US3919501A - Headphone construction - Google Patents

Headphone construction Download PDF

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Publication number
US3919501A
US3919501A US471896A US47189674A US3919501A US 3919501 A US3919501 A US 3919501A US 471896 A US471896 A US 471896A US 47189674 A US47189674 A US 47189674A US 3919501 A US3919501 A US 3919501A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
headband
head
earpieces
resilient
band
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US471896A
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English (en)
Inventor
Karl Cech
Karl Reinthaler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AKG Acoustics GmbH
Original Assignee
AKG Akustische und Kino Geraete GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AKG Akustische und Kino Geraete GmbH filed Critical AKG Akustische und Kino Geraete GmbH
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3919501A publication Critical patent/US3919501A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
    • H04R1/1058—Manufacture or assembly
    • H04R1/1066—Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
    • H04R1/1008—Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
    • H04R5/033—Headphones for stereophonic communication
    • H04R5/0335—Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests

Definitions

  • a headphone comprises an earphone for each ear.
  • a first inner headband forming a flat large diameter curve utending between the earphones and adapted to engage against the top of the wearers head during use.
  • a second headband of a smaller diameter curve than the first headband extending hetoeen each side of the wearer's head and connected adjacent each end to the first headband.
  • An elastic suspension ex tends between the connection of the first and second bands to the respective earphones. and the elastic suspension acts upwardl preferabl h an amount equal to the weight of each earphone.
  • FIG. I F162 FIGJb FIG.3C
  • HEADPHONE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.
  • This invention relates in general to the construction of headsets or headphones and. in particular. to a new and useful headphone. including an inner headband cngageable with the head which is elasticallyconnected at each end to a respective earphone. and an outer headband providing a resilient inner force on the headphones which extends outwardly from the inner head band and is connected at cach end thereto.
  • the present invention relates particularly to a headphone which comprises two car pieces and at least one resilient headband which interconnects the ear pieces and is adapted to rest on the top of the user's head during use of the headphone.
  • Such headphones are well known in the communication engineering and entertainment electronics fields. Since these sets are principally used by different persons. it is necessary to provide adjustment mechanisms permitting the adaption of the headset to the individual shape of the user's head. The construction ofsuch headsets must, therefore. take into account the fact that the spacing from the top of a person's head to each ear maybe substantially different from one person to the next.
  • the invention provides a new headphone construction which may be adjusted simply without requiring force.
  • the inventive construction has been evolved from the observation that when a headphone is put on. the hands grip the earpieces and pull them apart while the headband itselfis held over the head and the assembly is moved downwardly until the headband comes into contact with the top of the head. Thereafter. the earpieces are shifted on the headband back and forth until they cover the ears in a proper manner.
  • adjustments necessary to place the ear pieces in the proper location can be carried out by persons who are not necessarily skillful and it can lead to a proper fit of the headphone.
  • the inventive headphone it is only necessary to perform the first part of the movements of applying the headphones to the head. that is.
  • the invention provides a headpiece ⁇ t hich includes a headband which forms an inner headband which rests against the head of a wearer during use and which is connected to each earpiece through a resilient support.
  • the resilient support is dimensioned so that during its entire range of adjustment. its resilience is approximately equal to or preferably slight! stronger than the gran itational force acting on the earpiece. including the connecting cables.
  • the headpiece of the invention includes an inner headband hlCll rests against the head and an outer headband which is connected at each end to the inner headband.
  • the inner headband which contacts the user's head is resilient only in respect to the portion which connects it to the individual earpieces in respect to movements in directions toward and away from the ears.
  • the outer headband is pro vided with resilience so that it exerts an inwardly di rected force to the associated ends of the inner head band or to a location spaced from the earpieces at the inner headband.
  • the resilience extends substantially perpendicular to the planes in which the elastic forces of the suspension for each earpiece act.
  • the headband which surrounds the users head without contacting it and which is located exteriorally of an inner headband is usually made of steel wires. a spring steel strip or a resilient synthetic material.
  • the headband resting on the head is made ofa thin flexible material preferably a strip of synthetic material.
  • an object of the invention to provide an improved headphone construction which includes at least one headband which interconnects two earpieces and rests during use in the middle portion of the top of the user's head and which also includes an elastic connectionbetwecn the ends of the headband and each earpiece providing an elastic suspension upwardly and downwardly in respect to the cars.
  • a further object ofthe invention is to provide a head phone set which includes an inner headband adapted to rest against the wearers head and having resilient means at each end supporting an earpiece therefrom and including an exterior or outer headband extending over the inner headband and connected at each end to said inner headband and exerting an inward biasing force thereon in a direction toward each car.
  • a further object ofthe invention is to provide a headphone which is simple in design. rugged in construction. and economical to manufacture.
  • FIG. I is a schematic front elevational view of a headset constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I of another embodi ment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3a is a partial side elevational view of the headband ofa type shown in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 3b is a side elevational view of the headband shown in FIG. 3a.
  • FIG. 30 is a rear elevational view of the headphone shown in FIG. 3a.
