JP2008205585A - Headphone apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a headphone apparatus excellent in durability while adopting a structure wherein a head band and a headphone unit can be relatively turned. <P>SOLUTION: The headphone apparatus is provided with a pair of headphone units 3 with speakers 3C and the head band 2 for connecting the headphone units 3 with each other. A first cylindrical part 2A is integrally formed at both ends of the head band 2, and a second cylindrical part 31 is integrally formed on the headphone unit 3. One of the first cylindrical part 2A and the second cylindrical part 31 is inserted to the other, and the headphone unit 3 and the head band 2 are connected so as to be relatively rotated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a headphone device including a pair of headphone units having a speaker and a headband for connecting the headphone units to each other, the headphone unit and the headband being connected so as to be relatively rotatable.

  Conventionally, as this type of headphone device, for example, the one shown in Patent Document 1 is known. That is, when providing the headband side connection part for connecting the headphone unit to both ends of the headband, the end part of the headband is sandwiched between the members for forming the headband side connection part divided into two parts, screws or the like. This screw is fixed to the headphone band. The headband unit and the headphone unit are connected to each other so as to be relatively rotatable by extrapolating a cylindrical headphone unit side connection portion formed in the headphone unit to the headband side connection portion. In this headphone device, since the headband and the headphone unit can be rotated relative to each other, for example, the acoustic surface of the speaker that is opposed to the headphone band when it is not used is aligned with the substantially same plane when it is not used. Thus, the posture of the headphone unit can be appropriately changed according to the situation, such as saving space during storage.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-94603 (paragraph 0026 and FIG. 1)

In the headphone device described above, when the headphone unit is rotated, an external force may be generated in a direction other than the rotation direction, such as a bending direction.
However, in the headphone device described above, since the headband and the headband side connecting portion are configured using a large number of parts, the structure becomes complicated. In particular, the headband and the headband side connecting portion forming member The strength of the portion where the other members are joined, such as the joined portion, the joined portion between the members for forming the headband side connecting portion, and the vicinity of the screw, tends to be insufficient. For this reason, there has been a problem that the durability of the headphone device is not sufficient, such as the possibility that the connecting portion between the headphone unit and the headband may be damaged by an external force when the headphone unit and the headband are relatively rotated.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a headphone device having excellent durability while adopting a structure in which a headband and a headphone unit can be relatively rotated. It is in.

  A first characteristic configuration of the present invention includes a pair of headphone units having a speaker and a headband for connecting the headphone units to each other, and first cylindrical portions are integrally formed at both ends of the headband. A second cylindrical part is integrally formed with the headphone unit, and one of the first cylindrical part and the second cylindrical part is inserted into the other, and the headphone unit and the headband are connected. It is in the point which connected so that relative rotation was possible.

As in this configuration, the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion on the headband side and the second cylindrical portion on the headphone unit side are integrally formed to provide the configuration when the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion are provided. Since it can simplify, the intensity | strength of a 1st cylindrical part and a 2nd cylindrical part can be raised.
Further, when connecting the headphone unit and the headband, the cylindrical member is inserted into the cylindrical member. For example, a hole provided on one side of the headphone unit and the headband is provided with a rod-shaped protrusion. Compared with the case where the two are connected to each other, the area of the connecting portion is increased. For this reason, even if an external force other than the rotation direction such as the bending direction is applied, the external force is received in a larger area, and deformation or breakage due to the external force can be prevented. As a result, the durability of the headphone device can be improved.

  According to a second characteristic configuration of the present invention, an inner portion of the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion is formed so as to prevent the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion from slipping out from each other. An insertion member to be inserted is provided, and the insertion member is rotatable with respect to at least one of the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion.

  With this configuration, the insertion member is inserted into both the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion that are inserted through each other, and the inner side of the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion is inserted. A member will be pinched by this insertion member.

  According to a third characteristic configuration of the present invention, a power switch that supplies and cuts off power from a power source according to a relative rotational position of the headphone unit with respect to the headband, and power from the power source switches between a cut-off state and a supply state. In the vicinity of the relative rotation position, there is provided a resistance applying means for increasing the resistance of the relative rotation.

  According to this configuration, when the headphone device is used, the power is switched to the supply state when the left and right headphone units are rotated to an angle at which the left and right headphone units face each other, and the force for rotating the headphone unit at this time is increased. It becomes. For this reason, the user of the headphone device can reliably know that the shut-off state and the supply state are switched due to an increase in external force. As a result, it is possible to reliably switch between the power cutoff state and the supply state.

  A fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention is a wireless headphone device in which the headphone device receives sound by infrared communication, and an infrared receiving element that receives the infrared light is provided outward in the left-right direction of each of the first cylindrical portions. It is in a certain point.

