JP2008067198A - Neck strap for earphone apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a neck strap for an earphone apparatus which enables a user to select an earphone apparatus freely and is easy to handle. <P>SOLUTION: The neck strap 1 is used with an earphone apparatus 2 and hanged from a user's neck. The neck strap 1 is provided with a strap 11 made of a soft material, having a space for storing an earphone cord 2a and/or 2b in the longitudinal direction and a slit for inserting the earphone code 2a and/or 2b into the space. It is also provided with a cap 12 for fixing both ends of the strap 11 and making the strap 11 in a loop. Here, the inner diameter of the space of the strap 11 is larger than the outer diameter of the earphone cord, and an opening of the slit is smaller than the outer diameter of the earphone cords 2a and 2b. The earphone cord 2a and/or 2b is stored in the space so as to be freely attached or detached. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a neck strap, and more particularly to a neck strap that can store a cord of an earphone device for a portable audio device.

  In recent years, with regard to portable audio equipment, a type with built-in flash memory or a type that can be equipped with a card medium is emerging, and there is a tendency to become increasingly light and thin. Such portable audio devices are often worn on the user's body using a neck strap. Specifically, the neck strap is usually used with a portable acoustic device fixed to a part of a ring formed by a band-like or string-like long member, and the ring is hung on the user's neck. Then, an earphone device (hereinafter referred to as “earphone”) is attached to the portable acoustic device by a plug. Then, two earphone speakers connected to two cords extending from the earphones (hereinafter referred to as “earphone cords”) are attached to the left and right ears of the user.

  In such a case, a ring-shaped band-shaped member of the neck strap and a string-shaped member called two earphone cords exist around the user's neck. In particular, the earphone cords are very entangled and entangled with each other or with the neck strap, which impairs the beauty and wearing feeling. Furthermore, there are problems in that the convenience of handling the portable audio device, such as attachment to the user and removal from the user, is impaired, and the convenience of operation of the portable audio device is impaired. In order to improve such problems, the following two types of neck straps have been proposed.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a conventional first neck strap 4. In FIG. 5, the earphone cord 52 </ b> R extending from the earphone 51 </ b> R and the earphone cord 52 </ b> L extending from the earphone 51 </ b> L are unified on the way and connected to the portable audio device 54 by the dedicated plug 53. The earphone cord 52R is passed through and supported by one end 41R of the band member 41 constituting the first neck strap 4. On the other hand, the earphone cord 52L is passed through and supported by the other end 41L of the band member 41. In the above state, the user hangs the band member 41 on his / her neck and suspends and uses the portable acoustic device 54 from the neck. In order to prevent the portable audio device 54 from falling, the dedicated plug 53 fixedly connects the earphones 51R and 51L and the portable audio device 54 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The conventional second neck strap is composed of a braid in which both ends of the second neck strap are coupled. Each earphone cord extending from the jack inserted into the portable audio device passes through the inside of the braid and is exposed to the outside of the braid on the way. An earphone is attached to the tip of each exposed earphone cord. In the above state, the user hangs a braid on his / her neck and suspends the portable audio device from the neck for use.
JP 2004-242215 A

  However, regarding the first neck strap 4, the earphones 51 </ b> R and 51 </ b> L are connected to the portable acoustic device 54 by the dedicated plug 53. Therefore, it cannot be used for other earphones, and there is a problem that the user cannot select a combination of the earphones and the portable audio device 54 according to his / her preference.

  Furthermore, each of the earphone cords 52R and 52L is only supported by the end of the band member 41. That is, the earphone cords 52R and 52L are only supported at almost two points. Therefore, the flexible earphone cords 52R and 52L are easily tangled. That is, the earphone cords 52R and 52L are easily entangled with each other and the band member 41 as in the case of using the above-described conventional neck strap. This tendency is particularly remarkable when, for example, the user carries in a bag. Therefore, there is a problem that the user feels the same annoyance as with the above-described conventional neck strap with respect to the neck strap 4.

