EP3920549B1

EP3920549B1 - Headphone device

Info

Publication number: EP3920549B1
Application number: EP21177227.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enda Connor Barton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Barton Enda Connor
Priority date: 2020-06-02
Filing date: 2021-06-01
Publication date: 2023-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2041-06-01
Also published as: EP3920549C0; EP3920549A1

Description

Background to the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved headphone device.
In particular, the invention relates to an improved headphone device which is worn on the head of a user when the user is listening to audio content of an electronic device or making and receiving telephone calls. Headphone devices usually consist of a headband and a pair of ear cups which deliver the generated audio output to the ears of the user. While the sound quality of on-ear, hereafter referred to as supra-aural and over-ear, hereafter referred to as circum-aural headphones can be a lot superior than in-ear buds, they suffer from disadvantages of being bulky, not attractive and not comfortable to wear for long periods of time, especially for those people who have to wear spectacles.
Supra-aural headphones are not very comfortable, because they sit entirely on the ear and compress the top of the ear causing discomfort, especially for people wearing spectacles. Circum-aural headphones are regarded as being more comfortable because they do not compress the ear, however they are of a bulky design which is not visually or aesthetically attractive. A headphone using a foam cushion material of the upper rim of an ear cushion being of a lower density then the foam cushion material of the lower rim, and thereby being of a softer sensation to the user, and allowing the temple/arm of the user's spectacles to engage with the cushion and thereby providing more comfort against the user's head is known from US 2014/286520 A1 .
The object of the invention is to produce an improved headphone device which alleviates the above problems.
The present invention provides a headphone device according to claim 1. Further embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. Such a headphone device comprises an adjustable headband and a pair of sound outputting ear cups, one at each end of the headband, the ear cups comprising an ear cushion which is a hybrid of supra-aural and circum-aural ear cups, wherein the upper part of the ear cushion fits over the top of a user's ear and the lower part of the ear cushion rests on the ear lobe of the user's ear.
The ear cups and ear cushions are manufactured from lightweight materials, as well as being aesthetically attractive and ergonomically designed to more closely fit to a person's head.
According to the invention, each ear cushion is rotatable about its central axis to allow a user to adjust the positioning of the ear cushions to most comfortably fit over their ears. Such rotation provides the users to adjust the cushion so that the narrowest part of the cushion sits over the very top of their ear. In case of users wearing glasses or spectacles, this rotational feature also enables the users to rotate the cushion so that the softer area of the cushion is in line with the temple of their glasses depending on where the glasses sit in different people.
Each ear cushion is provided with an inner cavity about which is located a foam cushioned rim, including an upper rim contactable with a user's head, which fits over the top of the user's ear and a lower rim contactable with the lower part of a user's ear, the foam cushion material of the upper rim being of a lower density then the foam cushion material of the lower rim thereby being of a softer sensation to the user, allowing the temple/arm of the user's spectacles to engage with the cushion and thereby providing more comfort against the user's head, especially when being worn for long periods of time.
Preferably, the upper rim has a narrow cross-sectional area in comparison to the cross-sectional area of the lower rim, whereby the upper rim cushion is narrower than the lower rim cushion.
Conveniently, the inner cavity is generally oblong in shape and the outer circumference of the ear cushion is generally cylindrical.
Each ear cushion is removable and replaceable by a like ear cushion and the ear cushions may be provided in a range of different colours.
According to the invention, each ear cushion is mounted on a rotatable disc which is interengaged with a base surface in the ear cup, to enable the ear cushion to be rotatable about its axis. Additionally, a plurality of arcuately formed slots are positioned on the base surface into which are inserted interengaging co-operating lugs positioned on the rotatable disc. Preferably, each end of the adjustable headband is pivotally connected to a distal face of each ear cup, enabling a range of movement of the cups inwardly and outwardly from the user to accommodate different head shapes providing greater comfort to the user.
The headband is designed so as to have little space between the headband and the user's head allowing the headband to fit more snugly to the user's head, thereby giving a more aesthetic appearance to the device on the user's head.
The adjustable headband comprises a central core generally U-shaped mid-section inserted into which are movably engageable legs each of which supports one of the ear cups.
The headphones are so designed that the ear cups and ear cushions fit on average ear size, i.e., ear height 6.30cm, lobe height 1.88cm, and lobe width 1.96cm.
The invention will hereinafter be more particularly defined with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, one embodiment of a headphone device according to the invention.

