Headphones are wired or unwired, and comprise one or two earcups and a headband ensuring pressure between the individual earcup and the ear or head of the user. A speaker is mounted in each earcup, and a microphone boom arm may be present at one earcup.
The earcups must have some freedom of movement with respect to the headband in order for each earcup to be able to adapt its position with respect to the various shapes of the heads and ears of different individual users. To this end, usually a first pivotal link is provided between a frame element and the headband someplace above the speaker. A further link is then provided between this frame element and a further frame element holding the speaker. The first link typically allows the earcup to pivot about a vertical axis. This axis is defined by the headphones mounted with the headband passing above the head of the user and the user holding his head in a generally upright position. The second link between the frame element and the further frame element usually comprises two pivotal points, one at each side of the speaker. A headphone according to this construction is known from DE 19733373. With this arrangement the speaker and speaker element may pivot about both a vertical and a horizontal axis and be adjusted for perfect placement on the ear. However, as the vertical axis of rotation has only a sole pivotal point situated above the speakers, an off axis momentum will be transferred to this pivotal point and cause extra wear and require extra strengthening thereof.
In a further prior art headphone, a ball joint is provided between each earcup and the headband, but with such a ball joint the building height of the individual earcup in the direction away from the head increases, as the joint cannot be placed in the same plane as the speaker.
A headphone with a headband is suggested where the headband is adapted to ensure contact between an earpad and the head or ear of the user. The headphones further comprises:
Throughout this specification “proximal” denotes positions closer to the ear when the headphones are mounted for use, as opposed to “distal” which denotes positions farther away from the ear. With this headphone it is ensured that the off axis momentum on the pivotal axis is maintained at a minimum, and it is also ensured, that the building height of the earcup in the direction away from the ear may be kept small, as all pivotal points are maintained radially displaced away from the central area of the earcup which is occupied by the speaker.
The frames may be circular with each their diameter and with the hinge points provided at peripheral points thereof. Further, the outer frame may have a larger diameter than the middle frame which again may have a larger diameter than the inner frame. By this arrangement it is ensured, that the central part of the innermost frame is free to be occupied by the speaker.
The outer frame may be immovably connected to the extension for the headband, and further, one of the hinge points of the outer frame may be provided at the interconnection between the extension and the outer frame. By such an arrangement it is ensured, that the reaction forces from the head and ear caused by the pressure forces from the headband are evenly distributed between at both sides of the axis through this hinge point. This goes for over the head styles of headbands as well as for behind the neck styles of headbands.
A circumferential flange may be provided at the inner frame at its proximal perimeter and extending outwardly there from. The earpad may be mounted onto the circumferential flange. The circumferential flange is a very convenient mounting surface for the soft earpad.
A distal soft section of the earpad may be provided at a distal side of the flange, whereby the distal part of the soft section of the earpad comprises a first abutment area extending circumferentially outwardly from the inner frame, and a second abutment area extending circumferentially outwardly from the first abutment area, where the first abutment area is adapted to abut the middle frame when the inner frame is pivoted, and the second abutment area is adapted to abut the outer frame when the middle or inner frames are pivoted. With the distal part of the earpad a soft and spring-loaded stop function is provided for the pivotal movement of the earpad when pivotal movement is performed.
The speaker may be mounted centrally in the inner frame. In this way a very low building stack in the direction away from the ear is ensured.
Also the ear pad may be provided in a foamed material. In this may not only the ear abutment area may have a softness which is pre-defined by density and stiffness of the foam, but also the distal parts of a foamed earpad may have a controlled softness such that the spring loaded stop of the pivotal movement of the speaker around the two axis may be pre-defined by controlling the parameters of the foam in the distal abutment parts.
In
The first and second hinge points 25, 26, 35, 36 are shaped as axel stubs protruding inwardly from the outer frame 20 and middle frame 30 respectively. These stub shaped hinge points 25, 26, 35, 36 are accepted in holes shaped in the material of the middle and inner frames respectively.
The axis A1 is generally perpendicular to the axis A2 in the embodiment shown. However, the A1 and A2 axis may be angled at angles smaller than 90 deg. Angles, such as 80 deg, 60 deg., 45 deg, or even lower angles. A 90 deg. angle provides the most comprehensive pivotal range of the inner frame 40, and therefore the best adaptation possibility with respect to the user's head and ears.
As seen in
As seen from the figures the three frames 20, 30, 40 are circular with each their diameter and with the hinge points provided at peripheral points thereof. The frames 20, 30 and 40 may be oval or have a polygonal shape without compromising the function of the headphone. From
The outer frame 20 is immovably connected to the extension 4, and in the shown embodiment the one hinge point 26 of the outer frame 20 is provided at the interconnection between the extension 4 and the outer frame 20. This construction generally aligns the axis A1 with the headband 2, but the hinge point 26 at the outer frame 20 may be provided at any point at the perimeter of the outer frame 20.
In the exploded view of
As seen in
The distal part 102 of the soft section of the earpad 100 comprises a first abutment area 103 extending circumferentially outwardly from the inner frame 40, and a second abutment area 104 extending circumferentially outwardly from the first abutment area 103. As seen in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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11165691 | May 2011 | EP | regional |
This nonprovisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/484,690 filed on May 11, 2011 and to European Patent Application No. 11165691.4 filed on May 11, 2011. The entire contents of all of the above applications is hereby incorporated by reference.
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Number | Date | Country |
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197 33 373 | Feb 1999 | DE |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20120288131 A1 | Nov 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61484690 | May 2011 | US |