EP3032844A1 - Audio headset, in particular for practising sports - Google Patents

Abstract

This helmet (10) comprises two earphones (12) adapted to be introduced into or near the ear canal (O) of the user. The earphones (12) are connected by a connecting element comprising a central arch (14) resting on the top (S) of the head of the helmet user, and two lateral branches (16) extending the bow. Each of the branches comprises at a proximal end (18) an articulated connection (20) with the end of the central arch, at a distal end (22) a deformable connection (24) with the respective earpiece, and in a region median (36) a housing (40) housing electrical or electronic components (50, 52) and provided on an inner side of the helmet, turned towards the head of the user, a bearing face (48) adapted to come into contact with a temporal region (T) of the helmet user.

Description

The invention relates to audio headphones, including models that are suitable for sports practice.

An audio headset comprises two earphones connected by a connecting element positioned around the head of the user of the helmet, passing either above the head or at the back of the head (thus surrounding the occipital region).

Such a type of helmet is described in detail in particular in the article of Geoff Gasior "The Sweet Sound of Koss' PortaPro Headphones", The Tech Report -Technological Dissonance, July 15, 2010, XP055203885 . In addition, the hoop of this helmet has articulated branches to allow storage in a compact folded form. The hoop also has support pads on the temporal region, allowing to take back part of the clamping force of the metal blade of the hoop and thus avoid discomfort resulting from an excessive bearing force of the earpiece on the upper part of the ear of the wearer's ear.

In the case of a sport, the main difficulty is the correct maintenance of the helmet on the head of the user despite the movements, jumps and other repeated solicitations involved in the exercise of a sport.

This problem becomes particularly critical if it is desired to provide the headset with a wireless link (of the Bluetooth link or similar type) and / or digital processing circuits such as an active noise reduction circuit (ANC, Active). Noise Control ), a circuit for detecting and processing biometric data, etc. The headphones must support not only the acoustic transducers, but also one or more circuit boards carrying the active and passive components, as well as sensors (microphones, accelerometers, etc.) and of course a rechargeable battery or a battery for the supply of these various circuits and sensors, as well as appropriate connections.

This results in an increase in the weight and the volume of the helmet which are generally incompatible with a correct maintenance of it on the head of the user.

This is why, in sports practice, users most often choose in-ear (or intra-conch) headphones, which ensure good hold at the level of the ear, and are both light and comfortable.

If one wants to provide such intra-ear headphones with additional circuits, for example wireless link circuits, the solution usually used is to house all these elements in a case extending the earphone and protruding from the roof of the speaker. ear, like old-style hearing aids of the "ear-type" type. Such a solution is described for example in the US 2014/0307891 A1 , which provides two earphones in-ear each associated with a box "earloop", the two right and left boxes being mechanically and electrically connected by a cable shaped pendant.

The box associated with the in-ear earphone may possibly extend towards the mouth if one wants to also house a microphone for communication functions (hands-free telephony in particular), as described for example by the US D469081 S .

But all becomes heavy and uncomfortable, preventing prolonged use in sports practice.

Another solution, described for example by the US 2014/0205108 A1 , consists in deporting the electronic circuits and the battery in a box worn in saltire by the user. There is no longer a problem of maintenance or comfort in the headphones, but to avoid the discomfort produced by the remote case for example when the user runs, it is necessary to add a clip, an armband or other means to keep it from getting in the way of the runner.

These difficulties are even more restrictive if one wants to provide the headphones not only wireless communication circuits, but also ANC circuits actively reducing ambient noise. These circuits are indeed bulky and heavy, and require a much more powerful battery to ensure autonomy even a few hours, given the consumption of the digital processor or process implemented by these circuits.

This is why ANC helmets are practically always circumaural or supra-aural helmets (that is to say with a pad completely surrounding the ear, or placed on the outline of the ear of the ear), as described for example by the EP 2 597 889 A1 (Parrot ).

These helmets are unsuitable for sports because of the volume and mass of the headphones, in addition to insufficient maintenance on the head of the user to withstand the various movements produced during exercise. In addition, even in the absence of sudden stresses, the headphones applied against the ear or around the ear are quickly very uncomfortable in sports and / or in case of heat or prolonged wear, because of the absence of aeration of the auricle.

The solution with earphones in-ear is therefore the only one that can be, in practice, retained in sports practice.

Thus, the problem of the invention is to add to intra-auricular earphones or intra-conque (which have proven themselves to athletes in terms of comfort and holding) electronic circuits same voluminous and heavy, and the batteries or batteries necessary for their food, without having to make concessions on comfort and maintenance.

