Collapsible Patents (Class 381/383)
  • Patent number: 9522086
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include methods and devices for folding the earmuffs of a headset via at least two different axes of rotation. The headset may comprise a headband and two earmuffs, wherein the earmuffs are connected to the headband, and wherein the headband comprises a plurality of rotational axes, about which the earmuffs may be rotated in one or more directions. The movement of the earmuffs may allow for comfortable wearing of the earmuffs in different positions, such as around a wearer's neck, and may allow for compact carrying or storage of the headset. The headset and earmuffs may be designed to be used as hearing protection, wherein the earmuffs may be larger and comprise special material, and wherein the earmuffs may comply with regulations for hearing protection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John Jenkins, Charlotte Loomis
  • Patent number: 9392356
    Abstract: A hands-free device includes upper and lower earphones; a hands-free main body having opened top and bottom surfaces; a control unit mounted in the hands-free main body and configured to apply an operation signal; and an earphone protruding unit formed in the hands-free main body and configured to protrude the upper earphone through a rear surface of the hands-free main body in response to a protrusion operation signal of the control unit; and an earphone drawing unit formed in the hands-free main body and configured to draw one or more of the upper and lower earphones through one or more of the top and bottom surfaces of the hands-free main body in response to a draw operation signal of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventor: Youngok Lee
  • Patent number: 9008347
    Abstract: A hands-free device includes upper and lower earphones; a hands-free main body having opened top and bottom surfaces; a control unit mounted in the hands-free main body and configured to apply an operation signal; and an earphone protruding unit formed in the hands-free main body and configured to protrude the upper earphone through a rear surface of the hands-free main body in response to a protrusion operation signal of the control unit; and an earphone drawing unit formed in the hands-free main body and configured to draw one or more of the upper and lower earphones through one or more of the top and bottom surfaces of the hands-free main body in response to a draw operation signal of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Youngok Lee
    Inventor: Youngok Lee
  • Patent number: 8867774
    Abstract: There is provided a portable audio output device that can be stably hooked over a user's external ear. A cord 2 is curved so as to be hooked over a user's external ear A. A speaker unit 10 has a holding unit 13 that holds the cord 2. The holding unit 13 holds the cord 2 in a position on the cord 2 away from an end 2a such that the cord 2 is curved between the end 2a and a portion thereof held by the holding unit 13. The holding unit 13 is configured such that the cord 2 can move relative to the holding unit 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Taichi Nokuo
  • Patent number: 8774442
    Abstract: An earphone single-shaft structure includes a head strip, a cap body, and a single-shaft component. The single-shaft component is located at a housing of the cap body and connected to the head strip. The single-shaft component includes a body, a rotating shaft, a shaft hole, a pivot area and swinging areas. When the head strip rotates for a first angle about the pivot area, two ends of the head strip are located on one side of each swinging area, so that the cap body rotates in a first direction, and when the head strip rotates for a second angle about the pivot area, the two ends of the head strip are located on the other side of each swinging area, so that the cap body rotates in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Jetvox Acoustic Corp.
    Inventor: To-Teng Huang
  • Patent number: 8774443
    Abstract: An enclosure which provides a storage of mobile phone headset cables as well as a means to extend and retract said headset cables is disclosed. The enclosure allows the headset cables to be wound internally onto a large diameter reel while a mobile phone connecting cable is wound onto a smaller spool, thereby allowing a greater length of headset cables to be extended. A button enables said cables to be retracted to eliminate slack while the device is in use, or to completely retract the cables when the device is disconnected from the phone. The retracted cable portions may be contained within the enclosure which further comprises a plurality of nests along external surfaces for the storage of ear buds, a microphone, and the phone connection plug in a flush manner, thereby avoiding the entanglement of exposed loose cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: John C. Anderson, Benjamin Anderson
  • Publication number: 20140185855
    Abstract: A headphone device includes a first audio output module, a second audio output module, and a head module connected between the first and second audio output modules that are located at both ends of the head module respectively. The head module stays bent when in use and stays straight when in compact storage. Thus the form factor of the headphone device in compact storage is relatively smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yin Yu Lin
  • Publication number: 20140140562
    Abstract: An earphone winding structure includes: a first cap, a second cap, a connection portion, a signal line and a winding component. The winding component is located at the first cap, and includes a body, a shaft and a housing. The housing is connected to the shaft and bent into an opening state or a closing state with the shaft as the center. When the housing is bent into the opening state, the shaft is exposed and is used for winding the signal line, and when the housing is bent into the closing state, the housing covers the body and the signal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: JETVOX ACOUSTIC CORP.
    Inventor: To-Teng HUANG
  • Patent number: 8605931
    Abstract: A combined headphone set including a speaker assembly. The headphone set includes a headband having a speaker headphone on opposing ends of the headband. Each of the speaker headphones includes an exterior speaker for public listening and an interior speaker for personal listening by the user. One of the speaker headphones includes switching means for listening to the interior speaker or to the exterior speaker or to the interior and exterior speakers simultaneously from each of the speaker headphones. Each of the speaker headphones includes an audio signal wire connected from an output jack of an audio device to the speaker headphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Allan Amsel
  • Patent number: 8588455
    Abstract: An earphone wire cover with three separate arms resembling drinking straws joined together in a Y-configuration into which the ear phone speakers and plug are inserted and passed through. These covers enclose most of the wire from the electronic device to the earphones. The three sections are joined together with a flexible tape or string so that, when the earphones are to be stored, the three arms can be brought together as three parallel tubes holding the bulk of the wire by simply flipping the bottom section into alignment with the upper two sections. The invention can be easily re-deployed by simply folding the bottom section out again and separating the top ends to make a Y. An alternate embodiment of the invention can have a microphone hole in one of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: William Dallas
  • Patent number: 8565468
    Abstract: There is provided a headphone including a headband having flexibility; a slider having flexibility with the headband attached at one end, and a headphone unit attached at the other end; a slide groove, arranged at an end of the headband or the one end of the slider, for guiding a circling movement of the slider with respect to the headband; and a slider guide, having rigidity higher than the headband and the slider, for holding the one end of the slider at the end of the headband so that one surface of the slider facing one surface of the headband circling moves with respect to the one surface of the headband while being engaged to the slide groove. A headphone that can be thinned while suppressing lowering of the attachment property is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ito, Hiroaki Ishiguro, Yuusuke Oosato
  • Patent number: 8472659
    Abstract: A multimode audio reproduction device is disclosed that comprises first and second audio reproduction modules coupled by a support structure. The first and second audio reproduction modules are movable between two configurations. In the first configuration the audio reproduction device serves as a loudspeaker while in the second configuration the audio reproduction device serves as a headphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Yuen-Khim Liow, Siang Thia Goh, Eng Kim Teo, Wee Chong Ou
  • Patent number: 8467563
    Abstract: A headset (1; 101; 102) comprising a housing (2; 102; 103) and a microphone arm (3; 103; 203). The microphone arm (3; 103; 203) is connected to a hinge member (4; 104; 204), which is pivotally connected to the housing (2; 102; 103) such that the microphone arm (3; 103; 203) can be rotated about a first pivot axis (P1; P101; P201) between a first position, in which it lies along a first surface (9; 109; 209) of the housing (2; 102; 202) and a second, extended position in which it extends away from the housing (3; 103; 203). The microphone arm (3; 103; 203) is movably connected to the hinge member (4; 104; 204) so that the microphone arm (3; 103; 203) can be moved into a third position, in which it lies along a second surface (10; 110; 210) of the housing (2; 102; 202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: GN Netcom A/S
    Inventors: Willem Hendrik Van Der Beek, Martin Bech, Cathrine Rydahl Gadiel, Nils Toft
  • Patent number: 8374374
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a headset includes a body housing a pivot coupling, a speaker capsule operably coupled to the body, and an arm operably coupled to the body. The arm is capable of pivoting open and close about the pivot coupling for accessing a microphone at a free end of the arm. A method for accessing a headset microphone is also provided. Advantageously, the apparatus and method of the present disclosure provide for improved headset use and speech clarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wales Zhou
  • Patent number: 8363877
    Abstract: There is provided a headphone comprising: a pair of right and left housings each for accommodating a speaker unit; a headband having a shape curved in a longitudinal direction to which the pair of right and left housings are connected on both sides in the longitudinal direction, respectively; and first to third hinges provided on the headband so as to be arranged in the longitudinal direction and capable of folding the headband in an inner side direction of curvature; wherein the first hinge positioned between the second and third hinges is capable of folding the headband about a hinge axis tilted relative to a forward and backward direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the headband such that both ends in the longitudinal direction of the headband folded only by the first hinge do not contact each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Rui Morisawa
  • Patent number: 8331579
