Headset with adjustable headband

• US 8,160,287 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vocollect, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vocollect, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Slippy, Gordon, Keeports, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David S.
• Application Number:
  US12/470,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20100296683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 381/367, 381/370, 381374-377, 381/379
• US Class Current: 381/377
• 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 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A headset includes an element to be held to the head of a wearer and a headband coupled to the element and configured for engaging a head of a wearer to hold the element thereon. The headband includes a plurality of headband arms coupled to pivot with respect to each other. A torsion spring is positioned between the arms and portions of the torsion spring are coupled to the arms for acting on the arms with a torsion force. An adjustment member is coupled between the torsion spring and a headband arm and is operable for adjusting the torsion force of the torsion spring to adjust the torsion force on the arms.

Claims

1. A headset comprising:

an element to be held to the head of a wearer;

a headband coupled to the element and configured for engaging a head of a wearer to hold the element thereon, the headband including;

a plurality of headband arms coupled to pivot with respect to each other;

a torsion spring positioned between the arms, portions of the torsion spring coupled to the arms for acting on the arms with a torsion force;

an adjustment member coupled between the torsion spring and a headband arm, the adjustment member operable for adjusting the torsion force of the torsion spring to adjust the torsion force on the arms and having a locked and unlocked position, the adjustment member movable to adjust the torsion force when it is in the unlocked position and prevented from being moved in the locked position.

2. The headset of claim 1 wherein the adjustment member includes a bolt having a first end configured to engage a headband arm and a second end coupled with the torsion spring, the bolt movable for being selectively disengaged from the headband arm to be rotated to adjust the torsion force.

3. The headset of claim 2 wherein the adjustment member bolt includes a shaped head configured to seat in a shaped opening to prevent rotation of the bolt, the bolt being movable to unseat the head from the opening to allow rotation to adjust the torsion force.

4. The headset of claim 2 wherein the adjustment member bolt includes a slotted end configured for coupling with an end of the torsion spring, the bolt, when rotated, configured for rotating the end of the torsion spring to adjust the torsion force of the spring.

5. The headset of claim 2 wherein the bolt is biased to engage the headband arm and is selectively disengaged when the bolt is moved to overcome the bias.

6. The headset of claim 1 wherein the adjustment member is configured to provide discrete adjustment of the torsion force.

7. The headset of claim 1 wherein the element includes at least one speaker.

8. The headset of claim 1 wherein the element includes a pair of speakers, the speakers coupled to the end of respective headband arms.

9. The headset of claim 1 wherein the element includes at least one microphone.

10. The headset of claim 1 wherein the element includes electronics.

11. A headset comprising:

an element to be held to the head of a wearer;

a headband coupled to the element and configured for engaging a head of a wearer to hold the element thereon, the headband including;

a plurality of headband arms;

at least one pivoting section coupled between the headband arms;

the headband arms coupled to pivot with respect to the pivoting section;

a torsion spring positioned between at least one headband arm and the pivoting section, a portion of the torsion spring coupled to the arm for acting on the arm with a torsion force;

an adjustment member coupled between the torsion spring and headband arm, the adjustment member operable for adjusting the torsion force of the torsion spring to adjust the torsion force on the arm and having a locked and unlocked position, the adjustment member movable to adjust the torsion force when it is in the unlocked position and prevented from being moved in the locked position.

12. The headset of claim 11 wherein the adjustment member includes a bolt having a first end configured to engage a headband arm and a second end coupled with the torsion spring, the bolt movable for being selectively disengaged from the headband arm to be rotated to adjust the torsion force.

13. The headset of claim 12 wherein the adjustment member bolt includes a shaped head configured to seat in a shaped opening to prevent rotation of the bolt, the bolt being movable to unseat the head from the opening to allow rotation to adjust the torsion force.

14. The headset of claim 12 wherein the adjustment member bolt includes a slotted end configured for coupling with an end of the torsion spring, the bolt, when rotated, configured for rotating the end of the torsion spring to adjust the torsion force of the spring.

15. The headset of claim 12 wherein the bolt is biased to engage the headband arm and is selectively disengaged when the bolt is moved to overcome the bias.

16. The headset of claim 11 wherein the element includes at least one of a speaker, a microphone, or electronics.

17. The headset of claim 11 wherein the adjustment member is configured to provide discrete adjustment of the torsion force.

18. A headset comprising:

an element to be held to the head of a wearer;

a headband coupled to the element and configured for engaging a head of a wearer to hold the element thereon, the headband including;

a plurality of headband arms coupled to pivot;

a torsion spring positioned with respect to at least one arm, a portion of the torsion spring coupled to the arm for acting on the arm with a torsion force;

an adjustment member coupled between the torsion spring and a headband arm, the adjustment member operable for adjusting the torsion force of the torsion spring to adjust the torsion force on the arm;

the adjustment member including a rotatable worm and a worm gear that is coupled with the worm for rotating when the worm rotates, the worm gear engaging an end of the torsion spring for rotating the end of the spring and winding the spring to adjust the torsion force of the spring.

19. The headset of claim 18 wherein the adjustment member includes a slotted shaft, the slotted shaft coupled at one end with the worm gear and including a slot for engaging an end of the torsion spring to rotate an end of the torsion spring when the worm gear is rotated.

20. The headset of claim 18 further comprising:

at least one pivoting section coupled between the headband arms wherein the headband arms are coupled to pivot with respect to the pivoting section;

the torsion spring positioned between at least one headband arm and the pivoting section, a portion of the torsion spring coupled to the arm for acting on the arm with a torsion force.

21. The headset of claim 18 wherein the plurality of headband arms are coupled to pivot with respect to each other, the torsion spring positioned between the arms and portions of the torsion spring coupled to the arms for acting on the arms with a torsion force.