer being connected to the body at the second end;

an earhook, having an end portion and a body portion, the end portion transversely extending through the body at a balance point intermediate the microphone and transducer, and the body portion being configured to be held on an operator'"'"'s ear; and

means for holding the earhook, disposed at least in part within the body proximate the balance point to allow the earhook to have three degrees of freedom of movement with respect to the balance point, such that upon adjustment of the earhook, the body remains properly balanced and within a sound envelop of the operator'"'"'s ear.

2. The telephone headset of claim 1, additionally including means for connecting the headset to a telephone system.

3. The telephone headset of claim 1, wherein the earhook holding means includes a circular clutch having a throughgoing bore for receiving and retaining the earhook.

4. The telephone headset of claim 1, wherein the body includes two cooperating pieces, each of the cooperating pieces including a recessed portion, the recessed portions defining a well for movably retaining the earhook holding means.

5. The telephone headset of claim 1, wherein the transducer includes a vertex for positioning within the ear of the operator proximate to the ear canal.

6. The telephone headset of claim 5, wherein the transducer is substantially circular and has a center point, and terminates in a point different from the center point.

7. A telephone headset comprising:

a body having oppositely disposed first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end;

a microphone being connected to the body at the first end, and a transducer being connected to the body at the second end;

a well, being disposed at least in part within the body proximate a balance point intermediate the microphone and transducer,

an earhook, having an end portion and a body portion, the end portion transversely extending through the well at the balance point; and

a clutch, the clutch receiving the earhook, the clutch movably retained at least in part within the well for movement in at least two degrees of freedom with respect to the body proximate the balance point to allow the earhook to have three degrees of freedom of movement with respect to the balance point, such that upon adjustment of the earhook, the body remains properly balanced and within a sound envelop of an operator.

8. The telephone headset of claim 7, wherein the transducer includes a vertex for positioning within the ear of the operator proximate to the ear canal.

9. The telephone headset of claim 8, wherein the transducer is substantially circular and has a center point, and terminates in a point different from the center point.