• structure suffisamment légère pour être supportable en pratique sportive sans gêne pour l'utilisateur ;
• adaptation aisée à la morphologie individuelle de la tête de chaque utilisateur ;
• assurance d'un excellent confort, même en cas de port prolongé et avec exercice d'une activité physique ; et
• garantie d'un maintien en place efficace et une stabilité parfaite du casque sur la tête de l'utilisateur, particulièrement lors d'une pratique sportive.

Acceptability constraints in intensive and prolonged sports practice include the following:

• structure light enough to be bearable in sports practice without discomfort for the user;
• easy adaptation to the individual morphology of the head of each user;
• assurance of excellent comfort, even in case of prolonged wear and with exercise; and
• guarantee of an effective retention and perfect stability of the helmet on the user's head, especially during a sporting practice.

To this end, the invention proposes an audio headset comprising, in a manner known per se, two earphones of the intra-auricular or intra-conque type capable of being introduced into or near a respective ear canal of the ear. helmet user, a housing housing electrical or electronic components, and a connecting member adapted to be positioned around the head of a user of the helmet.

In a characteristic manner of the invention, the connecting element the connecting element comprises a central arch able to rest on the top of the head of the user of the helmet so as to form there a first point contact with the user's head, and two lateral branches extending the central arch at each of its ends. Each of these branches comprises: at a proximal end of the branch, an articulated connection with the respective end of the central arch, this connection providing at least one degree of freedom in pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the overall plane helmet; at a distal end of the limb, a deformable connection with the respective earpiece, so that the earphones form at the level of the ear canal a respective second and third contact point; and, in a middle region of the branch, the housing housing the electrical or electronic components, this housing being provided on an inner side of the helmet, turned towards the user's head, with a bearing face adapted to come into operation. contact with a temporal region of the user of the helmet, so that the bearing faces form at the temples a fourth and a fifth point of contact respectively.

• la face d'appui est une face plane munie d'un garnissage souple ;
• l'arceau central est un arceau flexible, élastiquement déformable selon au moins un degré de liberté en flexion dans le plan d'ensemble du casque ;
• le degré de liberté procuré par la liaison articulée de la branche à l'arceau central présente un débattement suffisant pour permettre un repli complet de la branche contre l'arceau central, avec les branches et les boitiers essentiellement situés d'un même côté d'une ligne joignant les deux liaisons articulées, notamment avec le boitier situé du côté de la partie la plus proximale de la région médiane de la branche ;
• le boitier est un boitier distinct de la région médiane de la branche, et solidarisé à celle-ci du côté intérieur de la branche ;
• la branche comprend en outre un élément télescopique de réglage de taille, apte à modifier la distance séparant l'arceau central de l'écouteur, notamment avec cet élément télescopique situé à proximité de ladite la liaison de la branche à l'arceau central ;
• la liaison articulée de la branche à l'arceau central inclut un élément de serrage à ressort apte à solliciter élastiquement la branche vers le côté interne du casque, dans une direction orientée vers la tempe de l'utilisateur ;
• le casque comprend au moins un microphone incorporé à une branche dans sa région médiane, et un connecteur incorporé à une branche avec un réceptacle débouchant à l'extrémité distale de la branche, l'axe de ce réceptacle étant dans le prolongement de la direction générale de la branche.

According to various advantageous subsidiary features:

• the bearing face is a flat face provided with a flexible lining;
• the central arch is a flexible arch, elastically deformable according to at least one degree of freedom in flexion in the overall plane of the helmet;
• the degree of freedom provided by the articulated connection of the branch to the central arch has a clearance sufficient to allow a complete folding of the branch against the central arch, with the branches and boxes essentially located on the same side of a line joining the two articulated links, in particular with the housing located on the side of the most proximal part of the median region of the branch;
• the case is a case distinct from the median region of the branch, and secured to it on the inner side of the branch;
• the branch further comprises a telescopic size adjustment element, able to change the distance separating the central arch of the earpiece, in particular with this telescopic element located close to said connection of the branch to the central arch;
• the articulated connection of the branch to the central arch includes a spring-loaded clamping element able to elastically bias the branch towards the side internal helmet, in a direction facing the temple of the user;
• the helmet comprises at least one microphone incorporated in a branch in its central region, and a connector incorporated in a branch with a receptacle opening at the distal end of the branch, the axis of this receptacle being in the extension of the general direction of the branch.

