Headband Construction For Headphones

Abstract

A headband includes at least one tubular element having a plurality of jointed parts arranged end to end and held together by a biasing spring. The individual tubular parts are advantageously formed, for example, from a single tube which is slotted on one side sufficiently to permit articulation between the individual tubular parts which are separated by the slots. A tension spring is anchored at the respective ends to the outer ends of the outermost tubular parts so that all of the parts are urged together. The jointed portions or slots are advantageously covered by a surrounding tube of a material such as a plastic. The complete headband construction advantageously includes a transversely extending tubular part which is adapted to fit over the head of the wearer, with at least one leg portion at each end which is adapted to extend outwardly from the transversely extending part to provide means for carrying the headphones on each side thereof. In one embodiment, the outer jointed part at each end of the transversely extending headband forms a downwardly extending leg to carry the earphone of the headset. In this embodiment, the sound by the spring transmitted through a tube, and all of the jointed tubular embodiment, form a closed tube construction with the joints being covered by a surrounding tube of plastic material. The downwardly extending legs on each side of the band are advantageously biased toward each other by which holds all of the jointed parts together. In one embodiment the headphones themselves are carried in tubular members which extend telescopically into the tubular leg portions of the headband set and the telescopic part is held in position by a connecting tension spring.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to the construction of headbands for headphones and, in particular, to a new and useful headband made up of a plurality of interconnected tubular elements with parts which are pivoted relative to each other and which are held together by a connecting biasing spring.

A headband constructed with a plurality of pivotally interconnected parts is known in the construction of a collapsible headphone which includes a box-like central portion which is adapted to rest on the wearer's head. At each end of the portion which rests on the wearer's head, there is pivotally attached a substantially U-shaped wire frame which carries an earpiece at its free end. The individual elements forming the headset are maintained in a collapsed position by a spring force which also exerts a pressure against the earpieces when the device is opened and the earpieces are positioned against the wearer's ears. A disadvantage of such a construction is that the spring force for pressing the earpieces against the ears exert undesirable pressure on the operator's ears since the spring force acts independently upon the displacement of the individual parts. Earphones which have a headband which presses the earpieces onto the ears with a substantially constant spring force which is independent of the displacement of any of the connecting elements are preferable and are much more pleasant to wear.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a headband for headphones which includes at least one tubular part which is formed with a plurality of jointed portions or which includes a plurality of tubular jointed elements which are arranged together in end to end fashion and tensioned together by spring means so that the joints of the parts are held in a closed or substantially closed position. The hollow tubular parts may comprise one or several tubes arranged end to end in abutment but only one tube is used. The tube is slotted partly through its diameter leaving a remaining pivotal joint connection between the individual tube parts. The tube is advantageously surrounded by a cover or jacket of a material such as a plastic which holds the individual jointed parts in proper orientation by the action of the spring that is stretched across the parts to hold them in a closed jointed condition. The jointed construction may be formed by a wedge-shaped notch which partially severs an individual tube at one or more locations along its length and which thus creates a pivotal joint at the apex of the notch for the individual tube parts which are formed. A coil spring is stretched from the outermost part of one end to the outermost part of the other end and this tends to hold the individual parts in a position at which they abut against each other. The notched tube is advantageously made of a material which is bendable when in a flat form but which has an adequate rigidity when arranged in a tubular form. Most thermoplastic materials which are not soft are suitable for such purpose.

In accordance with another arrangement of the invention, the headband as such includes a transversely extending portion with a plurality of jointed parts and a leg portion at each end. The leg portions form means for attaching the individual earpieces, and they are held by a connecting spring in a closed position with the earpieces biased toward each other from the respective opposite sides of the headband.

In one construction, the leg portions comprise tubular elements at each end of the headband set which are telescoped within the headband, or around the headband, and the anchoring of the connecting spring at each end is made into the interior of the associated tubular leg. In addition, the earpieces are held at the outermost end of each tubular leg by the telescopic interengagement of a tubular formation on the earpiece holder with the leg portion of the headband and which is held in position by connecting springs. In another embodiment, the entire headpiece is made of a continuous tubular part which terminates in inwardly curved leg portions which are formed into earpieces and the parts are jointed by slots extending at least partly therethrough with the jointed parts being held together by a connecting spring. In one form, the connecting spring may be a torsion spring arranged around the joint and which, for example, may be formed between a leg formation at each juncture with the transversely extending headpiece formation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved headband set which includes at least one tubular element which is slotted or slit in order to provide individual jointed tubular portions and with biasing means holding the portions together in end to end relationship.

