GB2103902A

GB2103902A - Head bands for headphones

Info

Publication number: GB2103902A
Application number: GB08221027A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Cech
Original assignee: AKG Akustische und Kino Geraete GmbH
Current assignee: AKG Acoustics GmbH
Priority date: 1981-07-20
Filing date: 1982-07-19
Publication date: 1983-02-23
Also published as: FR2509945A1; KR840001041A; ATA320081A; AT370581B; DE3226577A1; JPS5824297A

Abstract

A head band for headphones is described, the head band or at least a substantial part thereof being collapsible and comprising a plurality of pairs (1 and 2, 1' and 2') of elongate members which are curved along their lengths and arranged in the form of a lazy-tongs mechanism. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to head bands for headphones This invention relates to improvements in or relating to head bands for headphones.

Various methods have already been proposed for reducing the space taken up by headphones, particularly the space taken up by the headphones when not in use. Thus, it has been proposed to divide a head band into a number of movably interconnected parts which, in use of the headphones, can be pulled and/or folded out to form a resilient head band. The disadvantage of these constructions is that, because the head band has to be stable in use, the movably connected parts of the foldable or telescopable head band cannot be made very small. Thus, even when such a head band has been folded or telescoped it is still bulky and is shaped so that it is difficult to carry particularly, for example, in the pocket.

It is an object of the invention to provide a head band for head phones which overcomes or at least mitigates the disadvantages of the previously proposed head bands described above.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head band for headphones, the head band, or at least a substantial part thereof, being collapsible and comprising a plurality of pairs of elongate members which are curved along their length and which are arranged in the form of a lazy-tongs mechanism so that the head band is collapsible from a condition of use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head band for headphones, the head band, or at least a substantial part thereof, being collapsible and comprising a plurality of pairs of elongate members, each pair being arranged such that first sides of the first and second members are facing, the first and second members of each pair being connected at a point remote from their ends so as to be pivotable about an axis passing through the connection point perpendicular to the first sides of the first and second members, the pairs of elongate members being connected such that an end portion of the first side of the first member of each pair faces an end portion of the first side of the second member of an adjacent pair and is connected thereto so as to be pivotable about an axis passing perpendicularly through the said end portions, the arrangement being such that the band has two free ends, each elongate member being curved along its length so that the first side of each first member forms the radially inner surface thereof while the first side of each second member forms the radially outer surface thereof.

Preferably, the elongate members are formed of resilient material. Thus, the elongate members which in use of the headphones contact the head of the wearer can be made of plastics materials, which is pleasanter for bald-headed wearers than, for example, steel.

Conveniently, apertures are formed through the pivotal connections between the elongate members to allow an electrical cable to be fed through the head band from one end to the other for connection to headphone earpieces, for example the pivotal connection may be provided by tubular rivets, through which the cable may be drawn so that the cable does not hang loosely but is accurately guided.

Advantageously, locking means, for example a setscrew, are provided for locking one of the pivotal connections to lock the head band in either its condition of use or its collapsed condition which further increases the reliability with which the chosen position can be maintained.

Generally, each end of the collapsible portion of the head hand is formed by a pair of elongate members of half the length of the other elongate members pivotally connected together at their free ends.

In a preferred embodiment, the tubular rivets connecting the shorter elongate members can advantageously be used for pivotably securing the receiver cap.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of headphones having a head band in accordance with the invention showing the head band in a collapsed condition; Figure 2 is a side view of the headphones shown in Figure 1 in the collapsed condition; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of headphones having a head band in accordance with the invention showing the head band in its operative position.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a head band embodying the invention in its collapsed condition.

As shown, the head band comprises a plurality of pairs of elongate members or plates 1 and 2 which are curved along their lengths and interconnected to form a lazy-tongs mechanism which when extended to a condition of use adopts the required shape of a head band for headphones.

In the arrangement shown, each pair of plates 1 and 2 is arranged such that first sides of the first and second plates 1 and 2 are facing and the two plates are pivotally connected at their midpoints by means of a tubular rivet 4. The pairs of plates are so connected that an end portion of the first side of the first plate 1 of each pair faces an end portion of the first side of the second plate 2 of an adjacent pair and said end portions are connected by a tubular rivet 3 so as to be pivotable about an axis perpendicular thereto.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 3, the head band is terminated at each end by a pair of shorter plates 1' and 2', the two shorter plates 1' and 2' of each pair being pivotally connected together by a tubular rivet 5. A receiver cap 6 for an ear pad 7 is secured to each tubular rivet. if required, pivot connections may be provided between the rivets 5 and receiver caps 6.