• La Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un exemple de réalisation du casque selon l'invention.
• La Figure 2 est une vue de côté du casque de la Figure 1.
• Les Figures 3 et 4 sont des vues de face du casque de la Figure 1, respectivement en position déployée, avant mise en place sur la tête de l'utilisateur, et en position repliée pour le rangement et le transport.
• La Figure 5 est une vue en perspective éclatée montrant le contenu des boitiers contenant les circuits électroniques et la batterie.
• La Figure 6 est une vue de détail agrandie de la liaison de l'extrémité de la branche latérale du casque à l'écouteur supporté par cette extrémité.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same references designate elements that are identical or functionally similar from one figure to another.

• The Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the helmet according to the invention.
• The Figure 2 is a side view of the helmet of the Figure 1 .
• The Figures 3 and 4 are front views of the helmet of the Figure 1 , respectively in the deployed position, before placing on the head of the user, and in the folded position for storage and transport.
• The Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the contents of the boxes containing the electronic circuits and the battery.
• The Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the connection of the end of the side branch of the helmet to the earpiece supported by this end.

In the figures, the reference 10 generally designates an embodiment of a helmet according to the invention, which comprises two earphones 12 joined by a connecting element comprising a central arch 14 and two branches 16.

Earphones 12 are of a known type, called "intra-auricular" (as in the example shown in the figures) or "intra-conch". In-ear earphones are those which comprise a tube penetrating into the ear canal, this tube ensuring the mechanical maintenance of the earpiece on the ear, while the intra-conch earphones are intended to be arranged in the region of the central depression (lower conus) of the outer ear located at the outlet of the ear canal.

The two branches 16 with their earphones 12 are similar and symmetrical. Each has at its proximal end 18 a link 20 articulated to the central arch 14. This articulated connection 20 provides at least one degree of freedom in pivoting about an axis Δ perpendicular to the overall plane of the helmet. It also advantageously includes a spring-loaded clamping element for resiliently biasing the limb 16 towards the inner side of the helmet in order to urge this limb, and therefore the earpiece 12, towards the temple and the ear of the helmet. the user to improve the coupling of the earphone to the ear.

On the distal side 22, the branch 16 is connected to the earpiece 12 by a deformable link 24, for example (see Figure 6 ) an overmolding of soft material between the end of the branch 16 and the base of the earpiece 12, so as to make mobile (arrows 26) the earpiece 12 relative to the branch and facilitate the introduction and maintenance of the protruding tip 28 of the earpiece in the ear canal. Note that the invention is preferably implemented with headphones 12 of the in-ear type, which provide increased insulation against ambient noise due to the projecting tip 28 introduced into the auditory canal. This tip 28 is also provided with a deformable part (not shown), for example silicone or foam, to ensure better coupling with the ear and thus a better passive insulation.

The central arch 14 is deformable in flexion, that is to say remaining in the overall plane of the helmet (the plane of the figure in the case of Figure 3), for example thanks to an elastic metal blade 30 This embedded flexibility in the material of the central roll 14. This flexibility makes it easy to adapt the helmet to most cranial can diameters likely to be encountered.

Also to allow adaptation to the morphology of different users, there is provided near the articulated connection 20 a telescopic element 32 for varying, typically up to a maximum extension of 40 mm, the distance (referenced 34 on the Figure 3 ) separating the articulated connection 20 from the earphone 12, so as to adapt to most cranial box heights likely to be encountered.

On the other hand, the middle region 36 of the branch 16 supports a housing 40 fulfilling several functions that will be discussed below. Advantageously, the housing 40 is located in the most proximal portion 38 of the central region 36, which allows in particular to fold on itself the helmet for storage and transport.

This folded position is illustrated in particular Figure 4 the telescopic elements 32 have been placed in a minimum extension position, and there is sufficient space between the two housings 40 so that the two earphones 12 can take place in the gap. In this complete retracted position, it can be seen that all the bulky elements of the helmet, principally the two housings 40 and the two earphones 12 are located essentially on one and the same side of a line joining the two articulated links 20 on each side. other of the central arch 14, thus ensuring maximum compactness.

As illustrated in particular Figure 5 each box 40 consists of a body 42 connected to the branch 16 by an element 44, so that the housing 40 can project slightly towards the inner side of the helmet, towards the temple of the user. Alternatively, one could however provide a thicker branch encompassing the housing 40 in a more integrated form.

• meilleur contact avec la tête de l'utilisateur, la déformation de la mousse permettant d'épouser le profil de la tempe de l'utilisateur ;
• élément de confort au contact casque-tempe ; et
• résistance au glissement, pour une meilleure stabilité notamment à l'encontre des mouvements brusques lors d'une pratique sportive.