  • the invention embodied therein. comprises a headphone set or head phone. generally designated 20. which includes earpieces 4 and 5 which are interconnected by a headband 6 which is adapted to rest against the top middle portion of a persons head I.
  • the earpieces 4 and 5 are pressed against the person 's ears 2 and 3 due to the resilience P of the headband 6 which is shown as being resolved into two force components P; and P
  • the weights of the earpieces are designated by the letters G and G
  • the weights are opposed by the elastic forces P and P: which are produced by two spring members 7 and 8 which are carried in a resilient suspension which includes holders or guides 9 and 10, respectively.
  • Ear pieces 4 and S are suspended from the cylindrical portions 9 and I and the weights of these earpieces are overcome by the resilient biasing of the springs 7 and 8.
  • Guides 9 and It) also transmit resilient forces P; and P to the individual earphones 4 and 5. respectively.
  • the resulting force R which acts on each of the ear pieces determines the frictional resistance R on the contact surfaces of the carpieces applying against the external ears of the user, where is the coefficient of friction.
  • the spring force ofthe headband 6 and the return forces of springs 7 and 8 may easily be dimensioned so they counterbalance the weights G, and G of the earpieces.
  • the inventive headphone can be put on in a single smooth motion because the only thing to watch is that the earpieces cover the ears.
  • the springs 7 and 8 bias the earpieces upwardly into the most retracted position when the earphone is put on, and it is then sufficient to pull the earpieces down to the ears in a simple and easy motion without any great force. After releasing the earpieces. they remain in their proper position on the users ears.
  • the headphone includes two headbands including an outer headband formed oftwo steel wires 16 and 17 which also may be used as electrical leads. if desired.
  • the construction assures the function ofthe headband shown in FIG. I. that is, to produce the force components P and P which are needed for pressing the earpieces against the users head.
  • An inner or second headband 12 possesses substantially no resilience and it is connected to the earpieces 4 and by means of an elastic suspension in the form of elastic members 13. such as helical springs. flat coil springs or bands. During use. the inner second hand rests against the top of the user's head. as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the construction includes a coupling piece 15 which may be a joint which is fixed to the housing 14 of the earpiece.
  • Resilient wires [6 and 17 of the outer headband are anchored by their end portions with a block piece 18 which is spaced away from coupling piece I5 and retains the two wires 16 and 17 at a spaced location from a holding member 21 which is spaced upwardly from coupling piece 15.
  • the inner headband 12 is made of a thin flexible sheet of a material. such as a synthetic material. and it is provided with a longitudinal slot II which is engaged over a projecting pin portion 19 of the block 18 which may slide in the groove 11.
  • An elastic suspension in the form of an elastic element. generally designated 24. extends between the ends of the inner band 12 and the respective earpieces 14.
  • the elastic band 24 suspends the ear pieces 4 and 5 in a manner such that they are retracted upwardly by the resilient force of the band and maybe extended downwardly from their retracted position during the application to a wearer's cars.
  • the headphone In order to put the inventive headphone on a person's head. the headphone is held over the head and moved downwardly. During this downward movement of the earpieces. first the thin flexible band 12 will apply against the top of the user's head. In this position. however. the earpieces are still located above the ear opening. While continuing the downward movement until the earpieces cover the cars. the rubber band 24 is stretched and produces a return force approximately corresponding to the weight of the earpieces. The variable return force corresponding to the respective distance between the top of the user's head in the ear opening becomes substantially ineffective due to the friction between the earpiece pad and the ear so that even after wearing the headset for hours. the inventive headphone does not produce any disagreeable pressure sensations on the ear. particularly when it is made of a lightweight construction.
  • a headphone construction comprising two carpieees. at least one head band interconnecting said two earpieces and adapted to rest during use by its middle portion against the top of the users head. the connection of said two carpieces to said headband including a resilient suspension holding the earpieces adjacent the ends of said band, said resilient suspension comprising a resilient member having a spring force slightly stronger than the effective gravitational force on said ear pieces.
  • a headphone comprising an earphone for each car. a first outer curved headband having a first radius of curvature and extending between said earphones. a second inner curved head band forming a flat curve having a second radius of curvature smaller than said first radius of curvature and connected to each end of said first headband. and an elastic suspension con nected to the ends of said second inner headband and to each earphone and providing an upwardly acting resilient suspension of said earphones.
  • a headphone according to claim 2 wherein said second inner headband is adapted to rest against the head of the wearer and said first outer headband is resilient and each end is biased inwardly toward the connection thereto of said second inner headband.
  • said resilient suspension comprising resilient ele- 5 merits extending from the ends oisaid second inner headband to the respective earpieces.
  • each of said headpieces includes a coupling.
  • said inner and outer headbands being connected together adjacent each ol their respective ends and said elastic suspension comprising a hand extending from the connection of said l'irst and second headbands to said coupling.
  • said first outer headband comprises a pair of spaced apart wires.
  • said second inner hand being in contact with a 6 persons head and being made oi a thin flexible sheet possessing only a small elastic lorcc.
  • a headphone including a coupling member connected to each o! said carpicccs. said resilient suspension being connected bet cen said coupling member and said tirsl outer headband.
  • said first outer headband comprising tiio spaced apart ⁇ virc members.
  • a connecting pin connected between said wire members and holding said suspension.
  • a hlock piece spaced from said connecting member and CHIP nected between said t ⁇ o wires and hiding a pin mein' her.
  • said second inner band haiing a slot therein in which said pin is engaged to permit relative movement of said inner hand rclatnc to said outer band.
  • wire members comprise tno stccl ⁇ sircs coated with a synthetic material