When the headphones are in the operative condition, plates 2 are adjacent the user's head and the plates 2 at least may be made of a plastics material so as to be more comfortable to the wearer.

The tubular rivets may be used to guide an electrical cable connection to the headphone earpieces. As shown in Figure 3, a cable 8 connected to a receiver cap 6 at one end of the mechanism continues as denoted by reference numeral 8' around the head band and is alternately drawn upward through tubular rivets 3 and downward through rivets 4. In the case of stereo headphones, of course, cable 8' will be a separate lead for the separate channel to the second receiver cap, and the second receiver cap must also have its own cable 8.

The curvature of each plate is such that the first side of each first or outer plate 1 forms the radially inner surface thereof while the first side of each second or inner plate 2 forms the radially outer surface thereof so that in the extended or use condition the head band adopts the correct shape to fit the wearers head.

Figure 2 is a side view of headphones having a head band in accordance with the invention, the head band being in its collapsed state indicating how the individual plates of the lazy-tongs mechanism must be bent or curved in order to provide a correspondingly bent or curved head band in the longest extended position.

Advantageously the individual plates 1, 2 are given a curvature such that the distance between the ends of the band, when in the operative position, is less than the normal distance between the user's two ears, so that the receiver caps 6 fit resiliently against the ears. Locking means for example a setscrew 9, may be disposed at any required joint or pivot of the lazy-tongs mechanism to lock the head band in either its condition of use or its collapsed condition. A single setscrew is sufficient, because all plates 1, 2 are interconnected and therefore the mechanism can be completely locked by securing a single joint or pivot connection.

As shown in Figure 3, a head band in accordance with the invention is terminated at each end by a pair of shorter plates 1' and 2', the free ends of the two shorter plates 1 ' and 2' of each pair being pivotally connected by a tubular rivet 5. However, of course, the end or terminating plates may be of the same length as the remaining plates and may be used to actuate the mechanism, possibly being formed with finger-holes for this purpose.

In a head band embodying the invention, the components used can be uniform and very simple.

Moreover, because the plates are curved about a given radius and there is practically no clearance at the joints or pivot connections of the mechanism, the plates are twisted in the middle of the mechanism-opening or closing process, so that the mechanism tends to jump into one or the other end condition. The result is that the mechanism is completely tension-free both when collapsed and when in the operating condition, so that there is no risk that headphones equipped with a head band embodying the invention will, for example, be accidentally moved out of the operating condition. Also, because the lazy-tongs construction is so simple, practically the only components being metal and/or plastics plates and ordinary rivets or tubular rivets, the manufacturing costs are very low, below the cost of previously proposed telescopic and/or foldable head bands, at least those giving anything like the same comfort.

Also, a head band in accordance with the invention is sufficiently flat and convenient when collapsed for the headphones associated therewith to be placed easily in small containers such as pockets. However, although a head band and embodying the invention takes up little space in storage, its stability in the operative position is equal to that of a one-piece or solid head band.

Claims

1. A head band for headphones, the head band, or at least a substantial part thereof, being collapsible and comprising a plurality of pairs of elongate members which are curved along their lengths and which are arranged in the form of a lazy-tongs mechanism so that the head band is collapsible from a condition of use.

2. A head band for headphones, the head band, or at least a substantial part thereof, being collapsible and comprising a plurality of pairs of elongate members, each pair being arranged such that first sides of the first and second members are facing, the first and second members of each pair being connected at a point remote from their ends so as to pivotable about an axis passing through the connection point perpendicular to the first sides of the first and second members, the pairs of elongate members being connected such that an end portion of the first side of the first member of each pair faces an end portion of the first side of the second member of an adjacent pair and is connected thereto so as to be pivotable about an axis passing perpendicularly through the said end pOrtions, the arrangement being such that the band has two free ends, each elongate member being curved along its length so that the first side of each first member forms the radially inner surface thereof while the first side of each second member forms the radially outer surface thereof.

3. A head band according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate members are formed of resilient material.

4. A head band according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the outer pivotal connections are resilient.

5. A head band according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein apertures are formed through the pivotal connections between the elongate members to allow an electrical cable to be fed through the head band from one end to the other for connection to headphone earpieces.

6. A head band according to any preceding claim, wherein locking means are provided for locking one of the pivotal connections to lock the head band in either its condition of use or its collapsed condition.

7. A head band according to any preceding claim, wherein each end of the collapsible portion of the head band is formed by a pair of elongate members of half the length of the other elongate members pivotally connected together at their free ends.

8. A head band according to claim 7, wherein an earpiece is mounted at the pivotal connection between each shorter pair of elongate members.

9. A head band substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein.