Patent Application
20060126882
The invention relates to earphones.
Earphones are commonly used sound transmitting electronic devices. Earphones have advantages of compact size and high portability over conventional stereo speakers. Thus, users can listen to their favorite music everywhere at anytime.
Generally, earphones are categorized into two types according to user requirements: the single-eared type and the double-eared type. Single-eared type earphones are appropriate for electronic devices providing mono sound, such as cellular phones. Double-eared type earphones are appropriate for electronic devices providing stereo sound, such as stereo FM radios.
Users need to carry two types of earphones for different situations, which is burdensome. Moreover, users must switch between two types of earphones to suit different electronic devices, which is very inconvenient.
Earphones are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an earphone comprises a first speaker, a second speaker, and an extendable winding structure. The first speaker can hang on one ear of a person. The second speaker is detachably fixed on the first speaker. The extendable winding structure is disposed in the first speaker and connected with the second speaker. The second speaker can be moved to the other ear of the person by extending the extendable winding structure.
Earphones can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is an exploded view of an embodiment of an earphone;
b is a front view of an embodiment of an earphone after combination;
c is a back view of an embodiment of an earphone after combination;
a is a schematic view of an embodiment of an earphone functioning as a single-eared earphone;
b is a schematic view of an embodiment of an earphone functioning as a double-eared earphone; and
Earphones will be described in greater detail in the following.
A principle aim of the invention is to fix a second speaker on a first speaker of an earphone and gather unnecessary cords in a winding structure. Thus, the earphone can switch between single-eared type and double-eared type for different situations.
a is an exploded view of an embodiment of an earphone 10.
The first speaker 11 comprises an upper cover 14, an under cover 15, an ear hanger 16, and other sound components which are omitted for simplicity. The first speaker 11 can hang on one ear of a user by the ear hanger 16. The ear hanger 16 is detachable, allowing the user to replace it with another ear hanger having different shapes or styles to suit his ear. It is to be noted that the first speaker 11 transmits sound via a plurality of holes 17 in the under cover 15 and receives sound via the microphone 18, as shown in
The second speaker 12 is an earplug speaker engaged with a circular cavity 101 of the upper cover 14. The second speaker 12 can be freely detached from the upper cover 14 of the first speaker 11.
The extendable winding structure 13 comprises a winding box 19 and an extendable cord 20. The winding box 19 is fixed on the under cover 15 in the first speaker 11. The extendable cord 20 is wound in the winding box 19 and connected with the second speaker 12.
a is a schematic view of an embodiment of the earphone 10 functioning as a single-eared earphone.
As shown in
As shown in
Therefore, the earphone 10 can switch between single-eared type and double-eared type for different situations. When the user 21 needs only mono sound, the second speaker 12 of the earphone 10 remains fixed on the first speaker 11, and unnecessary cords of the earphone 10 are gathered by the extendable winding structure 13, thereby the earphone 10 is used as a single-eared type earphone. When the user 21 needs stereo sound, the second speaker 12 is detached from the first speaker 11 and moved to the other ear of the user 21 by extending the extendable winding structure 13, thereby the earphone 10 is used as a double-eared type earphone.
Moreover, in some embodiments of the earphone 10, the extendable winding structure 13 can be designed in other styles or structures. For example,
In some embodiments of an earphone, a second speaker can be fixed on a first speaker, and unnecessary cords of the earphone can be gathered by a winding structure, thereby the earphone is used as a single-eared type earphone having advantages of compact size and high portability. Moreover, when necessary, the second speaker can be moved to the other ear of the user by extending the winding structure, thereby the earphone is used as a double-eared type earphone having advantages of high flexibility in use.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of several embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93138349 | Dec 2004 | TW | national |
