Patent Application
20180139524
Headphones are designed to hold earphones at or in proximity to a user's ear when worn. Adjustability of headphones is important for adapting to different head types. People's heads vary in size and shape, and people's ears sit at different angles on their heads.
Aspects of the disclosure provide for a head-wearable assembly. The head-wearable assembly includes a band having a first end, a second end, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a generally U-shaped curve between the first end and the second end; a threaded housing on the outer surface of the band proximal to the first end, the threaded housing having an outer end and an inner end, the outer end facing away from band; and an earphone structure including an earphone connected to a threaded arm, the threaded arm being coupled with the threaded housing such that the earphone is held at a distance from the first end of the band; wherein twisting the earphone structure adjusts the distance between the earphone and the first end of the band.
In one example, the threaded housing is a first threaded housing and the earphone structure is a first earphone structure, and the head-wearable assembly also includes a second threaded housing on the outer surface of the band proximal to the second end; and a second earphone structure configured to couple with the second threaded housing such that the earphone is held at a distance from the second end of the band. In another example, the earphone encloses electronic components configured to receive a signal and produce sound in accordance with the received signal.
In yet another example, the threaded arm is longer than the threaded housing. In this example, the threaded arm has threading along a portion of the threaded arm that substantially matches in length to the threaded housing; and a free end of the threaded arm that is distal from the earphone protrudes from the threaded housing.
In a further example, the outer end of the threaded housing is flush with the first end of the band. In another example, when the distance is shortened when the earphone structure is twisted in a clockwise direction, and the distance is lengthened when the earphone structure is twisted in a counterclockwise direction opposite the first direction.
Other aspects of the disclosure provide for a kit for an adjustable headphone. The kit includes a band having a first end, a second end, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a threaded housing on the outer surface of the band proximal to the first end, the threaded housing having an outer end and an inner end, the outer end facing away from band, the band being generally curved in a U-shape; and an earphone structure including an earphone connected to a threaded arm, the threaded arm being configured to couple with the threaded housing such that the earphone is held at a distance from the first end of the band; wherein twisting the earphone assembly adjusts the distance between the earphone and the first end of the band.
In one example, the threaded housing is a first threaded housing and the earphone assembly is a first earphone structure, and the band also has a second threaded housing on the outer surface of the band proximal to the second end; and the kit further comprises a second earphone structure configured to couple with the second threaded housing such that the earphone is held at a distance from the second end of the band. In another example, the earphone includes electronic components configured to receive a signal and produce sound in accordance with the received signal.
In yet another example, the threaded arm is longer than the threaded housing. In this example, the threaded arm has threading along a portion of the threaded arm that matches in length than the threaded housing. In a further example, the outer end of the threaded housing is flush with the first end of the band. In another example, the threaded housing and the threaded arm are configured to shorten the distance when the earphone assembly is twisted in a clockwise direction, and lengthen the distance when the earphone assembly is twisted in a counterclockwise direction opposite the first direction.
The technology relates to an adjustable headphone. The adjustable headphone is used to provide a good fit between earphones and a user's ear when the headphone is worn on the user's head. To provide a good fit, the adjustable headphone is configured to adjust the length of the band of the headphone and the angle of the earphone.
The adjustable headphone comprises a band that is generally U-shaped and is configured to be worn on a user's head. At each end of the band, there is a threaded housing that has a cylindrical aperture that is threaded along at least part of the length of the aperture.
The adjustable headphone further comprises at least one earphone structure. The earphone structure includes an earphone connected to a threaded arm. The threading on the threaded arm is placed along at least part of the length of the threaded arm and is configured to couple with the threading in the threaded housing.
When the threaded arm of the earphone structure is assembled with the threaded housing of the band, the adjustable headphone is wearable on a user's head such that the earphone is positioned on or over a user's ear. To adjust the headphone, an earphone structure may be twisted in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to shorten or lengthen the combined length of the band and the earphones and/or to change the angle the earphones. Once a desired length and/or angle are achieved, the earphone may be left in place to maintain the arrangement for repeated use.
In addition, as discussed in detail below, the features described herein allow for various alternatives.
The adjustable headphone is configured to be worn on a user's head and comprises a band, threaded housings, and earphone structures. In
Connected to threaded housings 300, 302 are earphone structures 400, 402, respectively. Each earphone structure includes a threaded arm and an earphone. The threaded arm of the earphone structure is a straight, threaded rod configured to fit through and couple with a threaded housing. In adjustable headphone 100, the threaded arms of earphone structures 400, 402 are coupled with threaded housings 300, 302 such that one end of the threaded arms protrude from the respective threaded housings. The other ends of the threaded arms are connected to earphones. The threaded arm of the earphone structure may be connected along a symmetrical axis of the earphone, as shown in
When the earphone structure is assembled to the threaded housing of the band, the earphone may be at a neutral angle, angled to the front, or angled to the back in relation to the band. The earphones of earphone structures 400 and 402 are shown in
In other examples, the threaded housing and/or the threaded arm may be at an angle to the band, in which case the earphone may be asymmetrically positioned in relation to one or more of the other elements. The threaded arm also may not be connected to the earphone along an axis of symmetry of the earphone, in which case the earphone may also be asymmetrically positioned in relation to one or more of the other elements. In
In
The band of the adjustable headphone is shown in more detail in
As described above, at each end of the band, there may be a threaded housing. The threaded housing may be an elongated shape positioned on the outer surface of the band. The elongated shape may be, for example, a cylinder, a rectangular prism, or other three-dimensional shape. An outer end of the threaded housing may be proximal to or flush with an end of the band, an inner end of the threaded housing may face the center of the band.