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
US471896A 1973-06-01 1974-05-21 Headphone construction Expired - Lifetime US3919501A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT480573A AT321388B (de) 1973-06-01 1973-06-01 Kopfhörer

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3919501A true US3919501A (en) 1975-11-11

Family

ID=3568553

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US471896A Expired - Lifetime US3919501A (en) 1973-06-01 1974-05-21 Headphone construction

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3919501A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5223258B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT321388B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2425834C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1476653A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4025733A (en) * 1975-10-09 1977-05-24 American Electromedics Corporation Pressure seal headband
USD289289S (en) 1984-07-31 1987-04-14 Northern Telecom Limited Telephone headset hearing aid
US4747145A (en) * 1986-11-24 1988-05-24 Telex Communications, Inc. Earcup suspension for headphone
US5406037A (en) * 1993-02-03 1995-04-11 Sony Corporation Headphone including means for mounting belt-like suspender
US5574795A (en) * 1993-07-31 1996-11-12 Sony Corporation Headphone apparatus
US6434250B1 (en) 1999-03-05 2002-08-13 Parker I. Tsuhako Stereo headset with angled speakers
US6724906B2 (en) 2002-05-07 2004-04-20 Alex Naksen Adjustable headphone
US20070092098A1 (en) * 2005-10-21 2007-04-26 Johann Kaderavek Headphones with elastic earpiece interface
US20080056525A1 (en) * 2006-09-06 2008-03-06 Keitaro Fujiwara Headphone
WO2011006986A1 (de) * 2009-07-17 2011-01-20 Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg Hörer und headset
US20120308067A1 (en) * 2011-06-01 2012-12-06 Wai Hung Ip Headphone 3D Hearing technology
US20150375007A1 (en) * 2014-06-27 2015-12-31 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Optical hair-growing device
WO2016077247A1 (en) * 2014-11-10 2016-05-19 The Quest Group Headphone suspension system
US9980048B2 (en) 2015-01-20 2018-05-22 Plantronics, Inc. Headband with sling
US10034096B2 (en) * 2013-09-27 2018-07-24 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Headphone
US20190222936A1 (en) * 2016-09-23 2019-07-18 Apple Inc. Low spring-rate band
USD855579S1 (en) * 2017-10-02 2019-08-06 Mrspeakers, Llc Ear cup coupler for an over ear headphone
SE1850229A1 (en) * 2018-03-01 2019-09-02 Zound Industries Int Ab A headband for a pair of headphones
US10848847B2 (en) 2016-09-23 2020-11-24 Apple Inc. Off-center pivoting earpiece
US11323793B2 (en) * 2016-09-23 2022-05-03 Apple Inc. Synchronized telescoping headphones
US11700471B2 (en) 2017-11-20 2023-07-11 Apple Inc. Headphones with an anti-buckling assembly
US11985462B2 (en) 2018-04-02 2024-05-14 Apple Inc. Headphones

