Adjustable Patents (Class 381/379)
  • Publication number: 20040131220
    Abstract: A ear set for a cellular phone has a hollow body, an ear hook, an electric wire, a plug and a clip. The body has an earphone, a microphone, a pocket clip, a cap and a switch. One end of the pocket clip is attached to one end of the body. A protruding ball is mounted on the other end of the pocket clip above a hole through the body. The hole is located over a switch mounted inside the body so the protruding ball will contact and activate the switch when the pocket clip is pressed. This makes turning on or turning off the ear set easier and more convenient than pressing a discrete switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Hung-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20040125978
    Abstract: A headset with an adjustable microphone boom (1) which can be adjusted to and from a position near the mouth of a user and is mounted in a housing (7) by a friction part (6) being coupled to a flexible friction coupling which is configured in a plate (9) in that co-operating plates (20, 21) are stamped out of the plate and are connected to the plate (9) by means of flexible arms (21, 27, 28, 32). The friction part (6) has a shaft (5) which can be accommodated in a bearing defined by recesses which are configured partly in the inside (8) of the housing (7) and partly in the pate (9). The microphone boom (1), the housing (7) and the plate (9) with friction coupling are held together by means of locking ring (11). In this way a stable, adjustable microphone boom is provided which does not become loose with time, under-stood in the way that no matter in which position and regardless of how frequently the position is changed, the microphone boom will remain secured with a sufficient force in the friction coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Ole Birch
  • Patent number: 6754361
    Abstract: An ergonomic headset assembly having increased comfort and convenience of use is provided. In accordance with one embodiment a headset assembly is provided which includes a first headpiece pivotally coupled to a second flexible headpiece. The headset assembly further includes means for limiting the pivotal movement of the flexible headpiece with respect to the first headpiece. This allows the tension of the headset assembly to be suitable adjusted to the head size of the wearer. In accordance with another embodiment a headset assembly which includes a headband and an electronics housing pivotally coupled to the headpiece is provided. The pivotal coupling of the electronics housing with respect to the headband allows the electronics housing to be swung away from a user's ear and provides additional comfort to the user. In accordance with yet another embodiment a headset assembly having an electronics housing coupled to a clip member is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald W. Hall, Harry B. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6744901
    Abstract: In a neckband type headphone device there is provided a band onto which speaker units are connected at both ends thereof. These speaker units are worn on the left and right ears. The band has a shape wherein the area close to the connecting part between both speaker units forms a curve and passes on one of a position above and below the ears of the listener when it is wound in a circular shape and extended. The band is formed from an elastic material into a shape that presses down at the approximate center on the rear of the head of the listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ito, Naotaka Tsunoda, Tomomi Hamada
  • Patent number: 6735306
    Abstract: An infrared head set which is made as a chin bow receiver which is designed to pick up infrared signals and convert them into an audio transmission in the auditory range. This infrared head set includes a base housing (20a-c) and two bow ends (27) with one miniature speaker each located on the end side. The two bow ends (27) are supported in the base housing (20a-c) and can be elastically spread in at least one plane. The bow ends (27) are dynamically connected to at least one switch (5) housed in the lever action range of the plane. The switch turns on the receiving circuit for a certain spread position (12) of the bow ends (27) with the spread position (12) being dependent on wearing. Automatically turning reception on and off of the chin bow receiver dependent on wearing is advantageous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Rüegg Heinz
  • Patent number: 6728387
    Abstract: A headset includes: a body; an upper wing extended from the body; a lower wing extended from the body; a speaker capsule coupled to the upper wing so that the speaker capsule can be positioned near an ear; and an ear bud coupled to the upper wing so as to be positioned on an opening of the concha of the ear. The lower wing is movable up and down pivotally on an interface between the body and the lower wing and the lower wing is rotatable about a longitudinal axis running from a first end to a second end of the lower wing. The rotation allows a first surface of the lower wing to accommodate one type of ear, and a second surface of the lower wing to accommodate another type of ear. The upper wing is further extendable from the body so as to position the ear bud on the opening of the concha of the user's ear. The headset further includes a microphone embedded in the upper wing, a voice tube extended from the upper wing, and an on-line indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Italo Polito, Soohyun Ham, Gerald W. Skulley
  • Patent number: 6724906
