U.S. patent number 3,667,569 [Application Number 05/105,343] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-06 for sound tube headset.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Acoustifone Corporation. Invention is credited to Richard C. Mackey, W. James Neill.
United States Patent |
3,667,569 |
Mackey , et al. |
June 6, 1972 |
SOUND TUBE HEADSET
Abstract
A sound tube headset formed of flexible tubing having arcuate
end portions adapted to rest on the ears, extend downwardly behind
the ears and forwardly in front of the wearer and with an
adjustable slider for holding the lower portions of the tubes
together and for slightly tensioning the same in the region of the
clavicle to effectively secure the ear engaging portions in
position and substantially obviate inadvertent dislodgment.
Inventors: |
Mackey; Richard C. (Woodland
Hills, CA), Neill; W. James (Santa Monica, CA) |
Assignee: |
Acoustifone Corporation
(Chatsworth, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22305282 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/105,343 |
Filed: |
January 11, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
181/135; 181/131;
381/382; 381/381; 381/330 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
7/026 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
7/02 (20060101); A61B 7/00 (20060101); A61b
007/02 (); G10k 013/00 (); G02k 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;181/24,31R,31B,23
;179/17H,17E,1ST |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tomsky; Stephen J.
Claims
We claim:
1. In a headset for conducting sound waves from a source to the
ears of a user:
first and second elongated tubes each having at one end a portion
adapted to engage an ear of the user, with said tubes being joined
together over a substantial length near the other ends and having
at said other ends a sound coupling member for operatively
connecting said tubes to a sound source;
each of said tubes being of a relatively flexible and resilient
polymeric material and formed to provide adjacent the ear engaging
end a generally U-shaped configuration including a slightly arcuate
leg portion adapted to extend upwardly behind the ear a more
sharply curved portion adapted to extend over and to be supported
by the ear and a tip portion affixed to the end of the tube and
adapted to be inserted into the ear canal so that said tubes are
dependently supported from the ears;
a slider member having first and second substantially
longitudinally extending apertures, with said first and second
tubes extending respectively through said first and second
apertures, and said slider member being manually movable upwardly
along said tubes to a position approximately adjacent the user's
clavicle so that the upper portions of said tubes are effectively
secured to the user's head in a manner substantially obviating
inadvertent dislodgment.
2. A headset in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said tubes
includes a reversely curved portion immediately adjacent the tip
portion thereof for causing said tip portion to extend inwardly
toward the ear canal from the plane of the U-shaped
configuration.
3. A headset in accordance with claim 1 in which separate
substantially L-shaped semi-rigid members are rotatably attached to
the U-shaped portions of the respective sound tubes thereby
obviating the need for right-left orientation marking of the sound
tubes.
4. A headset in accordance with claim 1 in which said tubes are
formed of a flexible and resilient polymeric material selected from
the group consisting of polyvinylchloride and polyethylene.
5. A headset in accordance with claim 1 in which said slider member
comprises first and second half-slider elements, with each of said
elements having a substantially planar inner surface and a pair of
substantially parallel semi-cylindrical grooves extending the
entire length of said surface, and with said first and second
elements having cooperative fastening means for securing said
elements together with said planar surfaces disposed in facing
contiguity to provide first and second substantially parallel
apertures in which the sound tubes are adjustably retained.
6. A headset in accordance with claim 2 in which said tubes are
distinguishably color-coded to provide for correct right-left
orientation of the ear engaging portions.
7. A headset in accordance with claim 1 in which said sound
coupling member is especially adapted for connecting to a stereo
sound source and comprises first and second probe portions at one
end forming a substantially figure 8 shaped aperture at the other
end and web means intermediate said probes and said figure 8
aperture to tightly engage the end of the dual tubing in a manner
to prevent sound leakage between the two stereo channels.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to sound tube headsets of the general class
suitable for use in commercial airline passenger entertainment and
more particularly to a light weight inexpensive structural
arrangement for such headsets.
While the sound tube headset of the present invention is
hereinafter described with reference to a particular embodiment
which has been found most suitable for commercial airline usage, it
should be understood that the invention is not so limited but has
application to a variety of other audio systems and apparatus.