  With this configuration, when the headphone device is mounted on the head, infrared receiving elements exist on both sides of the head. An audio reproduction device that transmits an audio signal to a headphone device is usually carried by the user or installed at a position facing the user. Therefore, regardless of the posture of the user of the headphone device, any one of the infrared receiving elements can be directed toward the sound reproducing device. As described above, the direction in which infrared rays can be received is expanded, and the convenience of the headphone device is improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This headphone device is a wireless type headphone device that receives and reproduces an acoustic signal from a stereo or other acoustic device (not shown) by infrared communication.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the headphone device 1 includes a pair of headphone units 3 having a speaker 3 </ b> C, a headband 2 that connects the headphone units 3, and a head surface of the headband 2 facing each other. And an attached head belt 4. In the headphone device 1, the headphone unit 3 has a first posture (FIG. 1 (a)) in which the acoustic surfaces of the speaker 3 </ b> C (that is, the ear abutment portion of the headphone device 1) face each other, and the first posture. From the second posture in which the speakers 3C are positioned substantially on the same plane (FIG. 1 (b)). A switch unit for control is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the headband 2 is made of, for example, resin and is formed by bending a substantially inverted U shape in accordance with the shape of the head, and the headphone unit 3 is connected to both ends thereof. A connecting portion is provided. This connection part has the 1st cylindrical part 2A and the inner cylindrical part 24 provided in the inside of the 1st cylindrical part 2A. The first cylindrical portion 2A and the inner cylindrical portion 24 are formed integrally with the headband 2 portion.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the headphone unit 3 includes a first housing 3A, a second housing 3B, and a speaker 3C provided in the first housing 3A. On the sound output surface side of the speaker 3 </ b> C, an ear pad formed of a flexible member or a cushion material is provided.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the headphone unit 3 includes various circuits for driving the speaker 3 </ b> C in the internal space formed by the first housing 3 </ b> A and the second housing 3 </ b> B, and the operation status of the headphone device 1. A display element such as an LED, a switch element 33 and the like are provided. The first housing 3 </ b> A of one headphone unit 3 is provided with a battery holder that stores a battery. The battery is stored in the battery holder, and power is supplied to each electronic component inside the headphone device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the first housing 3A, a connecting portion with the headband 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape by integral molding. This connection part is the 2nd cylindrical part 31 of this application. The second tubular portion 31 is inserted between the first tubular portion 2A of the headband 2 and the inner tubular portion 24, and the headband 2 and the headphone unit 3 are connected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a part of the lateral side of the first cylindrical portion 2A on the outer side in the left-right direction is notched, and the infrared receiving element 7 is provided. Two infrared receiving elements 7 are provided along the front-back direction on the side surface of each cylindrical portion. The infrared receiving element 7 is provided with a cover 28 capable of transmitting infrared rays.
By arranging the infrared receiving element 7 in this way, when the headphone device 1 is mounted on the head, the infrared receiving elements 7 exist on both sides of the head. The audio reproduction device that transmits an audio signal to the headphone device 1 is usually carried by the user or installed at a position facing the user. Therefore, regardless of the posture of the user of the headphone device 1, any one of the infrared receiving elements 7 can be directed toward the sound reproducing device. Thus, the infrared receivable direction is expanded, and the convenience of the headphone device 1 is improved.

Next, the connection between the headband 2 and the headphone unit 3 will be described. 3 and 4, the second tubular portion 31 of the headphone unit 3 is inserted into the internal space 23 between the first tubular portion 2A and the inner tubular portion 24 of the headband 2, and the head The band 2 and the headphone unit 3 are connected. Furthermore, the insertion member 5 is inserted over the inner side of the first cylindrical part 2A and the inner side of the second cylindrical part 31, and the first cylindrical part 2A and the second cylindrical part 31 come out of each other. Is prevented.
Specifically, the insertion member 5 has a plate-like fixing portion 51 erected on a slip prevention portion having a substantially circular outer shape, for example. The fixing portion 51 of the insertion member 5 is fixed to the headband 2 through the inner cylindrical portion 24 from the headphone unit 3 side to the headband 2 side.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the concave portion 25 is formed on the inner side in the left-right direction of the headband 2, and the convex portion 25 a is provided in the concave portion 25. The hole 51a of the fixing portion 51 is locked to the convex portion 25a. Further, a holding member 27 having substantially the same shape as the concave portion 25 is fixed to, for example, a screw in a hole provided in the convex portion 25a. As a result, the fixing portion 51 is held between the concave portion 25 of the headband 2 and the holding member 27 and fixed to the headband 2. As a result, since the planar fixing portion 51 is nipped and fixed by the concave portion of the headband 2 and the nipping member 27, the strength of the fixing portion 51 can be increased and the fixing can be ensured. .