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a reproducing apparatus including: a case; a headphone configured to be so provided as to protrude on one surface of the case and be inserted into an ear hole; an operating unit configured to be provided on a further surface orthogonal to the one surface of the case and near a base of the headphone and allow press-down operation and rotational operation; a reproducing unit configured to reproduce audio data; and a controller configured to be incorporated in the case and make the reproducing unit reproduce audio data stored in a storage medium based on operation input to the operating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonori Kato
  • Patent number: 8270658
    Abstract: An active headworn device that includes a position sensing device used to determine whether the headworn device is in an extended state upon a user's head or in a contracted state off of the user's head. The position sensing device may be coupled with a microcontroller adapted to power up or power down the active headworn device based on a signal from the position sensing device. The position sensing device may various devices such as a Hall-effect device used in combination with a magnet or a LED in combination with a detector. The movement of the headworn device between positions changes the distance between components of the position sensing device such that the device signals the microcontroller to power up or down the active headworn device. The microcontroller may mute a portion of circuitry prior to the powering up or down the active headworn device to prevent undesirable feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Group
    Inventors: Jack Goldberg, Randy L. Houk, Michael J. Stern, Luk Ching Chug
  • Patent number: 8249286
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to earphones, earphone assemblies, and methods of using the same. Further, these embodiments provide earphones that can releasably interconnect in a compact configuration that also reduces the likelihood that the earphone wires or cords will become entangled. By way of example, in at least one embodiment, an earphone can comprise a housing including a channel defined therein and a wire stem extending from the housing. The channel may be sized and configured to releasably retain a wire stem portion from another earphone. These and other various embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Koss Corporation
    Inventor: Brad Nault
  • Patent number: 8238597
    Abstract: A headset (1; 101; 102) comprising a housing (2; 102; 103) and a microphone arm (3; 103; 203). The microphone arm (3; 103; 203) is connected to a hinge member (4; 104; 204), which is pivotally connected to the housing (2; 102; 103) such that the microphone arm (3; 103; 203) can be rotated about a first pivot axis (P1; P101; P201) between a first position, in which it lies along a first surface (9; 109; 209) of the housing (2; 102; 202) and a second, extended position in which it extends away from the housing (3; 103; 203). The headset is further provided with a switch (19), which is operably connected to the microphone arm (3; 103; 203) or the hinge member (4; 104; 204), such that a rotation of the microphone arm (3; 103; 203) from the first position to the second position or vice versa activates the switch (19) and changes headset mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: GN Netcom A/S
    Inventors: Willem Hendrik Van Der Beek, Martin Bech, Cathrine Rydahl Gadiel, Nils Toft
  • Patent number: 8233655
    Abstract: Headphones capable of giving an optimum mounting feeling to the head of everybody by merely being mounted and without special adjustment, and also capable of being mounted for many hours without giving stress to the user. A headphone cabinet is connected to one end of a link arm, a head pad is provided at the other end of the link arm, and a lateral pressure produced by a spring member is distributed to the headphone cabinet and the head pad via the link arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Mitsuo Miyata
  • Patent number: 8121334
    Abstract: A Bluetooth earphone having a semi-automatic receiving function includes a housing, an earphone, a first flexible portion, a button, and a fastening mechanism. The housing has a receiving slot. The earphone is pivoted with the housing and received in the receiving slot that can be rotated to the outside of the housing. The first flexible portion located between the housing and the earphone provides a force to eject the earphone. The button is located on the housing and connected with the earphone. The fastening mechanism is located between the button and the housing to fasten the earphone in the receiving slot. The user presses the button to eject the earphone by utilizing the flexible force of the first flexible portion. Thereby, the earphone can be received in the housing to prevent the earphone from being broken due to the impacts of external forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventor: Tse-Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 7978870
    Abstract: A headset apparatus having a headwear member (9) e.g. an ear shell, possessing a surface formation to which a separate attachment device (1) is reciprocally shaped to attach by a push-fit (e.g. by sliding, slotting or clipping) into engagement with the surface formation. In this way the attachment means may be fitted to the surface formation on the headwear member without requiring the use of through-holes passing through the body of the headwear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Racal Acoustics Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Derek Cozens, Timothy Robert Burnham