    Abstract: An adjustable headphone comprising a pair of self-adjusting earpieces interconnected by a headpiece that includes a stiff resilient headband assembly and a soft flexible headstrap resting against a wearer's head. The headstrap is anchored at least at one end to a corresponding sliding block movably joined with the headband assembly having a bifurcated gear rack on its inner surface. The sliding block is equipped with at least one spring-loaded detent coming in contact with the gear rack. The headband assembly forms with at least one earpiece a hollow ball-and-socket joint where the spherical driver cup works as a ball part of the joint, and it mates to the arm's inner spherical surface which is a socket part of the joint. This joint provides the earpiece substantial angular motion in all directions thus enabling it to adjust to any ear shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventors: Alex Naksen, Dennis Naksen
  • Patent number: 6721433
    Abstract: To both ends of a frame constituting a lateral pressure structure of headphones, support sections functioning as fine adjustment members for performing fine adjustments to the lateral pressure structure are attached. Paddings are provided on one of the ends of the support sections. When the headphones are worn, the paddings come into contact with a user's head. Earphone arm support sections are provided towards the tip of both ends of the frame, and earphone arms are rotatably connected to each of the earphone arm support sections. Earphone capsule sections are provided at the ends of the earphone arms. When external sounds need to be heard temporarily, the earphone capsule section can be released from the user's ear by rotating the earphone arm while the headphones are still worn on the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Sato
  • Patent number: 6711273
    Abstract: A chin loop headset comprising two acoustic transducers, and two side pieces, to the upper ends of which are fixed respective ones of the transducers and the upper ends of which can be moved elastically away from each other and which are connected together at their lower ends. The distance between the upper ends is adjustable at the connection of the lower ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Sennheiser electric GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolf-Dietrich Bebenroth
  • Publication number: 20030190049
    Abstract: A headphone accessory such as an outer casing for use in combination with a headphone system, which makes the headphone system more comfortable to wear, and serves various function suitable for long time wearing. The headphone accessory includes a sound field-forming member having a cylindrical part, which supports speaker units for reproducing sound from electrical signals or supports enclosures in which the speaker units are mounted, surrounds listener's ears and forms a space in which sound output from the speaker units or enclosures are collected into the listener's ears, and an outer casing formed of an elastic material, which can be separated from the circumference of the cylindrical part of the sound field-forming member and is directly in contact with the side of a listener's head around the ears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: Sung-Il Kim
  • Publication number: 20030174854
    Abstract: A personal audio set, such as a headphone, earphone, or headset, that includes a pivoting clip-type mounting portion is disclosed. A pair of arms are pivotally secured to the mounting portion to define a substantially c-shape for engaging the ear-base of a wearer's ear. Each arm is pivotally secured to the mounting portion preferably at a common first pivot, and biased to a neutral position with respect to each other. The arms move apart from each other about the pivot when being installed or removed from an ear, and seek to return to their neutral positions when placed on an ear, thereby securing the personal audio set on the base of a wearer's ear. Preferably, the mounting portion is also pivotally secured to the personal audio set at a second pivot hat is substantially perpendicular to the first pivot and biased to a neutral position such that the audio set is biased against the wearer's ear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Dominic Amae
  • Patent number: 6622029
    Abstract: A headset capable of being donned with one hand comprises a headband with a variety of possible hinges disposed between the edges of the headband. In response to flexing the hinge by bringing the edges of the headband towards each other, the headband opens up sufficiently to allow a user to place the headband comfortably over his head, releasing the hinge to provide a snug fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Skulley, Chris Labak, Randy Fette, Fred Polito
  • Patent number: 6595316
    Abstract: A tension-adjusting mechanism for the elongated earpieces of a stethoscope comprises a neckpiece and, for each earpiece, a pivot mechanism portion between the proximal end of the earpiece and the neckpiece, a spring mechanism portion between the proximal end of the earpiece and the neckpiece, and a tension-adjusting mechanism portion between the spring member and the neckpiece. For each earpiece, the pivot mechanism portion defines a pivot axis about which the earpiece pivots, and the spring mechanism portion comprises a resilient blade deforming upon spreading apart of the earpieces. This deformation produces a tension on the earpieces opposing to further spreading apart thereof. The tension-adjusting mechanism portion defines a plurality of interchangeable point of contacts with the resilient blades, which contact points having different positions relative to the neckpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Andromed, Inc.
