Patent Application
20050053255
The present invention is generally related to headphones, and more particularly is related to headphones that may be folded.
Technology has enabled a decrease in size of many categories of audio devices including, but not limited to, Compact Disc (CD) and Moving Pictures Experts Group-audio layer 3 (MP3) players, thereby making portability of such devices both feasible and desirable. It is equally desirable that headphones utilized in association with these audio devices be small for ease of portability.
Currently, headphones incorporate different combinations of pivot points, extensions, and beam and hinge configurations to allow for folding. Certain foldable headphones contain a central pivot point located on a headband at a point corresponding to a top portion of the head of a user. This configuration typically uses an additional pivot point at each earpiece, or the earpieces are mounted on slideable extensions. An example of headphones that have a central pivot point with an additional pivot point at each earpiece is provided by United States (U.S.) U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,325, issued May 7, 2002, to Koji Nageno (herinafter “Nageno”). Generally, Nageno provides “collapsible” headphones having earpieces that fold inward towards the headband, while the headband folds in on itself. Unfortunately, the earpieces of Nageno are not protected from damage that may be provided by exterior elements and/or conditions.
Another example of foldable headphones is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,442, issued Oct. 11, 1983, to Tomohiko Kamimura (hereinafter “Kamimura). Generally, Kamimura provides foldable headphones that contain a central pivot point and slideable extensions. In addition, Kamimura provides earpieces that are fully retracted on extensions, towards the headband, and the headband is folded in on itself.
Foldable headphones may also have a beam and hinge configuration. An example of such headphones is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,786, issued Sep. 2, 1986, to Hideo Omoto (herinafter “Omoto”). Generally, Omoto provides earpieces that roll inside the headband in a coiled fashion. Unfortunately, once again, the earpieces of Omoto are not protected from exterior elements and/or conditions. Variations of these configurations suffer similar disadvantages, specifically, unprotected earpieces, minimal foldability, or both.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a foldable headphone unit and method for folding the headphone unit. Briefly described, one embodiment of the invention, among others, can be implemented as follows. The foldable headphone unit has a first extendable sidepiece and a second extendable sidepiece, both rotatably attached to a top member. The first extendable sidepiece is attached to a first earpiece, and the second extendable sidepiece is attached to a second earpiece. Each earpiece has an open portion that fits against the ear of the user. The first and second extendable sidepieces may be extended, thereby allowing the first and second earpieces to pivot, resulting in the open portions of the first and second earpieces being directly opposed, and allowing the first and second earpieces and the first and second extendable sidepieces to fold upward toward the top member.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for folding a foldable headphone unit. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: extending first and second sidepieces; rotating a first yoke assembly towards an inner portion of the first sidepiece; rotating a second yoke assembly toward an inner portion of the second sidepiece; and pivoting the first and second earpieces, resulting in opposed positioning of the open portions of the earpieces.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Similarly, a second end of the top member 101 is rotatably coupled to a first end of a second upper-side member 103B via a second connecting pin 105B. Rotation of the second upper-side member 103B is similar to the rotation of the first upper-side member 103A previously described. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the connecting pins 105A, 105B may be replaced by any other device that provides rotation capability between the top member 101 and the upper-side members 103A, 103B. The connecting pins may be replaced by, as an example, but not limited to, ball and joint mechanisms.
A first end of a generally arcuate first extension band 107A is fixedly coupled internal to the first upper-side member 103A at an approximate midpoint of the first upper-side member 103A. Similarly, a first end of a generally arcuate second extension band 107B is fixedly coupled to the second upper-side member 103B. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that coupling between the upper-side member 103A, 103B and the extension band 107A, 107B may be achieved by any method or apparatus providing a fixed coupling, internal or external, between the upper-side member 103A, 103B and the extension band 107A, 107B. The coupling may be achieved by, as an example, but not limited to, welding, bonding, or bolting the upper-side member 103A, 103B to the extension band 107A, 107B.
A second end of the first extension band 107A passes through a slot in a first end of a first lower-side member 109A, and is slideably coupled internally to the first lower-side member 109A, the coupling forming a frictional fit between the first lower-side member 109A and the first extension band 107A. Similarly, a second extension band 107B is slideably coupled to a second lower-side member 109B. The lower-side members 109A, 109B may be extended away from the upper-side members 103A, 103B, or retracted towards the upper-side members 103A, 103B along the slideably coupled extension bands 107A, 107B. Further, the frictional fit holds the lower-side members 109A, 109B in an extended or retracted position as required by the user for folding or use of the headphone unit 100. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the slideable coupling between the extension bands 107A, 107B and the lower-side members 109A, 109B may be made internally or externally to the lower-side members 109A, 109B, and may be achieved by any method, including, but not limited to, opposing frictional surfaces, or a detent arrangement.
Alternatively, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the headphone unit 200 shown in
Returning to
A second end of the first lower-side member 109A is rotatably coupled to a first end of a first yoke assembly 111A via a third connecting pin 105C. Specifically, when the headphone unit 100 is being folded, the third connecting pin 105C and the first lower-side member 109A allow the first yoke assembly 111A to rotate upward towards an inner surface of the first lower-side member 109A. When the headphone unit 100 is being unfolded for use, the third connecting pin 105C and the first lower-side member 109A allow the first yoke assembly 111A to rotate downward, away from the inner surface of the first lower-side member 109A, to form the generally arcuate shape defined by the headphone unit 100, but prevent further outward rotation. Similarly, a second end of a second lower-side member 109B is rotatably coupled to a first end of a second yoke assembly 111B via a fourth connecting pin 105D. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the connecting pins 105C, 105D may be replaced by any other device that provides rotation capability between the lower-side members 109A, 109B and the yoke assemblies 111A, 111B. The connecting pins 105C, 105D may be replaced by, as an example, but not limited to, ball and joint mechanisms.
A second forked end of the yoke assembly 111A, 111B has a dimension sufficient to accommodate coupling to an earpiece 113A, 113B. Each earpiece 113A, 113B has an open portion 117A, 117B (
In addition to allowing the earpiece 113A, 113B to pivot in the vertical plane, the yoke assembly 111A, 111B also provides for rotation of the earpiece 113A, 113B in the horizontal plane via a shaft (not shown) that axially couples the first end of the yoke assembly 111A, 111B to the second end of the yoke assembly 111A, 111B. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shaft may be replaced by any other device that provides rotation capability between the first end of the yoke assembly 111A, 111B and the second end of the yoke assembly 111A, 111B. The shaft may be replaced by, as an example, but not limited to, a ball and joint mechanism. Rotation of the earpieces 113A, 113B in the horizontal plane provides a comfortable fit for the user during use, and provides proper alignment of the opposed earpieces 113A, 113B in the folded configuration.
A pad 115 made of a material including, but not limited to, open-cell foam, covering a substantial length and width of a lower surface of the top-member 101, is provided for user comfort. Additionally, the pad 115 provides increased clearance between coupling points 102A, 102B of the top member 101 to the upper-side members 103A, 103B, and the head of the user, thereby preventing discomfort associated with the coupling points 102A and 102B coming into contact with the head of the user.
In the folded configuration of the first exemplary embodiment of the headphone unit 100 shown in
Continuing with the description of
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.