Each threaded housing may include a cylindrical aperture that is threaded along the entire length of the aperture or along a portion of the length of the cylinder. The threading may be, for example, a length corresponding to a difference in potential sizes of human heads. For example, the difference between a length from crown to ear on a head in the 10th percentile and a length from crown to ear on a head in the 90th percentile may be approximately 30 millimeters. The threading in the threaded housing may therefore be approximately 30 millimeters long, ranging between about 15 millimeters and about 50 millimeters. Threaded housing 300 in
The adjustable headphone further comprises first and second earphone structures, such as earphone structure 400 shown in detail in
The length of the threading on the threaded arm may be related to the length of the threading in the threaded housing. For example, the length of the threading on the threaded arm may match the length of the threading in the threaded housing. Alternatively, the threading on the threaded arm may be shorter or longer than the threading in the threaded housing. The length of threading 416 of threaded arm 410 matches the length of threading 342 of threaded housing 300, as shown in the assembly 500 of
Electronic components for receiving signal and producing sound may be included in at least one earphone. Earphone 420 includes electronic components for producing sound such that the earphone 420 may provide sound to a user when the adjustable headphone 100 is worn on a user's head. In some examples, the electronic components may be further connected to wiring or other electronic components in the band.
When the earphone structure is assembled with the threaded housing of the band, the adjustable headphone may be worn on a user's head such that the earphone is positioned on or over a user's ear. When assembled, the free end of the threaded arm may be proximal to the inner end of the threaded housing and within the threaded housing or may be protruding from the threaded housing. The earphone may either be against the outer end of the threaded housing or be a distance from the outer end of the threaded housing. In the assembly 500 of earphone structure 420 and threaded housing 300 shown in
To adjust the size of the adjustable headphone, an earphone structure may be twisted in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction within the threaded housing. Twisting the earphone may either shorten or lengthen the distance between the earphone and the outer end of the threaded housing. For example, twisting the earphone in a clockwise direction may cause the threaded arm to pass further into the threaded housing and shorten the distance between the earphone and the outer end of the threaded housing. This action may be similar to tightening a screw.
As shown in
As shown in
An angle of an earphone may also be adjusted by twisting the earphone structure in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The angle of the earphone is the angle between the outer surface of the earphone and the inner or outer surface of an end of the band. If a user's ear extends at a particular angle to the user's head, then the angle of the earphone may be adjusted to match the particular angle to provide better fit and increase user comfort. As shown in
The adjustable headphone may be configured to maintain a set length and earphone angle. Once a desired distance between the earphone and threaded housing and/or a desired angle of the earphone is reached, the earphone structure may be left in place. The adjustable headphone may be configured so that when the earphone structure is not being twisted, the distance between the earphone and the threaded housing and the angle of the earphone is held in position through the contact of the threaded arm with the threaded housing. In some alternatives, a locking mechanism, such as a bolt over the free end of the threaded arm or a braking mechanism in contact with a part of the threaded arm, may be used to ensure the earphone remains at the desired distance and angle.
Alternatively, the adjustable headphones may comprise only one earphone structure.
In other examples, the threaded housing of the band extends past the ends of the band.
The threaded housing may also alternatively be just as long as or longer than the threaded arm. In this alternative, the free end of the threaded arm remains concealed within the threaded housing no matter the distance between the earphone and the outer end of the threaded housing. As shown in
The features of the described above may allow a headphone to be adjustable to fit a variety of shapes and sizes of user's heads. Once adjusted, the headphone may retain the adjusted length and shape so it may be later used by the same user without further adjustment. It may further be easier to control the position of the earphone with respect to the band because twisting the earphone moves the earphone along the threading that has a small and steady incline. Minute adjustments may therefore be made, and the distance between the earphone and the band may be easily predicted and gauged through visible observation.
Unless otherwise stated, the foregoing alternative examples are not mutually exclusive, but may be implemented in various combinations to achieve unique advantages. As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be utilized without departing from the subject matter defined by the claims, the foregoing description of the embodiments should be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation of the subject matter defined by the claims. In addition, the provision of the examples described herein, as well as clauses phrased as “such as,” “including” and the like, should not be interpreted as limiting the subject matter of the claims to the specific examples; rather, the examples are intended to illustrate only one of many possible embodiments. Further, the same reference numbers in different drawings can identify the same or similar elements.