  Further, regarding the second strap, since the earphone cord is knitted into a relatively thick braid, the earphone cord itself is not easily tangled. However, since each cord is knitted into the braid, similarly to the first strap, there is a problem that the user cannot select a combination of the earphone and the portable acoustic device according to his / her preference.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a neck strap for an earphone that allows a user to freely select an earphone and is excellent in handling.

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention is a neck strap that is used with a corded earphone device and is hung on a user's neck, in which the earphone cord is stored in its own length direction, and the earphone A slit for inserting a cord into the space is formed, and includes a strap made of a soft material, and a fixing member that fixes both ends of the strap so that the strap is looped. Here, in the strap, the inner diameter of the space is larger than the outer diameter of the earphone cord, the gap of the slit is smaller than the outer diameter of the earphone cord, and the earphone cord is detachably accommodated in the space.

  According to the above aspect, since the earphone device and the neck strap can be completely separated, the user can freely attach the earphone device selected by the user to the neck strap. Further, since the strap has flexibility, it is difficult to be entangled and easy to handle.

A neck strap 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the neck strap 1 is used with an earphone device 2 attached thereto. The earphone device 2 includes a right-ear earphone 2R, a left-ear earphone 2L, two earphone cords 2a and 2b extending from each of the earphones 2R and 2L, and a plug inserted into the jack 3a of the portable audio device 3. 2c.

  The earphone cords 2a and 2b extend from the earphones 2R and 2L to the plug 2c, respectively, but are integrated in a state adjacent to each other. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the earphone cord 2a is configured to be longer than the earphone cord 2b so that it can be applied to the user's neck, but the earphone cords 2a and 2b have the same length. It doesn't matter. In the present embodiment, the earphone device 2 is described as including the earphones 2R and 2L. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be two inside headphones, two inner earphones, or headphones.

  The neck strap 1 includes a strap 11, a cap 12 as an example of a fixing member, and a loop cord (so-called pine needle strap) 13. Further, FIG. 1 shows a plurality of semi-annular fasteners 14 (three shown) that are detachable from the strap 11. The strap 11 is made of a soft resin such as an elastomer.

  The strap 11 is bundled so that both ends thereof are in contact with each other to form a ring shape. Inside the strap 11 thus formed, a ring-shaped space is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the earphone cords 2a and 2b are partially accommodated in the annular space G1.

  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional shape obtained by cutting a portion where both ends of the strap 11 are in contact with each other along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strap 11. In the example shown in the figure, the earphone cords 2a and 2b are stored in the space G1 of the strap 11 on the left side.

  The strap 11 is basically formed in a tubular shape extending about the axis C as a central axis. A slit A1 is formed in the government wall of the strap 11 in parallel with the axis C. A hollow elongate space G1 is formed along the axis C in the strap 11. As described above, when the strap 11 is bundled at both ends thereof to form a ring, the annular space G1 is formed by the space G1.

  Since the annular space G1 stores the cord 2a or 2b or a portion where both are integrated, the inner diameter d1 of the annular space G1 is preferably the sum of the outer diameters of the integrated earphone cords 2a and 2b. A value larger than a certain width W1 is set. In addition, the earphone cord 2a or 2b is inserted into the space G1 of the strap 11 through the slit A1, but at the same time the earphone cord 2a or 2b inserted at one end of the slit A1 is not easily jumped out of the strap 11. The width W2 of the gap is set to a value smaller than the outer diameter of the cord 2a or 2b.

  Even when the width W2 is set, the strap 11 has flexibility, so that the cord 2a or 2b can be easily accommodated in the annular space G1. Such a space G1 and slit A1 are preferably formed over the entire length of the strap 11. Similarly, the width W2 is formed in the space G1 before the strap 11 is formed in an annular shape.