The body 42 is closed by a cover 46 provided with a lining forming a bearing face 48, for example a foam lining which provides a triple function:

• better contact with the user's head, the deformation of the foam allowing to match the profile of the temple of the user;
• comfort element in head-temple contact; and
• slip resistance, for better stability including against sudden movements during a sport.

The boxes 40 contain various electrical or electronic elements, for example one or more printed circuit boards 50 in one of the boxes, and a rechargeable battery 52 in the other box, the two boxes being joined via an electrical connection (not shown ) running through the central arch 30.

The electronic circuits 50 may optionally be connected to various sensors and / or electrical members supported by the branches 16, for example one or more microphone sensors 54 (for "hands-free" telephony functions and / or ANC functions by level pickup ambient noise), or an electrical connector with a receptacle 56 opening at the end of the branch with its axis in the extension of the general direction of the branch.

• un point S où l'arceau central 14 est en contact avec le sommet du crâne ;
• deux points T où les faces d'appui 48 des boitiers 40 sont en contact avec les parties latérales du crâne, dans la région temporale ou parié-to-temporale ; et
• deux points O où les écouteurs 12 sont en contact avec le canal auditif dans lequel l'embout 28 a été inséré.

The peculiarity of the helmet configuration that has just been described is to have five points of contact with the user's head, namely, as illustrated Figure 1 :

• a point S where the central arch 14 is in contact with the top of the skull;
• two points T where the bearing faces 48 of the casings 40 are in contact with the lateral parts of the skull, in the temporal or pari-to-temporal region; and
• two points O where the earphones 12 are in contact with the auditory canal in which the tip 28 has been inserted.

Thus, in a characteristic manner of the invention, a "head-ear-type" type of support which both: i) guarantees perfect stability of the helmet, particularly during the practice of sports activity, and ii) ensures a very good comfort, even during prolonged wear and / or in a relatively high temperature environment, because the horn of the ear and most of the head of the user (with the exception, limited, five points of contact) remain ventilated and ventilated to allow the evacuation of perspiration.

Claims (11)

An audio headset (10), comprising: two earphones (12) of the in-ear or intra-conch type capable of being introduced into or near a respective ear canal of the user of the helmet; - a housing housing electrical or electronic components; and a connecting element able to be positioned around the head of a user of the helmet,
characterized in that the connecting element comprises: - A central arch (14) adapted to rest on the top of the head of the user of the helmet so as to form a first point of contact (S) with the head of the user; and - two lateral branches (16) extending the central arch at each of its ends, each of these branches comprising: At a proximal end (18) of the branch, an articulated connection (20) with the respective end of the central arch, this connection providing at least one degree of freedom in pivoting about an axis (Δ) perpendicular to the overall plan of the helmet; At a distal end (22) of the limb, a deformable connection (24) with the respective earpiece, so that the earphones form at the level of the ear canal a respective second and third contact point (O); and · In a middle region (36) of the branch, the housing (40) housing the electrical or electronic components (50, 52), this housing being provided on an inner side of the helmet, turned towards the head of the user, d a bearing face (48) adapted to come into contact with a temporal region of the user of the helmet, so that the bearing faces form at the temples a fourth and a fifth point of contact (T) respectively . The helmet of claim 1, wherein said bearing face (48) is a planar face provided with a flexible lining (46). The helmet of claim 1, wherein the central arch (14, 30) is a flexible arch, resiliently deformable in at least one degree of freedom in flexion in the overall plane of the helmet. The helmet of claim 1, wherein said degree of freedom provided by the articulated connection of the branch to the central arch has a clearance sufficient to allow a complete folding of the branch against the central arch, with the branches and boxes essentially located on the same side of a line joining the two articulated links. The helmet of claim 4, wherein the housing (40) is located on the side of the portion (38) most proximal to the middle region (36) of the limb. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the housing (40) is a housing separate from said middle region (36) of the branch, and secured (44) thereto on the inner side of the branch. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the leg further comprises a telescopic waist adjustment member (32,34) adapted to change the distance between the central arch of the earpiece. The helmet of claim 7, wherein said telescopic waist adjustment member (32,34) is located proximate said link (20) of the leg to the central arch. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the articulated connection (20) of the limb to the central arch includes a spring-loaded clamping member resiliently biasing the limb to the inner side of the helmet in a temple-facing direction. of the user. The helmet of claim 1, further comprising at least one microphone (54) incorporated into a branch in its middle region. The helmet of claim 1, further comprising at least one connector (56) incorporated in a branch with a receptacle opening at the distal end of the limb, the axis of this receptacle being in the extension of the general direction of the plugged.

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