  • Publication number: 20110129111
    Abstract: A foldable headphone set in which the earphones of the headphone set may rotate between a folded (or closed) position and an unfolded (or open) position due to a torsion- or spring-loaded hinge associated with each earphone. The headphone set may be held in the folded position by way of a magnetic latch. Also the user may adjust the amount of rotation by the respective hinges so that the earphones rotate to the user-defined limit position. The user could set the user-defined limit position to a comfortable position for the user. That way, the earphones will unfold to the user-defined limit position every time (until the user-defined limit is readjusted). In addition, a friction grommet in the hinge may provide for a slow, controlled, smooth opening of the hinge. In at least one embodiment, a hinge is provided for use in a variety of applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Ronaldo J. Santiago
  • Patent number: 7940947
    Abstract: According to the invention a headphone set comprises a hoop band, to each of the two ends of which is fixed a respective acoustic transducer and which extends arcuately in a plane, with at least one joint for folding the ends of the hoop band inwardly in the plane and an elastic region for resiliently expanding and narrowing the hoop band is either characterized in that the fixing of each of the transducers to the ends of the hoop band has a joint for pivoting the transducers into the plane and that arranged in the region of the two ends of the hoop band is a respective connecting structure which can be connected to each other and which then in co-operating relationship hold the folded-in ends of the hoop band in a crossed position or that the one joint for folding the ends of the hoop band inwardly is arranged at the apex of the hoop band, that the headphone set is of mirror image symmetry about a plane and that the fixing of each of the transducers to the ends of the hoop band has a joint for pivoting the t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaulfuss, Axel Grell
  • Patent number: 7720246
    Abstract: A headphone device includes a sound amplifying member, a connecting member and a fixing member. The sound amplifying member includes a first speaker and a second speaker for outputting a sound. The connecting member is interconnected between the first speaker and the second speaker and made of first flexible material. The connecting member is flexibly wound around the first speaker and the second speaker. The fixing member is coupled to the sound amplifying member for securing the connecting member thereon after the connecting member is wound around the first speaker and the second speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Kai Wang, Kris Verstockt, Chen-Han Sung
  • Patent number: 7292703
    Abstract: According to the invention a headphone set comprises a hoop band, to each of the two ends of which is fixed a respective acoustic transducer and which extends accurately in a plane, with at least one joint for folding the ends of the hoop band inwardly in the plane and an elastic region for resiliently expanding and narrowing the hoop band is either characterized in that the fixing of each of the transducers to the ends of the hoop band has a joint for pivoting the transducers into the plane and that arranged in the region of the two ends of the hoop band is a respective connecting structure which can be connected to each other and which then in co-operating relationship hold the folded-in ends of the hoop band in a crossed position or that the one joint for folding the ends of the hoop band inwardly is arranged at the apex of the hoop band, that the headphone set is of mirror image symmetry about a plane and that the fixing of each of the transducers to the ends of the hoop band has a joint for pivoting the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaulfuss, Axel Grell
  • Patent number: 7242785
    Abstract: A portable speaker system includes a telescoping enclosure containing at least two drivers. The telescoping enclosure includes an inner section nested within an outer section. Each of the inner section and the outer section includes at least one speaker driver. The telescoping enclosure is configurable in at least two positions, a retracted or collapsed position and an extended position. By extending the telescoping enclosure, greater channel separation and greater internal volume for the enclosure is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Wade McNary
  • Patent number: 7172052
    Abstract: A headphone has a headband and two earpieces each connected to the headband so as to be pivotable about at least two pivot axes. The two pivot axes intersect one another at a point of intersection that is positioned on or near a central axis of the earpiece, respectively. Arms connect the earpieces to the headband, wherein the arms define a first one of the two pivot axes, respectively. A second one of the two pivot axes is fixedly arranged on the headband, respectively. In this way, the earpieces are rotatable about the arms and the arms are rotatable relative to the headband about the second pivot axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: AKG Acoustics GmbH
    Inventor: Hugo Lenhard-Backhaus
  • Patent number: 7110249
