Communications headset with universally adaptable receiver and voice transmitter

• US 5,761,298 A
• Filed: 05/31/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, Michael G., Harting, David G., Bernardi, Robert J., Davies, Robert V., Burr, Scott F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/658,838
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 379/430, 379/428, 379/433, 381/183, 381/187, 381/68.5, 381/68.6, 381/68.7, 381/69
• US Class Current: 379/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• 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 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears

Abstract

A communications headset includes a headset enclosure and a receiver enclosure coupled thereto by various means allowing displacement of the receiver enclosure with respect to the headset enclosure at any of a variety of angles, rotations, and distances. The adaptable positioning of the receiver enclosure allows the headset to be used by a wide variety of users having different ear shapes and sizes, while providing a stable, comfortable fit and ensuring good acoustic performance. In one embodiment the receiver enclosure is slidably coupled to a ball tube having a ball that rests in a socket of the headset enclosure. The receiver enclosure can telescope along the length of the ball tube and can rotate about an axis of the tube. The ball can be rotated in the socket to position the receiver enclosure at any of a variety of angles relative to the headset enclosure. A voice transmitter is also coupled to the headset enclosure so as to allow adjustment of length, angular position, and rotation.

Claims

1. A communication headset, comprising:

a headset enclosure enclosing a first cavity and adapted to curve partially around and behind a user'"'"'s ear in substantially a first plane, the headset enclosure coupled to an electrical cable including a plurality of electrical conductors;

an attachment member movably coupled to the headset enclosure; and

,

a receiver enclosure coupled to the attachment member and enclosing a receiver transducer in a second cavity, the second cavity coupled through the attachment member to the first cavity of the headset enclosure to pass electrical conductors from the headset enclosure to the receiver transducer to convert an electrical signal to an acoustic signal, the receiver enclosure axially movable along a first axis both toward and away from the headset enclosure with the first cavity remaining coupled to the second cavity, and the electrical conductors comprising a flex circuit that forms a take up loop as the receiver enclosure is axially moved along the first axis toward the headset enclosure.

2. The communication headset of claim 1, wherein the attachment member comprises:

a universal joint coupled between the receiver enclosure and the headset enclosure at the attachment member with the first axis of the receiver enclosure passing through the universal joint to allow the receiver enclosure to be disposed with respect to the headset enclosure at any of the plurality of angles that either pass through, or lie in, the first plane of the headset enclosure, the universal joint further allowing the receiver enclosure to be rotatable about the first axis.

3. The communication headset of claim 1, wherein the attachment member comprises:

a flexible member coupling the first cavity of the housing enclosure to the second cavity of the receiver enclosure at the attachment member to pass the electrical conductors from the first cavity of the headset enclosure to the second cavity of the receiver enclosure and to allow the receiver enclosure to be disposed with respect to the headset enclosure at any of the plurality of angles that either pass through or lie in the first plane of the headset enclosure.

4. The communication headset of claim 1, wherein the receiver enclosure further comprises:

an earbud socket;

an earbud having a mounting member that detachably couples to the earbud socket, and sized to fit within a concha and between a tragus and anti-tragus and directly in front of an opening of the ear canal, to stabilize the headset on ear.

5. The communication headset of claim 4, wherein:

the earbud socket includes at least one J-groove; and

,

the mounting member of the earbud includes at least one finger, each finger engaging a J-groove of the earbud socket to couple the earbud to the earbud socket.

6. The communications headset of claim 1, wherein the receiver enclosure further comprises:

a curved flex guide positioned within the receiver enclosure to contact the flex circuit and guide the flex circuit into the take up loop.