Tension-adjustable mechanism for stethoscope earpieces

• US 20030015368A1
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Andromed Inc.
• Inventors: Cybulski, George, Adams, Larrimore, Lanzo, Victor F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,595,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 181/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

A tension-adjusting mechanism for the elongated earpieces of a stethoscope comprises a neckpiece and, for each earpiece, a pivot mechanism portion between the proximal end of the earpiece and the neckpiece, a spring mechanism portion between the proximal end of the earpiece and the neckpiece, and a tension-adjusting mechanism portion between the spring member and the neckpiece. For each earpiece, the pivot mechanism portion defines a pivot axis about which the earpiece pivots, and the spring mechanism portion comprises a resilient blade deforming upon spreading apart of the earpieces. This deformation produces a tension on the earpieces opposing to further spreading apart thereof. The tension-adjusting mechanism portion defines a plurality of interchangeable point of contacts with the resilient blades, which contact points having different positions relative to the neckpiece.

Claims

1. A tension-adjusting mechanism for an elongated 0stethoscope earpiece having a proximal end, comprising:

a stethoscope neckpiece;

a pivot mechanism portion interposed between the proximal end of the earpiece and the neckpiece, and defining a pivot axis about which the earpiece pivots relative to the neckpiece;

a spring mechanism portion interposed between the proximal end of the earpiece and the neckpiece, said spring mechanism portion comprising a spring member which deforms upon pivoting of the earpiece about the neckpiece in an outward direction, wherein deformation of the spring member produces a tension on the earpiece opposing to further pivoting of the earpiece in the outward direction; and

a tension-adjusting mechanism portion interposed between the spring member and the neckpiece and defining a plurality of interchangeable point of contacts with the spring member, said points of contacts with the spring member having different positions relative to the neckpiece.

2. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the neckpiece comprises a hollow shell formed with an opening for the proximal end of the earpiece.

3. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the pivot mechanism portion comprises abutment surfaces restricting, by abutment, free pivotal movement of the earpiece about the neckpiece within given limits.

4. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the pivot mechanism portion comprises a pivot pin pivotally mounted on the neckpiece, and a pivot tube pivotally mounted on the pivot pin and connected to the proximal end of the earpiece.

5. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein the spring member comprises a resilient blade having one end formed with said pivot pin.

6. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein the resilient blade and the pivot pin are made of a single piece of plastic material.

7. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein the earpiece and the pivot tube are made of a single piece of plastic material.

8. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the pivot tube has an open, axial slot through which the resilient blade extends when the pivot pin is inserted in said pivot tube;

the resilient blade has a thickness; and

the slot has a width larger than the thickness of the blade to allow pivotal movement of the pivot tube about the pivot pin within predetermined limits.

9. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein:

the pivot tube has an annular end face provided with a lug;

the neckpiece has a pair of abutment surfaces situated on opposite sides of the lug; and

the lug abuts on either abutment surface to restrict pivotal movement of the pivot tube about the neckpiece within predetermined limits.

10. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the spring member comprises a resilient blade having a proximal end connected to the proximal end of the earpiece, and a distal end section opposite to the proximal end;

the tension-adjusting mechanism portion comprises a tension-adjusting cam having a geometrical axis, rotatable about said geometrical axis and selectively lockable in either first, second and third angular positions;

the tension-adjusting cam comprises an axial member having an outer tubular surface and a first point of contact with the distal end section of the resilient blade formed by said outer tubular surface when the tension-adjusting cam is locked in the first angular position;

the axial member of the tension-adjusting cam comprises, on said outer tubular surface, a first axial and radial fin of intermediate height having a free axial edge surface, and a second point of contact with the distal end section of the resilient blade formed by said free axial edge surface of the first fin when the tension-adjusting cam is locked in the second angular position; and

the axial member of the tension-adjusting cam comprises, on said outer tubular surface, a second axial and radial fin of larger height with a free axial edge surface, and a third point of contact with the distal end section of the resilient blade formed by said free axial edge surface of the second fin when the tension-adjusting cam is locked in the third angular position.