    Inventors: George Cybulski, Larrimore Adams, Victor F. Lanzo
  • Patent number: 6580800
    Abstract: In an acoustic transducer of the present invention, a connecting part connects a housing and a support of the housing, such that a user's auricle is pinched between the housing and the support cooperatingly. Two hooks shaped into a circular arc embracing a constricted part of the auricle therebetween fix the support. These two hooks are connected such that a gap therebetween can be changed or adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Yamasaki, Mikio Suefuji, Kazunori Kono, Tatsuto Mizukami, Hiroshi Yoshiya, Ryouichi Yagi
  • Publication number: 20030091209
    Abstract: In a neckband type headphone device there is provided a band onto which speaker units are connected to both ends thereof. These speaker units are worn on the left and right ears. The band has a shape wherein the area close to the connecting part between both speaker units forms a curve and passes above or below the ears of the listener when it is wound in a circular shape and extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ito, Naotaka Tsunoda, Tomomi Hamada
  • Publication number: 20030002704
    Abstract: An apparatus for affixing a headset to the ear of a user includes a first member having a first end and a second end. The first end is rotatably connected to the headset. A second member also includes a first end and a second end, and the first end of the second member rotatably connects to the second end of the first member. The second member contacts at least a portion of the ear of the user assisting in affixing the headset to the ear of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Pronk
  • Patent number: 6499146
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first curved band portion and a second curved band portion. The first curved band portion has a first end, a second end, an inner curved side and an outer curved side. The first curved band portion defines a passageway between the first end and the second end of the first curved band portion. The passageway has a first opening. The second curved band portion has a first end, a second end, an inner curved side and an outer curved side. A motion-restraint portion is proximate to the first end of the second curved band portion. The first end of the second curved band portion is insertable into the first opening of the passageway of the first curved band portion. The first curved band portion has a range of motion within the passageway of the second curved band portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Gray Matter Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Dean Bavetta, Paul Kay, Brian E. Le Gette, Gary F. Prokop, Steve Remy
  • Patent number: 6483925
    Abstract: A headphone. The headphone includes at least three speakers. Two of the speakers are held to the ears and the other speaker is in contact with parts of the head other than the ears so that sound from speakers is audible by the ears. A signal line having a conductor and a power line are both coupled to each speaker so that external signals are sent to the speakers through the conductor and an external electrical power of source is applied to the speakers through the power line respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventors: Yao-Sheng Shen, Ken-Pei Hu
  • Publication number: 20020168081
    Abstract: To both ends of a frame constituting a lateral pressure structure of headphones, support sections functioning as fine adjustment members for performing fine adjustments to the lateral pressure structure are attached. Paddings are provided on one of the ends of the support sections. When the headphones are worn, the paddings come into contact with a user's head. Earphone arm support sections are provided towards the tip of both ends of the frame, and earphone arms are rotatably connected to each of the earphone arm support sections. Earphone capsule sections are provided at the ends of the earphone arms. When external sounds need to be heard temporarily, the earphone capsule section can be released from the user's ear by rotating the earphone arm while the headphones are still worn on the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: Toshiaki Sato
  • Patent number: 6434250
    Abstract: Stereo apparatus having angled speakers so as to direct sound at a desired angle relative to the ears of the listener. The disclosed arrangements enhance the stereo sound effect and provide accurate stereo imaging, as well as sound stage expansion, through the proper placement and orientation of speaker units relative to the ears of a listener. The speaker units may be positioned at optimum angles of incidence and distances relative to the ears of a listener. Adjustable positioning means are provided to enable control over the horizontal spatial dimension of the stereo sound. The speaker units may be fixed at a preset orientation, or pivotally mounted for positional adjustment by the listener. Speaker units and releasable mounts may be provided for attachment to eyeglass-style temple pieces for added convenience and comfort. A number of mounting arrangements for simplifying selection of the desired earphone angle are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: Parker I. Tsuhako
  • Publication number: 20020090105
    Abstract: A telephone headset apparatus is disclosed. This headset apparatus includes a body having a microphone at one end and a transducer at the opposite end, an earhook, for attaching the apparatus to the ear of the operator, and a mechanism, contained within the body in a movable engagement, for holding the earhook in a frictional engagement that allows for movement of the earhook, with three degrees of freedom. The mechanism is located at a point within the body where upon adjustment of the earhook by the operator (i.e., rotated, tilted, pivoted) the headset apparatus remains properly balanced and within the sound envelope of an operator, for uninterrupted operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: GN Netcom A/S
    Inventors: Finn Jensen, Steve Mcgugan
  • Publication number: 20020067842
