Headset incorporating an integral light

• US 7,318,654 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John B. Mcclanahan
• Original Assignee: John B. Mcclanahan
• Inventors: McClanahan, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne; Sharon E.
• Application Number:
  US11/142,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20050226433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 362/105, 362/106, 362/103, 362/253, 362/800, 362/234, 220/9, 242/2, 290/6, 200/336, 200/5.R, 200/5.B
• US Class Current: 362/105
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A headset with a light incorporated within is disclosed. A representative embodiment of the invention may be construed as an aviation-style headset that includes a first earcup and a second earcup each comprising active noise reduction (ANR) circuitry, a headband interconnecting the first earcup and the second earcup, and a boom microphone coupled to one of the first and second earcups. The headset also includes a rotating housing coupled to at least one of the earcups. A first light-emitting diode (LED) is mounted in the rotating housing. The rotating housing is rotated to point light from the LED in a desired direction. The headset also includes a switch mounted to one of the earcups for controlling the LED. The ANR circuitry is electrically coupled to at least the first LED to deliver power to the LED. Other systems and devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An aviation-style headset, the aviation style headset comprising:

a first earcup and a second earcup each comprising active noise reduction (ANR) circuitry;

a headband interconnecting the first earcup and the second earcup;

a boom microphone coupled to the first earcup;

a first LED mounted to the headset and being operable to direct light in a first desired direction;

a second LED mounted to the headset and being operable to direct light in a second desired direction generally opposite to that of the first desired direction;

the ANR circuitry being operative to provide power to the first LED and the second LED;

wherein a position of the boom microphone determines which of the first LED and the second of the LED is able to illuminate.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the first LED is mounted to the first earcup.

3. The headset of claim 1, wherein the second LED is mounted to the second earcup.

4. The headset of claim 1, wherein, responsive to the boom microphone being positioned with respect to the first earcup such that when the first earcup is positioned over the left ear of a user the boom microphone extends toward the mouth of the user, the second LED is operative to illuminate when actuated.

5. The headset of claim 4 wherein, responsive to the boom microphone being positioned with respect to the first earcup such that when the first earcup is positioned over the right ear of a user the boom microphone extends toward the mouth of the user, the first LED is operative to illuminate when actuated.

6. The headset of claim 1 further comprising a multiple-function electrical control device operative to control volume of the headset and to actuate at least one of the first LED and the second LED.

7. The headset of claim 1, wherein the ANR circuitry is operative to provide power selectively to the first LED and the second LED such that both are not illuminated at any given time.

8. The headset of claim 6 wherein the multiple-function electrical control device comprises a rotary switch configured to control the LED and a potentiometer configured to control the volume.

9. The headset of claim 6 wherein the multiple-function electrical control device comprises a push-pull switch configured to control the LED and a potentiometer configured to control the volume.

10. The headset of claim 6 wherein the multiple-function electrical control device comprises a push-on-push-off switch configured to control the LED and a potentiometer configured to control the volume.

11. The headset of claim 6 wherein the multiple-function electrical control device comprises:

a switching means for controlling the LED; and

a first potentiometer means for controlling the volume.

12. The headset of claim 11 wherein the multiple-function electrical control device comprises a second potentiometer means for controlling LED brightness.

13. The headset of claim 6, wherein the multiple-function electrical control device is remotely located relative to the first and second earcups.

14. The headset of claim 6, wherein the multiple-function electrical control device is mounted to the first earcup.