Heretofore, audio headsets of the type used for passenger
entertainment in airline service have employed rigid or semi-rigid
head engaging elements formed of a material different from that of
the sound conducting tubes and, consequently, have involved
substantial manufacturing expense including component assembly
operations. Such prior art devices are not only undesirably
expensive but are subject to a relatively undesirable level of
breakage in use and because of the head clamping characteristic are
not comfortably usable by all persons. Such prior art headsets,
because of the use of rigid spring-like ear engaging elements, have
been relatively fragile as well as being somewhat uncomfortable
when worn for long time periods. Additionally some particular,
headsets designed to be large enough for comfortable use by adults
are not readily adjustable to fit small children and, consequently,
when used by children tend to be insecurely retained and subject to
inadvertent dislodgment from the listener's head.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to
overcome the foregoing undesirable features of prior art sound tube
headsets and to provide a headset for airline passenger
entertainment service of simplified and inexpensive construction
which can be comfortably and readily used by all passengers
including small children.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a headset
which may be inexpensively manufactured primarily from polymeric
tubing and without the several component manufacturing and
assembling operations heretofore required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the headset is formed of
a single length of dual-conduit plastic tubing of the type in which
the two conduits are joined together along their adjacent edges. In
making the headset, the two tubes are first separated or split
apart along a substantial portion of their length from one end, a
slider member having a pair of longitudinal apertures is positioned
on the two separated tubes so as to be manually moveable therealong
and the separated ends of the two tubes above the slider are
formed, for example by the application of heat, to have a generally
U-shaped configuration including a sharply curved portion adapted
to rest upon the ear of the user. The lower end of the dual tubing
is provided with a dual sound coupling member which preferably is
cemented to the ends of the tubing and is operative to connect the
tubes to receive sound from a dual sound (i.e., stereo) source. The
slider member preferably has cylindrical apertures therethrough
slightly larger than the outside diameters of the sound tubes but
frictionally engaging the tubes in a manner such that the slider
member will be retained at any position along the tubes to which it
is manually adjusted. In use, the U-shaped upper ends of the sound
tubes are placed over the respective ears of the user and the tips
of the tubes are slightly inserted into the ear canals. The slider
member is then moved upwardly along the tubes to a point
approximately adjacent to the clavicle so that it operates to bias
the tubes toward each other and retain the ear engaging portions in
position.
The advantages and details of construction of devices in accordance
with the present invention will be more apparent and better
understood from the following description when considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, throughout which like
characters indicate like parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sound tube headset in accordance
with the present invention as it appears while being worn by a
user;
FIG. 2 is a back view of the headset more completely illustrating
the features of same;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one portion of the assembly shown in
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative construction of the upper end ear
engaging portions of the headset assembly;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the slider member taken along
the lines 5--5 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the connector member preferably
used in the assembly shown in FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, the headset indicated generally by the
numeral 10 includes first and second flexible tubes 12 and 14 which
are preferably formed of a polymeric material such as
polyvinylchloride (PVC) or polyethylene or the like and which
extend from a primary sound source (not shown) upwardly to the ears
of the wearer. The lower portions 12b and 14b of the sound tubes
are preferably joined together along their adjacent edges to
constitute a single cord and are provided at their lower ends with
a cemented-in-place PVC connecting member 20 for coupling the tubes
to the sound source. The connecting member 20 preferably takes the
form illustrated in FIG. 6 and described in more particular detail
hereinafter. A slider member 30 having parallel longitudinal
apertures 32 and 34 is mounted on the upwardly extending tube
portions 12a and 14a so as to be manually movable therealong. In a
preferred form the apertures 32 and 34 in the slider member have
internal diameters only very slightly larger than the nominal
outside diameter of the tubes 12 and 14 so that the slider member
frictionally engages the tubing and will readily be retained in
position at any point along the tubing. As best shown in FIG. 2 the
upper end of each of the tubes 12 and 14 is formed, for example by
the application of heat, into a generally U-shaped configuration
adapted to comfortably engage the user's ears. More specifically,
the tube 12 is adapted to couple to the right ear of the user and
the tube 14 extends over the left ear and has its tip portion 18
inserted into the ear canal of the left ear. The U-shaped
configuration of each tube preferably includes a slightly arcuate
portion 22 adapted to extend upwardly behind the ear shell, a more
sharply curved portion 23 which rests on top of the ear and a
reversely curved portion 26 which extends within the ear shell and
is curved inwardly from the plane of the ear shell to bring the tip
portions 16 and 18 into general alignment with the ear canal. As
shown in FIG. 2 the reversely curved portions 26 and 27 extend in
opposite senses respectively from the planes of the U-shaped
portions 23 and 24. Accordingly, in using this particular
embodiment of the invention, it is necessary that tubes 12 and 14
engage the right and left ears respectively rather than vice versa.
To that end the tubes preferably are marked or color-coded in a
manner to inform the user as to which side of the headset is the
"right" side. For example, in the course of manufacturing the dual
tubing the tube 12 is provided with a colored stripe or stripes 36
extending the entire length thereof. Alternatively, the ear tips 16
and 18 may be differently colored to provide distinction. With such
color coding it is then possible to inform the user of the correct
right-left headset orientation by means of printed instruction
either on or in the transparent plastic bag conventionally employed
for sterile packaging of the headsets. Alternatively, when the
tubes 12, 14 are formed of soft polyvinylchloride the reverse
curved portion 26 may be shaped so that the portions 22, 23, and 26
form substantially an S-shape, with the reverse curve 26 and the
axis of ear piece 16 being nominally in the same plane as the
U-shaped portion 23. In the use of this alternative configuration
the wearer after placing the tubes over each ear, simply bends the
ends inwardly enough to insert tip portions 16 and 18 into the ear
canals. This alternative embodiment has the advantage that it is
freely reversible left from right and therefore does not require
color-coding or instructions for assuring correct orientation.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention
(illustrated in FIG. 4) the polymeric tubes 12 and 14 are
terminated a short distance downwardly in front of the ear shell
and are fitted with separate L-shaped members 42 and 44. The
L-shaped ear piece 42 is formed of semi-rigid polymeric tubing and
has at its upper end a slightly enlarged coupling portion within
which the downwardly extending end of tubing 12 is frictionally
retained. Accordingly, the L-shaped members 42 and 44 are manually
rotatable relative to the tubes 12 and 14 and therefore may be
rotatably adjusted to `fit` either ear of the user. This
alternative construction permits the user to wear the headset with
tubes 12 and 14 engaging the right and left ears respectively or
vice versa (i.e., with tube 12 on the left ear and tube 14 on the
right ear). Hence, this further embodiment of the invention has the
advantage of being easily reversible left from right so that no
color-coding or other orientation marking of tubes 12 and 14 is
necessary.