11. A tension-adjusting mechanism as defined in claim 10, wherein:

the neckpiece comprises a hole with peripheral notches; and

the tension-adjusting cam comprises lugs engaging the peripheral notches of the hole in the neckpiece to lock the tension-adjusting cam in either the first, second and third angular positions.

12. A headset for electronic stethoscope, comprising:

first and second elongated stethoscope earpieces each having a proximal end; and

a tension-adjusting mechanism as recited in claim 1 for each elongated stethoscope earpiece.

13. A headset as recited in claim 12, wherein the stethoscope neckpiece is common to both the first and second elongated stethoscope earpieces.

14. A headset as recited in claim 12, wherein the neckpiece comprises a hollow shell formed with openings for the proximal ends of the earpieces.

15. A headset as recited in claim 14, wherein the hollow shell comprises a front shell portion and a rear shell portion assembled together to form said hollow shell.

16. A headset as recited in claim 12, wherein, for each earpiece, the pivot mechanism portion comprises abutment surfaces restricting, by abutment, free pivotal movement of the earpiece about the neckpiece within given limits.

17. A headset as recited in claim 12, wherein, for each earpiece, the pivot mechanism portion comprises a pivot pin pivotally mounted on the neckpiece, and a pivot tube pivotally mounted on the pivot pin and connected to the proximate end of the earpiece.

18. A headset as defined in claim 17, wherein, for each earpiece, the spring member comprises a resilient blade having one end formed with said pivot pin.

19. A headset as recited in claim 18, wherein, for each earpiece:

the pivot tube has an open, axial slot through which the resilient blade extends when the pivot pin is inserted in said pivot tube;

the resilient blade has a thickness; and

the slot has a width larger than the thickness of the resilient blade to allow pivotal movement of the pivot tube about the pivot pin within predetermined limits.

20. A headset as recited in claim 17, wherein, for each earpiece:

the pivot tube has an annular end face provided with a lug;

the neckpiece has a pair of abutment surfaces situated on opposite sides of the lug; and

the lug abuts on either abutment surface to restrict pivotal movement of the pivot tube about the neckpiece within predetermined limits.

21. A headset as recited in claim 18, wherein:

the resilient blade associated to the first earpiece has a first distal end section opposite to the pivot pin;

the resilient blade associated to the second earpiece has a second distal end section opposite to the pivot pin;

the tension-adjusting mechanism portion associated to both the first and second earpieces comprises a tension-adjusting cam having a geometrical axis, rotatable about said geometrical axis and lockable in either first, second and third angular positions;

the tension-adjusting cam comprises an axial member having an outer tubular surface and two first points of contact with the first and second distal end sections, respectively, formed by two points of said outer tubular surface, respectively, when the tension-adjusting cam is locked in the first angular position;

the axial member of the tension-adjusting cam comprises, on said outer tubular surface, first and second diametrically opposite, axial and radial fins of intermediate height having respective first and second free axial edge surfaces, and two second points of contact with the first and second distal end sections, respectively, formed by said first and second free axial edge surfaces of the first fin, respectively, when the tension-adjusting cam is locked in the second angular position; and

the axial member of the tension-adjusting cam comprises, on said outer tubular surface, third and fourth geometically opposite, axial and radial fins of larger height with third and fourth free axial edge surfaces, respectively, and two third points of contact with the first and second distal end sections, respectively, formed by said third and fourth free axial edge surfaces of the second fin, respectively, when the tension-adjusting cam is locked in the third angular position.

22. A headset as recited in claim 11, wherein:

the neckpiece comprises a hole with peripheral notches; and

the tension-adjusting cam comprises lugs engaging the peripheral notches of the hole in the neckpiece to lock the tension-adjusting cam in either the first, second and third angular positions.

23. A headset as recited in claim 22, wherein the tension-adjusting mechanism associated to both the first and second earpieces comprises:

a spring element interposed between the neckpiece and the tension-adjusting cam and spring biasing the lugs of said tension-adjusting cam in the notches of the hole in the neckpiece;

whereby, to be rotated, the tension-adjusting cam is moved against the spring-biasing force produced by the spring element to disengage the lugs from the notches and is rotated and then released to engage the lugs with other notches.