A further object of the invention is to provide a headband set which includes a transversely extending top portion and a leg portion at each end thereof for accommodating earpieces formed of at least one tube having a plurality of joint formations therealong formed in a manner permitting relative movements between a plurality of jointed parts of the tube, and including spring means for urging the let portions and the individual jointed parts of the tube together.

A further object of the invention is to provide a headset which includes at least one tubular transversely extending member and at least one leg portion telescopically formed with the transversely extending member and spring means urging the leg portions toward each other, at least the transversely extending portion for the leg portions being jointed to permit pivotal movement of the parts on each side of the joints against the biasing force of the spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a headband for an earphone headset which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the Drawing:

FIG. 1a is a longitudinal sectional view of a headband constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 1b is a transverse section taken along the line 1b--1b of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2 is a section similar to FIG. 1a of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of headband including the complete headset with earphones;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a joint spring for use in holding the jointed parts of the headband set together;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention using the spring of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing a variation of the jointed construction; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of still another embodiment.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein in FIGS. 1a and 1b comprises, a flexible headband which comprises a semi-rigid plastic tube 1 of a thermoplastic material and having a substantially square cross-section. The tube 1 is provided with slits 2 and 3 at spaced locations along the length which extends only part way through the tube to preferably leave, for example, a top wall 10 which is unsevered and which forms the base of pivot joints 7 and 8 between adjacent tube portions 30 and 32 and 32 and 34, respectively. The individual jointed parts 30, 32 and 34 are held together in a closed arrangement with the pivot joints defined by the slots 2 and 3 closed by means of a tension spring 4 which extends from a fixed location 5 at the outer end of the part 30 to a fixed location 6 at the outer end of the part 34. The tension of the spring 4 causes the individual parts to move to close the slits 2 and 3 to hold the tube in the central curved formation indicated in FIG. 1a. The individual parts 30, 32 and 34 may be moved outwardly against the biasing force of the spring, however, for example, when it is desired to open up the headphones or earpieces attached to the respective ends of the tube. The individual jointed parts 30, 32 and 34 are covered by a soft flexible tube 9 which is also made of a thermoplastic material. When the headband set is fully opened, it will assume the position indicated in FIG. 2. In this extended condition, the individual slots 2 and 3 form a wedge-shape opening. The individual jointed parts 30, 32 and 34 may, of course, comprise separate tubular elements arranged in end to end relationship, and the surrounding cover 9, would in this instance, hold the parts in a proper orientation along with the biasing force of the spring 4. It is also possible to form the jointed tubular parts as separate tubular elements 30' and 32' as shown in FIG. 8. In this instance, the part 30' is provided with an outwardly extending edge portion 10 which engages under the edge portion 11 of the adjacent tubular part 32'. The pivot point 7' remains at substantially the same position as that indicated in the embodiment of FIG. 1a.

In the construction indicated in FIG. 3, there is provided a headband, generally designated 1', which is made up of parts which are similar to that shown in FIGS. 1a and 2, but which are designated with a prime. The spring 4' is anchored to the outer end of each jointed tubular part to a bracket 12 or 13 at respective opposite ends which are contained within the interior of tubular leg portions or arms 14 and 15 and which are telescoped over the respective ends of the headband 1'. The spring 4' acts to urge not only the individual jointed tubular parts 31", 32" and 34" together, but also holds the telescopic tubular legs 14 and 15 over the associated ends and also causes the legs to orient themselves inwardly to the solid line position indicated in FIG. 3. The headband set may be moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3 by applying a tension to the spring 4 to open the slits 2' and 3' which also causes the legs to assume a substantially vertical position.