  As shown in FIG. 4, the retaining portion 52 has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the second tubular portion 31 of the headphone unit 3. Further, the insertion member 5 is not fixed to the headphone unit 3, and the insertion member 5 and the headphone unit 3 can be rotated relative to each other. Therefore, the headphone unit 3 is rotatably connected to the headband 2.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a coil spring 6 is provided between the first cylindrical portion 2 </ b> A and the inner cylindrical portion 24 of the side connecting portion of the headband 2. One end of the coil spring 6 is locked to the first cylindrical portion 2A, and the other end is locked to the second cylindrical portion. The headphone unit 3 is held in the second posture shown in FIG. 1A by the coil spring 6 when no external force is applied.
That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a contact portion 51 b wider than the fixed portion 51 is formed in a portion of the fixed portion 51 located inside the second cylindrical portion 31. On the other hand, a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 31 through which the contact portion 51b passes when the headphone unit 3 rotates between the first posture and the second posture is the diameter of the internal space 23. Is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the width of the contact portion 51b, and the diameter of the inner periphery of the other portions is set smaller than the width of the contact portion 51b, so that the second cylindrical portion 31 The protrusion part 31a which protrudes inside is formed.

  Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied to the headphone unit 3, the headphone unit 3 is urged to the second posture side by the urging force of the coil spring 6, and the second posture side end of the contact portion 51b and the protruding portion 31a. And the headphone unit 3 is held in the second posture. On the other hand, when the headphone unit 3 is rotated to the first posture side against the urging force of the coil spring 6, a part of the fixed portion 51 and the first posture side end of the protruding portion 31a at the position of the first posture. Further contact with the unit prevents the headphone unit 3 from rotating further. As described above, the headphone unit 3 is configured to be rotatable within a range of approximately 90 ° between the first posture and the second posture.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a head belt 4 is provided on the surface of the headband 2 facing the head. The head belt 4 is for fitting the headphone device 1 to the head when the headphone device 1 is worn on the head to prevent the displacement. Like the headband 2, it is formed in a substantially inverted U shape according to the shape of the head. The end portion of the head belt 4 is inserted into the headphone unit 3 through the inner cylindrical portion 24 and a hole 52c (see FIG. 4) provided in the insertion member 5. A tension spring 42 is locked in the holes formed at both ends of the head belt 4, and the other end of the tension spring 42 is locked in the first housing 3 </ b> A so that it can slide within a predetermined range. It is attached.

  Next, the power switch unit will be described. The power switch unit is provided in one of the headphone units 3 and controls the supply of power from the power source according to the posture of the headphone unit 3. That is, when the headphone unit 3 is rotated so that the sound output surfaces of the speaker 3C face each other (first posture), the power is supplied from the power source. Further, when the headphone unit 3 is rotated (second posture) so that the sound output surface of the speaker 3C is substantially in the same plane from the above state, the power is turned off. Shut off the supply.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the power switch portion is provided on the cam surface 52 a formed on the surface of the retaining portion 52 opposite to the side where the fixing portion 51 is erected, and inside the headphone unit 3. The switch element 33 is provided, and the operation rod 34 is provided between the cam surface 52 a and the switch element 33.
The operating rod 34 can be retracted and projected with respect to the switch element 33 and is always urged toward the side protruding from the switch element 33 by a spring member.

  The cam surface 52a decreases the distance from the switch element 33 when the headphone unit 3 rotates to the first posture side, and increases the distance from the switch element 33 when the headphone unit 3 rotates to the second form side. It is formed as follows. When the headphone unit 3 rotates to the first posture, the cam surface 52a retracts the operating rod 34 toward the switch element 33, and the switch is turned on. On the other hand, when the headphone unit 3 is rotated to the second posture, the operating rod 34 protrudes from the switch element 33 side by the biasing force, and the switch is turned off.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a leaf spring member 35 is provided to face the surface of the retaining portion 52 on the side where the cam surface 52 a is provided. A part of the leaf spring member 35 is bent, and a first protrusion 35a is formed to protrude toward the cam surface 52a. Further, a second convex portion 52b that protrudes toward the first convex portion 35a is provided on the surface of the retaining portion 52 on the side where the cam surface 52a is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the first convex portion 35a and the second convex portion 52b contact each other in the vicinity of the boundary between the relative rotational position where the power switch portion is turned on and the relative rotational position where the power switch portion is turned off. It is set to touch. In the present embodiment, the first convex portion 35a and the second convex portion 52b come into contact with each other at a relative rotational position immediately before the power switch portion is switched from the off state to the on state.
Thereby, when the headphone unit 3 is relatively rotated, the first convex portion 35a and the second convex portion 52b come into contact with each other at the boundary position, and the first convex portion 35a formed by the leaf spring member 35 is elastically deformed, After the second convex portion 52b gets over the first convex portion 35a, the power switch portion is switched between the on state and the off state. For this reason, the resistance of relative rotation increases in the vicinity of the relative rotation position where the on state and the off state of the power switch unit are switched. Here, the 1st convex part 35a and the 2nd convex part 52b comprise a resistance provision means.

