Patent Application
20050220319
This invention relates to earphones or earbuds used by audiophiles to listen to music or other types of information produced by audio equipment such as MP3 players, CD players, and so on.
Conventional earphones are typically provided with two ends that become entangled and entrapped when not in use. Consequently, earphone users have found conventional devices to be frustrating when the earphones become entangled. Accordingly, there is a need for earphones that do not become entangled when in storage.
In an illustrative, non-limiting implementation, earphones/earbuds are provided for listening to music or other types of information produced by audio equipment such as MP3 players, CD players, and so on. The earphones/earbuds include a sliding organizer that brings together the left and right earphones when not in use, preventing entanglement.
The following description of illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the invention discloses specific configurations and components. However, the embodiments are merely examples of the present invention; and thus, the specific features described below are used to describe more easily such embodiments and to provide an overall understanding of the present invention. Accordingly, a skilled artisan will readily recognize that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described below. Furthermore, the descriptions of various configurations and components of the present invention that are known to the ordinarily skilled artisan are omitted for the sake of clarity and brevity.
The sliding organizer 30 is capable of docking to the organizer docking tail 20 (thus allowing the two separable ends of the speaker cord 60 to separate) or being slid along the speaker cord 60 to dock at the other end of the earphones/earbud body 10 on the left and right speaker capsule bodies 50a and 50b (thus bringing the separable ends of speaker cord 60 together so the invention may be stored in an organized manner). The sliding organizer 30 may be made of plastic, rubber, metal, or known materials in the art so long as the sliding organizer 30 provides smooth articulation of movement up and down the dual speaker cord 60, thereby enabling the dual speaker cord 60 to articulate together or apart as further explained herein.
Each of the separable ends of the speaker cord 60 has dual speaker wires contained in a grounding mesh or other insulative shielding covered by a plastic or cloth outer layer. The outer layer may also be rubber. A feature provided by the speaker cord 60 in conjunction with the sliding organizer 30 is that the two are of such material that the sliding organizer 30 and the speaker cord 60 do not become bound upon one another as the sliding organizer 30 is slid along the speaker cord 60 to “dock” at either end. In various embodiments, the sliding organizer 30 is grooved and/or notched and/or tapered so as to audibly, yet smoothly, dock and connect to either of the tail 20 and the left/right speaker capsule bodies 50a/b.
According to one embodiment, the sliding organizer 30 is plastic, while the outer sheath of the speaker cord 60 is cloth, thereby enabling smooth sliding of the sliding organizer 30 from the docking tail 20 to the right and left speaker capsule bodies 50a and 50b. The left speaker capsule body 50a and right speaker capsule body 50b may be composed of plastic or rubber or other known materials. The left speaker capsule body 50a and right speaker capsule body 50b are tapered to provide a smooth docking position when the sliding organizer 30 is slid onto the left ear capsule body 50a and right ear capsule body 50b.
The sliding organizer 30 docks onto one of the docking tail 20 and/or the left/right speaker capsule bodies 50a/b by “clicking” into place, thereby letting a user know through an audible indicator that the sliding organizer 30 is in place.
The left capsule 40a and right capsule 40b each contain speakers that a user would position in one's ears to listen to music or other audible information produced by audio equipment such as MP3 players, CD players, and so on. The left and right capsules 40a and 40b may include ear caps made of silicon, rubber or other soft material for comfortable wearing by a user. The left capsule and right capsule 40a and 40b each contain a speaker that the user uses to listen to music or other audio information. The speakers are each connected to two conductive wires and a shielding mesh/ground conductor in the left and right capsules 40a and 40b, the two conductive wires and shielding mesh/ground conductor being provided by the speaker cord 60. The shielding mesh/ground conductor, as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand, and as provided in speaker cord 60, is attached to additional shielding means within the speaker to help prevent interference from electromagnetic interference or electromagnetic disturbance.
The curved connecting plug sheath 80 is useful for certain audio equipment, for instance, that worn while exercising and strapped to a Velcro™ band around the arm.
It will thus be seen that the embodiments set forth above and those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims were intended to cover all of the generic and specific configurations of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention that as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60557419 | Mar 2004 | US |
