Bone conducting headset apparatus

• US 7,010,139 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kees Smeehuyzen
• Original Assignee: Kees Smeehuyzen
• Inventors: Smeehuyzen, Kees
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/725,759
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 381/370, 381/371, 381/372, 381/373, 381/374, 381/375, 381/376, 381/377, 381/378, 381/379, 381/380, 381/182
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A bone conducting headset apparatus (10) that includes a pair of speaker/microphone members (30) (30) mounted at the juncture of a head strap (21) and a neck strap (22) provided with a spring biasing member (23) wherein, the speaker/microphone members (30) (30) are operatively connected to an electronic control member (40) that is provided with means (46) for selectively attaching the electronic control member (40) to a desired article of the user'"'"'s clothing wherein, the electronic control member (40) is provided with PTT technology, as well as, high noise cut-off (44) directional hearing (48) (48) and selective communication features (42).

Claims

1. A bone conducting headset apparatus comprising

headset unit including an adjustable spring biased headset member including an adjustable length head strap and a neck strap provided with a spring biasing member wherein, the head strap has opposite ends that join the neck strap in a generally perpendicular fashion;

a microphone speaker unit including at least a pair of speaker/microphone members including an inner bone conducting component and an outer environmental noise component disposed at one end of the junctures between the head strap and the neck strap wherein, the at least one speaker/microphone member is disposed in intimate contact with the wearer'"'"'s head bone; and

an electronic control unit including an electronic control member operatively connected to the microphone/speaker unit and further provided with an on/off switch and means for positioning the electronic control member on a selected article of clothing worn by the user.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1;

wherein, the electronic control member is further provided at least in part with at least one dial that controls audio amplification and/or audio reduction.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1;

wherein, the electronic control member is further provided at least in part with a three position switch having an intercom position, a listen only position and a first push to talk position.

4. The apparatus as in claim 2;

wherein, the electronic control member is further provided at least in part with a three position switch having an intercom position, a listen only position and a first push to talk position.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1;

wherein, the electronic control member is further provided with high noise cut-off means wherein, noise above a preset decibel level will not be transmitted through the at least one speaker microphone member.

6. The apparatus as in claim 2;

wherein, the electronic control member is further provided with high noise cut-off means wherein, noise above a preset decibel level will not be transmitted through the at least one speaker microphone member.

7. The apparatus as in claim 3;

wherein, the electronic control member is further provided with high noise cut-off means wherein, noise above a preset decibel level will not be transmitted through the at least one speaker microphone member.

8. The apparatus as in claim 4;

wherein, the electronic control member is further provided with high noise cut-off means wherein, noise above a preset decibel level will not be transmitted through the at least one speaker microphone member.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1;

wherein, the electronic control member is operatively connected to a pair of microphones for directional hearing.

10. The apparatus as in claim 2;

wherein, the electronic control member is operatively connected to a pair of microphones for directional hearing.

11. The apparatus as in claim 3;

wherein, the electronic control member is operatively connected to a pair of microphones for directional hearing.

12. The apparatus as in claim 4;

wherein, the electronic control member is operatively connected to a pair of microphones for directional hearing.

13. The apparatus as in claim 5;

wherein, the electronic control member is operatively connected to a pair of microphones for directional hearing.

14. The apparatus as in claim 6;

wherein, the electronic control member is operatively connected to a pair of microphones for directional hearing.

15. The apparatus as in claim 1;

wherein, the microphone/speaker unit comprises a pair of speaker/microphone members wherein, both said pair of speaker/microphone members are disposed at the juncture of the head strap and the neck strap.

16. The apparatus as in claim 2;

wherein, the microphone/speaker unit comprises a pair of speaker/microphone members wherein, both said pair of speaker/microphone members are disposed at the juncture of the head strap and the neck strap.

17. The apparatus as in claim 3;

wherein, the microphone/speaker unit comprises a pair of speaker/microphone members wherein, both said pair of speaker/microphone members are disposed at the juncture of the head strap and the neck strap.

18. The apparatus as in claim 5;

wherein, the microphone/speaker unit comprises a pair of speaker/microphone members wherein, both said pair of speaker/microphone members are disposed at the juncture of the head strap and the neck strap.

19. The apparatus as in claim 9;

wherein, the microphone/speaker unit comprises a pair of speaker/microphone members wherein, both said pair of speaker/microphone members are disposed at the juncture of the head strap and the neck strap.

20. The apparatus as in claim 1;

wherein, the at least one of the speaker/microphone members includes a boom microphone element.

21. The apparatus as in claim 15;

further including a boom microphone element that is interchangeable between said pair of speaker/microphone members.

22. The apparatus as in claim 9;

wherein, the pair of microphones for directional hearing are incorporated into the pair of speaker/microphone members.

23. The apparatus as in claim 15;

wherein, the pair of microphones for directional hearing are incorporated into the pair of speaker/microphone members.

24. The apparatus as in claim 3;

wherein, the electronic control member is further provided with a second push to talk button to allow communication over two radios.

25. The apparatus as in claim 4;

wherein, the electronic control member is further provided with a second push to talk button to allow communication over two radios.

26. The apparatus as in claim 9 further including a third microphone connected to the electronic control member to provide an elevational component to the directional hearing.

27. The apparatus as in claim 26;

wherein, the third microphone is disposed on the headset member.