The individual earpieces 16 and 17 are mounted on pivot yokes 36 and 38, respectively, which are contained on the outer end of respective tubular members 24 and 25, which telescope into the lower ends of the respective legs 14 and 15. The arms 24 and 25 are held in a retracted position by a spring 26 and 27, respectively, which is also anchored at the inner end on the associated brackets 12 and 13, respectively.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, there is shown a headset which is very advantageous for use with headphones which are devoid of electrical parts and which simply receive sound from a tubular sound line 18 which is connected centrally to the headband. The sound passes from the point where the sound line 18 is connected to the headband into the interior of the headband and thence via the tubular parts 19, 20 and 21 to the earpieces 22 and 23. A helical spring 4'",which is anchored at respective outer ends to brackets 12 and 13 in leg portions 40 and 42, respectively, holds the leg portions 40 and 42 in the closed position in which the earpieces 22 and 23 extend toward each other. The earphones and the associated leg portions may be moved outwardly to the dotted line position at which the earpieces are shown as 23a. In this embodiment, it is very important to reduce sound losses, and for this reason, the tubular cover 9'" is made of soft resilient plastic material and it encloses each of the slits 2'" and 3'".

In the embodiment indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the headband includes a unitary tubular part 27 with leg portions 28 and 29 at respective ends which are jointed in respect to this part at pivot joints 24 and 25 which are formed for example by slits 44 and 46. Each leg 28 and 29 may move outwardly against the force of a helical spring or torsion spring 30 of a type shown in FIG. 5.

In the showing of FIG. 7, a tubular headband 26 is provided with a slit 47 to form jointed parts 48 and 49 which are urged together by a spring 30' which is similar to that shown in FIG. 5.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A headband construction for headphones comprising at least one tubular member having a plurality of jointed parts, spring means secured to each outermost part and holding said parts in end to end closed orientation, said parts being pivotal about their separation joints to the next associated part to open the headset against the force of said spring means.

2. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 1, wherein said headband comprises a single tube, said plurality of parts being defined by a slit extending at least partially through said tube and separating said individually jointed parts from each other, said jointed parts being pivotal about the remaining portion of the tube adjacent said slit.

3. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 2, wherein said individual parts of said tube may open to form wedge-shaped notches at the location of said parts forming abutting end faces which are urged toward each other to close the wedge-shaped notch by the force of said spring means.

4. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 1, wherein said headband comprises a plurality of separate tubular elements each arranged in end to end abutting relationship and having cooperating end surfaces limiting the movement of said parts together but permitting outward pivotal movement of said parts relative to each other, and a tubular member covering said tubular parts at least at the boundaries between said parts.

5. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 1, wherein said tube has a quadrilateral cross-section.

6. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a helical spring which extends through the interior of said jointed parts and has respective outer ends secured to the respective outer ends of the outermost tubular parts.

7. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said tubular parts comprises an outwardly extending leg portion adapted to hold an earpiece at each end of said headset.

8. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 1, wherein at least one tubular member comprises a single tubular member including a transversely extending headband portion and outwardly extending leg portions forming earpieces at each end, said outwardly extending leg portions portions being biased toward each other by said spring means.

9. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 8, wherein said headband comprises a closed tubular sound passage, a connecting tube connected to the transversely extending portion of said closed tubular sound passage, each of said end portions forming legs having widened portions forming earpieces which may be pressed against the ear.

10. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tubular part comprises at least one closed transversely extending tubular part and a leg portion extending outwardly from each end of said closed tubular part and being pivoted to said closed tubular part, and spring means urging said leg portions into a closed position with the edges of said leg portion abutting against said closed tubular part, permitting outward pivotal movement of said leg portions.

11. A headband construction for headphones, according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member comprises a single tube having a transversely extending portion and an outwardly extending leg portion at each end, a slit extending through said tube, the connection of said leg portion thereto on one side leaving the outer side unslit and forming a pivotal joint, and spring means holding said leg portions in a closed position closing the slot, and being pivotal outwardly against said spring means to spread said leg portions apart.

12. A headset comprising a transversely extending headband formed of a hollow tube having a plurality of tubular portions formed by slots extending through said tube at spaced locations along the length thereof, a tubular leg portion telescoped with each end of said transversely extending tubes and forming earpiece mounting members, a tension spring connected to each leg portion at the interior thereof and extending to the interior of the opposite leg portion, said spring holding said leg portions to said headband transverse portion, said leg portion being oriented to extend inwardly when said spring means hold said tubular parts in a closed position, said tubular parts being movable to an open position to hold said leg in a spread apart condition against the biasing of said spring.

13. A headset, according to claim 12, including an earpiece holder telescoped into the outer end of each leg portion and a spring connected to the interior of said leg portion and holding said earpiece holder in said leg portion.

14. A headset, according to claim 13, wherein each of the outer portions of said transversely extending portions form a leg portion.