Brief Description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the headphone device which comprises a headband and two ear cups;
Figure 2 is a side view of the headphone device showing the headband connected to the distal wall of an ear cup;
Figure 3 is a underneath plan view of the headphone device;
Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the headphone device being worn on the head of a person;
Figure 5 is a schematic front view representation of the headphone device being worn by a person wearing spectacles;
Figure 6 is a schematic side view representation of the headphone device being worn by the person wearing spectacles and Figure 6A is a view from the other side of the ear cup in contact with the person's ear and an arm or temple of the spectacles and showing softer cushioning in the upper area of the cushion;
Figure 7 is a side view of an ear cup and a cross - sectional view through the ear cushion on the distal face of the ear cup;
Figure 8 is a front view of the inner side of the ear cup;
Figure 9 is a front view of the ear cup in contact with a schematic representation of a person's ear;
Figure 10 is a side view of the ear cup with the ear cushion fitted over the person's ear;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional side view through an ear cup;
Figures 12, 13 and 14 are perspective views of the component parts of the ear cup in different assemblies;
Figure 15 is a cross sectional side view through a section of the headband illustrating its internal construction;
Figure 16 is an underneath perspective view of a section of the headband adjacent to an ear cup and Figure 16A is a cross-sectional view of the section of the headband.

List of Reference Numbers in Drawings

10 Headphone device
12 Adjustable headband
14 Ear cups
16 End of headband
18 Distal faces of ear cups
20 Ear cushion
22 Upper contact area
24 Lower contact area
26 Inner cavity
28 Connection socket
30 Series of holes
32 Rotatable disc
33 Sound producing element
34 Fixed base surface
36 Arcuately formed slots
38 Co-operating lugs
40 U-shaped mid-section
42 End of mid-section
44 End of mid-section
46 Movable leg
48 Movable leg
50 Interengaging biased detents

