Headsets are used to deliver selected sounds to a user's ear while at least partially blocking background sounds. However, prolonged use of headsets can be uncomfortable for some users because of ear sensitivity. Some previous approaches employ large earpieces that envelope the ear. However, such earpieces can be heavy, expensive, and unattractive.
Various embodiments are disclosed that relate to a headset. One example headset comprises a head band assembly. The example head band assembly includes a left-side head band curved to extend from a crown end at a crown region of a wearer's head toward a temple end at a left temple region of the wearer's head and a right-side head band curved to extend from a crown end at the crown region of the wearer's head toward a temple end at a right temple region of the wearer's head. The example head band assembly also includes a hinge pivotally connecting the crown end of the left-side head band and the crown end of the right-side head band. The headset also comprises an elbow including a first end coupled to the temple end of the left-side head band or the temple end of the right-side head band, a second end opposite the first end, and a bend between the first end and the second end. The bend angles the second end toward a front of the wearer's head from a position on the wearer's head that is higher than an upper portion of a helix of the wearer's ear. The headset also comprises an ear bud stem pivotally coupled to the second end of the elbow so that the ear bud stem crosses a tragus of the wearer's ear when the ear bud stem is pivoted to an insertion position. An ear bud is coupled to the ear bud stem so that pivoting the ear bud stem to the insertion position causes the ear bud to be inserted into the concha cavum of the wearer's ear.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.
Headsets are used to deliver selected sounds to a user's ear while at least partially blocking background sounds. Some headsets include earpieces that press on the user's ear, causing some sensitive ear structures (e.g., the helix, ear lobe, and so on) to support and retain the headset in place during use. Over time, use of such headsets can become uncomfortable for some users because of the force of the earpiece on the ear. Some other headsets employ larger earpieces that envelope the ear so that the ear piece does not rest on the ear at all. However, these earpieces can be cumbersome and expensive, potentially requiring larger speakers to transmit sound through the larger volume of air outside of the ear. In turn, such headsets may be uncomfortable in their own right and possibly expensive as well.
Accordingly, the embodiments described herein are related to a headset designed to allow a user to obtain the benefit of a lightweight earbud-style headset, employing potentially lower-cost, lower-power speakers, without experiencing the potential discomfort that may result from pressure applied to sensitive portions of the user's ears.
Each ear bud 108 is configured to be directed within a respective concha cavum of a wearer's ear when that ear bud is placed into an insertion position. Ear buds 108 include a sealing surface configured to mate with a user's ear to block at least a portion of background noise and. The ear buds 108 may also include one or more speakers.
Ear buds 108 are configured to freely pivot in and out of the ear.
In the example shown in
In some embodiments, a spring, friction surface, or other suitable manner of retaining an ear bud 108 in a selected position relative to elbow 104 may be provided. For example, a spring may couple ear bud stem 106 and elbow 104 so that the spring biases ear bud stem 106 with respect to elbow 104 to maintain ear bud stem 106 in the insertion position.
Elbow 104 and ear bud stem 106 cooperate to direct ear bud 108 into the wearer's ear while avoiding portions of the ear that may be sensitive to prolonged contact. For example,
Headset 100 is supported on a temple region of the wearer's head, possibly avoiding uncomfortable user experiences associated with headsets that transfer weight to outer and/or inner portions of a user's ear. Turning back to
Further, elbow 104 is configured to angle toward a front of the wearer's head so that the ear bud may be inserted into the ear as described above. In the example shown in
In some embodiments, bend 602 may include a setback angle 604 of between 120 and 150 degrees. Further, in some embodiments, a major axis 606 of ear bud stem 106, when projected on a sagittal plane, may be positioned within a range of 40 to 50 degrees from a projection of a line 608 bisecting left-side head band 102A onto the sagittal plane. In some settings, such as in stereo headsets where the left-side and right-side are mirror images of one another, major axis 606 of ear bud stem 106 projected on a sagittal plane may be positioned within a range of 40 to 50 degrees from a projection of line 608 bisecting head band assembly 102 onto the sagittal plane. In one non-limiting example, the major axis of ear bud stem 106 projected on a sagittal plane may be positioned to be 45 degrees from a projection of line 608 bisecting head band assembly 102 onto the sagittal plane.
Turning back to
In some embodiments, left-side head band 102A and right-side head band 102B may be coupled at least in part by a breadth adjustment that allows head band assembly 102 to be re-sized according to a bitragion width of a wearer's head. Moreover, the breadth adjustment may provide an additional bias force directing left-side head band 102A and right-side head band 102B toward the respective left and right temple regions of the wearer's head. If provided, a breadth adjustment may allow adjustment within any suitable range of widths. One non-limiting range includes widths from 124 mm to 155 mm as measured on a wearer's head.
In some embodiments, headset 100 may also include a height adjustment that allows head band assembly 102 to be re-sized according to a height of a wearer's head. Moreover, the height adjustment may help direct forces from the ear canal to the temple region of the wearer's head. This also may potentially make extended wear of headset 100 more comfortable. If provided, a height adjustment may allow adjustment within any suitable range of widths.
Additional enjoyment may be realized from repositionable ear buds. Repositionable ear buds may allow a user to reorient one or more ear buds 108 to conform to gaps or pinch points within that wearer's ear, potentially relieving additional pressure between that ear bud and the wearer's ear over time. In some embodiments, ear bud 108 may be coupled rotatably to ear bud stem 106 so that ear bud 108 may be twisted/swiveled about the coupling.
In some embodiments, headset 100 may include optional microphone boom 110. Turning back to
In the example shown in
Any suitable power source may be employed to power headset 100 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, headset 100 may be powered by a suitable remote power source (e.g., a power source not housed within headset 100) through power input 124. In some embodiments, headset 100 may be powered by a suitable on-board power source. In some embodiments, an on-board power source, such as a battery, may be recharged via intermittent connection to a remote power source through power input 124.
It is to be understood that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The specific routines or methods described herein may represent one or more of any number of processing strategies. As such, various acts illustrated may be performed in the sequence illustrated, in other sequences, in parallel, or in some cases omitted. Likewise, the order of the above-described processes may be changed.
The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various processes, systems and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4039765 | Tichy | Aug 1977 | A |
4455457 | Akira | Jun 1984 | A |
4783822 | Toole | Nov 1988 | A |
5335285 | Gluz | Aug 1994 | A |
5369857 | Sacherman et al. | Dec 1994 | A |
5457751 | Such | Oct 1995 | A |
5608808 | da Silva | Mar 1997 | A |
6333982 | Sapiejewski et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6754361 | Hall et al. | Jun 2004 | B1 |
7050598 | Ham | May 2006 | B1 |
7457428 | Vaudrey | Nov 2008 | B2 |
8363875 | Ito et al. | Jan 2013 | B2 |
20020131585 | Jones et al. | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20050201585 | Jannard | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20070003093 | Ito et al. | Jan 2007 | A1 |
20070036386 | Amae | Feb 2007 | A1 |
20070291220 | Betts-Johnson | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20080253604 | Yamagishi et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20090238397 | Reiss et al. | Sep 2009 | A1 |
20100296684 | Eberl et al. | Nov 2010 | A1 |
20110268308 | Vasquez | Nov 2011 | A1 |
20120140974 | Danielson et al. | Jun 2012 | A1 |
Entry |
---|
Serotsky, Paul, “A Bone of Contention” Retrieved at <<http://www musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Nov09/bone.htm>>, Retrieved Date: Apr. 16, 2012, 8 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20140010389 A1 | Jan 2014 | US |