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a first housing, a second housing, and speakers. The first housing and second housing are so coupled as to be movable between a first position away from each other and a second position in which one of them is laid on the other. The speaker is provided in the first housing. A first opening is situated at a place covered over the second housing when it is in the second position and corresponding to the speaker. A second opening is located on the second housing at a place corresponding to the first opening when the second housing is in the second position. A third opening is provided in the second housing situated on the outer side at the second position and communicates with the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masato Nakatani, Osamu Kondo
  • Patent number: 7072483
    Abstract: A headphone has a headband and two earpieces each connected to the headband so as to be pivotable relative thereto. When assuming a Cartesian coordinate system having a Z plane that is a symmetry plane of the headphone, having a Y plane that is positioned perpendicularly to the Z plane and extends through a center of the headband, and having an X plane that is positioned perpendicularly to the Z and Y planes at any desired height, a pivot axis is provided between the headband and the earpiece, respectively, wherein the pivot axis is positioned at an angle of at least 10° relative to the X, Y, and Z planes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: AKG Acoustics GmbH
    Inventor: Hugo Lenhard-Backhaus
  • Patent number: 6993143
    Abstract: A system and method for a collapsible headphone unit is provided. Generally, the system contains 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing, Inc
    Inventors: David Harris, Rudy Woodard, Vian Li, Baird Little
  • Patent number: 6847725
    Abstract: An assistive listening device has a housing enclosing at least one of a radio receiver and an infrared radiation receiver for receiving radiation carrying audio information transmitted to hearing impaired members of an audience. The infrared radiation receiver includes three infrared detectors for receiving radiation from at least three different directions. The received radiation is converted to an amplified audio signal that is converted to sound emitted at a pair of earphones that are attached to the distal ends of two arms that are attached at their proximal ends to the housing. The earphones are rotatable on their arms for enhanced comfort. A microphone is attached to the housing. It receives sound and amplifies it to enable the wearer to hear a conversation while wearing the device. It may be rotatable to enhance reception. It may be disconnected to eliminate unwanted noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventors: Sandra J. Neuman, Bernard Neuman
  • Patent number: 6804364
    Abstract: This invention relates to a new type of headset solution. The headset according to the invention has a spring loaded hinge placed in front of the ear, which guarantees a stable pressure for any ear size. The headset according to the invention can be used, for example, as a cordless telephone headset or a cordless computer headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Johannes De Jonge
  • Publication number: 20040170294
    Abstract: In order to obtain an ear-hook headphone that is light and comfortable to wear, a supporting portion that supports a housing portion is provided in the vicinity of one end of an approximately U-shaped bend of an arm-shaped guide portion; a pushing portion that resiliently pushes from behind the auricle of a user toward the housing portion is provided in the vicinity of the other end; and a sound-outputting surface of the housing portion is disposed on the face side of the listener wearing the headphone to be approximately perpendicular to the surface formed by the bend of the arm-shaped guide portion. According to this construction, the housing portion can be easily accommodated in the earhole of the user's ear with the guide portion being slipped along the base of the user's ear, and the headphone can be reliably worn with the pushing portion resiliently pushing from behind his/her auricle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Katsunori Murozaki, Koji Nageno
  • Patent number: 6763999
    Abstract: A self-service terminal (14) comprising a port for outputting transaction details is described. The terminal is operable to append current information relating to preferences (such as share prices, exchange rates, and such like) previously selected to transaction details output via the port. A method of providing current information relating to preselected preferences to a user at a terminal is also described. The method comprises the steps of: identifying a user; accessing a datastore to obtain preselected preferences associated with the user; obtaining current information relating to the preselected preferences; and, in response to a request to output transaction details to a port, appending the current information to the transaction details.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Lynne Coventry
  • 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: 6678897
    Abstract: Ear defenders comprising an elastic headband (1) and an ear muff (4) arranged on the inside of each leg (2) of the headband. The ear muffs (4) are arranged displaceably along the insides of the legs (2) from the end positions of the legs and so far along the legs that the free ends (7) of the latter can be bent towards and connected to one another, so that the legs completely surround the ear muffs (4). This means that the ear defenders can be compressed before storage in, for example, a pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Ab Kompositprodukter Vikmanshyttan
