BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a woman wearing a stereo headset pair formed in accordance with the present invention, shown from one side;
FIG. 2 is a side view of a headset and a decorative fastener adapted to be joined to the headset by a separable fastener, partially broken away;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a stereo headset incorporating earring-like decorative accessories formed in accordance with my invention;
FIG. 4 is a side view of an earpiece formed in accordance with the present invention and incorporating a decorative jewelry-like earring affixed to the external side of the earpiece, with the jewelry item taking the configuration of a skull with LEDs associated with the eyes;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an earpiece formed in accordance with the present invention illustrating the manner of supporting the battery within the earpiece to power a separable jewelry-like item containing an LED; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an earpiece formed in accordance with the present invention, a battery powering the earpiece, and a controller for intermittently connecting the LED to the battery.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention broadly comprises an earpiece 12 comprising a section 14 adapted to extend into a user's ear and having an interior section 16 formed with a pattern of holes or the like. A main body section 18 contains an electric-acoustic transducer, which may comprise a small electromagnetic speaker, a magnetostrictive speaker or the like. Electrical signals are provided to the speaker housing 18 through an electrical cord 20 which may have a connector 21 at its far end adapted to join to an electronic device which produces audio frequency signals such as a cell phone, MP3 player, disc player or the like. A resilient protective section 22 joins the cord 20 to the housing 18.
The forward section 24 of the housing 18, which is the section that projects away from the ear when the section 14 projects into the user's ear, is formed with a female snap fastener section 26. The snap fastener is adapted to removably retain a male snap fastener section 28 affixed to a decorative accessory 30. The decorative accessory may have an end 34 which supports a dangling section 32 which extends below the earpiece 12 when worn by the user.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the headset 12 may be part of a stereo pair of headsets, one adapted for each ear. The headset 12 may project into the ear for retention purposes or a headband (not shown) may be used to press the earpiece against the ear.
The decorative section 30 and the dangle 32 provide a largely aesthetic function, although, as will be subsequently described, they may be connected to a motion detector which will control the illumination of a light source forming part of the decorative accessory.
As an alternative to securing a decorative accessory 30 to the headset 18 by a separable fastener 26-28, the decorative accessory may be permanently retained to the outer side of the headset. The advantage of making the decorative accessory separate from and attachable to the headset lies in the fact that different decorative accessories may be worn with the same headset and the decorative accessories may be merchandised separately from the headsets.
FIG. 3 illustrates a stereo headset pair generally indicated at 40 with the outer side of the headset shown to illustrate the decorative accessories 42 attached to each of the two earpieces of the stereo pair. A connecting cord 44, which has a jack 46 disposed at one end for attachment to an associated electronic device, splits into a pair of cords 48, one of which connects to each of the earpieces. Again, the decorative accessory shown may be permanently affixed to the earpiece or detachable by a separable fastener which may include a snap fastener, a clip, a Velcro fastener, or any other available form of separable fastener. The decorative accessories 42 take the form of flowers, but obviously any form of decorative attachment could be employed.
FIG. 4 illustrates an earpiece generally indicated at 50 disposed in a user's ear 52. Decorative accessory 54 associated with the earpiece has the appearance of a skull. The eyes of the skull are each equipped with a light source 56 which preferably constitutes an LED, but could constitute a small incandescent light bulb, a fluorescent light bulb, or any other known form of light generator. A battery associated with either the earpiece or the decorative accessory provides power to the lamps 56 either on a constant basis, after switching on, or intermittently, in timed relation to some effect such as motion of the user's head, sounds generated in the headset, external sounds or the like. Alternatively the lights may simply flash on and off in any desired pattern.
FIG. 5 illustrates in exploded form an earpiece generally indicated at 70 adapted to receive a battery 72 for powering an LED 74 associated with a detachable decorative accessory 76. The earpiece 70 includes a reduced section 78 adapted to extend into the user's ear, and a body 80. The body 80 has a recess 82 sized to receive a cylindrical battery 72. Screw threads 84 formed in the side walls of the recess 82 allow an outer section 86 with male threads 88 to be screwed into the recess to retain the battery 72. A pair of conductors 90 extending through the outer section 88 between its inner and outer sides make contact with the poles of the battery 72. A snap fastener male section 92 is attached to the outer side of the section 88 and mates with a complementary female snap fastener section 94 formed on the interior side of the decorative accessory 76. When the fastener sections 92 and 94 are joined, the conductors connect the battery to the LED 74 formed in the decorative accessory. The switch 96 on the earpiece 80 can energize and de-energize the light source 74.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit useful with the decorative accessories containing light sources such as those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A battery 72 has one pole connected to one terminal of the light source 74. The other terminal is connected through switch 96 and, alternatively, through a light control circuit 98. The switch may be incorporated in the accessory, or in an in-line switch with or without a volume control. The light circuit control may be configured to turn on the light source 74 intermittently or in a preselected time pattern at such time as the switch 96 is closed. Alternatively, the unit 98 may incorporate a sensor such as a motion sensor which illuminates the light in timed relation to the motion of the user's head. It could also incorporate a sound sensor to control the illumination of the LED in timed relation to the beat of music being played over the earpiece by the player or as a function of ambient sounds.
It should be understood that the earpieces may be used singularly or in a pair and the pair may be monaural or stereo, depending upon the associated electronic device. The earpieces can be of the type illustrated in FIG. 5 which project into the head or could be retained by a conventional headset band (not shown).
Patent Application
20070291974