  The cap 12 is made of resin, and fixes both ends of the strap 11 in a state where both ends of the strap 11 are bundled. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cap 12 is formed with a hole H into which both ends of the strap 11 can be inserted in a state where both ends of the strap 11 are adjacent to each other. After both ends of the strap 11 are aligned in such a hole H to form a ring shape, both ends are inserted. Thereafter, both ends of the strap 11 are fixed to the cap 12. Here, preferably, both ends of the strap 11 are inserted into the holes H in a state where the slits A1 at both ends of the strap 11 are opposed to each other so that the slit A1 of the strap 11 is not conspicuous in appearance.

  The cap 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A shows a state where only the cap 12 is viewed from the upper right side. FIG. 3B shows a state where the earphone cords 2a and 2b integrated with the cap 12 shown in FIG. 3A are inserted and held.

The cap 12 is formed with a holding portion 12a that detachably holds a portion near the plug 2c in the earphone cords 2a and 2b. A concave portion G2 is formed in the holding portion 12a. As shown in FIG. 3A, the specific cross-sectional shape of the concave portion G2 is an opening portion A2 serving as an entrance of the earphone cords 2a and 2b. Is narrow and the back side is widened.

  Specifically, the width W4 of the recess G2 is set to a value larger than the inner diameter d1, which is the sum of the outer shapes of the earphone cords 2a and 2b. And the depth depth d3 of the recessed part G2 is set to a larger value than the external shape of the earphone cord 2a or the earphone cord 2b. The width W3 of the opening portion A2 of the recess G2 is preferably selected to be smaller than the outer diameter of the earphone cord 2a or 2b so that the earphone cords 2a and 2b are not easily detached from the holding portion 12a. With such a shape, the holding part 12a holds the inserted earphone cords 2a and 2b as shown in FIG. 3B. The holding portion 12a is preferably formed at a position as close as possible to the slit A1 in the vicinity of both ends of the strap 11. As described above, when the slit A1 of the strap 11 and the recess G2 of the cap 12 are arranged close to each other, when the earphone cords 2a and 2b are held in the recess G2, the earphone cords 2a and 2b are deformed (bent). Since it can be made small, it becomes difficult for the earphone cords 2a and 2b to be detached from the holding portion 12a.

  Further, a loop cord 13 to be connected to the portable audio device 3 is further fixed to the cap 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fastener 14 is detachable from the strap 11 and has a semi-annular shape. Here, the inner diameter of the fastener 14 is selected to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the strap 11.

  The neck strap 1 having the above configuration is used as follows. Typically, the user ties the loop cord 13 of the neck strap 1 to the portable audio device 3, whereby the neck strap 1 is attached to the portable small music device 6. Furthermore, the earphone cords 2a and 2b of the earphone device 2 are inserted and stored in the annular space G1 through the slit A1 of the strap 11 which is flexible and can be easily opened and spread. The slit A1 that is opened and widened returns to its original shape quickly after storing the earphone cord 2a or 2b, and prevents the earphone cords 2a and 2b from falling off.

  The fastener 14 holds the earphone cord 2a or 2b inside the annular space G1 from the outside to further prevent the earphone cord 2a or 2b from falling off. Note that when the earphone cord 2a or 2b is inserted into the annular space G1 of the strap 11 through the slit A1, the fastener 14 is normally removed from the strap 11, but is still attached to the strap 11. It may be done at.

  Furthermore, the user preferably inserts a portion close to the plug 2c in the earphone cords 2a and 2b into the recess G2 of the holding portion 12a. Here, since the slits A1 of the strap 11 are opposed to each other and are not reversed, the user can insert the earphone cords 2a and 2b into the recess G2 without twisting. In this way, the earphone cords 2a and 2b can be housed in the recess G2 through the slit A1 in a state close to nature. As a result, unnecessary force due to twist or the like does not act on the earphone cords 2a and 2b, so that the earphone cords 2a and 2b are not easily dropped from the recess G2.

