Weather resistant sound attenuating modular communications headset

• US 6,466,681 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comprehensive Technical Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Comprehensive Technical Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Sopko, Timothy J., Siska, William D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US09/400,574
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 381/182, 381/370-372, 381/374-375, 381/378, 381/379, 381/FOR.149, 381/FOR.150, 381/383-384, 381/309, 381/368, 381/322, 381/186, 379/430, 379/431, 455/340, 455/350, 455/351, 181/137
• US Class Current: 381/372
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A weather resistant sound attenuating communications headset of modular construction includes two ear cup modules, a microphone boom module, a head band module, a headband cable module, and a termination cable module. The modular construction allows easy replacement of modules as well as selected components of the modules under field conditions without the need for tools. Replaceable water resistant thin film membranes are employed to provide weather protection as well as hygienic protection for the microphone, speaker and amplification electronics. The thin film membranes which cover areas which come into intimate contact with the wearer are easily replaceable under field conditions. Thus a headset that is shared by more than one user can be hygienically cleansed by simple replacement of the microphone and ear cup membranes.

Claims

1. A communications headset comprising an assemblage of individually replaceable modules including

a) a primary ear cup receiver module comprising

an ear cushion

an ear cup membrane

an ear cup plate

an ear cup foam sound barrier

an ear cup speaker

a printed circuit board

an ear cup shell;

b) a termination cable module adapted at one end for removable connection to said ear cup receiver module and at another end for removable connection to a source of electrical communication signals;

c) a headband module adapted at one end thereof for securing and positioning said ear cup receiver module to engage a user'"'"'s ear;

said ear cup membrane being replaceably attached over said foam sound barrier, speaker, and printed circuit board to provide an hygienic and protective cover therefor and being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools;

said individually replaceable modules being replaceable by hand without the need for tools.

2. A communications headset according to claim 1 further comprising a second ear cup receiver module removably attached to a second end of said headband module and a headband cable module removably connected to said first ear cup receiver module and said second ear cup receiver module for transmitting electrical communications signals to a speaker in said second ear cup receiver module, said second ear cup receiver module comprising

an ear cushion

an ear cup membrane

an ear cup plate

an ear cup foam sound barrier

an ear cup speaker and

an ear cup shell;

said ear cup membrane being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools;

said headband cable module being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools.

3. A communications headset according to claim 2 wherein said ear cup membrane in said primary ear cup receiver module and said second ear cup receiver module are each a polyurethane membrane.

4. A communications headset according to claim 2 wherein said microphone membrane is held within a microphone cover assembly, said cover assembly being removably attached to said microphone boom and removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools.

5. A communications headset according to claim 4 further comprising push to talk cable module adapted for removable connection to said termination cable module and being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools.

6. A communications headset according to claim 2 wherein said speaker in said primary ear cup receiver module and said second ear cup receiver module are each removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools.

7. A communications headset according to claim 2 wherein said printed circuit board is removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools.

8. A communications headset according to claim 1 further comprising a microphone boom module comprising:

a flexible boom, housing a microphone at one end thereof and being removably attached at an opposite end thereof to said primary ear cup module;

said microphone being covered by a protective microphone membrane and microphone cover assembly;

said microphone boom module being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools; and

said microphone membrane and microphone cover assembly being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools.

9. A communications headset according to claim 8 wherein said microphone boom module is environmentally protected by an outer plastic sleeve.

10. A communications headset according to claim 9 wherein said microphone membrane is a polyurethane membrane.

11. A communications headset comprising an assemblage of individually replaceable modules including

a) a primary ear cup receiver module comprising

an ear cushion

an ear cup membrane

an ear cup sound barrier

an ear cup speaker

a printed circuit board

an ear cup shell;

b) a second ear cup receiver module comprising

an ear cushion

an ear cup membrane

an ear cup sound barrier

an ear cup speaker

an ear cup shell;

c) a termination cable module adapted at one end for removable connection to said primary ear cup receiver module and at another end for removable connection to a source of electrical communication signals;

d) a headband module adapted at one end thereof for securing and positioning said primary ear cup receiver module and said second ear cup receiver module to engage a user'"'"'s ears;

e) a headband cable module removably connected to said first ear cup receiver module and said second ear cup receiver module for transmitting electrical communications signals to a speaker in said second ear cup receiver module;

f) a microphone boom module comprising;

a flexible boom, housing a microphone at one end thereof and being removably attached at an opposite end thereof to said first ear cup module;

said microphone being covered by a protective microphone membrane; and

said flexible boom is environmentally protected by an outer plastic sleeve;

said ear cup membrane in said primary ear cup receiver module and said ear cup membrane in said second ear cup receiver module and said microphone membrane being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools;

said speaker in said primary ear cup receiver module and said speaker in said second ear cup receiver module being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools;

said printed circuit board being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools;

said individually replaceable modules being replaceable by hand without the need for tools.

12. A communications headset comprising an assemblage of individually replaceable modules including:

a) a primary ear cup receiver module comprising

an ear cushion

an ear cup membrane

an ear cup plate

an ear cup foam sound barrier

an ear cup speaker

a printed circuit board

an ear cup shell;

b) a termination cable module adapted at one end for removable connection to said ear cup receiver module and at another end for removable connection to a source of electrical communication signals;

c) a headband module adapted at one end thereof for securing and positioning said ear cup receiver module to engage a users ear;

said ear cup membrane being replaceably attached over said foam sound barrier, speaker, and printed circuit board to provide an hygienic and protective cover therefore and being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools;

said individually replaceable modules being replaceable by hand without the need for tools;

d) a microphone boom module comprising

a flexible boom, housing a microphone at one end thereof and being removably attached at an opposite end thereof to said primary ear cup module;

said microphone being covered by a protective microphone membrane and microphone cover assembly;

said microphone boom module being removable and replaceable by hand without the need for tools;

said microphone membrane and microphone cover assembly being replaceable by hand without the need for tools;

said microphone boom module is environmentally protected by an outer plastic sleeve;

said microphone membrane being a polyurethane membrane;

said microphone membrane contains a puncture therein suitable for maintaining an equalization of pressure across said microphone membrane.