    Inventor: Mats Lindgren
  • Patent number: 6654966
    Abstract: A fully collapsible headset assembly includes a headband portion formed by side arm members articulated together by a flexible hinge member. The flexible hinge member includes an elastic cam member, the force of which is released to maintain the assembly in either an operating or collapsed position, as desired. In the collapsed position, the tension of the cam member maintains a permanent pressure and the headband assembly forms a cavity in which the facing ear-cups are retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: José Maria Rolla
  • Publication number: 20030169898
    Abstract: A headphone device having a constant pressing force adjustable in accordance with the size of individual wearer's head when the headphone units thereof are attached to wearer's ears. A force for pressing the headphone units against the wearer's ears is produced by means of a torsion elasticity of an elastic band. The elastic band is a molded resin member having an approximately C-shaped cross-section, and provided with a pair of curved elements in the vicinity of couplings each located between the elastic band and a headphone unit. A twist is applied to the elastic band by virtue of displacement of the headphone units in a direction of the units facing each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Arasawa
  • Publication number: 20030169897
    Abstract: To prevent the end of a tube that covers a band of a headphone apparatus from being exposed using a simple construction. Also, when a cord for transferring an audio signal or the like passes through the tube covering the band, to prevent the cord from becoming wound around the band. A headphone apparatus is equipped with a band 51 that is connected to left and right housings to which drivers are directly or indirectly attached and a tube that covers the band, and is constructed so that a through-hole 12b, into which the band and tube are inserted, is formed in each of the housings 12. The headphone apparatus includes a fixing members 13 that are inserted into ends 31 of the tube that have been inserted into the through-holes and press the ends of the band against the through-holes. Also, the tube 30 covering the band is constructed so that an internal space is partitioned in a lengthwise direction into two spaces 30b and 30c.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ito, Nobuyuki Takahashi
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6385325
    Abstract: A headphone device includes first and second head band members, a first fulcrum portion for pivotally supporting top ends of the first and second head band members so that the lower ends of the first and second head band members are moved towards and away from each other, first and second speaker unit supporting members carrying first and second speaker units, and second and third fulcrum portions for pivotally supporting the respective ends of the first and second speaker unit supporting members for rotation towards the lower ends of the first and second head band members. The center axes of rotation of the second and third fulcrum portions extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the center axis of rotation of the first fulcrum portion. The headphone device also includes ear support portions provided on the first and second speaker unit supporting members that are retained between the head and the auricles of the user when the user attaches the headphone device to the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nageno, Tomohiro Ito
  • Publication number: 20020051555
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ear transceiver comprising: an ear hanger, a transceiver mounted on another end of front stand of an ear hanger, and an electrical connecting means connected to the transceiver; the ear hanger is provided with: a front stand, a rear stand and a supporting tube connected to the front stand and rear stand, another end of the front stand connected to a microphone supporting rod, both ends of the microphone are connected to a microphone and an earphone respectively, the front stand has a plurality of supporting rods, a pair connecting is means in provided between various supporting rods and between the microphone supporting rod and end of the front stand, and the connecting part of the microphone supporting rod and earphone has plug-in pieces of electric connection. The ear hanger adapts to various sizes of human ears, both left and right ears can wear a same hanger, and the distance and height between a microphone and a mouth being adjustable and convenient in replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventor: Ziyi Cheng
  • Patent number: 6130953
    Abstract: A headset including a housing, a resilient, convex headband fixed to the housing, an earphone fixed to the housing and displaceable relative to one end of the headband and a microphone fixed to a swivel arm that is on the housing. The headband has two spaced hinge joints arranged such that interconnected portions of the headband are pivotable towards one another from a position of use into a closed position in which the portions face one another. A retainer locks the headband in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Wilton, Maria A. Wagner