Next, the operation at the time of use of the headphone device 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
When the headphone device 1 is not in use, the headphone unit 3 is maintained in the second posture by the urging force of the coil spring unless an external force is applied (FIG. 1A). At this time, since the headphone unit 3 is in a state along substantially the same plane, the bulkiness of the headphone device 1 is suppressed, and the storage space can be saved. In this state, as described above, the power switch unit is in an off state, and power supply from the battery is interrupted.

  When listening to music or the like from an audio device such as a stereo using the headphone device 1, the headphone unit 3 in the second posture is rotated to bring the headphone unit 3 into the first posture (that is, the speaker 3C). (A state where the ear pads are facing each other inside). As described above, in the first posture, the power switch unit is turned on, and power from the battery is supplied. In this state, the headphone device 1 is worn on the head, and each ear pad is put on the ear. The headphone unit 3 tries to turn to the second posture side by the urging force of the coil spring 6, but the headphone unit 3 is maintained in the first posture because the ear abutting portion comes into contact with the ear (FIG. 1B). )).

  When the use of the headphone device 1 is finished and the headphone device 1 is removed from the head, the headphone unit 3 is rotated from the first posture to the second posture by the urging force of the coil spring 6 (FIG. 1A). In this state, the power switch unit is turned off as described above, and the supply of power from the battery is cut off.

[Another embodiment 1]
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the second tubular portion 31 provided in the headphone unit 3 is inserted between the first tubular portion 2A on the headband 2 side and the inner tubular portion 24 has been described. However, the configuration is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the second cylindrical portion 31 is inserted into the first cylindrical portion 2A where the inner cylindrical portion 24 is not provided, or the first cylindrical portion 31 is inserted into the first cylindrical portion 31. Any configuration may be adopted as long as either one of the first cylindrical portion 2A and the second cylindrical portion 31 is inserted into the other, such as inserting the cylindrical portion 2A.

[Another embodiment 2]
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the headphone unit 3 is biased toward the second posture side by the coil spring 6 has been described. However, the coil spring 6 is not necessarily provided. For example, the headphone unit 3 may be manually rotated to the second posture without providing the coil spring 6.

[Another embodiment 3]
In the above-described embodiment, the wireless headphone device 1 using infrared communication has been described. However, the wireless headphone device 1 using communication means such as ultrasonic waves or radio waves may be used. Moreover, it is not restricted to the wireless type headphone apparatus 1, and may be connected to an audio device by a cord.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a headphone device that reproduces an acoustic signal from an audio device such as a stereo.

The perspective view which shows the headphone apparatus which concerns on this invention 1 is an exploded perspective view of a headphone device according to the present invention. The perspective view which shows a part of headband 2 apparatus of the headphone apparatus which concerns on this invention The disassembled perspective view which shows the principal part of the headphone apparatus which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the headphone apparatus which concerns on this invention The figure which shows the VI-VI cross section of FIG. The figure which shows the VII-VII cross section of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Headphone apparatus 2 Headband 2A 1st cylindrical part 3 Headphone unit 3C Speaker 31 2nd cylindrical part 5 Insertion member 7 Infrared receiving element

Claims (4)

A pair of headphone units having a speaker, and a headband for connecting the headphone units to each other;
A first cylindrical part is integrally formed at both ends of the headband, and a second cylindrical part is integrally formed on the headphone unit, and the first cylindrical part and the second cylindrical part are A headphone device in which one of them is inserted into the other, and the headphone unit and the headband are connected so as to be relatively rotatable.   In order to prevent the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion from slipping out from each other, an insertion member is provided that is inserted across the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion, The headphone device according to claim 1, wherein the insertion member is rotatable with respect to at least one of the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion.   A power switch that supplies and cuts off power from a power source according to a relative rotational position of the headphone unit with respect to the headband, and the relative rotation position near the relative rotational position at which power from the power source is switched between a cut-off state and a supply state. The headphone device according to claim 1, further comprising a resistance applying means for increasing a rotation resistance.   4. The wireless headphone device according to claim 1, wherein the headphone device is a wireless headphone device that receives sound through infrared communication, and an infrared receiving element that receives infrared light is provided outward in the left-right direction of each of the first cylindrical portions. The headphone device according to claim 1.

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