The tip portions 16 and 18 (FIG. 4) preferably are separate soft
polyvinylchloride elements of a size and shape to comfortably fit
the ears of the average user and having a longitudinal aperture
into which the ends of the L-shaped members 42 and 44 may be press
fit. In the preferred forms of the invention the tubes 12, 14 are
made of a material, such as polyvinylchloride, which is relatively
flexible while having substantial resiliency so that the U-shaped
portions 23 and 24 have sufficient structural integrity and
resiliency to normally return after being slightly deformed to
their original preformed arcuate shape. With such materials the ear
engaging portions are sufficiently flexible to comfortably fit the
ears of substantially all users including small children. Use of
the adjustable slider member 30 enables the headset to be
comfortably and yet securely attached to the user's head without
resorting to springs or other head clamping devices.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention slider member 30
(as shown in FIGS. 1-3) is a single piece formed of PVC or the like
and having first and second cylindrical apertures 32 and 34
extending longitudinally therethrough. In assembling the headset
the tubes 12 and 14 are first threaded through the apertures 32 and
34 after which the upper ends are formed into the desired arcuate
shape by the application of heat. This one-piece configuration of
the slider member 30 is most economical to manufacture but, in
volume production, has the slight disadvantage that the tubes 12
and 14 must be threaded through the slider prior to shaping the ear
engaging portions of the tubes.
In an alternative embodiment especially well suited for mass
production of the headset the slider member 30 may be constructed
as shown in FIG. 5. In accordance with this embodiment the slider
member comprises first and second identical elements 31a and 31b
each having a pair of longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical
grooves 32 and 34 so that when the elements are assembled together
in facing relationship they form a pair of parallel substantially
cylindrical apertures in which the tubes 12 and 14 are adjustably
held. The element 31a, for example, includes adjacent the right
hand edge two projecting pins 33a which are molded integrally with
the half-slider 31a and extend outwardly from the surface to engage
and snap into a pair of aligned apertures 35b in the element 31b.
Similarly, adjacent its left hand edge the half-slider 31b has a
pair of integral pins 33b adapted to snap into correspondingly
located apertures 35a. The two half-sliders 31a and 31b are
assembled together, with the tubes 12 and 14 held in the
cylindrical apertures 32 and 34, by firmly pressing the
half-sliders together in face-to-face relation so that the pins 33a
and 33b snap into their mating apertures. This two-piece
construction of the slider member is particularly appropriate for
high volume production in that the two half-sliders 31a and 31b can
be assembled on the tubes 12 and 14 after the ear engaging portions
have been shaped.
The connector member 20 for connecting the headset assembly to a
stereo sound source (not shown) is preferably constructed as
illustrated in FIG. 6. Specifically member 20 is molded of a
semi-rigid polymeric material such as PVC, has a pair of hollow
probe portions in which the apertures 52 extend beyond the base of
the probe portions. At the other end, member 20 has a figure 8
shaped aperture into which the unseparated lower ends 12b and 14b
of the dual tubing may be pressed and cemented. At the bottom of
aperture 53 the connector member is provided with a central web 55
which tightly engages the end of the dual tubing in a manner to
prevent sound leakage between the two stereo channels. Thus,
connector member 20 is a coupling probe of relatively inexpensive
construction into which the dual conduit tubing, without splitting
the lower ends 12b and 14b apart, is pressed and preferably
cemented, thereby adapting the dual conduit tubing for facile
connection to the dual channel audio source normally provided in
the armrest (or seat back) of the aircraft, or other vehicle.
In use the headset is first taken in the hands of the user as shown
in FIG. 2, the ear engaging portion of the tube 14 is looped over
the left ear and tube 12 is looped over the right ear, after which
the tip portions 16 and 18 are slightly inserted into the ear
canals. Because of the flexibility of the one piece tubing
structure, the foregoing arrangement would not per se be completely
adequate to retain the headset on the user's head. To firmly secure
the headset in position against accidental dislodgment the slider
member 30 is moved upwardly along the tubes 12 and 14 to a position
approximately adjacent the clavicle. At that position the slider
member is frictionally retained in place on the tubes and operates
to exert a slight downward tensioning force on each tube so that
the ear engaging portions are retained securely and comfortably in
position irrespective of the age, relative stature, or movement of
the wearer.
While the present invention has been shown and described with
reference to specific exemplar forms only, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is
susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing
from the spirit and scope thereof.
* * * * *