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5410258Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1974-09-12 1979-05-12
GB2225509A (en) * 1988-08-22 1990-05-30 Arkon Ind Limited Adjustable headphones
DE19711708C2 (de) * 1997-03-20 1999-01-14 Sennheiser Electronic Kopfbandlose Kopfträgereinheit

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3306991A (en) * 1963-06-04 1967-02-28 Homer J Wood Protective hearing aid
US3447160A (en) * 1965-11-29 1969-06-03 Telex Corp The Adjustable headset

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3306991A (en) * 1963-06-04 1967-02-28 Homer J Wood Protective hearing aid
US3447160A (en) * 1965-11-29 1969-06-03 Telex Corp The Adjustable headset

Cited By (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4025733A (en) * 1975-10-09 1977-05-24 American Electromedics Corporation Pressure seal headband
USD289289S (en) 1984-07-31 1987-04-14 Northern Telecom Limited Telephone headset hearing aid
US4747145A (en) * 1986-11-24 1988-05-24 Telex Communications, Inc. Earcup suspension for headphone
US5406037A (en) * 1993-02-03 1995-04-11 Sony Corporation Headphone including means for mounting belt-like suspender
US5574795A (en) * 1993-07-31 1996-11-12 Sony Corporation Headphone apparatus
US6434250B1 (en) 1999-03-05 2002-08-13 Parker I. Tsuhako Stereo headset with angled speakers
US6724906B2 (en) 2002-05-07 2004-04-20 Alex Naksen Adjustable headphone
US20070092098A1 (en) * 2005-10-21 2007-04-26 Johann Kaderavek Headphones with elastic earpiece interface
US20080056525A1 (en) * 2006-09-06 2008-03-06 Keitaro Fujiwara Headphone
US8213665B2 (en) * 2006-09-06 2012-07-03 Sony Corporation Headphone
WO2011006986A1 (de) * 2009-07-17 2011-01-20 Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg Hörer und headset
US20120308067A1 (en) * 2011-06-01 2012-12-06 Wai Hung Ip Headphone 3D Hearing technology
US10034096B2 (en) * 2013-09-27 2018-07-24 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Headphone
US20150375007A1 (en) * 2014-06-27 2015-12-31 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Optical hair-growing device
WO2016077247A1 (en) * 2014-11-10 2016-05-19 The Quest Group Headphone suspension system
US9736571B2 (en) 2014-11-10 2017-08-15 The Quest Group Headphone suspension system
US9980048B2 (en) 2015-01-20 2018-05-22 Plantronics, Inc. Headband with sling
EP4531433A3 (en) * 2016-09-23 2025-04-23 Apple Inc. Synchronized telescoping headphones
US20190222936A1 (en) * 2016-09-23 2019-07-18 Apple Inc. Low spring-rate band
US11570549B2 (en) * 2016-09-23 2023-01-31 Apple Inc. Headphones
US10848847B2 (en) 2016-09-23 2020-11-24 Apple Inc. Off-center pivoting earpiece
US10945076B2 (en) * 2016-09-23 2021-03-09 Apple Inc. Low spring-rate band
US11323793B2 (en) * 2016-09-23 2022-05-03 Apple Inc. Synchronized telescoping headphones
US11330354B2 (en) 2016-09-23 2022-05-10 Apple Inc. Off-center pivoting earpiece
US11477575B2 (en) 2016-09-23 2022-10-18 Apple Inc. Headphones
US12207069B2 (en) 2016-09-23 2025-01-21 Apple Inc. Headphones
USD855579S1 (en) * 2017-10-02 2019-08-06 Mrspeakers, Llc Ear cup coupler for an over ear headphone
US11700471B2 (en) 2017-11-20 2023-07-11 Apple Inc. Headphones with an anti-buckling assembly
US11985463B2 (en) 2017-11-20 2024-05-14 Apple Inc. Headphones with increased back volume
US12238469B2 (en) 2017-11-20 2025-02-25 Apple Inc. Headphones with increased back volume
US11516585B2 (en) 2018-03-01 2022-11-29 Zound Industries International Ab Headband for a pair of headphones
SE1850229A1 (en) * 2018-03-01 2019-09-02 Zound Industries Int Ab A headband for a pair of headphones
US11985462B2 (en) 2018-04-02 2024-05-14 Apple Inc. Headphones
US12323755B2 (en) 2018-04-02 2025-06-03 Apple Inc. Headphones

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2425834C3 (de) 1978-06-15
DE2425834B2 (de) 1977-10-20
JPS5223258B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-06-23
DE2425834A1 (de) 1975-01-02
AT321388B (de) 1975-03-25
JPS5023214A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-03-12
GB1476653A (en) 1977-06-16

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