Multi mode headphone with folding headband

• US 9,344,794 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IdeaVillage Products Corp.
• Original Assignee: IdeaVillage Products Corp.
• Inventors: Blonder, Greg E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US14/544,231
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 381/370, 381/374, 381378-379, 381383-384
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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 2201/025 Transducer mountings or cabinet supports enabling variable orientation of transducer of cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A music playing and listening apparatus comprising a headband having opposing ends, and having at least one hinge; at least two connectors, each of the connectors having at least two arms, a first arm being shorter than a second arm, the first and second arm forms an axis; and at least two speakers, each of the speakers having opposing sides and comprising an audio output element on a first side and a compartment on a second side, the first and second arms of each of the connectors being pivotally attached to a portion of each of the speakers to thereby allow rotation of the speakers about the axis, each of the audio output elements of each of the speakers generally face one another during a first music listening mode, each of the speakers being rotatable about the first and second arms of each of the connectors to thereby allow each of the audio output elements of each of the speakers to turn away from one another during a second music playing mode; the rotation of the speakers allowing for changes in modes; the hinge of the headband allows the headband to open a wider distance between the speakers in the second music playing mode.

Claims

1. A music playing and listening apparatus comprising:

a headband having opposing ends, said headband having at least one hinge;

at least two connectors, each of said connectors having at least two arms, a first arm being shorter than a second arm, said first and said second arm form an axis;

at least two speakers, each of said speakers having opposing sides and comprising an audio output element on a first side and a compartment on a second side, said first and second arms of each of said connectors being pivotally attached to a portion of each of said speakers to thereby allow rotation of said speakers about said axis, each of said audio output elements of each of said speakers generally face one another during a first music listening mode, each of said speakers being rotatable about said first and second arms of each of said connectors to thereby allow each of said audio output elements of each of said speakers to turn away from one another during a second music playing mode;

the rotation of said speakers allowing for changes in modes, said hinge of said headband allows said headband to open a wider distance between said speakers in said second music playing mode;

at least one amplifier, said amplifier is connected to a portion of at least one of said speakers; and

at least one switching mechanism, said switching mechanism is activated by rotating each of said speakers from said music listening mode to said second music playing mode, said rotation of said speakers activates said amplifier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hinge is centrally located on said headband.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are two hinges on said headband equally spaced apart from said opposing ends of said headband.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said axis of rotation has an angle from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees relative to a plane of said headphone.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said speakers is designed to rotate about said axis during said first music listening mode at angles from about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said headband is generally situated over a user'"'"'s head and each of said audio output elements of each of said speakers generally faces the user'"'"'s ears during said first music listening mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is set on a surface and said speakers are designed to be rotated about said first and second arms of each of said connectors to allow said audio output elements of each of said speaker to generally face away from the surface during said second music playing mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a safety interlocking device which is designed to limit the volume output of said speakers in said first listening mode and increases the volume output of said speakers during said second music playing mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said compartments of said speakers provides for storage of a power source.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprises at least one power source, said power source is a battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprises an on and off mechanism.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising volume control mechanism, said volume control mechanism controls audio output volume of said speakers.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cable.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless receiver designed to accept audio signals from an external source.

15. A music playing and listening apparatus comprising:

a headband having opposing ends, said headband having at least one hinge;

at least two connectors, each of said connectors having at least two arms, a first arm being shorter than a second arm, said first and said second arm form an axis;

at least two speakers, each of said speakers having opposing sides and comprising an audio output element on a first side and a compartment on a second side, said first and second arms of each of said connectors being pivotally attached to a portion of each of said speakers to thereby allow rotation of said speakers about said axis, each of said audio output elements of each of said speakers generally face one another during a first music listening mode, each of said speakers being rotatable about said first and second arms of each of said connectors to thereby allow each of said audio output elements of each of said speakers to turn away from one another during a second music playing mode;

the rotation of said speakers allowing for changes in modes, said hinge of said headband allows said headband to open a wider distance between said speakers in said second music playing mode;

at least one amplifier, said amplifier is connected to a portion of at least one of said speakers; and

at least one switching mechanism, said switching mechanism is activated by rotating one of said speakers from said music playing mode to said second music listening mode, said rotation of one of said speakers deactivates said amplifier.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said axis of rotation has an angle from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees relative to a plane of said headphone.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each of said speakers is designed to rotate about said axis during said first music listening mode at angles from about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said headband is generally situated over a user'"'"'s head and each of said audio output elements of each of said speakers generally faces the user'"'"'s ears during said first music listening mode.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said apparatus is set on a surface and said speakers are designed to be rotated about said first and second arms of each of said connectors to allow said audio output elements of each of said speaker to generally face away from the surface during said second music playing mode.