WO2007036228A1

WO2007036228A1 - Earphone with transparent cover plate for sheet insert

Info

Publication number: WO2007036228A1
Application number: PCT/DK2005/000834
Authority: WO
Inventors: Magnus GØRANSSON
Original assignee: Gn Netcom A/S
Priority date: 2005-12-29
Filing date: 2005-12-29
Publication date: 2007-04-05
Also published as: TW200740254A

Abstract

An earphone comprising at least one earpiece (1) with an earpiece housing (2) and holding means (5) for holding the housing (2) against the ear of the user. The housing (2) comprises a releasably mounted cover plate (6). The cover plate (6) is transparent and an exchangeable sheet insert (8) is arranged under the cover plate (6) such that the sheet insert (8) is visible from the outside.

Description

Earphone with transparent cover plate for sheet insert

Technical Field

The invention relates to an earphone, such as a headset or a behind-the- ear hearing aid, comprising at least one earpiece with an earpiece housing and holding means for holding the housing against the ear of the user, wherein the housing comprises a releasably mounted cover plate. By the term earphone is here meant different types of devices, which are worn on, in or at the ear, and which converts electrical energy into sound waves that are directed to the auditory canal. The invention especially relates to a headset which comprises at least one earphone and a microphone and which can be used as a two-way communication device, e.g. with a mobile phone.

Background Art

US 4,292,481 discloses a push-button telephone with a transparent faceplate assembly into which a decorative "applique" can be inserted so that a decorative design is visible. It is also known to provide a mobile phone with an exchangeable cover so that the owner easily can change the appearance of the mobile phone. DE 201 04 24 U 1 discloses a mobile phone with a transparent cover plate behind which^"1 paper inserts with different designs or patterns can be arranged. Headsets with exchangeable coloured cover plates are also known.

Disclosure of Invention

An earphone is worn on, in or at the user's ear and has in most cases an effect on the overall appearance of the user. Hearing devices and in some cases mobile phone headsets are often worn all day. Under these circumstances, the appearance of the earpiece is important for the most users. Therefore, there is a need to improve the possibilities of changing the appearance of an earpiece.

The earphone according to the invention is characterised in that the cover plate is transparent and that an exchangeable sheet insert is positioned under the cover plate such that the sheet insert is visible from the outside. In this way, the user can customize the appearance of the earpiece in seconds by removing the cover plate, exchanging the sheet insert and mounting the cover plate again. The sheet inserts can be pieces of paper with different decorations supplied with the earphone. In addition, the earpiece can be supplied with sheets of paper, which are partly cut out or punched along lines defining the outline of separate paper inserts. The user can make his own design on his computer and print the paper sheets with his conventional computer printer. Off course, different designs, patterns, ornaments, drawings, photographs, advertisings, trademarks, words, names, cartoon characters, national flags etc. can be printed on the paper sheet inserts.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the housing has a first wall facing the ear of the user and a second wall facing away from the ear, wherein the cover plate is mounted on or in the second wall. In this way, the most visible wall comprises the cover plate.

The cover plate is preferably mounted in a recess on the outside of the second wall, which recess has an outline corresponding to the outline of the transparent cover plate. The inner side of the cover plate and the bottom of the recess define preferably a narrow space that accommodates the sheet insert. In this way, the sheet insert can be held firmly without being curled or wrinkled. The outside of the cover plate is advantageously flush with the outside of the second wall in the area around the recess. In this way, a smooth overall surface of the headset is obtained.

According to an embodiment, the earpiece and the cover plate are oblong, wherein the cover plate extends between a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction and is fastened to the second wall at the two ends.

According to an embodiment, the cover plate comprises a resilient locking leg, which extends perpendicularly from the inner side of the cover plate at the second end, which resilient leg at the distal end comprises a detent that engages an edge of a locking hole in the second wall.

Preferably, a fingernail notch is provided in the edge of the recess at the second end of the cover plate, such that a fingernail can apply a bending force to the resilient locking leg and release the detent from engagement with the edge of the locking hole in order to release the cover plate. In this way, a simple and reliable releasable fastening of the cover plate may be obtained.

Preferably, the first end of the cover plate partly engages an undercut in the edge of the recess.

A button may extend out through a hole in the sheet insert and a hole in the cover plate.

The holding means may comprise an earhook. Alternative holding means are headband, neckband, concha engaging means, auditory canal engaging means (also called ear buds). The earhook can be mounted, preferably adjustably, to the first wall of the earpiece housing.

The cover plate can be made of plastics.

The invention also relates to a headset comprising at least one earphone, which headset is a two-way communications device comprising a microphone.

The headset can be a wireless headset, e.g. a Bluetooth headset.

The headset may comprise only one earpiece.

The invention also relates to a so-called behind-the-ear hearing aid comprising an earpiece that is worn behind. the ear. It is connected to a plastic ear mould that fits snugly in the outer ear. Such a hearing aid is known from WO 99/04601 A1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a headset according to the invention,

Figs. 2-4 are perspective views of different steps during a change of the sheet insert,

Fig. 5 shows a cover plate seen from the inner side, and Fig. 6 is a side view of the cover plate.