    Abstract: The present invention is an external magnetic-type speaker apparatus having a magnetic circuit that is provided with a yoke having a center pole, ring-shaped magnet and plate, and where this magnetic circuit and the edge of a vibrating plate are attached to a support frame. Moreover, ventilation holes are formed in the side surface of the support frame for allowing air inside the apparatus to escape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Osamu Takahashi, Takeshi Kaiwa, Masanori Ito
  • Publication number: 20020031238
    Abstract: A headphone device is comprised of a headband assembly worn on the head and a headphone main body attached to at least one end of the headband assembly. The headphone device is provided with an ear device that prevents slipping when worn and stabilizes wearability. The headphone main body is attached to the headband assembly in a rotatable manner so that the axis of rotation may be inclined with the center line of the headphone main body. Thus, the headphone main body can be and matched into the inclination of the ear and so the headphone device has stabilized wearability as well as an improved feeling when worn and sound quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Katsunori Murozaki, Koji Nageno
  • Publication number: 20020025057
    Abstract: A chin loop headset comprising two acoustic transducers, and two side pieces, to the upper ends of which are fixed respective ones of the transducers and the upper ends of which can be moved elastically away from each other and which are connected together at their lower ends. The distance between the upper ends is adjustable at the connection of the lower ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG;
    Inventor: Wolf-Dietrich Bebenroth
  • Publication number: 20020012441
    Abstract: An ear-hanging type speakerphone unit that allows users to listen to both sounds from the speaker and sounds from the outside environment, while suppressing leakage of the sounds emanating from the speaker to the outside environment, is provide for. A directional speaker is adjustably held with its speaker face being, for example, approximately 1 to 2 cm. away from the opening of an external auditory miatus, such that an open air space is formed between the speaker face and the opening of the miatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Matsunaga, Takashi Segawa
  • Patent number: 6295366
    Abstract: An aircraft headset includes a headset band, including a head element and a pair of ear cup supports slidably received in the head element, ear cups pivotally attached at one end of each ear cup support; and a microphone boom pivotally attached to one of the ear cups; an improved ear cup tensioning mechanism including a tongue extending laterally from each end of the headset band and a conformal tongue receiver located adjacent the other end of each ear cup support; wherein the tongue receiver is conformal with the tongue, and wherein the tongue and the tongue receiver are constructed and arranged to provide near-constant lateral pressure between the ear cups and a wearer's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Flightcom Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Haller, Charles E. Inmon, Christopher J. Jensen, James D. Pileggi, Brian VanderPloeg, Stevan L. Wittenbrock
  • Patent number: 6097827
    Abstract: An adjustable earphone with a microphone has a hook, a speaker, and a microphone, in which the hook is used for comfortably mounting the earphone on a user's ear. The speaker is mounted in a speaker chamber that connects to the hook by an outrigger wherein the speaker can be firmly fixed on the user's exterior acoustic meatus. The microphone is mounted in a microphone chamber that connects to the hook by a boom, and the microphone chamber can be fixed near the user's mouth. A speaker signal-wire used for transmitting the signal extends from the speaker chamber, passes through the hook, and then couples to the audio signal manager. A microphone signal-wire used for transmitting the signals extends from the microphone chamber, passes by the boom, and then couples to the audio signal manager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Cotron Corporation
    Inventor: Bill Yang
  • Patent number: 6047076
    Abstract: An earphone-microphone set that has a pair of adjustable ear braces. The earphone-microphone set includes an earphone housing for enclosing the earphone. There is a shallow groove around the outer edge of the housing and a cable latch positioned vertically at each end of the groove. A hole is also drilled beside each of the cable latch. A microphone capable of rotating is attached to the earphone housing. One end of a signal transmission cable is connected to the earphone. The cable comes out from the edge of the earphone housing around its mid-section. The other end of the cable is connected to a plug. An upper ear-brace-adjusting pin and a lower ear-brace-adjusting pin are inserted into the respective upper circular hole and the lower circular hole beside the cable latches. The upper and the lower ear-brace-adjusting pin also passes through an upper ear brace and a lower ear brace so that each ear brace can slide up or down independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Cotron Corporation
    Inventor: Bill Yang
  • Patent number: 5862241
    Abstract: A headset which is adjustable to two or more different levels of tightness. The headset includes a headband, and one or two earcups, each such earcup having an inner surface for engagement against the head of a user. At least one of the earcups includes a mounting bracket attaching the earcup to the headband. The mounting bracket is pivotally attached to the headband and to the earcup. An adjustment cam mechanism is associated with the headband and the mounting bracket for selectively adjusting the extent of outward pivotal movement of the mounting bracket with respect to the headband. This mechanism permits selective adjustment of the maximum at-rest distance from the inner surface of the earcup to the inner surface of the other earcup. Preferably the adjustment cam mechanism comprises a stop associated with an end of the headband, and a rotatable cam associated with the corresponding mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Telex Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Nelson