  The user inserts the earphone cords 2a and 2b into the strap 11 by a necessary length, and then applies one or a plurality of fasteners 14 to the necessary portions and applies the necessary force to the strap 11. Here, the position of the fastener 14 in the strap 11 is selected according to the user's preference, but in many cases, the user selects the position of the fastener 14 where the user feels comfortable wearing. Each fastener 14 embraces the earphone cords 2a and / or 2b and the strap 11 together, and fixes them together. In addition, since the inner diameter of each fastener 14 is preferably smaller than the outer diameter of the strap 11, each fastener 14 tightens the strap 11 and further prevents the earphone cord 2 a and / or 2 b from falling off the strap 11.

  Furthermore, the fastener 14 can be slid to an arbitrary position of the strap 11 while being attached to the strap 11 holding the earphone cord 2a or 2b in the annular space G1. As a result, after attaching the earphone device 2 to the strap 11, the user can easily change the length of the free part where the earphone 2R or 2L protrudes from the strap 11 as necessary.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the earphone device 2 and the neck strap 1 can be completely separated from each other, and further, the user is connected to the portable audio device 3 by the general loop cord 13. The portable acoustic device 3 can be used with the earphone device 2 freely selected by the user attached to the neck strap 1.

  In addition, the earphone cords 2a and 2b are prevented from being entangled with each other or the strap 11 because most of the strap 11 is accommodated in the inner annular space G1. The strap 11 which is the main configuration of the neck strap 1 has flexibility, but is made of a material that is thicker and more elastic than the earphone cords 2a and 2b, so that, for example, the user puts it in a bag and stores it in the neck strap 1 Even when the earphone device 2 is carried, the neck strap 1 is easily tangled, and the handling becomes easy.

  The strap according to the present invention allows a user to freely select an earphone device and is excellent in handling, and is useful for an earphone device of a portable digital device.

The perspective view of the neck strap which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Sectional view of the strap shown in FIG. Enlarged view of the cap shown in FIG. Schematic diagram showing how to use the holding unit shown in FIG. 3A Enlarged view of the fastener shown in FIG. Schematic showing how to use the fastener shown in FIG. 4A The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the conventional 1st neck strap

Explanation of symbols

1 Neck strap 11 Strap 12 Cap 12a Holding part 13 Loop cord (Pine Matsuba)
14 fastener G1 annular space G2 recess A1 slit A2 opening H hole 2 earphone device 2R, 2L earphone 2a, 2b earphone cord 2c plug 3 portable audio equipment 3a jack

Claims (8)

A neck strap used with a corded earphone device and hung on a user's neck,
A strap in which the earphone cord is stored in its own length direction, and a slit for inserting the earphone cord into the space, and a strap made of a soft material;
A fixing member for fixing both ends of the strap and making the strap in a loop;
In the strap, an inner diameter of the space is larger than an outer diameter of the earphone cord, a gap of the slit is smaller than an outer diameter of the earphone cord, and the earphone cord is detachably accommodated in the space. Neck strap.   The neck strap according to claim 1, wherein a gap between the slits is set smaller than an inner diameter of the space.   A neck strap further comprising a loop-shaped loop cord attached to a portable audio device into which a plug connected to a tip of the earphone cord is inserted and attached to the fixing member.   The neck strap according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is formed with a holding portion that detachably holds a portion in the vicinity of the plug in the earphone cord.   The neck strap according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member fixes both ends of the strap in a state where the slits of the strap face each other.   The neck strap according to claim 1, further comprising a semi-annular fastener detachably attached to the strap.   The neck strap according to claim 6, wherein the fastener is attached to a user's favorite position on the strap to prevent the earphone cord from being detached from the space. A combination of a corded earphone device and a neck strap that is hung on the user's neck,
The earphone device is
With two earphones,
Two cords extending from each of the earphones and integrated in the middle,
A plug connected to the end of the integrated cord,
The neck strap is
A strap in which the earphone cord is stored in its own length direction, and a slit for inserting the earphone cord into the space, and a strap made of a soft material;
A fixing member for fixing both ends of the strap and making the strap in a loop;
In the strap, an inner diameter of the space is larger than an outer diameter of the earphone cord, a gap of the slit is smaller than an outer diameter of the earphone cord, and the earphone cord is detachably accommodated in the space. The combination of earphone device and neck strap.

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