The following reference signs are used in the figures and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

1 earpiece

2 housing

3 first wall of housing

4 second wall of housing

5 earhook

6 transparent cover plate

7 recess in the second wall

8 paper insert

9 button

10 button hole in the cover plate

11 button hole in sheet insert

12 resilient locking leg

13 detent

14 microphone

15 first end of cover plate

16 second end of cover plate

17 fingernail notch

18 paper insert

19 headset

20 locking hole

21 notch in paper insert

Best Mode for Carrvinα out the Invention

Fig. 1 discloses a headset 19 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The headset is a wireless headset to be used with mobile phones. The headset 1 comprises an earpiece 1 with an earpiece housing 2 and an earhook 5 to be positioned behind the pinna of the ear and by means of which the earpiece 1 can be held against the auditory canal of the users ear. The earpiece housing 2 has a first wall 3 facing the ear of the user during use and a second wall 4 facing away from the ear. The earhook 5 is adjustably mounted to the first wall 3 of the earpiece housing 2. The first wall 3 comprises a speaker opening (not shown), which preferably is arranged in the free end of a protrusion to be inserted into the concha. The second wall 4 turns away from the ear during use and is normally visible for other persons looking at the user. A button 9 for operating the headset is arranged in the second wall 4. The leftmost end of the earpiece 1 is provided with a microphone 14. Thus, the microphone 14 is arranged in the part of the headset, which is closest to the mouth of the user and farthest away from the speaker.

Figs. 2 to 4 disclose how the appearance of the headset according to Fig. 1 can be changed. The second wall 4 comprises a recess 7 in which a transparent cover plate 6 is releasably mounted. As shown in Fig. 1 , the outside of the cover plate 6 is flush with the outside of the second wall 4 in the area around the recess 7, whereby the complete outer surface appears smooth. A paper insert 8 is arranged between the bottom of the recess 7 and the inner side of the cover plate 6. The paper insert is visible through the transparent cover plate 6 and is arranged for decorative, commercial or information purposes. A first end 15 of the cover plate 6 engages partly an undercut (not shown) in the edge of the recess 7. For this purpose, the first end 15 of the cover plate 6 may comprise a small protrusion that engages an edge of the recess 7. As shown in Fig. 5 and 6, the opposite end 16 of the cover plate 6 is provided on the inner side with a resilient locking leg 12 with a detent 13 that engages an edge of a locking hole 20 in the second wall 4 (see Fig. 4). The paper insert 8 is provided with a notch 21 to allow passage of the locking leg 12. A fingernail notch 17 is provided in the edge of the recess 7 such that a fingernail can apply a bending force to the resilient leg 12 in order to release the cover plate 6. The arrow A shows where and in which direction the fingernail is inserted and pushed in order to release the detent from the edge of the locking hole 20 and thereby release the cover plate 6. The cover plate 6 and the paper insert 8 are provided with respective holes 10, 11. The shape of the holes 10, 11 correspond to the shape of the button 9.

Fig. 2 shows the cover plate 6 just after it has been released from the earpiece housing 2 and after it has been lifted in order to exchange the paper insert 8. Fig. 3 shows the headset 1 after the removal of the cover plate 6 and the paper insert 8 in the direction of the arrow B. Fig. 4 shows the headset 1 after a paper insert 18 with a different pattern printed thereon has been positioned in the direction of the arrow C in the recess 7.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Stereo headphones comprising two earphones and behind-the-ear hearing aids are also covered by this application.

Claims

1. An earphone, such as a headset or a behind-the-ear hearing aid, comprising at least one earpiece (1 ) with an earpiece housing (2) and holding means (5) for holding the housing (2) against the ear of the user, wherein the housing (2) comprises a releasably mounted cover plate (6), characterised in that the cover plate (6) is transparent and that an exchangeable sheet insert (8) is positioned under the cover plate (6) such that the sheet insert (8) is visible from the outside.

2. An earphone according to claim 1 , wherein the housing (2) has a first wall (3) facing the ear of the user and a second wall (4) facing away from the ear, and wherein the cover plate (6) is mounted on or in the second wall

(4).

3. An earphone according to claim 2, wherein the cover plate (6) is mounted in a recess (7) on the outside of the second wall (4), which recess (7) has an outline corresponding to the outline of the transparent cover plate (6).

4. An earphone according to claim 3, wherein the inner side of the cover plate (6) and the bottom of the recess (7) define a narrow space that accommodates the sheet insert (8).

5. An earphone according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the outside of the cover plate (6) is flush with the outside of the second wall (4) in the area around the recess (7).

6. An earphone according to one of the claims 3 to 5, wherein the earpiece (1 ) and the cover plate (6) are oblong, and wherein the cover plate (6) extends between a first end (15) and a second end (16) in a longitudinal direction and is fastened to the second wall at the two ends (15, 16).

7. An earphone according to claim 6, wherein the cover plate (6) comprises a resilient locking leg (12) which extends perpendicularly from the inner side of the cover plate (6) at the second end (16), which resilient leg (12) at the distal end comprises a detent (13) that engages an edge of a locking hole (20) in the second wall (7).

8. An earphone according to claim 7, wherein a fingernail notch (17) is provided in the edge of the recess at the second end (16) of the cover plate (6), such that a fingernail can apply a bending force to the resilient locking leg (12) and release the detent (13) from engagement with the edge of the locking hole (20) in order to release the cover plate (6).

9. An earphone according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first end (15) of the cover plate (6) partly engages an undercut in the edge of the recess (7).

10. An earphone according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a button (9) extends out through a hole (11 ) in the sheet insert (8) and a hole (10) in the cover plate (6).

11. An earphone according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the holding means comprises an earhook (5).

12. An earphone according to the claims 2 and 11 , wherein the earhook (5) is mounted, preferably adjustably, to the first wall (3) of the earpiece housing (2).

13. An earphone according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover plate (6) is made of plastics.

14. A headset comprising at least one earphone according to any of the preceding claims, which headset is a two-way communications device comprising a microphone (14).

15. A headset according to claim 14, which headset is a wireless headset, e.g. a Bluetooth headset.

16. A headset according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the headset comprises only one earpiece (1).

17. A behind-the-ear hearing aid comprising an earphone according to any of the claims 1 to 13.