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, headphone device 10 comprises an adjustable headband 12 and a pair of ear cups 14, one at each end 16 of the headband 12. Each end 16 is pivotally connected to the distal face 18 of each ear cup 14. Having the pivotal connections extending from the distal faces 18 allows a range of movement of the cups 14 inward and outward to accommodate different head shapes, providing greater comfort to the user. The headband 12 fits more snugly to person A's and person B's head (see Figures 4 and 5), even if they are wearing spectacles as in the case of person B.
Each ear cup 14 includes at its proximal end, an ear cushion 20 which is rotatable relative to the ear cup so that the user can adjust it to the most comfortable position by rotating the cushion 20 about its central axis. One of the cups 14 is provided with a connection socket 28 for securing a connection jack (not shown) of an appropriate electronic device.
As shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 6A, each ear cushion 20 fits over the top of each of person A and B's ears and sits against the lobe of the ear. This provides a very comfortable arrangement for the user even if wearing spectacles C and most importantly removes compression of the top of the ear against the persons head and the arm/temple of the spectacles. This design approach is what allows this invention to achieve the look of supra-aural headphones with the comfort of circum-aural headphones.
As shown in Figures 7 to 10, the ear cushions 20 have two contact areas 22 and 24. Contact area 22 is made of softer and lighter density foam material than the material of contact area 24, so that the ear cushion is more comfortable when sitting against the user's temporal bone (area just above the ear) and allows for the arm/temple of the spectacles to sit into the ear cushion 20, as opposed to the cushion pressing the arm/temple into the head of the user, which typically causes discomfort. The ear cushion 20 is made of lightweight material such as Alcantara. The inner cavity 26 is oblong shaped, longer than its width so as to more easily accommodate a person's ear. The sound coming from the audio output emanates through a series of holes 30 formed on the disc 32 on which the ear cushion 20 is mounted. The disc 32 is rotatable relative to the rest of the ear cup 14, so that a user can adjust the ear cushion to its most comfortable position.
The ear cushion 20 with the attached disc 32 is replaceable with another ear cushion 20 which is available in different colours. The user can select the colour to their liking from a range of colours available, in addition to having the flexibility of replacing worn or damaged ear cushions 20.
In the cross-sectional view of the ear cup shown in Figure 11 and also in the different views shown in Figure 12, the different elements comprising the ear cup 14 are shown. Within the ear cup 14 is the sound producing element 33 which generates the audio output through the orifices 30 forming part of the fixed base surface 34. Located about the edge of the base surface 34 are three arcuately formed slots 36 into which are inserted interengaging co-operating lugs 38 of the rotatable disc 32, on which the ear cushion 20 is mounted.
The length of the arcuate slots 36 determines the extent of the rotation of the disc 32 relative to the fixed base surface 34.
Referring to Figures 1, 4, 5 and 15, in order for the headband 12 to fit comfortably to the head of a user it is adjustable in length from both sides of the headband. This adjustment is achieved by a central core generally U-shaped mid-section 40 into which extends at each end 42, 44, movable arms 46, 48, In order to secure the movable arms 46, 48, a plurality of interengaging biased detents 50 retain the arms 46, 48 in the selected position. If it is desired to adjust the headband in size for another user for example, a slight pressure is applied by the user to overcome the bias in the detents 50.
The headphone achieved by this invention is lightweight, easily adjustable to fit a wearer comfortably and neat in appearance while delivering a high-quality output.
The headphone device of the invention will be fitted with all technical features commonly included in all high specification headphones on the market today, such as Bluetooth connections, noise cancelling effects, stereophonic output and many other features known to the skilled person in the field.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A headphone device (10) comprising an adjustable headband (12) and a pair of sound outputting ear cups (14) one at each end (16) of the headband, the ear cups comprising an ear cushion (20) which is a hybrid of supra-aural and circum-aural ear cups,
wherein the upper part of the ear cushion fits over the top of a user's ear and the lower part of the ear cushion rests on the ear lobe of the user's ear;

and wherein the headband comprises a central core generally U-shaped mid-section (40) inserted into which are movably engageable legs (46, 48) each of which supports one of the ear cups such that the headband fits more closely to a person's head;

and wherein each ear cushion is provided with an inner cavity (26) about which is located a foam cushioned rim including an upper rim (22) contactable with a user's head, which fits over the top of the user's ear and a lower rim (24) contactable with the lower part of a user's ear, the foam cushion material of the upper rim being of a lower density then the foam cushion material of the lower rim;

wherein each ear cushion (20) is removable and replaceable by a like ear cushion, in which each ear cushion is mounted on a rotatable disc (32) which is interengaged with a base surface (34) in the ear cup, to enable the ear cushion to be rotatable about its axis and in which a plurality of arcuately formed slots (36) are positioned on the base surface into which are inserted interengaging co-operating lugs (38) positioned on the rotatable disc,
A headphone device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the upper rim contactable with a user's head and sitting over the top of the user's ear has a narrow cross-sectional area in comparison to the cross-sectional area of the lower rim contactable with the lower part of a user's ear, such that the upper rim cushion is narrower than the lower rim cushion.
A headphone device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the inner cavity is generally oblong in shape and the outer circumference of the ear cushion is generally cylindrical.
A headphone device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each end of the adjustable headband is pivotally connected to a distal face of each ear cup, enabling a range of movement of the cups inwardly and outwardly from the user to accommodate different head shapes providing greater comfort to the user.